Report

MEADOW YOUTH PUMAS 2 NOTLEY YOUTH 4

With relief the Pumas saw an end to the elongated qualifying process for the Crouch League Cup with a 4-2 reverse against a spirited Notley Youth. The Pumas ended the campaign with two wins and six defeats to find themselves propping up Group A.

To say the Pumas made a tentative start to this game would run the risk of being in contravention of understatement legislation as Notley laid seige to the Pumas goal and could easily have been five or six goals to the good in the opening 10 minutes. Indeed, it wasn’t until the sixth minute of the game that the Pumas actually made their way into the Notley Youth half. Two excellent saves from Jake, including a tip-over from a thunderbolt free-kick, plus some poor finishing held Notley Youth at bay. However, the breakthrough came with 13 minutes on the clock with a Notley forwrad being afforded the opportunity to tap-in at the far post following a cross from the left. One soon became two with the Pumas on a rare foray forward James was winded in a clash. The game was correctly called to a temporary halt, but rather that sportingly play the ball back to the Pumas to resume the game from a drop-ball the goalkeeper hoofed the ball forward and allowed a simple task for a Notley player to blast past Jake. The Pumas responded withtheir first meaningful shot on 20 minutes as Toby fired just over the bar from the edge of the box. The first-half concluded with the Pumas finally exerting pressure on the Notley backline but the whistle blew with the visitors deservedly two goals to the good.

A change of referee and change of goalkeeper at haf-time with Marc replacing Wayne; and Nathan replacing Jake to give the regular goalie an opportunity to express himself on the outfield. Having finished the first-half with some pressure the Pumas kicked themselves into life at the start of the second period and on 25 minutes following a clearance from a Notley defender Brandon blasted the ball past the visiting goalkeeper to reduce the lead. Then on 32 minutes a lofted clearance from Toby bounced awkwardly for the visitors defence allowing Harry to race the goalkeeper to the loose ball – a race Harry won as he nodded the ball over the onrushing custodian and into the empty net. At this stage it appeared the match only had one winner with the Pumas exerting good pressure on Notley. On 38 minutes a ball from the left by Lucas was met superbly by Harry who produced a fantastic flick with his left foot which beat the Notley goalkeeper. Unfortunately, however, the ball cannoned off the bar and down the wrong side of the line for the Pumas. Had a touch more fortune been present, and the ball crossed the line, the Pumas would have undoubtedly have gone on to win the game from that point.

Nathan had rarely been troubled in the Pumas goal only needing to react as a ‘sweeper’ to clear one long ball with his feet and to make one decent save with a dive to his left. However, with time running out and a draw on the cards the ball fell fortuitously for a Notley player to smash the ball past the despairing dive of Nathan. Then to add insult to injury Notley made the score 4-2 as a Rory Delap style long throw from the right was headed in at the far-post.

Probably for their first-half dominance Notley just deserved this rare victory, but the Pumas could be pleased with their second-half performance especially considering the illnesses that afflicted several members of the squad during the week leading up to the game. They will need to take the second-half performance-plus into the next match and the small matter of Maldon Saints Lions away.