Gutsy Display from Utd. Youngsters

Fletcher Moss B U10 1 - 1 Communities Utd U10

A game that was sure to have it all from kick off proved to be just that. Fletcher Moss boasted a hugely impressive physical presence on the pitch that could have caused Utd. many problems, were it not for the sheer resilience of the Utd. squad.

The first meeting of these two teams was pretty much a one sided affair, with Utd. losing a very poor 5-2. This was Utd.’s first league game of the season and some will say it was a real wake up call for what needed to be done on the training pitch.

With this game looming, Utd. have been racking up some impressive wins, one notably being the 0-7 away win the week before against Broad Heath Merlins.

The pitch could have been the deciding factor on this game, as it was by far the biggest pitch the Utd. lads have ever played on. Fletcher Moss were obviously suited to the pitch with their massive physical and height advantage. The game started out fairly scrappy for the first four or five minutes with Utd. trying to adjust to the size of the pitch and Fletcher Moss struggling to break through Utd.’s resilient midfield.

The early chances fell to Utd. with a few scrappy half chances for Lawrence Taylor and Darragh Collumb. Utd. seemed to rattle Fletcher Moss with their possession play, which at times was very good. Fletcher Moss did break through a couple of times but with no real threat on goal.

Both teams went in from the first third pretty happy at what they had done. But all was about to change for the second third. Fletcher Moss made a few changes to their line up, adding some pace in the middle and up front and playing the long ball. Utd.’s defence was caught sleeping just the once but it was enough to allow a through ball through to the little speedy Fletcher Moss substitute, to poke past the unlucky Thomas Taylor.

Within two minutes of Fletcher Moss taking the lead Utd. were back on level terms. Joe Mooney’s quick play with Lawrence Taylor down the left hand side, unlocked the Fletcher Moss defence and Joe Mooney put a great chip over the keeper and into the back of the net to make it 1-1.

This game was now really opening up with both teams moving the ball quickly and getting physical. Sam Brunt had been brought on in the second third and immediately looked like he could do some real damage. Utd. were now slipping some through balls his way and were it not for his control letting him down at times, he could have scored a couple of goals. The referee tried to intervene with some of the players but only seemed to break the games flow and ruined what was shaping up to be a great second third.

The final third was a cracker. Manager Allan Watson brought on some more fresh legs and it looked to work for him. Both teams were now playing well but it was Utd. who were now looking more likely to score. Chances were falling all over for Utd. but they simply couldn’t get the end product. They were nearly punished in the last two minutes when Fletcher Moss seemed to have found their edge again and tested Thomas Taylor twice, but the cocky little goalkeeper kept them out and added yet another clean sheet to his tally.

Man Of The Match: Joe Mooney
Goal Scorer: Joe Mooney