Young Guns vs. Doncaster Rovers 11.07.09 (A) - 6:2 (3:2)
After a 2-day-preparation camp with a great indoor training session at Wesley and a “crushing” Bowling Night at Strike (by the way perfectly organized by our secret team manager) the Young Guns were ready for their first game of the second round of the season. With 7 decisive wins in 7 games we had to go all the way to Doncaster. The first encounter with the Rovers saw us a clear 8-0 winner in our first game of the home-and-away-season. However, using our central intelligence force we had to learn that Doncaster has had a pretty successful run ever since only losing one more match and certainly being one of the stronger sides in the competition.
And boy… some 50 minutes after the ref’s first whistle we all knew why we wouldn’t forget that game too quickly. It was not only the challenge that Doncaster threw at us and the thrilling performance the Young Guns delivered, it was also a new experience for all of us: Playing a game in “The Cage”, being a fantastic fenced pitch with an artificial grass surface. Having had an indoor training session during the week certainly helped us to quickly get adjusted to the fast and very even ground.
However, it was the Rovers having the better start into the game. The defence around Corey, Victor, skipper Ryan, and Justin was still trying to find themselves in their positions, when the Rovers’ dangerous No. 11 appeared home alone in front of goalie Moritz. A hard flat shot into the long corner left Moritz with no chance. And all of a sudden the Guns found themselves in a position they are not really used to: Being behind, after only a couple of minutes into the game.
But who thought that the Young Guns would be demoralized by such a set back saw him- or herself proven wrong quickly. With the strong wind in the back the boys started to fight back straight away. With smart passes through the midfield Josh, Alex, and James fed our forwards Nick and Callum with good balls to put pressure on the Rovers’ backline. The game went back and forth with both sides putting a lot of efforts and passion into it.
As Doncaster closed the game down with a very solid defence we needed one of these brilliant sparks by our No. 10 Josh to put us back into the game also from a result perspective. He intercepted a goalkick, dribbled around two defenders and finished this fine move with a classic cracker shot high into the left corner. This goal certainly went into the draw for the goal of the day in the individual’s performance category.
A few moments later Justin forced his opponent to clear the ball over the line on the right wing. He quickly picked up the ball and launched a long throw in into the center where Nick tricked his defender and let the ball through to Alex. Alex in his own calm style said “thank you”, controlled the ball, looked up, and tipped it pass Doncaster’s goalie to give our team the lead. The cheer squad was hard to calm down, the noise coming from the fan block was deafening, and the game entered its best phase of the first half. The next chance was Doncaster’s. Although our defenders fought hard, they could not avoid one of the Rovers’ attackers launching a shot from half right. Moritz dived down but could not reach the ball. The shock was visible on the faces of both players and supporters… but, with a big bang the ball clashed against the post and flicked back into the game. Poooh, the luck was on our side in this situation. But the Guns deserved this luck. All defenders, be it Victor, Justin, Corey, or Ryan stood very strong in their tackles and gave their midfielders a great back up. Especially Josh and Alex, often supported by Corey and Victor, fed good balls to Nick and Callum who created a lot of confusion in front of Doncaster’s goal.
The next nerve wrecker was at the Rover’s end again. James put the ball down for a corner. Our forwards posted themselves around the box as we had practised numerous times before. James booted the ball into the center and Corey with a flash of a sprint was fastest at the ball. Unfortunately his first touch shot went pass the right post by only a few centimetres.
The Young Guns increased the pressure again. But that sometimes is also a bit dangerous as it tempts the kids to give up their defensive structure. And as a result of this, all of a sudden the Rovers’ No. 11 again had a one-on-one situation against Moritz. With a lot of class he put the ball away for the 2-2 equalizer. Game on!!! And yes, this game definitely was the challenge we were all waiting for so long. Both teams displayed superb soccer skills, ran great attacks, earned lots of corners and had plenty of shots at goal.
Then the Young Guns had a brilliant 45 seconds. It was corner for Doncaster. The backline and midfield perfectly marked the attackers leaving them no room. So the only chance for Doncaster was to kick the ball flat in front of our goal. Moritz was the quickest to the ball, picked it up and threw it out Victor on the left wing. Victor passed the ball on to Alex who looked up an played a beautiful through ball to James who had an open run at Doncaster’s goal. With the speed of a cheetah he left all defenders behind him and crashed the ball from 5 meters half high into the right corner. A ripper goal, giving us the lead for halftime.
And time for a breather. For the boys, the coach, but apparently even more important – for the cheer squad. There were rumours for a few seconds that some investigations would have to be initiated to identify who was topping the “most excited barracker competition”.
And also time for a few changes in our line up. James put on the goalie’s shirt and gloves. Alex took the engine position to organize the defence with Nick, Josh, and Cal. The midfield motors in the 2nd half were Mozza, Cozza and Victor, with Justin and Ryan mostly in the spearhead position.
All of us probably thought that the coming 25 minutes could be anywhere as thrilling and exciting as the first 25. But… what was about to come, was probably some of the Young Guns best – real “champagne soccer”. Learning from some mistakes in the defensive positioning before the break, the Guns now played with a perfect structure in the back, keeping their positions with all required concentration, tackling hard, and simply not wanting to concede any further goal against us. And this impressive will-power was certainly necessary as we had the strong breeze blowing straight into our faces now.
The first few minutes were all Doncaster’s. A spade of corners saw us pushed back to very last line of defence. On one of these occasions Nick was the last saviour when he scraped the ball off the goal line coming to Bobby’s support. Alex and Cal had to put their bodies on the line as well to avoid any further major damage. Josh, as usual, didn’t just leave it to his tackling skills; he tried hard to keep the ball in play and start attacks for our own team. An last not least, James, was out firing as goalkeeper, grabbing every ball that came towards him with courageous dives.
But after this first wave of attacks, the Guns got more and more control of what was happening out there. As the Rovers opened up their defence to push for the equalizer, our midfielders found plenty of space over the wings. One of the best attacks of the game started over the left wing. Corey won the ball and tipped it on to Ryan. He quickly turned and saw Moritz sprinting into open space. Ryan’s long cross found Moritz only 8 meters out of Doncaster’s goal. A great first touch, a look up, and a 100km/h shot, unfortunately missing the target by a few inches.
In the next 5 minutes the boys put Moritz into position over and over again. Justin, Corey, Ryan, and Victor managed over and over again to pass the ball to him and so helped Mozza to really warm up his sharp shooting skills now. 2 more of his torpedos were either kept by the goalkeeper or slightly missed the target. Not so after 10 minutes into the 2nd half. A corner could only be tipped out of the box by the defence. Moritz was fastest to the rebound and bombed the ball from a quick turn flat into the left corner. 4-2, and to some extent the resistance of the Rovers now seemed to be broken. Always in control in the back, the Young Guns now showed off their dribbling, combination, passing and shooting skills.
Alex almost scored from the halfway line, but his high shot went over the crossbar by a tiny little bit. Corey had a few behind the back heel kicks, Ryan always had an open eye for the team mate in the better position. Victor again covered plenty of ground supporting our backline and then carrying the ball along the left wing. And Justin integrated himself into the flow of our game as if he has played soccer for whole of his life.
Callum and Nick now really got control over Doncaster’s No. 11 which was very important for us to take control. Alex and Josh took on the organization and creative part of our defence. The good defensive game certainly was the basis for our successful second half. With 10 minutes to go the Guns prepared themselves for the goal of the day in the team-effort category. Corey, like so often before, won the ball and heeled it to Ryan on the left wing. Another quick turn and a long cross to the right wing where Moritz was all on his own having plenty of time to control the ball with a perfect first touch. It only took one more touch before the ball hit the back of the net with a big bang. 5-2. That definitely was the decider.
A few more minutes to play and still some time for some nice attacks. In the last seconds of the game Victor earned a throw in from the left wing. A quick pick up and a long throw into the center found… Moritz again. And in his known style he controlled the pill and booted it in again for his third, the team’s 4th or 5th hat trick of the season, all of them scored in one half.
That was it then. The final whistle ended a game to remember. The only left to do was to sing a loud and strong Happy Birthday to Cal who also earned the “Player of the Match Award” for his great positioning, outstanding team and tackling skills, and for being a real “rock” in our defence today.
Well done Young Guns. You really stood up to the challenge today. Parents, brothers, sisters, friends and other supporters of the team. You can be proud of this bunch of kids. They are a really good group to work with. We can be sure that there will be a lot more to be reported about them.
And what else was of interest this weekend? Well… if you are interested who won the Young Guns Bowling Challenge on Friday – ask the Crusher for a copy of the score sheets J.
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