Under 11's. Division 5. Home v Whaley Bridge Juniors

Result - Reddish North End 1 Whaley Bridge Juniors 2

The first half was all Whaley Bridge, just like the last game they came at us down their right side. They won almost every 50/50 ball with our lads just not showing commitment in the tackles, it was the old "20 minutes to get going" routine all over again!

Whaley had a few chances to score and to be honest they should have done, despite the "Whaley Bridge linesman" telling his team our keeper is rubbish - well let me tell you, our keeper Aaron saved everything they threw at him in the first half!

It was in the last 5 minutes we started to compete a little more and Whaley bridge couldn't break us down, half time 0 - 0.

Second half we had the bit between our teeth, we pressed forward with more determination and created chances. Whaley still played some good football and got a few breaks but we dealt with them.

It was becoming apparent that when our wingers Connor and Nathan were running with the ball, they were destroying their defenders for pace so feeding them the ball was important. Fifteen minutes into the half and on an attack, a cross from Connor on the left comes into the box with Nathan running in, gets on the end of it and strikes home into the bottom corner, 1 - 0.
 
We had plenty more chances this half now playing with confidence and could have scored another, Nathan puts a peach of a cross from the by-line into the box, the ball fell to 3 of our players who all had a stab at a shot but the ball was bouncing all over the place off players in the crowded penalty area, it was like watching a pinball machine! Whaley caught us on the break and scored the equalizer with 10 minutes left.
 
From the spot kick we pressed forward, we had more chances to score, Lewis Marley had a couple of strikes go wide. Minutes later, Nathan aims a shot low for the corner but the keeper makes a great diving save to his right.

With all this pressure Whaley again grab a break and score! It was a nightmare, 2 - 1 down. To be fair to our boys, they tried everything to get back a goal, punting the ball up front at every opportunity saw our last chance of the game fall to Nath, a cracking strike on the half volley going high into the corner but again the keeper dives and makes a remarkable save, well done to their keeper, he won the game for Whaley Bridge today.

How we lost this game was unbelievable, we deserved something from the game if not the win, but Whaley bridge did well to come back and take the points.

Well done all our lads, heads up and ready for Bramhall North Tuesday night.

Scorers : Nathan (1)

Man of the match : Connor