Team:

• Liam Cooper
• Jack Morris
• Robbie O’Donnell
• Craig Dale
• Tom Marshall
• Max Pashley
• Ryan Shield
• Macaulay Kilpatrick
• Dylan Farrow
• Will Gill
• Connor Bartle
• George Carline

Match Report:

The kick-off for today’s game was delayed in order for the heavy frost to clear. It did and we got underway just after 11:30am.

In the first half we created the better chances in a half that really didn’t see too many for either side. Resolute defending (Jack and Craig certainly nullified the threat of Vernon’s number 15 – a player that constantly looked dangerous) and solid goal keeping (from the Vernon keeper) meant that neither sides broke the deadlock.

As the half drew to a close, I think it’s fair to say that the Colts were slightly ahead on points but with no goals to show for it.

Half-Time: 0 – 0

Things didn’t go according to plan during the half-time interval. The plan had been to keep things as they were. We were confident that in the second half we would break the deadlock and go on to win the game.

Unfortunately, Liam had to come off due to a hand injury (see summary and News Page). This was a big blow as Liam is playing at the top of his game at the moment. Full credit to Jack for volunteering to take Liam’s place between the sticks (thanks also to George for volunteering).

The enforced change meant a re-shuffle; George went upfront, Ryan went to right back and Macaulay dropped into central midfield alongside Max.

Almost immediately on the re-start Vernon took a fortuitous led. They went on to score 3 more goals as the half wore on.

To be honest, today was not to be the Colts day. In the first half the breaks wouldn’t come for us in the second we never really got going. That said, although we didn’t play as well as we could, the general spirit in the team kept them going and they were rewarded with a consolation goal before the end. Excellent passing play and a superb ball from Connor set up the chance and Dylan took it brilliantly smashing his first time shot high into the net (hitting the stanchion).

Fulltime – 1 – 4

Summary:

Firstly, and most importantly, “GET WELL SOON LIAM”. A trip to the hospital after the game has revealed the “THE CAT COOPER” will be missing for between 4 and 8 weeks. This is a massive blow for our Vice Captain and for the team. Despite being in discomfort Liam insisted on staying until full-time to support his team mates – great gesture on his behalf.

The football cliché that fits best today is “game of two halves”; sums it up really.

Next week we are off to Attenborough for the Quarter Final of the YEL Trophy. Due to injury and unavailability the team is going to have to show its flexibility; but the boys have done it before and come out on top so there is every reason to think they can do it again.

Hard luck today boys; days like today show that sometimes things don’t work out as planned.

Well done to Vernon – good luck for the rest of the season.

Alan and Mark.

p.s. Match report only short because of time constraints. Also, I lost the paper with the score times on it.