Welland Juniors Colts U11s vs Worcester City FC U11s (Mercian Counties Shield U11 (Plate) cup match)

Worcester City FC U11s visited the Welland Juniors Colts U11s team at Dyson Perrins School, Malvern on Saturday 5th February 2022 for a Mercian Counties Shield U11 (Plate) cup match.

Managers Laurence Helme and Luke Morris presided over the team.

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

First Half
This was the first meeting of these two teams in any competition and the half started with both teams attempting to assert their dominance.

In the 5th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. City were attacking and Max had the ball in the D on the edge of the Colts penalty area. Whilst attempting to win the ball back, a Colts defender tripped Max and a free-kick was awarded. Joel stepped up to take the kick and his shot at goal went only inches over the Colts cross bar.

In the 19th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. City were attacking and Max had the ball in the D on the edge of the Colts penalty area, Toby was in space to Max’s left within the penalty area and Max played the ball to him. Toby took a shot straight at goal as he received the ball, unfortunately the shot was too close to the Colts goal keeper and he was able to make the save.

In the 24th minute, City opened their scoring account in the match. Olly had the ball on the right wing deep into the Colts half. Olly was being challenged by a Colts defender and they managed to momentarily win the ball off him but Olly quickly restored possession with a greatly timed interception. Olly then made a short pass to Fraser who was near the corner of the Colts penalty area, Fraser took a couple of steps towards goal before unleashing a pin-point accurate shot that went from the right corner of the penalty area to the far left bottom corner of the Colts goal (that was Fraser’s third goal of the season and Olly’s second assist).

In the 29th minute, Colts opened their scoring account in the match. The Colts team were awarded a penalty kick after a trip in the City penalty area. The Colts penalty taker took an excellent spot kick that went into the top right corner of the net, leaving Tom the City goal keeper, with no chance to get anywhere near it.

Second Half
Having dominated the majority of the play in the first half, the City team were disappointed to go into half time level pegging and set about turning the match around as soon as possible.

In the 34th minute, City scored another goal in the match. The City team were awarded a free-kick for a trip, a few metres out from the Colts penalty area and just right of central. Joel stepped up to take the kick and with a wall of three defenders in his way, he struck his pin-point shot over the wall and it struck the net in the top right corner of the goal (that was Joel’s sixth goal of the season).

In the 37th minute, City created a goal scoring chance. The City team were awarded a free-kick for handball, mid-way into the Colts half and fairly central. Joel stepped up to take the kick and attempted a shot from a greater distance than his previous goal, with the extra flight time in the air, the Colts goal keeper was able to adjust himself and get his hands to the ball. However, the keeper was only able to parry the ball and ended up pushing it back into the central part of the penalty area. Olly was the closest and quickest to react to the ball and as a Colts defender approached, he took the ball around him with a quick switch of the ball from right to left foot. Olly only had the goal keeper to beat now and took his shot, but unfortunately for City he was able to make a great second save.

In the 46th minute, City scored another goal in the match. The City team had been awarded a corner and from the resultant cross into the Colts penalty area, a goalmouth scramble ensued with the ball pin-balling short distances between City attackers and Colts defenders a number of times. From defence, Joel was still around the penalty area due to the initial corner and the ball ended up falling to him centrally, on the edge of the area. Joel quickly controlled the ball and took a shot at goal which was destined for the bottom left corner, the ball flew through a crowded area and it looked like the Colts keeper had got down to block the shot. However, the power on the shot caused it to go through the keepers hands and into the bottom left corner of the net (that was Joel’s seventh goal of the season).

The City cup run continues into the semi-finals!

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

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