After playing all the group games on grass the YEL saw it to be a good idea to play the semi-finals and final on a smaller 3G pitch and only 12 minutes per half……….I would love to know why??…..but I think we all know.
Back to the game. We faced Long Eaton on a pitch where a keeper with a good kick could score a goal and a few came close. Long Eaton started off the brighter team looking strong and ready for the game. Gedling Southbank Utd started slow for the first time this season and soon found themselves 1-0 down, only than did we start to battle and play football and just before half time a good through ball gave Ben a chance and he found the bottom corner of the goal.
Half time 1-1
We came out looking like the GSB I know, attacking, passing, working hard and making chances. Ethan looked Sharpe and put the Long Eaton back two under pressure.
Apart from a couple of shots from long range Ashton in goal had very little to do as we played most of the half in the Long Eaton side. Shots came in from Ethan, Luca and Sam. Two great saves from the Long Eaton keeper kept it at 1-1.
In the last few minutes we hit the post and the Long Eaton keeper stopped the ball on the goal line……..extra time was looming.
No it wasn’t the game finished 1-1 but the YEL again thought it would be better to not play extra time and make nine year olds take penalties……….the YEL have not had their best day.
As a Englishman I know how it feels to lose from a penalty shoot out. In a three penalty shoot out we lost 2-0 and I can tell you it hurt me more than any other footballing experience, I felt so bad for the two lads who missed their penalties but they will bounce back and become stronger.
We then played the wanderer’s who had just lost to Wilford in there semi final.
We lost that game 5-1, my boys looked devastated and a few could not hold back the tears, and this was before we even started the match with the wanderer’s. It turned out to be easy pickings for the wanderer’s as I thought it might be. They are a good team and do not need any help.
I’m so proud of the boys and would like to say chins up and know you will grow stronger. Ethan was voted player of the day. Well done boys
I was one of many managers who could not see the reasoning for playing at Play Football today and I know the YEL will have a few email to answer this week
