The loyal supporters of the Inglewood Under 13’s took their seats at Inglewood United Grandstand, for the first home game of the season on 16th March 2014. This week our yellows were up against the blues of Sorrento. The stats are in the early days so we can only go on the trend so far! So let’s say there was optimism based on our 4-1 win last week. The teams trotted out from a gap in the grandstand, led by the ref. They acted just like the professionals they will grow up to be. Standing in a long line facing the grandstand the teams turned and each player shook the hand of each other player. Fun, fairness and sportsmanship are practiced from an early age: Here, Here! Families, including at least one overseas Granny (“Hello Mum”), friends and maybe some other Sunday morning sports enthusiasts welcomed the officials and players!
Both teams were off to great start, Inglewood making strong leads up the right hand side, taking on the Sorrento defence. Sorrento showed great team work in front of their goal, closing in and clearing the ball, enabling their tall forward to take a lead, and delivering the ball back from where it had just been. Inglewood players showed presence in their half, effectively keeping the ball away from the goal. After the first few minutes the teams were both making chances and defending well.
Some early substitutions were made, altering the dynamics. Maybe this will change the closeness of the match? It surely did!
In a series of moves by Inglewood, Voltaire (14) and Adam (9) took the ball to the Sorrento goal box, nicely passing to Moni (10) for a shot. Their goalie, keeping an eagle eye on the ball, took it up and cleared it quickly. Then in return, Sorrento took the ball to our goal area, using some great skills to go around the yellow players. Some nervous moments in the Inglewood goal mouth as Matt (1) our goalie couldn’t hold onto the ball, giving the Sorrento team a couple of opportunities for a shot! But he managed to clear the ball. So, for the first ten or so minutes, both teams continued attack and defence, with the Sorrento team slightly ahead in their game.
Suddenly, in a repeat of an earlier move, pressure from the Sorrento forwards resulted in a goal, tipped into the net from a dropped ball in the goal mouth. Matt (1) has one of the hardest positions on the pitch, and despite his efforts, several Sorrento forwards against one goalie wasn’t enough.
Sorrento, now on a high, and our boys sensing they could do better, had another shot which hit the cross bar! Phil, the Inglewood coach, calmly taking it all in on the side line, rehearsing his half time speech! Sorrento’s set pieces were coming together, and working. Despite some great defence from Inglewood, the Sorrento pressure and forward moves were getting through, a cross from the wing into the centre leaving one or two of their forwards to shoot on goal. By half time two more had been scored, and the score was 3-0.
One half finished; two teams and two different performances. With the second half looming what was happening in the dressing rooms? Pressure? Reflection? Meanwhile, out in the grandstand the supporters were refreshed by the Inglewood canteen, doing a roaring trade in sausages and coffee!
We all reminded ourselves “It’s just a game, only the second week! I hope they can do better in the second half”.
OMG! A new yellow team came from the dressing room. What is Phil’s magic? The Inglewood team were inspired! Moving fluidly around the pitch, passing accurately up the wing, taking shots on goal. The second half was underway with a bang! The Inglewood team was back and going for it. Sorrento caught slightly off guard! Matt (1) took a couple of effective saves and passed out to his team mates. The two teams were increasing the pressure on each other. Whoops! A couple of strong tackles and the ref became involved.
Sorrento’s set pieces penetrated the Inglewood defence, one such ball curving into the goalie hands. Great play from attackers and defenders.
If Inglewood can keep this up, surely they will have a chance? And a chance they got! A huge kick from just inside the Sorrento half, high in the air, went over the Sorrento field players, and then over the goalie head for Inglewood’s first goal. They can do it! Great motivation for both teams!
Inglewood kept the pressure on, and within a minute or two another goal! Unfortunately the Inglewood scoreboard is in need of attention, and the audience were fairly sure it was 3-2 at this stage!
But that score didn’t last long! Talk about a game of two halves! Inglewood played a high cross in front of goal, and over the head of the goalie for another goal.
Whatever, Phil and the team did at half time needs to be bottled! Great play! Adrenalin was going like crazy. Only one, possibly two goals down (where are you when we need you scoreboard?) and Inglewood were in for a chance. The audience, coaches and even the ref noticed the increase in adrenalin coming off the ground! The ref took control and a yellow card came out, sending a strong message.
What a roller coaster of a ride! With only a few moments to go, although the 30 minutes seemed to have flown by, the visitors were ahead. The tension high, everyone knew the Inglewood team ruled the second half, and that a couple more shots could have made the difference. But with a mistake on the Inglewood goal line in the final few seconds, the final score was two, maybe three goals ahead by Sorrento!
That was a good game guys, and coach! We’re looking forward to next week!
