Twin Oaks FC U15's V Halsford Lions

Imberhorne School

After a great set of results in their friendly matches and the brilliant success last week in a competitive pre-season 11-a-side tournament it was now time for Twin Oaks to focus on the league and the long awaited opening game of the season.

The first match of the 2008/2009 campaign found Twin Oaks playing away against the newly promoted side Halsford Lions. Despite overnight and early morning downpours of rain the pitch at Imberhorne School in East Grinstead was in a good playable condition when both sides took to the field of play to get the new season underway.

The first 20 minutes of the first-half saw Twin Oaks camped in the home-sides half and had it not been for a series of missed chances the away side could have easily gone ahead.

It only seemed a matter of time before the away-side would score but as it turned out it was Halsford Lions who took the lead on 27 minutes. In one of their first forages into the Twin Oaks half, a curled cross into the penalty area from the right side of the pitch managed to elude defenders, attackers and the Twin Oaks goalkeeper alike and more by luck than judgement found the corner of the net. 1-0 to Halsford Lions.

After this shock set-back Twin Oaks continued to play the better football but they controversially found themselves two goals behind after 35 minutes. A long through ball by Halsford Lions was chased down by Howard in the Twin Oaks defence. A blatant push in the back, more akin to rugby than football, by an on-running attacker (despite the frantic flag waving by the linesman) was not given by the referee and the ball found its way into the net via another attacking player tapping in the ball from the six-yard box, arguably in what seemed to be an offside position. Score was now 2-0 to the home team.

As if things could not get any worse a deflected shot after 37 minutes gave the home-side a 3-0 advantage. The ball somehow finding the net after looping high into the air after a blocked shot, with the Twin Oaks keeper unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.

With all to do in the second-half Twin Oaks, like the first-half, took the game to their opponents, however unlike the first-half they managed to make better use of the chances that they created. The score soon became 3-1 after 48 minutes after a fine long ball into the Halsford Lions area from Grant in the Twin Oaks defence was only half cleared by the goalkeeper. The ball found its way to Scott in the midfield who swiftly moved the ball forward and poked in a low shot from the edge of the box. The score now 3-1.

Ten minutes later and the score became 3-2. Continuing to dominate the play Twin Oaks had forced several corners during the opening 15 minutes of the second-half. Previous corner kicks had proved fruitless but this time a whipped in corner from the right saw Harry rise to the ball and head the ball towards the goal, the ball clipped off of a defender, who struggled in vain to keep the ball from hitting the back of the net.

A minute later the score was nearly 3-3 after a fine weaving run by Harry saw the ball clipping off the far post and out of play after his shot had beaten the out-stretched keeper.

Twin Oaks continued to press forward to in search of an equalising goal, which at times left them open to the counter-attack. A magnificent save by Aaron in the Twin Oaks goal late in the game reminded the away side that there were in fact two teams playing in this match. Despite all of their second-half dominance Twin Oaks were unable to find the net again and it was to be the home side that finished the game 3-2 winners.

After a good battling performance, especially by the midfield players, and some fine football it was a disappointing start to the new season by Twin Oaks, however at this level of football you can ill afford to give away a three goal head start to your opponents.

Heads-up lads all is not lost, there is a long season ahead and I am sure we will be in there with a shout come the end.

Goalscorers -
Scott (48 mins)
Harry (58 mins)

Man of the Match - Scott