U9 Vipers
Rotherfield continued their excellent start to the season with a fourth straight win over a previously unbeaten Kennet Valley side.
Starting in confident mood, United got the best possible start with a goal after just two minutes - Morgan Green played the ball to Adam Fearnside who in turn found Liam Ruiz inside the penalty area; Ruiz could have shot himself but instead played a selfless ball to Jack Stevens who only had to tap the ball in to make it 1-0.
In response, Kennet Valley imediately showed their quality and within two minutes had the ball in the Rotherfield goal and the scores back level at 1-1.
United drove on and managed to restore their lead when a long throw from Kalhan Shah found Fearnside who was able to dink the ball over the grounded 'keeper into the Kennet goal. Fearnside added a third minutes later with an unstoppable strike from a free-kick and then Ruiz grabbed number four with a typically composed finish after good work from Nick Swan.
Valley again showed great spirit and pulled another one back before the whistle blew for half-time.
After the break, both sides kept playing their attacking football but it was United who struck the next blow; another long throw from Shah caused mayhem in the box but Green was in the right place to force the ball home with his unfavoured right foot.
Just as they had earlier in the game, Kennet responded with another goal of their own to make it 5-3. Moments later, the deficit was almost reduced to one but Owen Lowe made another fine save in the United goal to keep Rotherfield two goals clear.
At the other end, Jack Williams fired a vicious strike just over the Valley bar, but as the game progressed it was Kennet who looked more likely to score, twice hitting the crossbar in the closing stages. However, more great saves from Lowe, coupled with tireless work from Harry Sayer, Shah and Williams enabled United to hang on until the final whistle.
The effort award was given to Owen Lowe for a brave goalkeeping performance.
Photos (thanks Tom & Steen)
Squad
Jack Williams, Kalhan Shah, Liam Ruiz, Adam Fearnside, Harry Sayer, Owen Lowe, Nick Swan, Morgan Green, Jack Stevens