Report

HSM U9's Team: Brendan Hourihan (GK), Franki Pashias, Alfie Crane, Aaran Patel, Xander Nimblette, Anish Sharma (Capt), Alex Ross, Louie Wretham

HSM's last game of the season and what a perfect sunny Sunday afternoon for it. You could tell both teams were up for it and wanted to finish the season on a high. St Lawrence started strongly and played some neat football but Louie and Frankie were holding firm at the back. HSM started to come into the game and their passing football out from the back to either Alfie or Aaran was starting to cause the St Lawrence defence problems. Louie played a great ball from defence over the midfield that split the St Lawrence back two and had Alex clear through on goal but he overran the ball and the keeper smothered to save. The St Lawrence Nos 11 was causing HSM problems with his skill and pace but Louie made some amazing last ditch tackles to deny him when through on goal. St Lawrence's pressure eventually told and they scored a well deserved opener. This really brought HSM to life and they pressurised St Lawrence all over the pitch and this brought HSM's opener when Aaran hustled their defence and he took the ball into the box and passed neatly to Alex for the equaliser.

Both teams were playing great quality attacking football and both defences had to be at the top of their game. A run down the right by Aaran took him close to the St Lawrence corner flag but the ball was stolen from him by the St Lawrence Nos 11, he went on a mazy run the whole length of the pitch and finished neatly for a thrilling second goal. Anish began to win the midfield battle and brought Alfie into the game more and his trickery on the left nearly brought an equaliser. Aaran then had a curling free kick from outside the box somehow saved by the St Lawrence keeper. St Lawrence went in 2 -1 up at half time with all to play for in the second half. 

HSM started the second half strongly and Anish really started to dominate the centre of midfield. Alfie was running riot on the left with his quick feet and he fed Xander through the middle but for once he narrowly missed the target. HSM were now in the ascendancy and their deserved equaliser came from a break on the right with Frankie passing out to Aaran who then used his pace on the wing to feed Xander who was not to be denied when one on one with the keeper to slot home clinically. HSM were stretching St Lawrence all over the pitch with great passing football out from the back by Louie and Frankie to either wing, when HSM did lose the ball they immediately chased back to re-gain possession. The HSM midfield and their strikers Xander and Alex were combining superbly but the St Lawrence keeper was in good form to deny them taking the lead. Eventually HSM's pressure told and a quick throw in from Frankie over the St Lawrence defence found Xander to swivel and volley over the keeper for a great goal to take the lead. St Lawrence came back looking for a equaliser but HSM defended solidly as a team and won a top quality game of football against a superb St Lawrence side to end the season with on a high!

Man of the Match: Alfie Crane