U9 Vipers
The day was awash with glorious sunshine and the match did not fail to live up to the fans expectations. The Vipers played throughout the first half with some crisp passing and dogged determination and were looking to make up for last week's opening day defeat.
Jack Stevens was bursting with energy and it wasn't long before he smashed a shot which the keeper did well to save. This was followed swiftly by Nick Swan who pounded in another shot which the keeper managed to gather in and shortly after, Liam Ruiz provided a cross which Swan hit with power, but the keeper yet again smothered the ball. Wokingham slowly edged into the game and it was turning into a real pulsating encounter as both sides had opportunities to break the deadlock.
Jack Williams, Morgan Green and Kalhan Shah were dominating in defence and Wokingham were going to need to do something special to break through this rock solid barrier. Williams was proving to be a real menace to Wokingham, he powered down the wing like a lion, he crossed the ball perfectly, which was met by Ruiz who could not get enough on the ball to steer it into the net, a similar ball by Swan was met by Ruiz with the same outcome.
Stevens was also having a fine game, any loose ball was his to command. Owen Lowe & Green were also working hard as was Marcus Martin, who was knocking the ball nicely and linking up well in midfield and up front. It was not long before the halftime whistle when a corner from Stevens was met by the head of Lowe and just fizzed wide. On the counter attack, Wokingham looked like they would go into the break with a lead; when their striker shot, Vipers keeper Isaac Hylton parried the ball, there was a resulting goal line scramble, but like a rainbow Shah popped out of nowhere and smashed the ball clear, keeping the score 0-0 at half-time.
Rotherfield made a bright start in the second half and kept the ball flowing around nicely. Hylton produced the goods again making a terrific save from the opposing striker yet again. After some more dogged play from the Vipers they were awarded a free kick when Martin was felled about 20 yards from goal. Stevens was on hand to take the free kick, he struck the ball which flew like a rocket clipping a defender's head who could do nothing to stop this pile-driver from ending up in the top of the net; 1-0.
The Vipers had chances to extend their lead, they were playing a great passing game which they should be proud of, however, there was to be a sting in the tail of this game, as Wokingham's own hard work gave them an equaliser with about 5 minutes to go after another goal line scramble.
In the dying minutes, Martin turned the defender on a sixpence and was felled again, giving Rotherfield another a free kick. This time Green floated the ball just over the bar and the referee blew his whistle, thus ending this pulsating encounter.
The boys should all be proud of themselves for a fantastic footballing display, Jack Williams was awarded the fair play award for having a superb game.
Squad
Jack Williams, Jack Stevens, Isaac Hylton, Liam Ruiz, Nick Swan, Morgan Green, Marcus Martin, Kalhan Shah, Owen Lowe