U13 Clarets Vs Stanground

U13 DRFC Clarets v Stanground, Kick off 12:00,

Team Sheet: Nat Manders Jones, Callum Cawthorn, Ewan McCracken, Sam Bell, Dan Malcolmson, James Russell, George Cushen, Matt Holland, Archie Parkinson. Subs: Owen Jacobs, Joe Goldsmith.

Result: Clarets 8 – 2 Stanground

The second time these two sides have met within a month, this time instead of 3 points available to both sides it was a place in the semi-final of the Hereward Cup.

The Clarets defending a 100% home record at the Haydn Witham Stadium on Outgang Road, started the game. The last time these two team met it was an emphatic victory for the Clarets, however, the boys had their heads firmly on today’s fixture and knew what was ahead of them.

It was 2 minutes in when the Clarets firmly stated their intention when Ewan McCracken received a pass from James Russell that enabled him to line up a shot on goal, although there was a good connection the ball sailed just wide of the upright.
Little at that time did we know that this game was going to be a frustrating one. The Clarets continued to dominate the early exchanges and on 5 minutes on an attack hit the upright.

It was on 10 minutes that the deadlock was broken, only it was the Clarets behind, after some poor defending Stanground saw an opportunity and wasted no time in ensuring the Clarets keeper was picking the ball out of his net. 0-1 Stanground.
The Clarets didn’t lose their nerve and continued to attack and pepper the Stanground goal, it wasn’t a particularly cold day but the Stanground keeper certainly kept his hands warm.

On 21 minutes and another Clarets attack James Russell hit a rasping shot which was almost certainly to burst back of the net, but no, the Stanground Keeper, tipped the shot onto the cross bar.

A minute later the Clarets were on the attack again searching for an equaliser and James Russell from the right wing brought the ball into the midfield and found George Cushen who was able to flick the ball onto Ewan McCracken, who without hesitation cracked the ball towards goal, this time the evaded the Stanground Keeper, it was the equaliser the Clarets had been looking for, 1-1, all level.

It was on 25 minutes that Stanground was awarded a corner, it wasn’t defended well by the Clarets and before they knew it they were 1-2 down, Nat Manders-Jones picking the ball out of the net for the second time.

The referee blew for half time, the score, Clarets 1 – 2 Stanground.

Both teams came out for the second half and at this stage the Clarets out of the Cup Competition, started to build up play, the passing amongst the team was beginning to make in roads and creating opportunities with Stangrounds formation.
The Clarets patience paid off on 45minutes when a Clarets attack began down Stangrounds right flank, Sam Bell fed the ball into Ewan McCracken who chipped the ball in the air towards George Cushen.

George headed the ball goalwards which left the Stanground Keeper clasping at straws, goal, the score now poised at 2-2.
It was from this point that the Clarets dominated, on 53minutes after a Clarets attack they were awarded a corner, the ball was met by Owen Jacobs, who headed the ball towards goal, the keeper although saving it, couldn’t keep hold of the ball, Owen seeing a second opportunity didn’t waste it, his shot this time couldn’t be stopped, goal, for the first time in the game, the Clarets went ahead, 3-2.

Four minutes later, the Clarets saw the a vulnerability in Stanground they went on another attack and on 57 minutes were awarded another corner, taken by Sam Bell, and Owen who was clearly hungry for goals instinctively beat the Stanground Keeper to the ball, for his bravery, he netted his second goal of the game, Clarets 4-2.

The Clarets now in free flow were putting more and more pressure on the Stanground defence, and forced them to concede another corner in the 64th minute. The corner taken by Ewan McCracken, Dan Malcolmson controlled the ball and found James Russell making a run towards goal, Dan made a sublime pass enabling James to shoot at goal, the ball nestled in the back of the net and the Clarets now 5-2 up.

Stanground re-started the game, and immediately conceded possession to the Carets, George Cushen broke down the wing and crossed the ball in the path of Owen, this time the Stanground Keeper equal to the shot, but could only parry the ball out, for it only to be met by Ewan McCracken who wasted no time in making sure the Clarets went further ahead, goal, Clarets 6-2.
The Clarets defence in the second half was better organised and Callum Cawthorn, Joe Goldsmith, Archie Parkinson and Matt Holland, all dealing with any threat posed to the Clarets goal well and supporting any offensive attacks.

The game was now entering the last 2 minutes and the Clarets still pressing, again breaking down the wing with James Russell, who launched a shot at goal, again the Keeper although kept the ball out couldn’t hold the ball, it fell to the feet of Owen, who made certain of his hat-trick, Clarets 7-2.

Again from the restart and now in the last minute of time, the Clarets won possession, and made way towards the Stanground goal. James again given the opportunity to this time saw Ewan McCracken better positioned, Ewan controlled the ball well, beat the defender and slotted the ball past the Stanground Keeper to make certain of his hat-trick and the Clarets through to the Semi-final of the Hereward Cup.

Man of the Match: Owen Jacobs