Twin Oaks FC U12's V Forest Row U12's
|
11th Mar 2006 Time 24 Ltd |
|
Twin Oaks FC U12's 2
v
Forest Row U12's 1
Memorial Playing Fields
With no match last Saturday East Grinstead Town having played their game in hand were now level on points with Twin Oaks at the top of the league table. With only five games of the season left it was crucial that Twin Oaks focussed on turning in some top level performances if they were to lift the league title in their first ever season. Today's game would have even more bearing on who won the title as Twin Oaks were up against the third placed side in the league, Forest Row, who still had a chance of winning the league themselves. This important away game took place on a cold and damp early spring morning on a sloping and smaller than average sized pitch.
The match kicked-off with both sides looking to gain the early advantage. The opening ten minutes or so of the game became a midfield battle with neither side really posing any type of threat in front of goal.
It took until half-way through the first half before the Twin Oaks were able to put together any prolonged period of attacking play. Playing down the slope and on the damp surface they were finding it hard to judge the pace of the through ball to the forwards. Forest Row, for now, seemed content with just containing the play of the away side.
The all important break through came on 24 minutes when an over the top ball found Bradley running in on goal. Much to the delight of the away supporters, he was able to skilfully control the ball and place it past the Forest Row goalkeeper into the net. 1-0 to Twin Oaks. The players celebrated their opening goal by running over to share their excitement with Liam, who recovering from a recent operation, was watching the game from the side-line.
The goal seemed to calm the nerves and take the pressure off of the away side. The game now entered a passage of play that saw the top of the table side producing some lovely passing football. One such passing move, a neat one-two between Cameron and Bradley, saw Cameron score Twin Oaks second goal on 26 minutes.
With the score-line now standing at 2-0, Twin Oaks now looked in total control of the game.
As the match approached half-time, it seemed that this would remain the score, but a highly debatable decision by the referee on the stroke of half-time saw a penalty kick being awarded to Forest Row. Tim, jumping to clear the ball out of the defence, had been judged to have pushed the attacking player in the back inside the box. The away supporters were incensed. From the resulting spot kick Forest Row scored to make the half-time score 2-1.
The second half for Twin Oaks now became a choice of going forward in search of a third and decisive goal or holding on to what they had. Either way the on-looking away supporters knew that the next 30 minutes would prove to be a nerve jangling affair.
In the second half the home side had their fair share of possession, but the attacking play and chances on goal that they produced were met by a resolute Twin Oaks defence. Twin Oaks themselves had a few chances to kill-off the game during the second half, but the match like the earlier part of the first half, had now turned into somewhat of a midfield battle. As the game progressed and then neared its end Forest Row created a couple of great chances to equalise but it was the Twin Oaks side, determined not to allow the game to slip away from them, that held firm to run out 2-1 winners.
A strong well organised Twin Oaks defence and midfield was the key to winning this game, with Howard and Matt both having good games. Well done lad’s, but try not to give us too many scares and close finishes like this !!!!
Goalscorers - Cameron, Bradley
M.O.M - Grant & Tim