Hillmorton U11 Colts faced a really tough game today to Elite Football U11 Colts who also play on a Saturday in the Midlands JPL and are unbeaten in that league.
Hillmorton Colts have tended to start games slowly so far this season but that wasn’t the case today. The first real chance fell to Harry T who headed onto the crossbar from a great corner delivered by Ben. However, the hosts then went ahead from a corner of their own. The marking was sloppy and Hillmorton players were all drawn to the ball, leading to a flick on finding an Elite player with time and space in the box to put them ahead.
This wasn’t to follow the familiar script of recent weeks though, with Hillmorton giving themselves a mountain to climb in the second half. They were soon back on level terms with an indirect free kick on the edge of the Elite box. The ball was rolled back to Faris who calmly picked his spot in the top corner.
Hillmorton maintained their early intensity and were putting Elite under pressure all over the pitch. Another corner gave them the lead. Ben again delivered a good ball into the box which was flicked on and bounced in front of Harry T, who stooped and nodded in for the visitor’s second.
Another corner further extended Hillmorton’s lead. Ben this time decided to do it all himself with a fantastic in-swinging ball that found the net unaided.
Hillmorton were now completely on top and added a 4th just before half time. Vas this time made a break and was fouled on the edge of the box by the outrushing Elite keeper. He kept his feet though and squared the ball to Ben who tapped into an empty net. Credit to the referee who allowed play to continue.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the start of the second half saw Elite up their tempo and Hillmorton struggle to maintain theirs. This combination lead to the home side quickly taking more control and having an early shot, quickly followed by a corner. Hillmorton’s concentration levels and composure on the ball dropped. They were also making fewer challenges and allowing Elite to play. Faris was still reading the game well and making timely interceptions though.
A period of pinball in the middle of the pitch then followed as the game became scrappy. Hillmorton lost their shape and despite acres of space in wide areas, play was bogged down in the middle. A break by Elite saw George trying to recover and catching his man from behind. The resulting free kick was well covered by Harry S though. Vas then won the ball in the middle and made a nice little break but played it slightly to far in front of him and allowed the keeper to come out and make a tackle.
With Elite still having the better of it in the second half they finally got the break through. The Hillmorton defence was caught flat footed and Harry T was left chasing his man. The ball was tapped past the on-coming Harry S, hit the base of the post but fell back to the attacker who made sure with his second attempt.
Hillmorton were still occasionally creating chances of their own and had an opportunity to put the game out of reach. Harry T took aim on the edge of the box and found the crossbar for a second time. The ball fell to Vas but he was quickly closed down and his attempt to poke it past the keeper was smothered. Elite then broke again shortly afterwards and it was only Harry S sprinting quickly off his line to clear the ball that prevented them from having a great chance to close the gap to a single goal.
Hillmorton were desperate to hang on and, as the game headed into the final minute, perhaps thought they’d done enough as they switched off allowing a ball to come into the box from the left. Elite had their third but the whistle blew for full time moments later. Great effort as always from every player in claret and blue. A credit to Hillmorton FC.
Goals from: Faris, Harry T, Ben x2
Man of the match: Harry S
