Poulton Youth U10s B Team v T.C.F.C U10s Red in the Poulton & District League

21 April 2010 , Kick Off : 18:00 Score 1 - 2

Captain: Harrison Monteiro
Thorntons Man of the Match: Non Assigned.
Referee: Non Assigned. ( 0 )
Team:

• Jonathan Cardwell 
• Harry Wilson 
• Jack Porter 
• Alex McCaskill 
• Harrison Monteiro 
• Jack Gardner 
• Ryan Gardner 

Thornton lined up with Alex McCaskill between the sticks. Jack Porter and Jack Gardner were in defence. Jonathan Cardwell was playing a defensive midfield role, with Harrison Monteiro and Ryan Gardner providing the attack from midfield. Harry Wilson was the lone striker.

Thornton kicked the game off but were immediately under pressure from a Poulton side that was looking to take an early lead. Despite a few missed opportunities in the opening minutes, Poulton did take the lead inside the first five minutes. They attacked down the wing (with the ball going out on two occasions but the ref not seeing either incident) before playing the ball square about five yards outside the Thornton box, the shot came in and beat Alex who was off his line, Jack P tried to clear on the goal line but he couldn’t keep the ball out, 1-0.

Another Poulton attack saw Alex forcing the ball behind for a corner which Thornton won possession from and broke on the counter. Jonathan received the ball midway inside the Poulton half before being caught on the foot through a bad challenge, the ref signalled to play the advantage but declined to award Thornton a free kick when the advantage never came. Jonathan hobbled off the pitch before returning minutes later.

Fired up and looking for revenge, Jonathan almost made Poulton pay after a fine dipping effort from the halfway line. However, the keeper was on his toes and caught the ball two yards off his line.

After a shaky start, Jack P and Jack G were looking very strong in defence, and neither was looking to let anything else past them. They stopped the Poulton attacks before they reached the Thornton penalty area.

Ryan made a good run down the left wing before crossing into the centre for Harry, but he couldn’t steer his shot on target, and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Harrison had a fine solo effort denied by the Poulton keeper after beating two men on the edge of the box. Jonathan tried his luck again from distance with an excellent strike, but once more the keeper was alert and saved well.

Thornton ended the first half much the better side, but they just couldn’t find the breakthrough that they were looking for.

Half Time 1-0

Poulton began the second half in the same way they did the first. They were looking for an early goal. Their central midfielder looked to play a long ball over the top of the Thornton defence, but Jack P headed clear to Jonathan in the middle. Their next attack was halted by Jack G with a sliding tackle to knock the ball out for a throw.

Thornton got a deserved equaliser five minutes into the second half when Harry found Ryan to his left, who finished a good move by slotting the ball to the keeper’s right and into the back of the net, 1-1, and cue a cheeky celebration from Harry who ran past the Poulton crowd with a finger to his lips after they were shouting and moaning throughout the first half.

Harry went close to putting Thornton ahead when he beat the keeper to the ball on the edge of the area, he attempted to lob him but the keeper got a touch to deny what would have been an excellent goal.

Poulton were looking to get a second but were denied by the back three on more than one occasion, with some outstanding defending from Thornton.

Harrison made it 1-2 when he followed up a rebound after the Poulton keeper saved from Ryan’s shot.

Jonathan played an excellent ball through the middle to Harry, who then found Harrison on the overlap, but he couldn’t hit the target and the ball went out for a goal kick.

The last five minutes of the game saw Poulton throwing everything they had at Thornton, but once again the away side were superb in shutting out the attacks. The two Jacks blocked everything that came their way. Harrison also made a fantastic block in the final 30 seconds when he slid in to deflect behind a shot that was heading into the bottom corner of the goal.

Full Time 1-2

T.C.F.C Goal Scorers

• Ryan Gardner  ( 1 ) 
• Harrison Monteiro  ( 1 )