Match Report - RAMSBOTTOM UNITED JUNIORS U13 TIGERS - 11 Sep 2021

A fantastic first league game to start the new season.

We asked the team, from the off, to play with intensity, to attack and to try to get the first goal. Greens started really well, closing down and pushing forward, creating a few chances that they were unlucky not to score. Rammy Tigers then caught Greens on the break after 8 minutes to actually grab the opening goal. Roach picked up where they'd left off though and attacked again, to be rewarded in the 14th minute when good work by Dan saw the ball sit up nicely for Jailson to power it home into the roof of the net. The game was then end to end and just a minute later, Rammy went ahead again. Not to be outdone, Roach Greens went straight back on the attack in the very next minute, for Ewan to set up Alex who fired home another equaliser. In the 24th minute, Greens took the lead. More good pressure down the right hand side from Ewan, who then squared it into the box to Logan who took a touch to steady himself and fired into the corner of the net. It looked like Roach would hold a half time lead but with virtually the last kick of the first half, Rammy pulled level again making it 3-3.

Half time talk was about winning the midfield battles and keeping pressure on.

The second half was evenly matched again but in the 45th minute, the pressure paid off for Greens with Maxi getting an assist to Alex's second goal of the game. Just 5 minutes later though, it was level again, Greens getting caught on the break. The intensity levels dropped a little and Greens were punished when in the 58th minute, Rammy went ahead for the third time in the game. Greens did not want to lose this game though and in the last 12 minutes showed fantastic effort and intensity despite tired legs. Attack after attack were launched and 8 minutes from time, Jailson found Logan who fired home his second of the game to draw Greens level yet again. The end of the game was about who wanted it more and Roach Greens showed their quality when two minutes from time, Jailson split the defence with a through ball which Ewan stretched to reach and dinked over the keeper for the winning goal. Rammy threw everything they had at Roach for the last two minutes but the defence held firm to see out a brilliant first win of the new league campaign.

Man of the match awards went to Cody who did what was asked and got stuck in to his midfield role, Logan who played through the centre of the attack for a change and grabbed two good goals and Josh who embodied the intensity we had asked for and made some tremendous tackles in defence.