Marlborough Rovers U8’s vs Chellaston – March 22nd

Chellaston this week, a team who we’ve had some close battles with, including an early season 3-2 victory to Marlborough. A very windy day, but it was going across rather than straight down the pitch.

With Bobby away ill, the starting line up was Kieran in goal, Glenn and Jacob (dropping back) in defence, Harry and JT in midfield and Jack and Dom upfront.

It was an open first 5 minutes, Glenn launched a shot/clearance over their bar from the halfway line and JT had a shot blocked and a chance to follow up well defended by Chellaston. Then the ball was back up the other half, Chellaston breaking down the right. Their player would have been better off shooting, but he pulled the ball back across the face of the goal – there was no one following in.

Dom had his first chance, very close in on goal, but he couldn’t force the ball between the defender on the line and the post. We had a good spell of pressure towards the end of the first half, Harry got a shot in, Glenn sent a wind assisted throw right across the face of goal, but it was just out of Jack’s reach.

The funniest action of the half involved manager Matt, who was halfway through bellowing instructions to his team, when a Chellaston player volleyed the ball out of play. It hit Matt right in the mush and it looked for a while like he may have swallowed the ball, but he managed to cough it up just in time. Jacob also took a ball in the face when trying to run the ball out of defence but he was OK to continue. The last action of the half saw Chellaston attack down the right and a dangerous shot/cross was fired in. JT did very well to glance it away from goal with his head.

So 0 – 0 at half time and Lewis replaced Jack upfront. After a few early skirmishes a Chellaston goal kick was scuffed and Dom latched on to it in a flash. With Chellaston defenders closing in, he just managed to get his shot away, the ball nestled in the bottom left corner of the keeper’s net. 1 – 0 to Marlborough.

This spurred Chellaston to greater efforts and they had a shot just past Kieran’s post. They also knocked a couple of balls over the top of our defence, Kieran running out to clear one and a Chellaston player blasting the ball just over the bar with the other chance. Chellaston got their reward when a Marlborough attack broke down and Chellaston swept forward quickly and in numbers. With Jacob just having joined the last attack, Glenn was alone at the back, unable to get to the ball and it was bundled past Kieran, 1 – 1.

From the kick off we nearly restored our lead, breaking down the right and Harry shot just past the right post. Chellaston then had a couple of corners that we defended well against and then we forced the ball back upfield. The ball broke to Lewis and he seemed to have lost it. However he kept chasing and he either crossed it or forced the defender to miss hit his clearance and Dom was able to pick up the ball and force it over the line from close range for his second goal. 2 – 1 Marlborough Rovers.

From Chellaston’s kick off, it was obvious they were going to use the wind assistance to shoot. It was launched powerfully and accurately and was heading for the top corner of our goal before Kieran just managed to get a hand on it, knock it against the corner of the post and cross bar and gather it in safely.

Chellaston had a bit more pressure and had just forced another corner when the ref eventually blew for full time.

Matt played a more adventurous attacking game today and although it seemed risky at times, (and caused a rise in supporters blood pressure!), the lads rose to the challenge and it paid off with the full 3 points. Well done lads.

Final score: Marlborough Rovers 2 Chellaston 1
Marlborough Man of the Match: Jacob (awarded by Gary)