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U13s vs Bearsted - 09/10/11
Score: Tonbridge Angels 2 - Bearsted 1
Time to trot out the football clichés with a top v bottom clash. The Angels are still finding their feet in this league while Bearsted have notched up three wins from their first three games.
The early exchanges indicated that the teams appeared closer than their respective league standings, with Bearsted gradually gaining the upper hand and putting together attacks down the flanks. Good work from the back four of Will Rugg, Guy Osborne, Tom Budd and Lewis Hayward nullified most of the breaks but Finbar Kiefer was still required to make a couple of double saves when goals looked the most likely outcome.
The Angels hung in and even managed to rattle the woodwork themselves with a Lee Blundell effort, but at the half way mark it was amazingly still 0-0.
With a real sense of self-belief the Angels came out for the second half daring to think that they could get something from the game. Great work from the midfield four of Luke Roberts, Tom Stevens, Oli Ricketts and Josiah Mulabi-Kalete (on for Callum Tolley who had worked hard in the first half) eventually told with Sami Meziane getting half a chance that the Bearsted keeper was unlucky not to block out.
Going behind really stung Bearsted into action, and they upped the work rate as they went after an equaliser, however Finbar Kiefer was having one of those days where everything seemed to stick in his gloves. He still needed some solid defensive work from Tommy George (on for Will Rugg) and Callum Marshall (on for Tom Budd) to keep Bearsted at bay, and at one stage it was all hands to the pumps as a succession of Bearsted efforts rained in on the Angels goal.
Eventually the pressure told, and despite 4 or 5 blocks and half clearances from a corner, Bearsted managed to get the ball over the line. However the Angels were far from finished. Lee Blundell, who probably covered more of the pitch than any other player, continued to chase after any loose balls and put the Bearsted defence under pressure, with Bearsted conceding a free kick about 30 yards out from goal. Sami Meziane felt it was within his range and for good measure the Angels filled the box, so that when it was delivered in, the melee meant the keeper was unsighted and the ball travelled straight through. It was now a case of holding on, and despite frantic efforts by Bearsted to get on level terms again, the Angels held out for a deserved victory.
The whole squad deserved the spontaneous round of applause they received on their warm down, with Finbar Kiefer just edging out Oli Ricketts, Lee Blundell and Sami Meziane for Man of the Match.
It certainly is a funny old game (and I am sure that the Bearsted coach was as sick as a parrot).
Goal scorer: Sami Meziane (2)
Man of the Match: Finbar Kiefer
Time to trot out the football clichés with a top v bottom clash. The Angels are still finding their feet in this league while Bearsted have notched up three wins from their first three games.
The early exchanges indicated that the teams appeared closer than their respective league standings, with Bearsted gradually gaining the upper hand and putting together attacks down the flanks. Good work from the back four of Will Rugg, Guy Osborne, Tom Budd and Lewis Hayward nullified most of the breaks but Finbar Kiefer was still required to make a couple of double saves when goals looked the most likely outcome.
The Angels hung in and even managed to rattle the woodwork themselves with a Lee Blundell effort, but at the half way mark it was amazingly still 0-0.
With a real sense of self-belief the Angels came out for the second half daring to think that they could get something from the game. Great work from the midfield four of Luke Roberts, Tom Stevens, Oli Ricketts and Josiah Mulabi-Kalete (on for Callum Tolley who had worked hard in the first half) eventually told with Sami Meziane getting half a chance that the Bearsted keeper was unlucky not to block out.
Going behind really stung Bearsted into action, and they upped the work rate as they went after an equaliser, however Finbar Kiefer was having one of those days where everything seemed to stick in his gloves. He still needed some solid defensive work from Tommy George (on for Will Rugg) and Callum Marshall (on for Tom Budd) to keep Bearsted at bay, and at one stage it was all hands to the pumps as a succession of Bearsted efforts rained in on the Angels goal.
Eventually the pressure told, and despite 4 or 5 blocks and half clearances from a corner, Bearsted managed to get the ball over the line. However the Angels were far from finished. Lee Blundell, who probably covered more of the pitch than any other player, continued to chase after any loose balls and put the Bearsted defence under pressure, with Bearsted conceding a free kick about 30 yards out from goal. Sami Meziane felt it was within his range and for good measure the Angels filled the box, so that when it was delivered in, the melee meant the keeper was unsighted and the ball travelled straight through. It was now a case of holding on, and despite frantic efforts by Bearsted to get on level terms again, the Angels held out for a deserved victory.
The whole squad deserved the spontaneous round of applause they received on their warm down, with Finbar Kiefer just edging out Oli Ricketts, Lee Blundell and Sami Meziane for Man of the Match.
It certainly is a funny old game (and I am sure that the Bearsted coach was as sick as a parrot).
Goal scorer: Sami Meziane (2)
Man of the Match: Finbar Kiefer