Key Sports Knights vs AFC Ewell U9 Match, 2-1 written by Tim Lawrence
0-0
Yes, that’s right folks….0-0! A rare goalless draw that saw AFC carve out the best of the chances which were few and far between in a well fought game. The pitch had more bobbles than a nobbly bobbly as the knights made it feel like a cup tie with their route one football that could not find a way through the AFC defence all morning. As the game progressed tension started to mount but AFC strung together a series of great moves but just couldn’t find the back of the net! Harrison got the crowd off their feet in the final quarter, with a wonder strike that was launched to the top right, but was saved well by the big lad in goal.
Starting Line-up:
Leo, Frankie, Flynn
Harrison, Lukas, Noah
George in the sticks
Subs: Albert, Finn & Teddy
As it happened:
A late morning kick-off meant the AFC fans were out in full force and the first outing for Olive (puppy) who was able to attend given we were playing in a park! The park like surface took the travelling team a short while to get used to but with the sun shining and the crowd in full voice, it truly was a perfect day for a game of soccer!
After an inspirational team talk to fire up the troops, Matt was quickly called in to action to tie up the first set of boot laces!
1st Quarter: 0-0
The Knights kicked off with some early route one football which Flynn got straight to work with a superb tackle and cleared the ball away. The ball is launched forward again by the Jets and Frankie gets his head to it and away!
AFC mount their first attack with some great work by Harrison down the flank, but his cross goes out for a goal kick.
Noah is called in to action and passes to Flynn who moves it forward but out for an AFC throw.
The ball sits up nicely for Flynn outside the box who volleys but the shot rebounds off a defender. Flynn has another go but the big lad in goal saves.
Lukas reads the long ball forward and defends well and passes out from the back.
Some great work from Flynn in the middle of the park who finds Leo, but his shot is just wide, unlucky!
The Knights launch the ball forward again and this time it’s Lukas with a solid header away!
Harrison sprinting towards the ball with a classic shoulder barge and the ref blows for the end of the quarter.
2nd Quarter: 0-0
After more motivational words to pump the team up, Matt is called in to action to tie up the next pair of laces!
Flynn gets straight back where he left off with a superb tackle and passes to Harrison, but the ball chases away and out for a GK.
Frankie starts the next move forward with an excellent drag back and simple pass to Flynn who slots in Leo but out for a GK.
The Knights goal kick was launched forward and Flynn headers out for a throw.
Frankie manages to find Flynn again who pings the ball over but out for a GK.
More route one football from the Knights is cleaned up again by the AFC defence and out for a GK.
George with a simple pass to Lukas who clears high over the attackers to Flynn who manages to chest the ball and turn like I wish I could! The Knights manage to defend the ball which ends up with the big lad in goal.
Subs: Flynn / Harrison / Frankie have a breather and on come Albert / Finley / Teddy
Teddy full of energy and snapping away at the heels of the defender who panics and wins an AFC throw.
The Knights send the ball long again but no problem for Lukas who shields the ball out to safety and a GK for George.
George passes to Lukas who’s off and away, but the ball chases out for a Knights throw.
Great link up play between Albert and Finley who dinks the ball over the opposition and AFC win a corner.
AFC swing the ball in and off their Goalie’s knee, but Finley’s follow up shot is just wide and out for a GK.
Teddy controls the ball well and retains possession from a long ball up front, but the Knights defend.
The Knights launch an attack down the right-hand side and a shot from an acute angle saw George nonchalantly control the ball with his foot, against the post, then picked the ball up…. Of course that was deliberate!
End of the half and still 0-0!
3rd Quarter: 0-0
Matt gets the team going again with more words of wisdom and is promptly asked to tie up the next set of laces ?
The 3rd quarter kicks off with Leo racing on to a good through ball from Finley, but the Knights are able to defend. AFC work the ball wide to Albert who does well and crosses to Leo, but his effort is just wide!
Teddy latches on to a ball down the wing, but the Knights defender manages to clear to safety.
Great persistence from Finley who manages to win an AFC throw. AFC manage to work the ball forward and earn a corner that is swung in, but Noah’s shot hits a defender and away.
Lukas breaks down the Knight’s attack with a thumping tackle and sets Leo on his way down the wing. Leo crosses well but there were no AFC bodies in the box and the Knights manage to clear.
Finley battling well in the middle and Teddy sprints forward to support, but the ball goes out for an AFC corner.
Noah swings in a great corner but the ball sails through the crowd and out for a Knights throw.
The Knights launch another dangerous looking long ball forward, but Lukas is there again with a great tackle and pass to Noah who clears it away.
Noah attempts a drag back but gets caught, but Lukas is there to cover and clears the ball away to safety.
Subs: Noah / Lukas / Leo off and on come Flynn / Harrison / Frankie
The Knights win a dodgy free kick which goes out for a corner.
Flynn is in with a firm tackle and is up to collect the ball and he pass it out nicely.
The quarter ends after some great work from Frankie who does well but the defender manages to tackle and out for a GK.
4th Quarter: 0-0
The fourth quarter started with Matt tying more boot laces and Frankie gets straight to it with some excellent work down the flank by skinning the first defender but is beaten by the second tackle and out for an AFC throw.
The Knights launch an attack and a dangerous through ball on the half-way line, see’s Flynn taking the man out to break up the attack.
Flynn and Albert link up well down the left, but Albert’s shot is just wide.
Another pass from Flynn to Albert who crosses but out for an AFC corner. Flynn crosses in and bounces to Harrison but his shot is out for a GK.
Flynn puts in another excellent tackle and wins a throw.
Albert is then off down the wing and puts in a great pass to Teddy who pokes it goal bound but the big lad in goal saves well with his leg… Unlucky!
The Knights launch it forward with a long goal kick, but AFC defence manage to clear.
Teddy receives the ball well and puts in a good pass to Albert but the ball chases away for a GK.
Excellent pressure again from Teddy who’s out from the traps who tackles the defender, but they recover and out for an AFC corner.
Harrison puts in another classic shoulder barge and out for a GK.
AFC win another corner and Flynn holding back on the edge of the box collects the clearance and shoots from distance, but his shot almost puts in Teddy but out for a GK.
The final attack of note was the closest by Harrison that had the away fans on their feet towards the end of the match. The ball bounced forward and sat up lovely on the edge of the box and Harrison volleyed it towards the top right, only for the big lad in goal to pull out a decent save. So close to being the match winner which had the away fans asking to see the Knights keeper’s driving license to check his age!