U13 Clarets 8 - 1 Crowland

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

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

Result: Clarets 8 – 1 Crowland

The final game of 2014 saw the Clarets host Crowland at the Haydon Witham Stadium at Outgang Road. Both teams had a joint photograph to support the Football Remembers initiative which commemorates the World War 1 Christmas Truce.
The Clarets got proceedings underway after a weekend rest so were raring to go and keen to protect their home record so far this season.

The Clarets as with previous games this season sent an early warning across the Crowland goal of what was to come. The Clarets back line which was made up of Right Back, Isaac Fleming, Centre Back Callum Cawthorn, Left Back Matt Holland showed just how capable they were in dealing with any Crowland threat during the early exchanges.
Matt Holland in particular made sure that the offensive Crowlnad players knew he was around, by making some strong and well timed tackles.

The wind played havoc with both teams game, it was in the 13th minute when the deadlock was broken as the Clarets via Callum Cawthorn floated a ball over the Crowland midfield who found Sam Bell positioned on the left who was able to flick the ball in the path of striker, Ewan McCracken, who hit the ball first time towards goal. Leaving the Crowland keeper stranded, the ball flew into the net, 1-0 Clarets.

Soon after the restart the Clarets found themselves in possession and Dan Malcolmson who was controlling the midfield let off a shot that was bound for back of the net, only for it to be met by an equally good save by the Crowland Keeper, who managed to tip it round his post.

On the 29th minute, Sam Bell became provider again, this time from the right side, Sam turned his player and cut in towards midlfield and crossed the ball. George Cushen controlled the ball well and rounded the Crowland Keeper to calmly slot the ball in the net for the Clarets second goal of the game, 2-0 Clarets.

As the first half went on the link up play between Callum Cawthorn, Sam Bell and the remainder of the team continued to test the Crowland team. The Clarets could have found themselves in double figures if it weren’t for a mix of the woodwork, and outstanding saves by the Crowland keeper.

31 minutes in saw another goal, when Sam Bell let off a shot which the Crowland keeper couldn’t keep hold of and George Cushen on hand to net his second goal in as many minutes, 3-0 Clarets.

The half time whistle went, the first half Clarets 3 – 0 Crowland.

The second half proceedings got underway by Crowland, the Clarets had made a change and brough on Joe Goldsmith for Isaac Fleming. Crowland, clearly motivated by their team talk immediately, with the wind behind them made inroads into the Clarets formation. As Crowland entered the box, Matt Holland made a strong tackle which brought down the Crowland player, shouts of penalty rang round as the referee’s whistle blew. The Clarets had conceded their first penalty of the season.

Crowland was given their best opportunity of the game to get on the score sheet. The ball was placed on the penalty spot and the Crowland player, moved towards the ball and hit it well. Nat Manders Jones the Clarets Keeper dived to his right and met the ball and tipped it round the post, a great save keeping the Clarets on target for a clean sheet.

The Clarets now dominating the game, and peppering the Crowland goal, and their Keeper having an outstanding game, the Clarets awarded a free kick which Callum Cawthorn lined up the ball and hit it goal bound only for it to shave the upright.

48 minutes in saw another attack led from the Clarets defence, the ball passed through the midfield to James Russell, who in turn found George Cushen who played the ball to his left, it was met by Ewan McCracken who controlled well and hit a left foot shot towards goal, the Crowland Keeper wasn’t equal to the shot and despite his attempts could not keep the ball from striking the back of the net. Clarets 4-0.

Crowland defended deep and the Clarets kept their patience by keeping possession and forcing errors to open up gaps, it was Dan Malcolmson on 54 minutes who through some clever footwork was able to find himself some space to pass the ball in the path of Ewan McCracken.

Ewan lining himself up and on for his hat-trick didn’t waste any time he struck the ball hard and the ball flew past the stretched Crowland Keeper and rested at the bottom of the net, his hat-trick secured and his goal celebration with his team mates underway. 5-0 Clarets.

On 58 minutes the Clarets played some intricate football to secure their 6th goal of the game, room in the Crowland half was beginning to be a luxury as Crowland was setting themselves up for damage limitation, Joe Goldsmith found James Russell on the Clarets right, who with some clever footwaork rounded one player and found George Cushen, George controlled the ball well and made a pass to his left to Ewan McCracken; Ewan Seeing Sam Bell he pushed the ball to Sam who played a one-two with Ewan to set him up on goal, this would be his 4th goal of the game if he netted, he did, the Crowland Keeper committed to early, and Ewan shot, goal, 6-0 Clarets.

The game now won and 3 points secured bringing the Clarets 27 points from 9 games so far. This didn’t stop the determination as the Clarets sensed more goals available, and they were right, they only waited a further 5 minutes when on the 63rd minute they were awarded a corner.

Taken by Sam Bell the ball fell to James Russell who fired it goal wards in a busy goal mouth, the ball couldn’t find a way through but rebounded to George Cushen who with just a tap in secured hi hat-trick and the 7th goal for the Clarets. 7-0, Clarets.

With 3 minutes of the game remaining, on 67 minutes the Crowland Keeper miss-kicked the goal kick, which was met by inform Clarets Striker Ewan McCracken. Ewan late in the game added to his goal tally in the game by striking the ball, the ball beat the Crowland Keeper entering the goal just under the cross bar, securing his 5th goal of the game bringing him to a season so far tally of 31 goals. 8-0, Clarets.

No sooner had the game restarted that Crowland launched the ball from the centre spot inside the Clarets half after the Clarets defence had followed the ball, leaving a Crowland player unmarked, a sublime pass picked him out and without hesitation launched the ball towards goal, the ball found its way into the back of the Clarets goal, Crowland scored with the last kick of the game.

The referee blew the whistle. Clarets 8-1 Crowland.

Man of the Match: Callum Cawthorn