Baldock Town Crusaders under 16 Match Reports 2007/08
Venue: The Knights Templar, Baldock
With Baldock winning there first 2 games of the season they where hoping to keep up a 100% start to the season. Baldock sat 2 points clear at the top and were the only side not to concede a goal after Fairlands shocked St. Neots last week and Bennington getting held by Sandy.
Baldock 5-1 Fairlands Blues
Last Season: D2-2 W3-1 W4-3
Subs: Cierzo, Fletcher, HarmanCaptain: Budd
Baldock came up against a speedy Fairlands side who shocked pre season favourites St. Neots to the delight of Baldock. Last seasons home game ended 2-2 as Baldock came from 2 down to draw including a last minute own goal from a Fairlands defender to rescue a point. Baldock also scraped a last minute winner last time they met all thanks to a last minute Brooking goal. This game was all about striker Slack as he grabbed 4 goals on his home debut to keep Baldock top! Fletcher signed on this week meaning he could play and Jones returned to the squad after being out with a virus. Centre back Jones replaces Barton in goal after Barton's call up for the County and another miss is right back Brooking with a knee injury.
The game got off to a lively start and Baldock could have been 3 or 4 up in the first 20 minutes. First chance came when a cross from the left was volleyed wide from just 6 yards by Budd. Slack created a couple of chances after getting clear, just volleying over from outside the box and a dinky lob resulting in the ball just going wide. Reeves created an opportunity for himself from the left and fired wide. A number of clear cut opportunities were created by Baldock's dominance and it was they who opened the scoring just after the 20 minute mark when a ball in from the right found Slack inside the centre of the 6 yard box and he diverted his header into the back of the net for his first league goal of the season. Just under a minute later Baldock caught Fairland's napping and from the right side Slack dribbled in and out and easily passed through 3 players and lifted the ball over over a 4th player before getting the ball onto his left peg and with only the keeper to beat and 8 yards out he drilled the ball into the corner. Fairland's sprinted forward looking for a reply and with the midfield wanting to attack it was always left with 5 or 6 against the Baldock back 4 but every time forced the players out wide and intercepted the ball before Fairland's could release a shot.
Baldock kept attacking and just after the half hour mark it was 3-0 and a hatrick for Slack who slotted his shot away from 10 yards. Fairland's released a first shot of the match which was blocked, then another straight at the keeper and scuffed one high over the bar. It wasn't to be the visitors day as Baldock pressed forward and struck a 4th 2 minutes before half time. Reeves grabbing his first goal for Baldock as he brock free from the left and lobbed the ball over the keeper and despite the defenders best efforts the ball found its way into the back of the net. In the second half Baldock weren't as lively and Fairlands put pressure on Baldock. Baldock had brung off Hart for Cierzo and Slack came off for last seasons top scorer Fletcher, Cierzo and Durkin swapping wings with each other. Hobson was staying solid and so was the whole back four with Simmons helping back most of the time. The full backs of Cierzo and Durkin went on some exciting runs up the flanks with promising results. Cierzo linked up well and found himself on goal only for the keeper to save. Durkin's runs resulted in many troubling crosses form the right and a shot with his left foot just curling wide. Not much trouble for Baldock as Fairland's had to try there luck from range though they couldn't get past the back 4. Baldock added a 5th goal with 15 minutes to go all thanks to Slack's 4th of the game! A ball over the top caused problems for the keeper which made him come out and Slack beat him to it, he turned onto his left peg and curled it around the keeper into an empty net. Fairland's went all out for it and left gaps in the middle which resulted in a couple of counter attacks by Simmon's but the defence got back to snuff out the danger and Harison was cruely played offside even though he seemed to be clearly onside. The last 5 minutes was vital though we were hanging on for a clean sheet but a ball to the left should of been delt with and we tried to pass it out. The ball was in that area of the field for a couple of minutes and got into the box. With the Baldock manager trying to tell them to get the ball clear a Fairland's player got his foot onto the ball and the ball was drilled into the bottom left corner. That was Baldock's first goal conceded this season! Baldock continued to attack and look for a 6th but settled for 5 and passed the ball around for the final couple of minutes. The whistle went and Baldock remain top after a convincing win!
Next game: Trident Tigers
Venue: The Knights Templar School, Baldock
Other results: Royston Crow Division 3:
Bennington Youth 3-4 Garden City Rangers
Stotfold Juniors 2-1 Sandy Colts
Trident Tigers 1-6 St. Neots Town Sky Blues
Other Baldock Teams:
Baldock Town Lancers P-P BSCFC Athletic
League Table: Royston Crow Division 3
ROYSTON CROW DIVISION 3 PAGE
I may also want to say that Baldock Knights under 15 manager J. Harper was disgusted by the FA allowing an academy side into the Herts County cup. The Knights are unbeaten in the league for over 2 years and are top of division 2 with 6 points out of 6 but went down 11-0 to Hitchin academy and was annoyed with the FA calling it a complete waste of an afternoon. The Crusaders under 16 manager J. Brooking agrees with J. Harper.
1 comment:
Interesting to know.
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