Under 12 Football Success

Match Report for the Under 12 Football Team v Stafford Grammar School Saturday 25th March 2006

We knew this was going to be a tough encounter but we started well and it was much against the run of play that Stafford found themselves 2-0 up after 15 minutes. Both goals had been speculative efforts that looped over our outstanding goalkeeper, Jack Baxter. They were both unstoppable and we didn't let our heads go down.

Matthew Macintosh gradually came to life in the centre of our midfield and fired in a long ranger from close to the corner flag. It was a cross but it sailed over the goalkeeper's head and we were back in the game. Minutes later Yyanis Johnson-Llambias rounded the keeper to score after some hard tackling from Kallum Johnson and Hugh Clutton in the muddy midfield. Our defence were looking more and more solid with Tom Davies tidying up on the left and Owen Taraborelli putting in some solid tackles on the right as well as starting some good attacking moves. In the middle of our defence Jason Towers found himself supporting our strikers on occasion and his adventurous spirit almost became his undoing as Stafford flashed a shot wide of the goal just before half time. We went in at 2-2 with everything to play for.

We took the game to them in the second half and managed to go 3-2 up when Michael Kelly whipped the ball across the front of the goal where it bounced off Yyanis and in. Yyanis maintained that this was deliberate. Some doubted it but it was definitely his goal and we began to sense victory. We then piled on even more pressure with Justin Jones-Clewley putting in some searching balls from the right wing and Tom Leicester clearing up any Stafford attacks at the back. In a great surge of attacking play Michael Kelly had his first shot blocked before he hammered home what turned out to be the winning goal. A late consolation penalty for Stafford ate up time and through grit and determination we were able to emerge victorious by four goals to three.

This was a fine, battling display, with subs Tom Draper and Oliver Langton coming on to play their part late in the second half. A seven goal thriller, with Ellesmere deservedly coming out on top!

30th March 2006  Back to News