Three Seasons in one Game

Today visitors came all the way from the Penn State in the USA (Ok I lied), they came from Penn Town but with all the climate change even before the game started, the cold affected my Brian!!  I meant brain.

With the boys out to avenge a late extra time goal last week (I blame the ref’s time keeping!!), we needed to get back to winning ways.  Our starting line saw a couple of changes from the week before with a health Ben returning and Dylan making his debut in the middle of the park, Aedan took the Captains armband from Jack who would start from the bench.

Euxton started brightly with some good inter passing between the strikers and midfield which led to an early chance for Thomas G who shot just wide.  Penn Town replied with an attack but Captain Aedan cleared to keep them at bay.  Penn Town made the early breakthrough with a deflected goal which went unnoticed by all (even Penn Supporters) 0-1 to the visitors.

The boys needs inspiration and it came in the shape of Thomas G who took up the mantel of Ronaldo with his step-over’s to weave up field and fire home the equaliser and steady the Euxton ship 1-1.  With this, the boys took heart and started to share the work rate between them with some good defending from Ben, Oliver and Dylan and Luke to keep them out.  The pressure was mounting on Penn with Kallan and Thomas G combining to confuse the Penn defence, and in turn mastermind goal number two for Thomas G who rattle the bottom corner with a thundering left foot goal 2-1.

 With Thomas G hunting number three the Penn boys gave little attention to the left foot dynamo Kallan who jinked through and finish off the first half with goal number three for Euxton and a great return to form 3-1. 

All change (here goes) Ben made way for Jack, Captain Jack (armband returned – good work Aedan) came on for Thomas G, Connor replaced Kallan, Aaron for Oliver, Little Thomas for Dylan phew glad that’s over!

Second Half - Now this could have been to Penn Town’s favour but a much rejuvenated Capt Jack & Connor made strides to take the game straight to Penn and find goal number four.  With his usual gusto Capt Jack strode down the pitch in search of a goal only to fire wide from 10 yards out.  Connor’s usual work rate returned and saw him defend valiantly and then head for the Penn half at fully flight only to slip up at the critical moment.

Penn Town did have their own chances but Jack and Aedan kept their cool and returned the ball back in the direction for where it came – their half.  With Euxton pressure starting to tell, it was a goal mouth scramble in the Penn Town box that so nearly saw both Thomas and Aaron find the net. 

Mid way through the second half Capt Jack finally made the game out of sight with goal number four with another powerful run down the field and slot home in the bottom corner 4-1 Euxton, all change!

An un-well Jack had to come off after a great effort with Dylan replacing him in defence, Aaron made way for a returning Thomas G and Kallan come on for Aedan.

Euxton had found the grove and by this stage where piling forward to get goal number five, it wasn’t when it would happen but who would get it! Capt Jack tried, both Thomas’s tried, even Kallan tried but it was Connor who found the net with a cross goal shot from a narrow angle 5-1.

Well done to everybody for a great return to form – keep up the hard work in training.

Man of the match was a unanimous verdict from all the boys this week – (also Trainer of the Week) Thomas G for his two goals and his ball skills.

And finally, a note to the ref, you get an “A” star for time keeping this week! Notes for the rest, Aedan get a haircut or use that hat of your dad’s! Connor - watch out or the team dummy comes out!!