Home vs Hayden Youth Yellow 1Oct23

Match report by Ciaran Larkin

This game meant a huge amount to both us and Hayden, not just in terms of getting the 2 points, but that it would be getting 2 points over the other. We have met several times and over the past 3 years the results were mainly in Hayden’s favour, including the last 2 shield finals, and this year we are looking to change our fortune, starting off with this game. We started the game off as we have done for the last few games, and this proved to be decisive as we took the lead inside the first few minutes as Jude’s through ball found Harley who slid the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0 to Parkwood and give us some early momentum. We decided to play with a 4-3-2-1 which helped us become a bit more stable and compact within our midfield, the momentum proved to be even more impactful as we doubled our lead as Harley’s cross found Ciaran about 14 yards out whose finish into the top left doubled the advantage. Hayden then started to grow into the game a little bit as they were moving the ball around the midfield more than what they were doing in the opening minutes. Despite that we were still dangerous going forward and we won a free kick about 20 yards out to the right hand side of the box, and Ciaran curled it around the wall and into the top corner to put us 3-0 up about half way through the first half. Hayden then started to get in behind us a bit more and were forcing Jesse, who was standing in goal for us, to make a couple of saves. Then our day got even better as Ciaran cut inside past the left back and poked the ball in at a tight angle at the near post to give us a 4-0 advantage, and his 1st half hat-trick, with about 15 minutes left of the first half. Then with about 2 minutes left, they got down our left, crossed it into the back post, and there were questions over whether the entire ball crossed the line, but the goal was given by the ref, and Hayden now had a glimmer of hope as we headed into halftime 4-1 up. The second half we found ourselves defending more than we were in the first half as Hayden were trying to find a goal back to try and cement claims for a potential comeback, we were holding firm and most of Hayden’s chances were 20-30 yard shots that rarely hit the target. Although they did manage to find a second goal as a free kick on their left was crossed in and hit one of our players for an own goal and to put this game still in the balance at 4-2. Now Hayden were finding even more chances and kept getting themselves in good positions, but couldn’t find that 3rd goal to really swing the momentum, as it stood we were just holding out till the whistle came but we still were able to move forward with the football. And we got a free kick about 22-25 yards out just slightly to the left, and Ciaran went to the keeper's side and found the bottom corner to restore a 3 goal advantage with about 8 minutes left. And that goal capped off an amazing team display to finally get one over Hayden to keep our 100% record in the league. Today was a game with several great individual displays like Jesse who was standing in goal for us, Ciaran who got 4 goals and Harry, Alex and Ted at the back who kept their attackers quiet for most of the game. Next week we go to Slade Green to try and keep our 100% record and place at the top of the table, and look to carry this performance into next week as well.