Bedlington Storm: 2, FC Amble U10s: 2
NMSL U10s PREMIER B DIVISION (18/04/12)
Amble travelled to Bedlington on a very gloomy evening that was lit up by some very bright and entertaining football from two very good and evenly matched teams.
Once the match kicked off, both teams were very tentative and the football was mainly played in the midfield area of the pitch with J Ford, D Armstrong and D Handyside holding their own against a strong Bedlington line up. It was after five minutes that J Ford sparked the game into action with a piece of magic that saw him ghost past his man and blast the ball into the top corner of the goal to give his team a 1-0 lead. As the game progressed, Amble continued to shade the first half with some good football and some good defending from R Paton and B Handyside with T Hall mopping up behind them.
The next clear cut chance that came along was created by a bit of individual brilliance from D Handyside, which saw him perform an amazing turn that Messi himself would have been proud of, before firing over. With the half coming to an end, it was Storm who created the last chance of the half when a corner was fired in and met by the onrushing player, who shot, only to see T Hall keep it out with a great reaction save. Half time 0-1.
Storm came out for the second half fired up and went straight on the offensive, pushing the young seasiders onto the back foot. They got their just desserts after 30 minutes when they forced the ball home and Amble failed to clear yet another corner to level at 1-1. With the bit between their teeth, Storm continued to press and were denied by a great double save from T Hall who was in determined mood against his former team. Storm continued to produce some great approach play including a fantastic solo run from Aidy, but could not convert their chances until the 40th minute when Amble again failed to react to the second ball allowing the home striker to nip in and finish (2-1).
When it would have been easy to collapse, Amble got their second wind and started to compete again and get back into the game. They got the ball down and produced some good football, before equalising after another very good finish from J Ford with his right foot with only two minutes left on the clock (2-2). Both teams played out the final couple of minutes with no further scares, to finish the match at 2-2.
This was an absolutely great advert for junior football, with Amble shading the first half and Bedlington controlling the second. Both teams produced some great football on a very dreary evening, and neither side deserved to lose, so I think all that watched the game will have enjoyed it and would agree that a draw was a very fair result.
Spurreli’s Man of the Match: J Ford
