YEL League Division 1 Under 12’s
CMWFC Colts vs. West Bridgford Lions
Sunday 30th September 2007 (LGE) k.o. 10:30

Calverton MW Colts 3 - 2 West Bridgford Lions
Darrell Hargreaves 29
Bradley Woodcock 38
Luke Humphries 59

Calverton’s fourth competitive league game of the season saw us at home to WB Lions. The Lions placed fourth in the league this morning were looking to continue their winning ways after their 7-2 victory over Kimberley last week.

Mick elected to start with Brendan, Callum, Ben and Luke on the bench with Joe unavailable after breaking his arm. Get well soon Joe.

Calverton began slowly and each side had their moments of possession, but it wasn’t until the 10th minute that Calverton got a shot away after Harry fired in a long ball for DJ to shoot just wide. 15mins played and DJ again with a shot opportunity puts it over from the 18yard line. Elmer forces a save a minute later, after he finds himself in a great position. A corner to the Colts in the 23rd minute bounced around in the area and the final shot eventually back out off the far post.

West Bridgford for their part kept soaking it up and coming back with their own breaks and on the 25th minute opened the scoring. A long ball pumped up field saw Ryan leave his line to collect but the incoming Bridgford attack got to the ball just ahead. The resultant collision left Ryan on the ground and Bridgford had an empty net to tap home. The referee consulted with the linesman and no infringement was given so the goal stood. Ryan, unable to continue, is replaced with Brendan for the remainder of the game.

Calverton needed to square things up before the half with Hakeem just wide in the 28th minute after a superb cross from Elmer. With only a minute to HT Calverton are awarded free kick about 25 yards out. DJ elects to shoot at goal and opens up with a fantastic shot high, over the keeper, into the centre of the net. Only seconds to play out and Calverton finish the half all square.

HT 1-1

The second half begins with two changes, Luke replacing David up front and Ben replacing Harry at the back. Immediately Calverton press for the second goal and Hakeem shoots just wide at the 31min mark.

Bridgford sense the same and again press us into our own half and see a couple of chances run just wide. The new pace upfront from Luke troubles Bridgford and eventually Calverton take the lead after Luke finds Bradley who slots it away neatly to the keepers right to make score 2-1 with 38 on the clock.

Luke again a couple of minutes later finds Hakeem who rides a strong tackle to get the ball across the goal only to see the shot blazed wide. Bridgford don’t stop and controversy over a corner, they felt, should have been awarded only fires them up some more. So it was no surprise they find the equaliser in the 46th minute, their shot placed well over the keeper to bring it back to 2-2. Mick makes his fourth change bringing Callum on for Elmer over on the left side. Immediately Callum is involved and sees his ball into the box put over the bar from DJ. It’s clear neither side are looking to share the points but it’s Dane who has the best chance with a vicious shot that the keeper saves brilliantly parrying over the bar. With four minutes left David re joins with Hakeem sitting out the final few minutes. 59 minutes on my clock and it looks like we are settling for the draw, Luke has other plans however and spoils Bridgford’s day with a late winner. Brad supplies the ball but its Luke’s finish that nets us the three points as he curls it with perfect precision low into the corner of a deflated WB side.

Final score 3-2

An incredibly hard fought game that must leave WB feeling they should have come away with something.

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