Match Report – IM.1 – Game Date: 02/05/2021

BMFC IM.1: 2
vs
Penrith Rovers FC: 1

BMFC Goal Scorers: Ethan, Liam

Coach’s Player of the Match: Brayden

Match Report: Early in the season and an important away game at Rovers. Haven’t we been here before?

Captain Aidy had to sit this one out after suffering concussion in a mid-week school game. Ethan was handed the Captain’s armband and proudly put it on, only for it to slide down his arm. Fortunately I had my Under 10’s Captain’s armband in the car which fitted perfectly.

Jake started in the centre of the park, alongside Harry, giving us a presence for the opening exchanges. Neither side got on top – it was physical, fight-for-every-ball stuff.

Liam came on for Jake, Coach hoping the game may slow down a bit after 20 minutes to give Liam a chance to find his feet. We started to get into the ascendency – gaining control through the midfield however the last ball was lacking. Time and again a ball was played for Ethan to chase but with no angle on the pass and two defenders to beat, it wasn’t working. Ethan was incorrectly shown a yellow card after chasing one such through ball – the ref not seeing that it was the goalkeeper who collected the defender, not Ethan.

Sam came on up front, to put himself about and had an impact just after the half-hour mark – a better ball played for Ethan to run onto and pressure the defender to concede a corner. Damo swung a great cross in off the corner and Ethan rose and headed us ahead.

Early in the second half Ethan was shown a second yellow for a late challenge and had to leave the field. A few minutes later Harry won us a free kick on the edge of the box and Liam slotted it home, through a gap in the wall past the unsighted keeper.

The boys intelligently adjusted the structure to a flat back four with another line of four in front, leaving one up front. The next half an hour was backs to the wall, sheer determination as a man down the boys repelled Rovers time and again. Numerous free kicks, corners and long throw-ins reined in on our box but the back line of Luke, Finn, Clay and led by Brayden were brilliant. Rovers did finally get one back with just over ten to go but it wasn’t enough as the boys held on for the three points.

An entertaining, tough match which is what these teams have delivered for 5 years now. Would love to name every player here as there was so many great performances but better not, so will pick just two. Sam ran himself into the ground up front and Brayden led the back line just superbly and just gets the nod for Coach’s Player of the Match.