Dunscroft Welfare Blues V Branton Under 9's
Dunscroft Welfare Blues 1 Branton Under 9’s 2
This was an entertaining game of two very different halves. Dunscroft looked much sharper and brighter in the first half and attacked with pace and skill. Gradually, the Branton keeper was forced into making a few saves, but none of the Blues shots really tested him. Branton always looked like they could pass the ball about and looked dangerous on the break, but the Blues defence and keeper had a very quiet first half. For all of their domination, Dunscroft could not put in a meaningful effort on goal and the first half ended 0-0. The Branton managers’ team talk must have been good because they looked a different team in the second half, passing the ball about and breaking at will looking very dangerous. The Blues came under increasing pressure and it was a deflected own goal that paid dividends for Brantons' domination. The Blues made a few breaks of their own, but the final ball or the final shot just would not happen and when Branton scored a good goal from a free kick which was floated in to the back post and hammered into the roof of the net, Dunscroft knew this was not going to be their day. Despite Brantons’ skilful passing moves, the Blues battled hard and with better decision making and finishing could have scored a few goals themselves. Branton still looked the most likely to score though and their corners and set-pieces were very well practised. A poor goal kick from the Branton keeper gifted the Blues their goal in the dying minutes, with Mitchell Blunt scoring an accurate and well taken goal from distance into an empty net. The Blues applied pressure and hit the post, but Branton held out for a good win. Brad Parkes was named Dunscroft Blues man of the match.