U12s 5 - Wotton Rovers Tigers 1

Jack Knowler was on fire today.  Back to his very best he banged in four super goals and in so doing increased his season’s tally to an impressive twenty-five.  Pick of the bunch was number three.  With some crisp passing the team worked the ball out wide to Joe Sands who fired over a pin point cross for Knowler to coolly bang home.

A week of enforced inactivity appears to have resolved Ellis Cox’s groin problem and he put in one of his best performances of the season.  Playing on the left he won the ball on numerous occasions and linked the play well.  Our other midfield dynamo was Declan McGettigan.   Quiet last week he was back to normal today battling his heart out in the centre.  Well done both!

It was all Oranges first half and we went into the break in a commanding position.  Unfortunately, just before the whistle Josh Werreitt turned his ankle and although he made it to the break he couldn’t continue and sat out the second period.

Although still under the weather Jake Hawkins played a full game and grabbed our final goal.  A scrambled close range effort it effectively killed off any hope Tigers had of a possible revival.

We didn’t have it all our own way though, and Tigers made a decent game of it.  Their ‘keeper made two cracking saves and with Werreitt sidelined their nippy forwards gave us a few problems in the second half.

Jake Templeton had another good game.  He set up two of Knowler’s goals, whipped in some nice crosses, assisted on Hawkins’ goal and spent a spell at the back deputizing for Werreitt while the team got used to his absence at the start of the second half.

Ollie Graham continues to develop at full back, and our ‘hard-man’ in the middle, Ferdinand de Carvalho, was dependable and self-assured as ever.  He also came close with a cracking header from a Sands corner.

Matt Sands was sporting a lovely shiner, but it didn’t hamper his vision in picking a pass.  Henry Eason put in a good stint at left-back and Harry Parkinson did similar on the right.

Regrettably Jake Kirkham was denied a clean sheet following a bit of calamitous defending toward the end and had no chance with the scoring shot.

Oranges deserved their win and the KLB boys will no doubt enjoy seeing all their Wotton classmates tomorrow morning!!

Today’s Man of the Match was awarded to Jack Knowler.  Four great goals and some equally great play.  Well done Jack.