Boys' U14A v Lady Manners

Date: Tuesday 10th November

Venue: Home k.o. 2.15

Team: ASTIN, HIBELL, GOODACRE, SANDERS, GINSBERG, ELEANOR, FROST (C), STALEY, JOHNSON-KERR, BALLANTYNE-ROWLAND, BINNS, LI

Result: W 2-1

Match Report: This was a much needed victory after two poor performances since the lengthy mid-season break. We were able to name a side that was close to full strength and saw greater sharpness from the start than had been evident in the two matches last week. Lady Manners offered a threat going forward and came close twice early on, almost capitalising on defensive errors from the home side. The surface invited good passing and Repton gradually began to assert themselves with Frost, Eleanor and Binns to the fore. Staley, too, looked bright early on. There were near misses, especially from corners, but the goal that seemed inevitable had not arrived when the half-time whistle sounded. Li had come on to replace Ginsberg and his pace and harrying began to trouble the opposition. Lady Manners, however, struck first, catching our back line a little square and finishing confidently. Unlike last week, the boys did not allow heads to drop and were rewarded as Li used his pace to get in behind the Manners defenders before producing a deft, chipped finish for his first A team goal. The match was now delicately poised and a good move down the right appeared to have culminated in a rather weak effort from Li. As everybody turned away, however, the unfortunate keeper saw the ball squirm under his body and roll agonisingly over the line. Li looked apologetic but 'they all count' and luck such as that can turn a season. Repton looked brittle at the back but held on for an important victory as last week's fitness training helped the boys to work right up until the final whistle. A good day for Li and, hopefully, a sign of better things to come in the coming weeks.