U13's 4 v Horwich St Marys 3
First Half
The game started brightly with two committed teams producing some lovely football on an excellent surface. The first goal going to Horwich five minutes after Billinge had hit the bar and missed a chance, Horwich hit the ball and the loose ball was rifled home after 25 minutes
Billinge then began to take control and it was no surprise when the equaliser arrived just before half time with a superb ball out to Elliot by Sinnott who finished at the far post from an acute angle to leave it all square at half time.
Second Half
Just after the break Rooke came on for Gormally and with his first touch of the game after a Frederick shot cannoned off the keeper he coolly steered the rebound wide of the keeper tot make it 2-1.
Horwich stormed straight back with a great goal with Ryan marginally off his line being lobbed to make it 2-2.
The goal seemed to force the pace and Billinge stepped up a gear and went 3-2 then 4-2 ahead with a brace from Frederick now playing much better just behind Rooke and linking up well as Rooke created space for him with intelligent running.
The third came as a corner was cleared only partially by Horwich and Frederick did very well to keep the ball down to volley home for number three and number four came after a great through ball from Sinnott with a typical driving run and finish round the keeper.
At 4-2 and looking comfortable and missing a couple of clear cut chances to put the game beyond reach Billinge allowed a glimmer of hope with 6 minutes to go to Horwich with an untypical Saxon slip allowing the ball to spoon up to the opposition forward who finished well to make it 4-3.
In truth the scoreline should have been a couple of goals wider and it flattered Horwich, who whilst being a good side, were outclassed for most of the game today with a couple of defensive errors and wayward finishing keeping the scoreline closer than it should have been.