Nunnery Wood Colts Tigers U11s vs Worcester City FC U11s

Worcester City FC U11s visited the Nunnery Wood Colts Tigers U11s team at Battenhall Road, Worcester on Saturday 11th December 2021 for a league match.

Managers Laurence Helme and Luke Morris presided over the team.

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

First Half
With a slight slope on the pitch aiding the Tigers team in the first half, they started the match well and applied more of the early pressure. However, City were standing their ground and crafting the odd chance here and there.

In the 3rd minute, City created a goal scoring chance. Olly had the ball in the middle of the City half and played a through ball for Max to run onto, Max was on the half way line being marked by a Tigers defender but he was quickest to react to the through ball. Once Max had caught up to the ball he was just outside the Tigers penalty area and was one on one with the Tigers goalkeeper, the goalie had anticipated the danger and had come towards the edge of the area to cut down the angles and put pressure on Max. Max took his shot low and towards the left side of the goal, but unfortunately for City the ball went just wide of the post.

In the 8th minute, Tigers opened their scoring account in the match. From a through ball, a Tigers attacker went shoulder to shoulder with Theo in the City defence to try and win the ball. This battle ran from just outside the centre circle, all the way to the City penalty area and at the perfect time the Tigers attacker was able to get the final touch with a low shot into the bottom right corner of the City goal, despite Tom in the City goal coming off his line to close down the angles and diving in the right direction.

In the 25th minute, the City defence denied Cobras a goal scoring chance. The ball had fallen to a Tigers attacker in the middle of a packed City penalty area following a Tigers attack. The attacker turned on the ball and struck a shot that was destined to hit the roof of the net. That was until Tom in the City goal dived to his left, anticipating the shot but as he dived he managed to elevate his right hand to deflect the shot with his fingertips onto the crossbar. The ricochet from the crossbar fell back to the same Tigers attacker around the penalty spot and once they had the ball under control, they took another shot which was heading for the left corner of the goal. However, Tom had managed to recover his position and dived to his right to push the ball past the post and out for a corner.

Second Half
In the 34th minute, City opened their scoring account in the match. City had won a corner kick and Toby stepped up to take the kick, his cross into the area was met by a Tigers defender who knocked it out of the danger zone but back towards Toby who had made his way midway along the edge of the area. From what looked like a too tight of an angle to score, Toby launched another kick goal wards. The ball flew through the air and as it went past the near post the Tigers goal keeper got an out stretched hand to it but couldn’t veer the ball from its trajectory. As the ball crossed the middle of the goal a Tigers defender attempted to jump and head it out but couldn’t quite reach it and the ball crossed the goal line in the top left corner (that was Toby’s second goal of the season).

In the 42nd minute, City scored another goal in the match. Following a trip in the Tigers penalty area on Joel, City were awarded a penalty kick by the referee. Joel took on the responsibility for taking the spot kick and blasted his shot into the roof of the net and down the centre line of the goal (that was Joel’s fourth goal of the season).

In the 45th minute, City scored another goal in the match. Joel played an up field ball from defence to Max who was midway into the Tigers half, Max was being marked by a Tigers defender but managed to turn on the ball which created enough space for him to run at goal. As he reached the edge of the penalty area, Max took his shot which was low and to the right of goal. The Tigers goal keeper managed to get down and get a hand to the ball but the power on the shot meant it went in despite his efforts (that was Max’s fifth goal of the season and Joel’s second assist).

In the 49th minute, City scored another goal in the match. Ewan was in possession of the ball on the left side of the Tigers half of the pitch, spotting Max in space in the middle of the Tigers half he played the ball across the pitch. Max collected the ball and ran with it past a Tigers defender who approached him, the defender was quick to turn and the pair went shoulder to shoulder as Max made his way to goal with the ball. As Max reached the edge of the penalty area, he took his shot which was low and to the left of goal leaving the Tigers keeper no chance to make a save (that was Max’s sixth goal of the season and Ewan’s first assist).

With the slight slope of the pitch psychologically aiding the City side in the second half, they went on to dominate the game and it appeared that every shot at goal was finding the back of the net. This was a great finish to the end of the calendar year and an early Christmas present for the team.

Well played Tigers 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 Toby and Joel who were jointly awarded man-of-the-match.

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

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all the City players & their families and to the wider grassroots football community!