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Match Report

Round robin friendlies - 15 March

With the season coming to an early climax (enter own gag here!) the Tigers were looking for opposition to fill the time until the Hicks end of season tournament on 5 April.

Luckily, Whiteknights, Kestrels and Meadway accepted some serious bungs and took part in the series of friendlies. As an aside, investigations are now underway following a complaint from Dr S Ruffle as some of the bung money was going his way following his recent success in the U7 player market.

Anyway, with the Lions in buoyant mood following their success over Whiteknights Wildcats, the Tigers had it all to prove against some well organised opposition.

Game 1 - Tigers 1 v 1 Whiteknights Panthers

These two sides have met a couple of times before and the games have always been even affairs. Today was no different.

With the Tigers now employing their rotating keeper policy, Joe took up the gloves and went between the sticks. Both sides had 8 available players so it was agreed to play 8v8 rather than leave some poor lad to freeze on the touch line. (Good decision all round. This management bit is easy!!)

The Tigers started the game the more lively of the two sides and some good interlink play between Cameron, Sam and Jake gave Callum an early sniff of goal. See what I did there? Callum's nickname is Sniffer so I said sniff. Oh nevermind...

With Thomas and Max looking solid at the back, it was a new challenge that the Tigers were faced with. How to break down a well organised and resolute defence but also a team more than capable of deadly counter attacks?

As it happens, Tigers scored first and their goal was a counter attack. The ball was well won by Reiss in midfield. Sam, Cameron, Max and Thomas all moved players to create space and Jake threaded a good ball through to Callum. The scenario of Callum through, one on one, with the keeper has been a frequent one this season. It's like Benny Hill only serious. Callum looks over his shoulder, sees the oncoming rush of defenders and then sprints for his life. This time, he took a couple of paces and hit a precision shot early past the startled keeper. After that accuracy, his nickname should be Protractor his angles were so good. 1-0 Tigers.

After this goal, the Tigers pressed for a second and this is where I hope we learnt something. Our discipline in defending, from the front man to the back, went missing and we let Whiteknights score on a counter attack. Joe managing to get his hands to the ball but unable to divert it wide, the power was too strong. 1-1

Two more minutes and the bearded Uncle Albert (from only Fools & Horses) lookalike referee blew for full time.

A good even game and some things for Bennett to ponder on.

Game 2 - Tigers 2 v 0 Meadway

Having met the previous week in the postponed Xmas tournament, the Tigers players were confident of playing well in this game. That was until a depleted Meadway manager unveiled his secret weapon, Massimo from Kestrels! Having just witness Massimo put on a one man show in the U6 games, Bennett was considering how to keep him quiet. With Rio's pace up front, Meadway had a very good route to goal as their earlier 2-0 win against Kestrels had shown.

The Tigers kicked off. Callum to Jake, Jake to Cameron and one nil to Tigers. An unbelievable shot that I believe Cameron is still telling his mum and dad about even now! Meadway have one of the best keepers around and he didn't have a chance even though the shot was hit from distance. Screamer would be doing it an injustice.

With such an early goal, this game had the potential to be very one sided but to their credit, Meadway battled back and made a good game of it. (Bear in mind, they had 2-3 regulars missing as well!)

With the Tigers is different positions to the first game (Reiss went in goal), their play was surprisingly effect as nobody seemed confused or out of place. Thomas and Sam were raiding down each wing, Callum in defence with Max looked solid and Joe in midfield was pulling the strings. Both Jake and Cameron showed excellent movement and were giving their markers all sorts of problems.

Eventually the Tigers pressure told and they got a second. A thunderous shot by Sam hit the post but pleasingly for Bennett, he followed up the rebound to net his team's second of the match.

With Meadway always looking dangerous on the counter attack, Max and Callum showed that the team had learnt from the mistake in the first game and refused to let their opposition past them. From a manager's point of view, I think that Joe playing in the Mascherano (without the dissent) role makes the team a more solid proposition. This is role that Reiss and Thomas can also play when required.

Final score 2-0.

Game 3 - Tigers 2 v 0 Kestrels

The last time these two met was before Christmas so this was a good gauge of how both sides have developed. Without the influential Luke in midfield, the Kestrels now appeared to be playing more as a team rather than relying on one player to carry them through. In turn, this made the game against them a different type of encounter altogether.

This time, it was the turn of Callum to go in goal and apart from Max who now wanted to stay in defence, the whole team shuffled around again. In fact, the Tigers unveiled their new signing Alex, for his debut after he finally got international clearance to play. Bennett was a happy man as he now fielded 9 talented players who will hopefully form a very competent side for years to come.

With this being the third and final game, the Kestrels 9 (did I say it was 9v9 this time?) were looking a bit tired after two tough games against Meadway and Whiteknights. On a high from their previous victory, the Tigers did most of the attacking in this game. It appeared that the Kestrels had employed some man marking tactics (later confirmed by their manager) on Jake and some of the Kestrels tackling with red hot but legal.

Anyway, I'll be honest about this, I only really saw the two goals as I was busy chatting to players agent Ruffle and Alex's mum and dad. I do remember Cameron scoring again and also Thomas finishing, again netting the rebound, but that's about it. Sorry.

Final score 2-0

Summary

A good run out for the lads who have shown a remarkable 'gel' in their short time together. If this side can continue together as they get older, the supporters should have some excellent football to watch. In fact, if it gets too good, I'm going to have to start charging! J

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