Newton Town U11 Red team hosted a Stoke Gabriel team who beat us 3-0 when we last met at their ground, hoping for a win to keep us in touch with the top of the league.
We started with new keeper Dan in goal, Nathan, Liam and Callum across the back, Matt in the middle of the park and Alfie and Jake up front. Sam and Joe were on the bench eagerly awaiting their chance to shine.
The game started brightly with both team pressuring at both ends. The Stoke keeper as he was in the away game was in fine form and denied both Town strikers on numerous occasions, as did Dan in the Town goal against the Stoke strikers. The Town defence was immense, lacking the errors that have blighted the last couple of games.
Both teams were being very physical with the referee warning players from both teams for clumsy but not nasty fouls.
A long goal kick from Dan dropped over the Stoke defenders for Jake to run onto it and lob volley it over the advancing Stoke keeper. 1-0 with 2 minutes to go in the first half.
Half Time! With the Town deservedly 1-0 up. Matt and Alfie came on to leave Jake up front on his own with Sam and Joe coming on in midfield.
The second half started brightly with Stoke attacking in numbers and the Town defence holding strong. From a resulting corner, Stoke took advantage of a bobbling ball to poke past Dan and Callum on the line. 1-1!
A volleyed clearance from a Stoke defender caught Joe clean in the face which led to the first Town forced substitution with Alfie coming back on in the middle and Joe receiving treatment from his paramedic dad! 5 minutes later Dan in the town goal injured his leg in a goalmouth scramble and led to Alfie coming back into goal and a revived Joe coming back on up front.
With just over a minute on the clock Sam cut in from the right wing, battled past 2 Stoke defenders and drove a low shot across the goal which hit the advancing keeper and flew into the back of the net. 2-1!
The last minute of play was frantic defending for the Town as a corner was delivered which Jake headed out.
Final score a deserved 2-1 win for the town exacting a measure of revenge for the defeat earlier in the season. Man of the match went to Nathan who showed great composure at the back throughout the game, capped off with a delightful Cruyff turn in the corner under pressure from two Stoke strikers. Mentions go to ALL town players, Dan in goal played excellently, the back three worked well, communicated brilliantly and soaked up all the pressure the Stoke excerpted. Matt, Joe and Sam in the middle battled well against a good Stoke front line and midfield, and to Jake who scored a superb goal. Well Done Town!!!!!