Twin Oaks FC U12's V Partridge Green U12's
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25th Mar 2006 Time 24 Ltd |
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Twin Oaks FC U12's 3
v
Partridge Green U12's 2
Jolesfield Common
Twin oaks, having successfully defeated two of their closest rivals (Forest Row and Old Dorkinians) in their last two games, meant that the league title was now a two horse race between East Grinstead Town and Twin Oaks. A win in this third to last game of the season against Partridge Green would see Twin Oaks maintaining at least a three point lead at the top of the table.
This was to be the third time this season that these two sides, with Twin Oaks on both previous occasions winning without letting in a single goal. As you will see from this match report, today’s game was to be a close run thing.
Twin Oaks started the game well with several attacks being made on the Partridge Green goal. Cameron was unlucky not to score early on when he hit a cracking shot towards goal only to see his effort hit the crossbar. Continuing to attack Cameron was to get his reward after 15 minutes when he was able to collect the ball and round the goalkeeper and stroke the ball into the empty net. 1-0 to the Twin Oaks .
It would have been easy to think that Twin Oaks would go on to win this game as comfortably as they had on the two previous encounters between these two sides, but Partridge Green had certainly improved as a team from the one that Twin Oaks had played against earlier in the season. Partridge Green found themselves back in the game on 20 minutes when a free-kick was awarded for a debatable foul on one of their players just outside the box.
The resulting direct free-kick flew into the back of the net over the head of the Twin Oaks keeper, 1-1 the score.
The game then turned into a bit of a messy affair with several fouls and verbal exchanges taking place on the pitch. Despite all of this Twin Oaks knew they had to keep their cool if they were to overcome the opposition.
On 23 minutes they must have thought they had regained the lead when Harry somehow missed a sitter from close range. At half-time the score was to stay at 1-1.
The second half started with Twin Oaks taking the game to Partridge Green. An attack down the right hand side of the pitch, after 3 minutes of the restart, saw the linesman flag for hand-ball. With Ben trying to take the ball round a Partridge Green player in the box the ball, I feel, unintentionally clipped against the arm of the defender.
The referee acknowledging the linesman pointed to the penalty spot. Tim stepped up to take the kick and calmly placed the ball into the corner of the net. 2-1 to Twin Oaks.
Although looking the better team, if Twin Oaks now felt that the game was theirs they were to be much mistaken.
With 13 minutes of the half played Partridge Green were to score another equaliser. After a failed defensive clearance, the ball was fed back into the box to an unmarked forward who was able to slot the ball into the goal.
There were some shouts of offside but the goal stood, 2-2 the score.
During the next stage of the game Twin Oaks, pressing forward, were able to mount several attacks down both flanks and it was from a swift move down the left hand side of the pitch that they were to score their third goal.
The ball was quickly moved from defence to attack and the resulting cross whipped into the box by Cameron seemed to confuse the Partridge Green defenders, Ben cutting in from the right managed to provide the decisive header to send the ball into the net. 18 minutes of the second half gone and it was now 3-2 to Twin Oaks.
Again like the first half some niggling fouls, strong tackling and verbal exchanges were to disrupt the last part of the match with the referee having to stop the game at one point to spell out to both teams that he would not stand for anymore nonsense. As the game entered its last stages the away supporters nervously awaited the final whistle, but there was to be one twist before the end of the game.
In the last minute of the game the referee bizarrely gave a penalty to the home side for an alleged push in the back by a Twin Oaks defender on one of the Partridge Green players inside the box. Certainly from my position as linesman I could not see why this was given. The resulting penalty was amazingly saved by Aaron in the Twin Oaks goal, much to the delight of the rest of the Twin Oaks players and supporters. Not long after this incident the referee blew the final whistle with Twin Oaks ending the game 3-2 winners.
In this too close for comfort game, Twin Oaks were deserved winners. A good strong team performance had won them the match. But worthy of a match reporters mention were Howard who had a good game in defence and Murat who did well in midfield when coming on as a substitute.
Goalscorers - Tim, Cameron, Ben
M.O.M - Aaron & Harry