Sports
Sizzling Action in the U-14Football League
Naya's Andrew Thompson controls the ball,while a player from South Sound challenges
Football action in the U-14 League was simmeringthis past Friday in the two games played simultaneously at theGeorge Hicks High School field.
Both games resulted in draws, which showed the high level of skilland competition that these young players have at this age group.
Academy FC 1
Future FC 1
The Academy vs. Future match was, accordingto sources, one of the hardest-fought battles to date since theleague began on 1st December
It was not long before the action really started to boil withFuture mounting several high-pressure offensive breaks. Academy'sdefence held true to form, not giving too much away in their backthird.
In fact, Future seemed to have the play of the field, having nearly25 attempts on goal by the end of the game, but the Academy'syoungsters did not break under Future's all conquering spell andonly relented to the pressure once.
Jarred Yates received the ball on the right wing. He popped theball over to the middle where Dion Brandon was able to send alooping header into the net.
But Academy was not to be denied either and Thomas Bush capitalisedon a mistake made by Future's defender. He scored an exquisitegoal, equalising the scoreline 1-1.
Both teams fought hard to break out of the tie and while Futureseemed to have the run of the field their finishers were shownthe door by Academy's defenders.
Bernie Bush, one of the coaches from the Future Football Clubhad this to say about the League, "I feel this is the agegroup where most of the emphasis should be placed. I am very disappointedin the field, it is in very poor condition. The field is awful.It is the worse in all the leagues. Plus the field is sometimesunmarked and sometimes the referee doesn't show up as well."
Naya 2
South Sound 2
The Naya vs. South Sound face off also resultedin a draw.
Naya drew first blood with a goal from Matthew Grant who, dribbleddown the wing and fired an unstoppable shot that swelled the backof his opponent's net.
South Sound bounced back with an equaliser some ten minutes laterwhen Michael Turner, in similar fashion of Naya's first goal,zoomed up the wing and belted the ball into the back of the net.
In the second half Naya seemed to turn the tide of the game whenAndrew Thompson crossed the ball to Grant, who sent the ball flyinggoalward. However, the ball went wide. This gave Naya's Pete Itona chance to collect the loose ball. Iton then placed the ballinto the back of the net, taking the scoreline to 2-1 in Naya'sfavour.
Nevertheless, South Sound was not to be outdone, and launchedseveral forays on their opponent's back-third. Naya's defenderscaved into the pressure when one of their players handled theball in the 18-yard box.
A penalty was called and John Alban converted from the spot, scoringthe final goal of the match, taking the goal tally to 2-2.