Colts met the unknown team of Hurstpierpoint Colts, an A league team, at home today for the 3rd round of the County Cup.
Missing a few players due to illness meant that we had a 13 man team.
The game started with both teams seeming equally matched and all the boys were keen to show their skills. It felt like a goal was coming for the Colts early on, but Hurstpierpoint kept them at bay with some great defending. Hurstpierpoint had some good chances with their counter attacks, but in the 15th minute, Colts were the ones to break the deadlock. Goalie Fletcher hit a great drop kick and a now warmed up Jasper on the right wing, managed to get the ball down and past their defence line. 1-0 colts
Hurstpierpoint immediately struck back, scoring a goal of their own just 1 minute later after some great passing and finding their quick left winger and making the scores even. 1-1
The game continued as it started with both teams playing with heart and fighting for every ball. Leo tried hard to find the front players, but it just wasn’t connecting.
27 minutes in and Vinnie came on to play right wing, crossing a great ball that found Luis who popped the ball into the net. 2-1 Colts.
HT 2-1 COLTS
Half time kicked off and after ten minutes of to and fro, Colts found themselves with a corner. Ben swung the ball in, and Luis managed to get his head underneath it and popped it into the top of the net. 3-1 Colts
10 minutes of scrappy football ensured with both teams having a couple of half chances each. Colts wanting to keep their lead and Hurstpierpoint desperate to claw it back, made for some disjointed but ambitious football.
At 47 minutes, Leo kept his cool head in midfield and managed to get a through ball to Jasper on the left wing, Jasper cut through their defender and beat their keeper to bring the colts a little more security. 4-1 Colts
Hurstpierpoint had a few chances in the next 5 minutes, but just couldn’t finish their attack. Goalie Fletcher and the defenders, working to make it as hard as possible for them.
52 minutes in and Hurstpierpoint keeper struggled to deal with a backpass, meaning the ball fell at Theos feet. He scuffed the ball from outside the box, but gave it enough momentum to get past the keeper and into the net. 5-1 Colts
All credit due,Hurstpierpoint at this point seemed to dig deep and really fight for a comeback with 20 minutes to go. They put the pressure on and after a cross from the left wing and some flakey defending from Colts, they found the net one more time. 5-2 Colts
The last 15 minutes continued as the game had started, with both teams putting a shift in and Colts defenders Ben, Jack, Charlie and Finley in particular had to find their second wind to keep the attacks at bay, but the game finished with a win for the Colts.
Colts move onto the 4th round of the County Cup.
Player of the match goes to Max for being in a good position throughout the match today.
Well done to all the boys today who played as a team and showed signs of some great play to come!
Up the Colts!