Boys U9's Hurricane - Khalsa Lions
Stockton U9 Hurricanes 8 - 3 Khalsa Lions U9s
Freddie 4’
Leo 7’
Rafa 12’ & 25’
Dom 23’ & 24’
Murat 30’
George B 45’
The Hurricanes enjoyed their first home win of the season on an unseasonably warm, mid September morning.
Buoyed by their first away win of the season against Kineton last week, Stockton were looking to carry their recent good form into today’s game.
The game set off at a blistering pace with Stockton playing a tidy passing game and looking to the flanks to do some damage to Khalsa early on.
Stocktons relentless pressure saw Freddie open the scoring with a well taken shot into the far corner of the goal following great work at the back from George T.
Shortly afterwards, a lovely interchange in midfield between Dom and George B released Freddie down the wing who cut inside and smashed a shot off the post with Leo narrowly missing the rebound.
Minutes later, a marauding run down the left wing saw Leo rewarded with a fine finish into the roof of the net from an acute angle, after cutting inside his marker.
Stockton were in the ascendancy but were quickly delivered a wake up call when the impressive captain (No. 5) for Khalsa played a defence splitting through ball which Jake and Edward did their best to defend, only for the Khalsa striker to slide the ball in.
Shortly after the Khalsa goal, Stockton made a number of changes, with team captain, Dom Weedle, taking the game by the scruff of the neck and marauding forward to frighten the Khalsa defence with some strong shots from distance.
Rafa was having the game of his life and profited from yet another slick passing sequence between George B and Dom, arrowing a low shot into the far corner.
Dom then saw an effort whistle passed the post, followed by a flurry of Stockton shots from Murat, Barney and Rafa being saved by the impressive Khalsa goal keeper.
Jake and George T were bossing the defence and didn’t give the Khalsa attack any opportunity to add to their tally.
The pressure finally became too much for Khalsa with Dom crashing in a 20 yard shot and wheeling off in celebration. Almost immediately after the restart, another fine effort from Dom crept under the goal keeper and rippled the Khalsa net.
Immediately after the restart, an intelligent ball from George B released the effervescent Rafa who forced the defence into conceding a series of kick ins. Rafa got his reward by pouncing like a cat, from a defensive mix up to bag his second of the match.
The second half saw Stockton go through the gears with some of their hard work in training really starting to show with Toby, Barney and George T playing some lovely stuff across the defence and down the wings to open up a tired Khalsa defence.
Murat was a constant threat in the centre and got his much deserved goal following a mazy run down the wing and clipped cross from Freddie, landing at Murats feet, 10 yards out to crash a block buster into the top corner of the net for the best team goal of the game.
More hard work from Barney and Toby down the left saw Stockton spurn a number of chances to put the game to bed and if it wasn’t for luck, dodgy bobbles and sheer exhaustion, Stockton could have had a cricket score.
Khalsa fought their way back into the game and threatened to upset the order with another 2 goals from their captain, only for George B to seal a fine win for Stockton with a poked effort after a crazy goal mouth scramble.
Big shout out to Edward in goal who, throughout the game, commanded his box with confidence, providing renewed assurance to George T and Toby that “safe paws Pavli” won’t let them down.
All in all, the improvement week on week is there to see with some of the training drills really starting to pay dividends.
Managers and parents man of the match: Rafa Lewis (although yet again, it could’ve and should’ve been every single one of the boys).
Onwards.
