Twin Oaks FC U12's V Albury Eagles U12's
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22nd Apr 2006 Time 24 Ltd |
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Twin Oaks FC U12's 3
v
Albury Eagles U12's 0
Albury Sports Ground
On a warm spring morning, the picturesque village of Albury (near Guildford) was to be the setting for Twin Oaks last game of the season in the Under 12c Division of the Horsham and District Youth League. After a lengthy car journey, (with some parents and fellow supporters deciding to take the more scenic cross-country route to the game), the match started with Twin Oaks, after achieving a terrific six wins out of their last six games only needing to avoid a heavy defeat to claim the league title in only their first season together as a team. With so much resting on the game the overwhelming feeling of nervous excitement and tension understandably seemed to have got to the Twin Oaks players, let alone the away supporters waiting in anticipation on the side-line. Early on in the game this resulted in the ball spending a lot of time in the air, with Twin Oaks unable to get the ball down and play the style of football that had brought them to within 60 minutes of winning the league.
After an apprehensive start both sides settled down and both had first half chances to score the all important first goal. Twin Oaks stringing some fine passing moves together had a number of chances to open the scoring. A terrific rifled shot from Jack that should have seen them going ahead was well saved by the Albury Eagles goalkeeper. In a frantic first half Twin Oaks did in fact find the back of the Albury Eagles net, however in a well worked move Ben was judged to be just offside when the ball was played through to him by Bradley. Albury Eagles best chance came from a counter attack that saw one of their strikers being allowed to turn in the penalty area and fire in a shot that just went past the post. In a half that finished 0-0 it was Twins Oaks that looked the better of the two sides going into the much needed half-time break.
Rallied by the team manager and coach at half-time, Twin Oaks started the second half well and began to produce the kind of football that the travelling fans, had been used to seeing through-out most of the season. A very well organised and sturdy Twin Oaks defence backed by the safe-hands of their goalkeeper limited the home team's chances on goal, whilst the hard-working midfield and forwards combined to create some fine attacking play. One such attacking move after some 6 minutes of second half play saw Ben move into the Albury Eagles penalty area after cutting in from the right, as he tried to move the ball past the defender it appeared to strike his hand and the referee pointed to the spot, penalty to Twin Oaks. Ben stepped up to take the penalty, a low shot that just squeezed underneath the keeper and crossed the line. 1-0 to Twin Oaks.
If this opening goal came as a great relief to the Twin Oaks players and supporters alike, a second goal on 18 minutes now made the dream of the league title become more of a reality. A break down the left by Cameron saw him feed a pass into the opposition’s penalty area to Bradley who neatly clipped the ball over the diving keeper into the empty net, 2-0 to the away side.
Albury Eagles to their credit never gave up and there were a couple of chances for them to score and get back into the game, but Twin Oaks had other ideas. Not content with just playing-out the last 10 minutes of the game to record a title winning victory, they continued to press forward. With only seconds of the game remaining another attacking move down the left saw the ball passed into Jack who from the edge of the box let fly with a thunderous right foot shot. The ball swerving away from the goalkeeper rocketed into the back of the net.3-0 to Twin Oaks. A terrific goal and what a fantastic way to finish off a fantastic season for Twin Oaks.
From the resulting kick-off the referee blew the whistle to end the match, this in-turn started the mass celebrations on the pitch by the Twins Oaks players and supporters alike.
Personally I would like to congratulate all of the players, team officials and supporters for a memorable season.
Many thanks and I look forward to the enjoying the next....
"Championees, Championees, oway oway oway"
Goalscorers - Jack, Ben, Bradley
M.O.M - THE TEAM