There will be many times in football where the better team doesn’t finish the victor but there wont be many times when the win is ripped away by the last kick of the game by a deflected clearance. Tonight the players were within seconds of that victory, in a game in which last time they were beaten by the ugly long ball game played by the other team. Although Tynemouth went a goal down (again by the Keeper to CF long ball combo) they kept their heads up and not only continued to play their own fast attacking fluid football, but managed to stop the long balls over the top, so much so the other team had to change their tactics and were unable to rely on the long ball, Ironically making them a better team and allowing their 2 talented midfielders into the game.

Even at 1-0 down you could sense the goal was coming, with wave after wave of attack from across the pitch it was only a matter of time before the goal ended in the back of the net, Dan H supplied the corner for Matthew O to flash a glancing header past the keeper and bring the game back to level pegs and ignite what was to become a fast and entertaining game. Matthew O continued pressing and dominated the middle of the pitch and gave as good as performance in midfield as we have come to expect in defence and helped him pick up the m.o.m award. This was only accented by Callum A performance along side him, who very nearly mirrored the 1st goal when he hit a half volley from a corner only for the keeper to get his finger tips on it and push it away. Aaron R once again ran from start till finish and helped his team mates throughout, while Dan H put in a days work and covered every part of the pitch and passed, shot and put in last gasp tackles determined to help his teams get the goals. Joe C fresh back from holidays give a reminder of what he can do and worked effortlessly up front and then terrorised the defence down the right wing continually supplying Dawson C up front. Dawson C done what he was asked to do and made sure he was on the end of every through ball, every clearance and although his game was made difficult by having 2 defenders sitting back he was finally rewarded with what was so nearly the wining goal when he broke past the defence and then delightfully put the ball in the bottom right corner past the bewildered keeper.

The defence knew they were in for a tough game as the opposition would boot the ball from the keeper to the Centre forward at every opportunity and although the 1st goal slipped through in that exact way, they showed that even when a poor team tactic is to have a striker camped out on the edge of the box (only thing missing was the bonfire) that when you continue to strive to play football at its rawest form and mark, defend and pass (on the floor) you will always come out top and closed up shop. Ben H, Fred G and Charlie H made sure nothing was getting past them and were assisted by Keenan C who tidied up behind them. The final goal was a pain staking reminder that sometimes its just not meant to be and a when the final clearance of the game rebounds off the other teams players and then loops over the keeper it just makes the result even harder to swallow. Charlie H once again dominated the defence and relentlessly put in tackle after tackle which allowed Fred G to get forward a little and got the chance to put his training ground practice into motion when a corner clearance came to him on the edge of the box in which he cannoned back towards goal only to clip the crossbar. Ben H tackled and worked his socks off alongside his defensive partners to help stop the balls over the top.

A fantastic team effort and a thoroughly entertaining “yet going to make your coach’s hair grey” performance backed by the parents on the side lines. Though not a win its a draw the boys should be proud of.