Football training then two games of football on a Saturday and Sunday morning… according to the under 9’s this is awesome!!! Today’s visitors were Billingham Town who like the TSC under 9’s have had a great season and play good football. Both teams were in high spirits and were looking forward to the last game of the season; this was going to be another hard fought contest. Billingham won the toss and chose to kick off. The game got under way with TSC starting brightly, Daniel Leroi Smith, Jack Hurworth and Sam Graham worked well in midfield to dispossess Billingham then passed the ball between themselves probing the Billingham defence. Daniel Leroi Smith picked up a loose ball and went on a great run down the left wing outwitting his marker with a lovely drag back before playing the ball into the path of Oscar Taylor. Oscar controlled the ball well took a couple of touches then shot at goal forcing a good save from the Billingham keeper. The Billingham keeper played a long ball forward and it was well controlled by the midfielder who then played an early ball to the Billingham striker. The striker broke forward and headed toward the TSC goal but Luke Chrystal tracked ball really well and put in a great challenge to avert the danger. Billingham took a quick throw in and played a couple of passes then took a shot on goal which went just wide. TSC edged forward again with Lewis Johnson playing the ball to Luke Chrystal who then passed to Sam Graham. Sam dribbled his way past two Billingham Midfielders then released a great ball to Oscar Taylor who had made a well timed run. Oscar outpaced his marker but again the keeper pulled off a great save. Billingham played some good football and were passing the ball around well but TSC battled resolutely with Sam Graham, Oscar Taylor, Jack Hurworth and Daniel Leroi Smith all working extremely hard. Good work down the right wing from Jack Hurworth saw him go past his marker then combine well with Oscar Taylor playing a one two then shooting just over the bar. The game was being played at an electric pace and was end to end stuff; Billingham intercepted a pass between Sam Graham and Oscar Taylor and went straight on the counter attack. Not for the first time this season the defensive duo of Luke Chrystal and Lewis Johnson found themselves outnumbered but combined brilliantly to thwart the attack clearing the danger. Billingham continued to push forward but despite playing some good football were finding it difficult to break down TSC. They did persist however and a Billingham striker collected a pass from a team mate and took a looping shot from the edge of the box, Nathan Lamb was alert to the threat and saved well to give Billingham a corner. Billingham took the corner but the ball was cleared well by Daniel Leroi Smith and Sam Graham did well to control the ball and hold up play. Sam Then passed to Oscar Taylor who saw the run of Jack Hurworth and played a great ball to him. Jack twisted and turned the shot at goal but his shot went just wide.
A very entertaining and fiercely fought half came to an end all even.
There were no changes by either team as TSC kicked off the second half, TSC went straight on the attack with Sam Graham playing a pass straight down the middle to Oscar Taylor, Oscar went to shoot but his shot was charged down by a Billingham defender. Billingham then pushed forward themselves and won a number of throws as they edged closer to the TSC goal, these were well defended by Luke Chrystal and Lewis Johnson. Billingham kept up the pressure and another fine save from Nathan Lamb prevented the Billingham striker from getting on the score sheet. Nathan then passed early to Lewis Johnson who went past his marker before releasing the ball to Daniel Leroi Smith. Daniel went on a lightning run down the wing before out manoeuvring his marker with another magnificent drag back then passed square to Oscar Taylor. Oscar took the ball well found space for the shot but again the Billingham keeper was up to the challenge. The next few minutes were mostly fought in midfield with both teams trying to keep possession and push forward. Billingham again showed good skill and passing to find their striker in space, he controlled the ball well and shot toward the TSC goal but Nathan Lamb was there again to turn the ball behind for a Billingham corner. The corner was headed clear by Lewis Johnson and Oscar Taylor was on to the loose ball in a flash, Oscar headed forward but found himself outnumbered by the Billingham defence who managed to win the ball back. Billingham came forward again but this time Jack Hurworth intercepted a pass then went on a run down the right wing. Jack showed good technique and ball control to get past his marker then cross the ball into the box, there was a bit of a scramble and Daniel Leroi Smith won the ball but his shot went just wide.
This really was heart stopping stuff, both teams were playing some really good passing football; this one could definitely go either way.
TSC continued to play some good passing football and Jack Hurworth, Sam Graham and Oscar Taylor were combining well to keep possession. Billingham were now throwing everything except the kitchen sink at the TSC defence but as always Luke Chrystal and Lewis Johnson kept calm to break up the Billingham attacks and clear the ball to their team mates.
The game was still end to end and a ball out of defence from Luke Chrystal found Jack Hurworth, Jack passed early to Sam Graham who then played the ball out wide to Daniel Leroi Smith. Daniel went on another good run down the wing, cut inside his man and passed to Oscar Taylor who had made a good run to get free of his marker. Oscar controlled well and held up the ball before passing to the advancing Jack Hurworth, Jack struck the ball first time but unfortunately it went agonisingly wide… that was lovely football. With only minutes to go Billingham went on the attack again, they also put together a good move to get to the edge of the TSC area but Luke Chrystal put in a well timed tackle to put the ball out of play. Billingham took a long throw which was collected well by the striker, Jack Hurworth challenged for the ball and the Referee decided to give a free kick. The free kick was taken quickly and a looping shot was played towards the TSC goal, Sam Graham jumped well to head the ball clear. The ball fell to Daniel Leroi Smith who played a fantastic ball forward to Oscar Taylor, Oscar went on a screaming run from the half way line to bear down on the Billingham goal, just as Oscar was about to pull the trigger a defender put in a last ditch challenge to poke the ball off Oscars toe… so close… what drama.
That was the last action of the game and the whistle blew with the score at 0 – 0, that was a really good entertaining game

REPORT BY ADRIAN CHRYSTAL

Coaches Notes: - What a good game that was, the passing, techniques, movement and general team work was absolutely brilliant. You have had an absolutely brilliant 1st season and you should all be very proud of how well you have played.

Man of the Match – Nathan Lamb:- You have had an amazing season only conceding two goals since you debut against Great ham. Today you had probably your busiest day between the sticks and made good saves at important times to keep yet another clean sheet. Well done.