U13's 7 v Golborne 4
This game was a close affair, against an excellent Golborne. Ultimately Billinge Juniors superior strength, fitness and finishing won the game today. It was, in reality, a team performance built upon hard work, effort and quality football. The central Midfield of Bradshaw and Sinnott were technically superb today and Owen and Saxon at centre back, whilst having their hands full with Michael, handled most threats well with two of the four strikes coming from distance. The movement of Leyland and Rooke in the first half and the power and finishing of Frederick and the threat wide of Bradbury and Baron caused problems throughout the game for Golborne.
The first half opened brightly for Golborne as Michael outpaced Saxon in the box and finished smartly with no covering defender coming across blocking the run. This stung the boys and they came back almost immediately after a free kick was won on Golborne’s left, Sinnott lofted the ball over for Fredders who headed into the bottom corner to make it 1-1. There was still belief within Golborne’s ranks at this stage as they came back with a fantastic volley into the roof of the net, as the ball sat up nicely, which Ryan could only watch go in after 20 minutes. Billinge came back strongly having a lot of possession and it was no surprise when Leyland played Fredders in after a great run into the box and he finished smartly to make it 2-2.
Golborne then came back with Michael having a speculative effort just wide of the post. It was Billinge who went in ahead at half time as Golborne failed to clear a corner and the ball ran through a melee of players for Bradshaw to stab home from 10 yards. Three minutes later Rooke narrowly failed to convert a scuffed Fredders shot as he tried to round the keeper from an acute angle. Finishing 3 – 2 to Billinge at half time.
The second half started brightly again for Golborne as they tried to get back into the game with Michael trying to lob Hamilton who was in the perfect position, to leap salmon-like, and gather the ball.
The game was opening up now as Golborne’s central midfield began to tire and it was no surprise when Billinge went further ahead when Leyland, after a great run down the left, played the ball to Fredders who literally walked the ball into the net with the Golborne defence dragged across to cover the threat from Leyland. This started a series of chances and goals for Billinge. First Leyland shot over after a Sinnott shot ballooned up into the air and then Fredder’s finished superbly after a strong run to finish to the keepers left. Then four minutes later Fredders turned provider to allow Leyland to get on the score sheet as he played the ball over the top and Leyland finished smartly. Golborne managed a goal after 52 minutes with a great strike from their number 7 from fully 30 yards, which burst the roof of the net leaving Hamilton stranded.
At 6-3 the game was won but there was still time for Billinge to go 7-3 in front with, in my view, the strike of the game as Sinnott, determined to get on the score sheet, hit a 35 yard drive into the top left corner whilst under challenge, after Leyland had won a header and knocked it down to him. Bradders was very unlucky with a series of shots from wide left positions pulling a couple of very good saves from the keeper.
There was time for a consolation after 74 minutes with Michael turning the otherwise excellent Bibby on the edge of the box and finishing into the roof of the net.