Hampton Reds U15 0 vs 2 Sutton Coldfield Town U15

Today we welcomed Sutton Town to Hampton, with a few familiar faces lining up for the opposition.

The game started with Sutton on the front foot and striking a few shots from range which proved to be nothing more than catching practice for Harrison.

The Hampton defensive unit were battling hard with Ollie, Kielan and Sal impressing alongside debutant Matthew. Rayyan was fired up for this one and scrapping for everything, but the closest we’d come to a goal would come from a few corners that we had, with one being flicked towards the back post but cleared. Sutton would come closest to opening the scoring when Harrison saved only for the Sutton player to blaze over from 8 yards out, a real let off. The first half was a stalemate and we’d need to keep up the tempo if we were to get something from this game, HT 0-0.

The second half again started with Sutton on the front foot, they had a real weapon with the long throw, probably the furthest I’ve seen in youth football. Sutton were piling on the pressure and almost scored but Harrison was in the right place to gather. Several times in the second half Sutton would find themselves with a clear opportunity, but were either matched by the impressive Harrison or they missed the target. As the game went on, it was looking very likely that it would end a draw, but then came the biggest chance of the game so far… Sutton struck the ball onto the arm of Zach F and the ref awarded a penalty. Another very very harsh decision going against us, where Zach’s arms were by his side and it clearly wasn’t intentional. Good job we have the best keeper in the division who saved down to his left for the 2nd time in as many games, still 0-0.

Of course this encouraged the Reds, but it also opened the game up a bit more, as the Reds pushed forward, Sutton looked to counter and when their right-back-come-striker got in behind, he had enough desire to get a toe on the ball before anyone else and it trickled into the far corner, 0-1. Hampton weren’t done and Omar drove down the left wing and cut inside, only to hit the side netting, unlucky. The game would go beyond us when another long throw into the heart of the box was attempted to be cleared by Hampton, only to ricochet off one of our own players and fell as kind as you like to the Sutton player 6 yards out who made no mistake, 0-2.

The lads still scrapped to the end, but a familiar pattern is developing where we’re not quite getting the rub of the green and we’re being picked off by teams in the second half. Fitness? Focus? Pressure? Another narrow defeat, I can’t help but believe that we are playing at the right level, but if we aren’t scoring goals it’s going to be one hell of a frustrating season.

Plenty of positives again from the defensive side of our game, with duels being won all over the pitch, Sal Kielan and Rayyan the pick of the bunch. However without this man between the sticks, the game would have been out of sight early on, superb display from Harrison and deserved MOTM.

Results are around the corner, the division is full of narrow scorelines, hopefully our day will come soon!!

UTR

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