U13's 2 Holker Old Boys 3
This game was won in midfield despite below par performances from a jet lagged Fredders and lost courtesy of an offside decision by the opposition with a perfectly good header chalked off by Bradshaw for offside with the keeper on his line from the corner and a man on the post.
Add to that the referee failing to spot a hand ball with the opposition team gaining an advantage from this in their own area and the boys came away losing three two after a great second half fight back at 3-0 down at half time thinking that if they were the better team against last years losing semi finalists what can they achieve this season.
The Boys have much to be proud of and even the opposition manager acknowledged that we were the better team as did the referee after I had had a polite word.
Overall one or two things to be learned from the game and also some absolutely towering performances from Bradshaw, Saxon and Man of the Match Ayre in what was a cracking game of football to watch.
The fight back came when we switched to 3-5-2 in the second half with Rooke coming on at left midfield to replace Hazeldine getting forward well and playing some excellent passes into the box.
A super ball on the right through to the excellent Leyland saw Jack calmly look up and lob the keeper from 25 yards with pinpoint accuracy and the boys began to believe.
Ten minutes later a corner was swung in by Bradbury and Ayre jumped to nod into the top left hand corner to make it 2-3.
After that it was simply a case of trying to get the third with Holker offering little. The boys just ran out of time and gave themselves too much to do after their nervous first half performance.
The main things to come out of this game is that Billinge Juniors have played probably the best Under 13’s team in Cumbria, competed excellently, were unlucky certainly not to take this to at least extra time and have proven what an excellent team they are against the best the neighbouring County has to offer .
Man of the Match Ayre – Determined , committed and an excellent goal