Under 13's News

Foresters Dent Orpington Title Hopes!

23 Apr 2008

Tunbridge Wells Foresters 'A' 4 v Orpington Rovers 4

Match Report -  20.04.08

This week we changed venue to the top pitch at Bayham in the hope we would be rewarded with a match after a long lay off mainly due to the weather. The pitch was somewhat heavy but was played throughout in bright sunshine.

The team talk before the match revolved around 100% focus, keeping shape, pass and movement, and keeping it tight at the back. We also discussed the fact that this was going to be a team effort by all 15 players with only Jack missing this week.

For the first 30 minutes the plan worked perfectly with Foresters attacking straight from the kick off and creating 6 or 7 good chances and restricting Orpington to just one shot over the bar.

Tom Beck drilled a shot just wide and this was the first of our chances, the rest mainly falling to Mirkan who tested the useful keeper on more than one occasion. Tom had to leave the field with an injury and we introduced Dan on the right who was to give the left back a torrid time all afternoon. Dan's useful crosses into the box just being failed to convert home by our forwards.

The first goal finally came - an intellegent lobbed through ball by Luke and Mirkan set off on one of his trademark runs and with all in the crowd excepting a blockbuster shot he calmly stroked the ball under the keeper to make it 1-0 to Foresters. The defence of Luke, George, Ryan and Shashi were all looking strong and winning headers, and tackles. Phil was introduced up front and his pace soon troubled the visitor’s defence.

Half time came and my only concern was the facts that we had not scored another goal and could we hold on to a single goal advantage.

The second half started with Phil having a good run and shot however the keeper saved comfortably. Then we seemed to lose focus and concentration We stopped winning the tackles and headers & suddenly Orpington were attacking in numbers.

When the defence failed to clear the ball, the Orpington striker struck a shot from 25 yds, which Jorge reacted to slightly late to, and the ball was in the net. Now Orpington tails were up and they quickly added two more goals to make the score 3-1 to them.

The game seemed lost to most and for all the great efforts in the first half it looked like we would rue the missed chances!

With just under 20 minutes left, time for a few tactical changes. Ed Stocker switched from right back to replacing Jorge in goal, Mirkan switched to left mid replacing Joe who had worked tirelessly all game, Jordan & Calum up front & Phil dropped into right back - could we mount a comeback?

The switch forced Mirkan's man marker into a position he did not look so comfortable with, after doing a good stopping job on Mircam for most of the game. This instantly paid dividends with Mirkan running from our half into Orpington's penalty area & delivering a fine cross into the penalty area enabling Christian to take a touch and fire home to give us a lifeline at 3-2 to Orpington.

This goal raised the atmosphere around the pitch and the referee Jack was going well to keep control in difficult circumstances with tackles flying in from all directions.

With Jake now holding the midfield and winning vital tackles, this was enabling Christian to push on in the hope of the equaliser.

Jordan then had a fine run into the area, which was only stopped by a foul and the referee correctly pointed to the spot. With regular taker Tom off the pitch, up stepped Christian to smash home into the top left hand corner. (Dave, told you he would score!)

3-3 and only a couple of minutes to play what would happen next? As I said to one of the parents I would take a point now! However Foresters had other ideas and were awarded a free kick some fully 30 yds from goal, which was superbly driven into the top corner by the Magic Man Mirkan. 4-3 to Foresters -

The home support was going wild with the away support going wild for different reasons feeling the free kick had been harshly awarded. 

With only 1 minute to play sadly a bobbling ball struck a home defender on the arm and was correctly awarded as a free kick. Orpington now had a free kick in a similar position to ours, the result being the same giving Ed in goal no chance. A fine goal by their skipper.

Referee Jack blow the whistle shortly afterwards and we all thank him for his efforts despite a few harsh words from a few of  their supporters.

Great effort by all and the right result between 2 good teams.Good luck to Oprington with there efforts to win the league & promotion .

MOM Dan Cheek -.Fine crosses and tackles for his best game of the season

Julian