U13s Division 1B vs Inch Colts Sunday 12th Oct.

'Was it over confidence? Was it missing some key players? Was it an Inch side who were prepared to fight and battle for every ball? Well whatever it was, an out of sorts Colts were delighted to come away with all three points against today's opponents Inch Colts.

From the kick off, which they took, the passing and fluency we have come to expect from the Colts was just not there. With neither side dominating the opening exchanges it took till midway through the first half before a goal chance of note appeared and it was Lee, who on another day might have had had a hat trick, who showed. Taking the ball on the right he strode into the box and caught the ball superbly across the keeper for it to slide agonisingly past the far post. In a repeat moments later, he broke through to see his shot slide past the same post. Then Nick chasing a lost cause fired across a great cross which was headed goalwards by Lee, only for the keeper to save, and then Mark following in at the post was thwarted as the keeper blocked again. The breakthrough did come - following pressure on the Inch penalty box and it was Darren who blasted the loose ball past the keeper. Half time 1-0.

Mike and Paul got the boys in at half time and we expected to see the boys lift their game in the second half, but although chances came, chances went and as the game wore on Inch began to sense they had a chance. They had the ball in the net after Rian had saved a header but the forward who stole in to turn the ball into the net must have been offside at the header. The Colts sideline breathed a collective sigh of relief as instead of a restart, a free kick in the box was awarded. On another day a penalty might have been awarded for two separate challenges on Lee but with the ref judging that both times the ball was won the game remained balanced on a knife edge. With chances going a begging for Ben, Dean, Nick, Daniel, Mark and Tony the cushion would not come. The defence, Dean, Gavin, Chris, Ben and Rian had to stay alert, and they and the hard working centre midfielders Darren and Grant kept Inch at bay - just - to ensure the three points were won. When full time came, it was perhaps time to reflect that a tougher three points might be hard to find.

Finally best wishes to one of our missing players today - Bradley - get well soon.'