Match Report - Under 8's, Sat 17th November 2007 at Rocklands.
Published date - Tue 20/11/07

Lakeford 4 - 1 Hillside

To start I must stress that the result is not indicative of the close and hard fought game that was played on Saturday with both team having chances.

The squad this week was John, Dillon, Alex D, Sam, Jak & Connor S. Sam started as Sub. It was a peculiar fixture as it involved us and Lakeford, both from Norwich, having to travel to Rocklands to play each other and then come home again!!

The game started well with both teams playing real football, the stuff your Grandad reminisces about, you know, players passing the ball to each other, end to end play, generally a hard, clean game. None of this route 1 stuff that these modern teams do.

After 5 minutes the deadlock was broken with Lakeford scoring from a well-worked move. To their credit the Hillside boys did not put their heads down but just got on with the job in hand and within a minute had evened the score. The ball was cleared from defence to midfield and then a lovely through ball was played to Connor. His first shot was blocked well by the keeper and Connor followed up placing the rebound well away from the keeper into the net. 1-1.

The second half Sam came on for Jak. The game continued where it had left off. Both teams had chances but on a break Lakeford put a hard cross into the box, which struck the hand of one of our players and after some indecision, and a lot of Lakeford shouts the referee gave a penalty, from which Lakeford scored. 2-1.

With 2 minutes to go Dillon had to come off after blocking a well-struck ball with his cold thigh that left him reeling. Jak came back on to support the cause.

Lakeford were given a free kick just outside the area from which they scored. 3-1.

The dying seconds ended up with Lakeford scoring from another powerful shot. 4-1.

With the full time whistle blown and hand shakes given both teams coaches and the referee were all agreed that this was one of the best kids football matches they’d witnessed and that it was played in a very good manner.

The Hillside boys played very well and against lesser teams would have came home with the result they deserve. Thanks all.

Duncan Crouch