U9 Vipers
This week, Rotherfield succumbed to a second successive defeat against a well-organised Theale Tigers side.
The first ten minutes of the game were evenly contested, though with neither side carving out any real scoring opportunities. United's new defensive pairing of Kalhan Shah and Owen Lowe was working well, with Lowe breaking down any attacks outside the area and Shah covering behind. It was Theale however who took the lead midway through the half when an unstoppable strike from outside the box sailed just under the crossbar.
Rotherfield struggled to gain a better foothold in the game and at half-time it was still 1-0.
Five minutes into the second-half United pulled a goal back when they were awarded a free-kick five yards outside the penalty area; Jack Stevens curled the dead-ball straight over the Tigers' three-man wall into the roof of the net, giving the 'keeper no chance.
Playing with renewed hope, United were unfortunately soon behind again when they failed to clear a Theale corner and the ball was forced in from the resultant melee.
Stevens came desperately close to adding a second late on when a close-range effort just squirmed past the post, but in a game with few chances, the equaliser wasn't to be found.
Owen Lowe was given the fairplay award for a fine performance in an unaccustomed defensive role.
Photos (thanks Tom & Steen)
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Kalhan Shah, Morgan Green, Nick Swan, Liam Ruiz, Owen Lowe, Jack Stevens, Adam Fearnside