Worcester City FC U11s vs Malvern Youth Lions U11s

Worcester City FC U11s hosted the Malvern Youth Lions U11s team at Perdiswell Leisure Centre, Worcester on Saturday 30th April 2022 for a league match.

Managers Laurence Helme and Luke Morris presided over the team.

Team Sheet
Goal Keeper – Tom
Defenders - Joel & Ethan
Midfielders - Hayden, Theo, Arlo, Toby, Luke & Ewan
Forwards - Ollie (captain), Max & Fraser

First Half
The first half started well for both teams; however there wasn’t a lot to differentiate between them and goal scoring chances were few and far between.

In the 7th minute, the City defence denied Lions a goal scoring chance. A Lions attacker won the ball from a City defender just outside the City penalty area, the attacker knocked the ball forwards toward the City goal and the race was on between the attacker and Tom the City keeper to get to it first. The pair met mid-way into the City penalty area but it was Tom who got to the ball a fraction of a second before the attacker and he dived on the ball to smother it from them, before getting to his feet and launching the ball forwards to start a City attack.

In the 14th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. City were attacking with Hayden in possession of the ball on the right wing and just inside the Lions half, Hayden passed the ball inside to Max who had begun to make a run goal wards. Max picked up the pass mid-way into the Lions half and continued on his run, leaving his marker chasing him all the way. Max was one on one with the Lions keeper, who had made their way off the line and was approaching the edge of the penalty area, when Max flicked the ball past them to the right. The ball ran deep into the penalty area before Max could catch it up and this left him trying to shoot at the empty net from a tight angle and unfortunately his attempt at goal swept just across the front of the goal and out of play on the wrong side of the left post.

In the 29th minute, City opened their scoring account in the match. City were attacking with Toby in possession of the ball in a left central location and just inside the Lions half, Toby played a forward pass to Theo who was making a run towards goal. Theo picked up the ball mid-way into the Lions half and was being flanked by a pair of Lions defenders as he made his way into the penalty area and as the Lions keeper came out to close down the angles, he took his shot which went low and into the right corner of the Lions goal (that was Theo’s second goal of the season and Toby’s seventh assist).

Second Half
With the late goal in the first half, City were hoping to build on this and gain dominance in the game. However, this thought was quickly dashed and it was the Lions team who went on to take the lead.

In the 34th minute, Lions opened their scoring account in the match following a quickly taken free-kick which caught out the City team.

In the 37th minute, the City defence denied Lions a goal scoring chance. The Lions team were attacking and one of their players had broken through the City defence who had pushed up near the half way line, the attacker was one on one with Tom the City keeper who began to rush off his line to close the angles for the shot. The attacker shot from the edge of the penalty area and the ball looked destined for the right top corner, however Tom was mid-way in the area and as the shot was taken, he dived to his left and pushed the ball past the right post of the goal and out for a corner.

In the 42nd minute, the City defence denied Lions a goal scoring chance. The Lions team were attacking and the ball was in the middle of a crowded City penalty area with a Lions attacker. They turned on the ball and shot low at goal, Luke was a few metres away and managed to stick out his leg to try and block the ball but only managed to deflect it towards the bottom right corner of the net. However, Tom the City keeper reacted to the deflection like a cat and dived to his left and tipped the ball around the right post with his outstretched hands and the ball went out for a corner.

In the 45th minute, Lions scored another goal in the match following a scramble for the ball in a crowded City penalty area.

In the 53rd minute, Lions scored another goal in the match.

Well played Lions and good luck for the rest of the season. The match was watched by a few of dozen respectful spectators who enjoyed an exciting game of football. All the City players put in great performances in the game but it was Ethan who was awarded man-of-the-match.

Thanks to all the City parents for their help and support on match day.