First Half Well after last week’s draw against Benson, Grove Challengers White Under 10’s team had a lot to do to prove that they have what it takes to step up to the Challenge. With new player’s integrating with existing ones was always going to be an upward struggle, but the second game of the season was on, away to Summertown Tigers and was always going to be difficult playing on a sloping pitch.

The game started well with the ball staying in the Summertown half creating some great chances with William Humphries & Thomas Hannaby crossing shots into the penalty box at every opportunity. It was only a matter of time as everyone could feel a goal coming. It wasn’t long before Harvey Stilwell crossed a nice ball over to Thomas who then crossed it straight onto William’s right foot who deservedly planted it in the back of the net. It was only another few minutes when another superb cross from William in to the penalty area for Ben Hartle to secure his first goal ever in a league game much to his parents delight.

All the parents knew we could do better and it was only time when Thomas, was brought down in the goal area for us to be awarded a penalty, William put the ball on the spot and took 5 steps back………the Ref blew his whistle and with a power strike straight down the middle he secured his second goal of the game leaving the Summertown Goalkeeper on the floor. The score now at 3-0 Grove piled on the pressure with Ben creating ever more chances, with only 3 minutes left on the clock Summertown came back breaking through our Midfield leaving a one on one with our defender Jackson Cook who closed the Summertown striker down to take the ball away and kicking well and truly back into the Summertown half falling onto the feet of Ben who turned on the spot and slipped it just passed the keeper to get his second goal.

With the clock ticking on the first half all the Grove players were flying with fluid passing from David Gregory in our defence through to Harvey in midfield who passed it straight onto to Thomas who went through all the opposition players to flick onto William who once again scored giving him, his well-deserved hatrick before the half time whistle blew. The First Half finished 5-0 to Grove Second Half With a well-deserved rest and drink it was time to get back to business on the pitch but this time we were at a slight disadvantage as we were on the bottom half of the sloping pitch but that said the second half started as well as the first with the ball staying in the Summertown half, Thomas who had been itching to get on the score sheet had his chance when a corner taken by Ben floated into the box and with a glancing header put it in the top left corner well out of reach of the goalkeeper. With smiles all-round the boy’s took their eye off the ball and for a split second and Summertown had a chance with a break and they were in our end for the first time, with players running back it took a desperate measure as Jackson closed their striker down and cleared the ball only for Summertown to strike from the rebound leaving Toby Brady our goalkeeper to come off his line and sweep the ball up safely.

The rest of the second half continued with Grove dominating the game and it wasn’t long before Thomas scored another and created another chance for Ben to score his hatrick of the game. The game at this point stood at 8-0 which was testament to David & Jackson being solid in defence and Thomas, Harvey & William sweeping up the midfield. The last two minutes of the game ended with a flurry as William scored two more before the final whistle.

Final Score Summertown 0 – Grove Challengers White 10