CENTRE SKILLS U16 v Ascot United U16 Raiders

Report

DEPLETED RAIDERS OVERWHELM CENTRE SKILLS IN RE-ARRANGED LEAGUE FIXTURE

With both teams having been handed a bye in the first round of the league cup, Raiders visited Reading this morning to play Centre Skills U16 in a league game brought forward from March 2022. Having lost 8-7 in the previous visit last season there was a certain amount of trepidation amongst management and players, especially with our goalkeeper Musty missing and two other players unavailable. Morgan stepped into the breach and put in an assured performance.

Despite Raiders playing down the slope, Centre Skills started the brightest of the two sides, but it didn’t take Raiders long to make an impact, Euan slotting home after being put through on 3 mins. Raiders then added a second on 6 mins, Finlay scoring after a Jimbo cut back. The game ebbed and flowed for the next 15 mins with Raiders buzzing about the opposition penalty area while at the other end Jamie and Jack were proving to be as solid as rocks, aided by a hard-working midfield with Hari outstanding in breaking up attacks. It was therefore no surprise when Raiders added a third on 20 mins when Kyran smashed home after a great ball from his own half by Jimbo. Harry then had a goal chalked off for offside, but on 24 mins Euan added a fourth outpacing the defence from just inside their half to fire across the keeper. Raiders continued to create chances but some dogged defending kept them out while going the other way Centre Skills approach play was attractive but the final ball was usually cut out or went harmlessly through to Morgan. HT 0-4

The second half was always going to be the defining moment of the game after last season’s collapse, could Raiders play as well up the slope? The first few minutes provided the answer with Harry turning sharply and firing home on 45 mins and the whole team fighting for every ball. Then 4 mins later old habits surfaced when Centre Skills pulled one back, the striker given all the time in the world in the 6-yard box to poke home. To their credit this didn’t faze our boys and they carried on taking the game to the opposition. Harry produced a great run and shot saved by the keeper and on 58 mins Cory scored one of his ‘specials’, firing home across the keeper after a one/two with Kyran. Centre Skills were finding it difficult to create anything meaningful, but one mazy run that went mostly unchallenged, nearly produced a goal. Harry added to their misery on 65 mins scoring from a rebound after a Jimbo shot., 1-7. With victory assured and full time fast approaching, Centre Skills scored a second, a ball played behind Jimbo for the nippy wing back to outpace him and beat Morgan. Final Score 2-7
A magnificent all-round performance which puts us top of the league. A special mention for Morgan for stepping into the breach.

MOM: Keeyan good all round midfield performance