Kam Faces Save in Egg-citing Win 4 Easter Legs
The Pumas were led away by Captain Tom to Ascot Arrows on this cold and windy Easter Saturday.
Sam and Jack kicked off with the wind behind them, beginning the first of many Puma charges. The ball went out for a throw in before a combination of passes from Jake, Sam and Jack took the ball into the Arrows’ danger zone. But they came back only to be stopped by the steel boot of Rebecca who made a brilliant and vital clearance to turn the game into another Pumas attack of passing and dribbling.
Tom and Jack took the ball forward in a spell of pressure before the Ascot team conceded a corner taken by Jack. The ball came to Sam who was waiting on the edge of the box. He took a moment to control it before making a great strike through defence, under the goalie's right arm and into the left corner of the net. 0-1.
After kick off, Rebecca, Jake and Jack showed good ball skills. The Arrows broke forward but their shot was well saved by Kameron. Despite this the play was mostly in their half as the Pumas’ confidence and effort soared. Jack took a corner from the left that was blocked and he played well to gain another corner which fell to Sam, whose shot on goal was put out for a 3rd corner. Tackling by Jake brought the ball to Tom’s feet who had his good shot saved only as far as Jake who shot into the left side of the goal to make it 0-2.
Pumas were playing well as shown by Rebecca, who chased the ball back from the half way line and passed it to Kameron to prevent a certain shot on goal from the Arrow coming up behind. The Arrows kept on for a while getting another shot against Kameron but he was playing well, and bravely saved and blocked well all match. Lewis came on for Jake. The pair were a help in Pumas keeping the ball in the Arrows half. Jack led by taking the ball from defence to the Arrows’ half, allowing good shots on goal by Tom and Bradley.
Lewis passed to Tom, onto Jack through to Sam, back to Jack for a shot which just went wide left. Pumas still with majority possession had a throw-in deep into Arrows’ half. They kept going and gained a corner, well taken by Jack. Tackle by Lewis. Then Arrows got the ball out of their half leaving Rebecca with a race to the ball with an Arrow. She was determined and pressured his shot wide for a Kameron goal kick. Excellent work to prevent a goal. Instead of a goal kick Kameron opted for a number of throws during the game. This went to Jack who again showed his determination and took it on a long run into Arrow territory. He forced a throw in. Jack threw to Sam who made a good forward pass to Bradley, who played it into Lewis’ path for a shot. Saved. Bradley got in a rebound shot. Saved. The ball was cleared by Ascot but their break was coolly saved by Rebecca. Bradley picked up the ball and ran forward, getting a pass to Sam. Sam’s left foot shot just wide. Tom was tackling well and ran goalward. His strong kick was saved.
The dribbling from the team was good today and so was the passing, as shown by penalty box action next from Lewis to Jack, and a great shot by Jack who scored to make it 0-3.
Kick off was intercepted and Sam’s good pass set the energetic Jack off again on a skilled and determined run. He got a high shot over some heads but unfortunately just kept out by the goalie. The counter attack by Arrows was cleared by Jack and Sam before half time.
The team talk was all praise, "Excellent ~ what can I say?" "Keep going forward." "Make sure we all look to help the defence." Kameron was hoping to swap roles but it wasn’t possible with the lack of players at this time.
When play restarted the defence was Rebecca, Jake and Sam, with forward players being Tom, Jack and Bradley. This time playing into the wind, Pumas gained possession and the first surge forward was with Jack recieving a pass from Jake then a pass to Bradley. Arrows finally getting an attack and a throw in. It was picked up by Sam and taken forward. Hard work by him and good dribbling by Jack led to a shot by Bradley again just wide. He continued making runs and chances but wasn’t getting the luck.
More Jack attacks before the Arrows managed to get the ball into Kameron’s penalty area. A close range kick was bravely but painfully saved by Kameron using his face. He was knocked down. For the second time recently, the sense of fair play (and common sense) by the Pumas was taken advantage of by the opponents who carried on and put the ball in the net whilst the Pumas waited for treatment for Kameron. The goal was given to the disappointment of the Pumas’ fans. The Arrows coach had the good grace and decency to tell the ref that he didn’t think the goal should stand, but the decision had been taken and accepted by all. Kameron had to come off for a while and Lewis took over. Later Kameron came back on as a defender, as he’d hoped.
After kick off Bradley had another shot saved. Ascot’s attack stopped by the Pumas’ defence of Rebecca and Sam.
Jake had a run and managed a shot at the other end, unfortunately saved. Tom was battling to get the ball and ran forward with Sam before Arrows return to the Pumas’ half stopped again by Rebecca who was having a good game. This half was more end-to-end football but with Pumas having the majority of the ball, was good viewing for the spectators.
Bradley was running his socks off in the centre and down the left wing. A corner made by Jack’s hard work. Then danger as the Arrows got into the penalty box and a good shot from the left went out off the post. Pumas recovered and a good kick to Bradley, who passed to Jack for another shot saved.
The ball was moving up and down the pitch, being passed and dribbled. Jack took the ball from the halfway line up the right wing past a couple of Arrows and squeezed a pass into the box to Bradley who couldn’t quite get his foot to it. But a great move by the pair.
Three throw-ins for Pumas in Arrows’ half. Tom passed to Bradley whose shot was saved. Surely the Ascot goalie could not keep many more out. Then we had 3 of Jack’s corners interspersed with shots on goal and good work by Jack, Bradley and Sam who had another good effort. A goal mouth scramble shortly after by Tom against a couple of defenders and the goal was finally saved.
Arrows flew down the pitch for more end-to-end play before Bradley ran along the left wing to the byline. A defender came out and momentarily stopped his run. Bradley, who had worked hard all game, took the ball back and went past into the 6 yard box and shot across goal into the right hand corner. A very well deserved goal for him to make it 1-4.
The Arrows’ reply was instant but their dangerous play was cleared by Sam, setting up another Pumas foray. The Arrows aimed for another goal but got only as far as a corner before it was cleared and the final whistle brought an end to the hard work and goods skill of the Pumas.
The coaches said that everyone played well, attacking and defending.
Man of the match : Sam "for going into defence when he saw a gap and a great goal from outside the box."
Three cheers for the Arrows and the Pumas. Easter eggs given out to both teams by Jane and Karen brought another three cheers from the Arrows! Ann egg-cellent performance from the Pumas.