Having faced a tough Thorpe team at the start of the season the under 8 Blues knew today was going to be a hard game. The first quarter saw some strong running with the ball from all the players, still looking a little nervous but gaining confidence with every minute. Sunny Smeaton leading the way showing excellent dribbling and passing skills. Luke Loynes having a few opportunities to shoot at goal with support balls from Rufus Hancock.
Thorpe were good at turning defence into attack and pushing the Pontefract defence but Myles Smith and Harrison Asprey holding them back. The few shots they did get on target were safely saved by Keeper Leo Cain. From a quick ball out of the box, Pontefract turned defence into attack themselves and with a dominant run up the line saw themselves in a position to shoot with Smeaton having a blast at goal, Thorpe got in the way to defend but through no fault, scored in their own goal for the first goal of the game.
The second quarter saw Pontefract growing from strength to strength. A change in positional players helped with Zak Malyan and Thor Gray coming on and from the off being dominant and attacking. Pontefract found themselves in Thorpes half on more than one occasion but just couldn’t find the second goal despite strong attempts from Malyan and Smeaton.
When Thorpe counter attacked, strong defence from Cain and Gray kept Thorpe out of the box and with little or no chance of shooting. With not long left in the second quarter, Malyan found himself found just in Thorpes half of the pitch. Taking his time, Malyan took the free kick and placed it perfectly in the top of the Thorpe net. Score 2 – 0.
The third quarter Pontefract seemed more relaxed and confident. Both with the ball at their feet, attacking, shooting and also in defence. As Pontefract pushed forward more and more, Thorpe found themselves on the back foot and when Loynes found the ball at his feet 10 yards outside the oppositions box with no one near, taking a perfect shot, saw the ball whizz past all the Thorpe defence and keeper and end in the net. Score 3 – 0.
From the restart, Thorne were quick to attack and found Pontefract napping a little and attacked the goal line. Cain saving the attempted got a quick ball out to Gray who turned and with pace attacked the Thorpe side, turning inside and getting a great pass to Malyan who struck the ball with strength direct at the Thorpe net and scoring. Score 4 -0. Pontefract was not going to let Thorpe re start like they did last time and with Asprey and Smith solid in defence soon stopped their attacking play and turned it into their own, finding great passing from player to player, soon saw the ball once more in the back of the Thorpe net, this time scored by Loynes with his second goal.
Score 5 – 0 The fourth quarter was just as intense and physical as the first 3 with both teams not giving up or showing signs of tiring. Both Thorpe and Pontefract attacking strongly and defending stronger. Pontefract saw several chances go just wide of the net. Hancock leading the way with some strong runs down the wings, getting some lovely passes into the box, one of which was perfect to Smeaton who scored his second of the game with a great goal from just inside the box.
Score 6 -0. The chances didn’t stop there with Hancock still dangerous on the wing, Asprey on the other and Smeaton and Malyan finding the ball at their feet but sadly Cound not get the ball in the net. Both Pontefract and Thorpe gave it their all today. Pontefract were awake from the off and as the game progressed so did their chances and confidence which lead to the win.
Thorpe didn’t let the score line effect their game and with every quarter were just as strong and dangerous as the one before but with Smith, Asprey and Cain were solid in defence and determined to keep the score to nil. Gray and and Hancock were excellent op the flanks taking on the opposite team and Loynes, Smeaton and Malyan unlucky not to have had more goals on the score board.
Colls goal scorers were;
Malyan x 2 Loynes x 2 Smeaton x 1 OG x 1