U12 Rosso Match vs First Touch FC Black
A high-scoring match resulted in Calcio Rosso coming out deserved winners, even if at times we made it harder work than it needed to be!
Rosso started the game on the back foot, as a slow start (probably precipitated by a truncated warm up) allowed First Touch to build some early pressure. However, it wasn't excellent team play that created their goal 3 minutes in, but a 25 yard stunner of a free kick that left Rufus Davies - who had an excellent game - with no hope as the ball rifled into the top corner. The goal seemed to wake us up, and on 13 minutes, we created our first meaningful chance following some excellent build up play. A minute later, Dan Backhouse made a good tackle in midfield before threading Hugo Gescer through, only for the First Touch goalkeeper (who, despite conceding six, had a brilliant game) to thwart the chance at the expense of a corner. Freddie Leek put in a wonderful delivery, and Lennie Sargeson headed in from close range to tie the game at 1-1. Three minutes later, however, we had Rufus to thank, as despite ongoing pressure on the First Touch backline, our goalkeeper was required to keep the score level with an excellent 1 on 1 save. That wasn't it for the quarter, though, as following some great pressure, the First Touch goalkeeper played a loose ball into midfield that Hugo was able to collect, and having smartly fed Fletcher Knight, Rosso went into the break 2-1 up, following a cool finish.
Rosso started the second quarter much more quickly, and it only took 3 minutes to extend the lead. Marcus Lanfranco played an excellent pass from out wide to Hugo, who displayed clever feet to evade pressure and then dispatched a great finish to the far corner to take the score to 3-1. Chances kept flowing, but we had to wait until 3 minutes to halftime for another goal. Following a corner, Louis Williamson was the quickest to react to the loose ball, slotting the ball into the net with composure. Halftime: 4-1.
At 4-1 up, perhaps we became a bit complacent, as the third quarter was the weakest of the game. Following a mistake at the back, in which we inadvertently passed the ball to First Touch's striker (who, in fairness, was very composed in rounding Rufus to score), the game drew back to 4-2, and a minute later, we again had Rufus to thank for keeping it there. Shortly afterwards, we had our first big chance of the second half, as Fletcher picked the ball up in his own half and ran past the whole First Touch defence, but unfortunately his touch round the goalkeeper was slightly too heavy. The game seemed to be turning, and First Touch came within one shortly afterwards, and should have equalised, but Rufus' immense bravery in taking the ball to the face from point-blank range (at the cost of a bloody nose) kept the score at 4-3, and we at last woke up to the danger that First Touch posed. Shortly after the medical break, Louis played a clever defence splitting pass from a free kick inside our own half, which Fletcher was able to run onto. With his left foot, Fletch smashed the ball into the top corner, leaving Rosso 5-3 up with a quarter to play.
Thankfully, we put the game to bed five minutes into the final quarter, as some great play from Fletcher brought another fine save from the First Touch goalkeeper. However, Jenson Bennett was the fastest to react, and he crossed the ball for Lennie to score his second of the game. A minute later, First Touch scored an absolute screamer from out wide that left Rufus with no chance, but it was just a consolation, and the game ended 6-4.
Overall, it was a fantastic game, with Calcio Rosso showing some amazing attacking play, though we did concede more chances than we would perhaps have liked. Next week, we look to maintain this momentum with a game away at Doncaster Elite AFC.
