U9 Vipers
Saturday was a local derby between two sides who have been evenly matched in the recent past. The game started with some excellent free flowing football between the midfield & striker force quartet of Nick Swan, Morgan Green, Jack Stevens & Liam Ruiz, but from the off it was a real end to end battle royale.
After some dogged determination from Stevens, he subsequently played a great through ball to Swan, whose shot was turned round the sticks by the Trents' keeper. The resulting corner was met by Stevens whose shot was smothered by the keeper.
Jack Williams and Owen Lowe were solid at the back, as was keeper Isaac Hylton, but after a move from the middle of the park was broken down, Trents cut through the Vipers like a knife through butter and broke the deadlock; 1-0.
It wasn't long before the Vipers were on an even keel, when a tremendous ball from Ruiz was latched onto by Green who made no mistake in hammering the ball home; 1-1.
The Vipers still had control in midfield and continued to make chances up front with Ruiz, Swan, Stevens and Green having great shots saved by the keeper, he was having a fantastic game. Transfer window signing Kenny Watson was brought into the game before half time hoping to provide the Vipers with some more ammo up front, he was doing just that and battling well, however at half time Trents went in with a 5 -1 lead.
As usual the Vipers came out in the second half guns a-blazing and had the early running, but they could not stop Trents making their lead 7-1! The Vipers did not let their heads go down and were still battling well, Watson provided Lowe with a cross, which was again well saved by the keeper. Then Ruiz with a touch of wizardry, breezed past the defenders, let rip with his shot with a real pile driver, which the keeper again tipped over the bar!
Following some more good work down the flanks by Stevens, Ruiz & Watson, everyone on the Vipers team was having a shot at goal, Swan & Green had shots cleared off the line, but it wasn't their day, as the Caversham keeper was super human!
Williams and Green were battling ever so hard at the back trying to stop the onslaught and were doing well for now soaking up the Trents' pressure, Kalhan Shah was bought on with around ten minutes to go to freshen things up. But there was not much he could do to prevent the final score reading 9 -1.
Ruiz was given the fair play award for an excellent and committed midfield display. The whole team should be proud of themselves and despite the score line; they never let their heads drop once!
Squad
Jack Williams, Jack Stevens, Isaac Hylton, Liam Ruiz, Nick Swan, Morgan Green, Kenny Watson, Kalhan Shah, Owen Lowe