After a lengthy Summer break when the boys showed their potential in the tournaments, not least a great runners up result last time out, they arrived at BAC with fire in their bellies (and very clean boots!). The pre season friendly games had also shown the promise with two outright wins under their belts. It was also raining, which is not unusual when the parents gather on a Sunday.

1st Half
After a pretty slow start by the boys and after 3-4 mins BAC seemed to be just getting the upper hand. Alex had to make it a great clearance on 9mins. Then almost as if that was the motivator the boys started to turn it on and near misses came for Charlie & Greg in the 11th minute. Then from a break on the right Greg passed through to Sam who shot & scored on 12mins. 0-1.
After the restart the boys surged forward and Charlie hit the post on 13mins and after some torrid clearance play by BAC Sam cut back form the right and Greg’s shot passed the left past. In an identical move to the first goal Greg passed to Sam who scored again on 15mins. Despite no flag or claims the referee deemed this to be offside and BAC restarted the game with a free kick still only a goal down. Euxton secured the first corners of the game on 18mins, 19mins and 21nmins. Despite the pressure Euxton had applied they still couldn’t find the net a second time. Had some of these chances gone in the game would have been secured there and then. The only time BAC looked to score was on 32mins when they secured a corner and from the clearance the boys ran the length of the pitch, Smithy into Greg who passed to Sam only to see his long range left footer hit the upright.

Half Time
 

George congratulated the boys on a good first half, warned them of starting slowly in the second and sent them out with some determination and asked them not to let BAC back into the game.

 

2nd Half
 

BAC came out fighting and had it not be for the secure hands of Ryan M they would have scored on 2mins. Had it not been for the quick thinking Tom G they would have scored on 4mins, not for the first time has Tom cleared the ball off the line. Euxton won the first corner after 6mins but it was clear that this had rapidly deteriorated to a kick & run match with both sides participating. Both sets of managers asked for the teams to take a touch & make time but in the heat of battle which this clearly was the boys had one aim in mind and that was to clear the ball as quickly as possible. Strong midfield tackling form Tom M & Jamie G eased some of the pressure that was falling to Alex and it was Euxton who looked the most likely to score. Great clearances from Jamie A kept Smithy going forward and these usually found Charlie & Greg and they won corners on 11,12, 17, 27 mins. It was from these corners that Charlie hit the post and Sam had a lob saved by the keeper. Danny continued to support Tom G & Tom M as they put up with pressure of a different kind and he continued to pass through to Alex who in turn would start another Euxton move in an effort to ease the pressure. The scrappy game took another twist on 34mins when a BAC defender clearly hand balled in the area. A decision to award a foul to BAC for another incident was made and the mood of the game turned. It was a relief in more ways than one when the whistle was blown on 38mins.

Full Time 0-1.

Very well done boys, great win. The second half was more of a battle than a game and whilst not pretty I don’t think I’ve ever seen the boys dig in and battle back as well as they did today and that was despite everything that was against them. This showed a fantastic spirit and a will to win. 3 wins on the trot. Roll on Wednesday.