COLTS PLAY WITH A "hangover"

Another lovely day welcomed Meole Brace Colts to Radbrook. An early start for the management team setting up the goal and clearing up the dog mess!.

Colts were without their #10 George, who was playing for Shrewsbury Town Academy sent off with the whole teams best wishes.

Meole are always a good side and having only just lost in their last game (Bayston Hill tournament), there was a real sense that the Colts could turn them over this time.

Unfortunately the Colts made a sluggish start and with what looked like hangovers, the Colts limped through the first 2 quarters.

The game started at great pace and was end to end. Ryan getting the first shot on target as it skimmed the bar.

From the break Zen had to be at his best to keep Meole out.

Confidently playing from the back, a defensive mistake from the Colts let Meole in to make it 0-1.

Colts remained sluggish and were soon 0-2 when they failed to get to the ball first after Zen made a great save and the ball was scrambled over the line.

Meole kept the pressure on the Colts who were trying to play out from the back. However, they turned the tables and Matty was able to poke home from some good work from Finn. 1-2.

From Training the Colts were trying to adopt the new slogan “our centre midfielder wants the ball all the time” The Colts kept playing the right way.

Into the 2nd quarter and from a cross, the Colts again failed to get to the ball first and it was scrambled over the line again 1-3.

Another mistake as a Colts player lost his footing and Meole were in again 1-4.

From a whipped in corner, Ryan showed some tekkars in flicking the ball goalwards but his delicate flick was well saved.

Will hit a great shot from distance and following up, Finn was able to bundle the ball home 2-4.

Meole showed a bit of class and an individual goal saw them stretch 2-5 into the lead.

Still on the back foot, Colts lost another scrappy goal 2-6.

Into the 3rd quarters and Zen made a great save one on one but then let the rebound slip underneath him 2-7.

Meole soon went 2-8 up as a cross shot squirmed in.

The Colts began to improve and dominated the last periods of the game. Freddie bough the ball out from defence lovely and Will battled well to get his shot away which was well saved.

Jack leading the line was unlucky not to get on the end of a great cross from Will.

In exactly the same way, seconds later, Will crossed and Jack turned sharply to power home 3-8. He turned away in celebration and with his turbo lit….fell over!!

Into the last quarter and the Colts now had the upper hand, they had shrugged off the hangover and Ryan was able to benefit from some hard work from Matty 4-8.

Will got a deserved goal as his powerful shot flew into the net in the closing seconds – 5-8

Not the best game from the Colts, in fact it was probably their worst performance. Having said that they put the first periods behind them and battled well to get back in the game. Another day and Meole are there for the taking.

This however, was a game to archive, forget and push forward.

Match highlights

Zen – making a great save one on one

Jacob – strong in the tackle and brave having bashed his head on the floor

Cole – kept doing the right thing. Wanted the ball from the keeper

Matthew – Kept his head up when under pressure at the back

Freddie – centre midfiled wanted the ball all of the time

Finn – needs to be better in defence and taking up better defensive positions.

Not the best report – a busy game for the coach, not enough time to make notes.