Boys' U16A v St Bede's

Date:
Tuesday 29th September

Venue:
Home. 2.15pm kick-off on Top Sale.

Team:
Carr (C), Croson (S), Priestly (L), Chapman, C. (N), Welch (S), Adams (C), Findlay (S), Jopson (P), Prutton (C), Riley (L), Sunner (N) capt., Chapman, B. (P), Jones (C), Edwards (O).

Result:
Repton 3 - 1 St Bede's

Match Report:
It seemed like business as usual when, 30 seconds after the starting whistle, an absolute howler of a poor pass from Cam Chapman gifted the visitors a goal. We might as well have rolled out the red carpet for them.

However, to their immense credit, the team did not crumble, or panic, and soon had a clear pattern of play set up. Carr had a magnificent day in goal, saving several goal-bound shots, while the back three of Croson, Priestly and Chapman dealt well with most of the opposition's attacks - although were perhaps a little too prone to being lost by their opposite numbers. We were industrious in midfield, too, although the pass to the strikers was too often an aerial lob, rather than a neat pass on the floor, and their defenders had a fairly easy opening period, in truth. To end the first half 1-0 down was an injustice, but a little tactical tweaking at half time set us up for a much better second half.

The quality of our football in the second half was, at times, excellent. Just two minutes after the break, a mazy solo run from Jopson broke through their defence and a deft touch with the outside right foot stroked the ball past the keeper for the long-awaited equaliser. From then on, we dominated: Priestly, in particular, was a rock at the back, while Croson and Chapman (later subbed for Jones) marked far more efficiently. Welch was a powerhouse in the holding midfield role, allowing Riley and Findlay to push forward with a series of one-twos up the left flank, tormenting the opposition midfield, and allowing Sunner, Prutton and Jopson chance after chance in the box. We hit the post several times; we hit over the bar or just wide several times; but it seemed that a winner was going to elude us.

Goals are like buses, however, and two minutes from the end a screamer on the edge of the area from Welch (can we believe that was his first ever goal in a Repton shirt?!) put us in a winning position, before yet another mazy run and tap-in from Findlay put the match beyond doubt right at the death.

So, a fine team effort: we encouraged each other, ran hard, and played to each other's strengths, while the opposition fell into bickering amongst themselves. Many thanks to ACC for his refereeing (and his inspiring words at half-time). Onwards and upwards from here!


Goals: Jopson (37), Welch (68), Findlay (70)

Man of the Match: ... lots to choose from - Carr, Riley, Welch, Jopson, Findlay - but this week's award goes to: Priestly.