Hampton Reds U14 0 vs 1 Hillfield A F C U14 Red

Today we welcomed top of the league Hillfield, who have only tasted defeat in the league once this season so a tough game was expected.

The Reds, on a difficult run since the Christmas period, welcomed 2 new additions for this game, with Fynley and Salmeen bolstering our defensive options.

Having shipped so many goals in our previous game against Sutton, we really needed to make it more difficult for sides to break us down and then try to grow into matches, remembering of course that we have won 5 games in this division so we are not out of our depth.

The game started bright for both sides, with Omar’s pace causing Hillfield problems.

Unfortunately Hillfield got a lucky break when Harrison saved the initial attempt but it bounced back to the Hillfield player to bundle into the net. Frustrating to concede so early as I thought this might drop the lads heads, but it didn’t.

Hampton were a match for Hillfield and the new defensive additions showed great pace and strength to thwart any Hillfield attacks. It was Hampton who looked a threat in the first half, with Finley and Omar causing problems and the latter going close with a shot across the box that went wide. We had several corners too, which were excellent deliveries and disappointing not to score one of them - something we’ll be working on in training - with Fynley coming closest, nodding it wide.

Half time 0-1.

The second half followed the same pattern, Hampton standing strong and Hillfield not enjoying being bullied on the ball - something I haven’t been able to say much this season !!

For all our defensive effort, we did run out of steam from an attacking perspective in the late stages. It’s understandable though, sporadic games over the last 4 months, and 3 players fasting too (a monumental effort by those Guys by the way).

Hillfield broke down the left side and Sal put in a great challenge, but the ref (from 40 yards away) decided this was a penalty. A poor decision I thought, his view wasn’t clear through the other players and he’s guessed it based on shouts.

Anyway, the Hillfield player stepped up and hit a powerful shot to Harrison’s right, only for the big man to get down well and keep it out, then Rayyan was alert as ever to clear the rebound, WELL DONE LADS!! They celebrated that like a goal, and rightly so after a difficult period with not much to celebrate.

Could we nick a goal in the late stages and upset the odds?

I tell you what, we deserved to, as every player out there worked their socks off, but we couldn’t get that clear chance on goal. I’d say our best chance today would’ve been from a set piece, which is something we will be looking at, because it’s getting increasingly more difficult to get in behind teams now so we need some more irons in the fire.

Late on, Bailey was given a red card for punching. In my opinion, the ref should have sent them both if he was producing a card because it wasn’t one-sided, although we do need to remember to keep our discipline at all times.

Stand-out performances today came from Harrison (obviously!) and the defensive team (including Rushy and Rayyan) and Omar, who I really thought was back to his best (keep it up!) as well as Finley Dunn who has been struggling with his knees but was brilliant today.

MOTM was between the 2 new lads who I thought made a real difference… Fynley getting the nod in the end, well done Fyn, keep it up !

Take the positives from this game and build on them, this season is not lost yet!!

UTR

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