On Saturday we took on Gateshead JR’s blacks in what was our most competitive game In the Brandon cup so far. We started slow and they got a quick goal in practically from the off. This don’t stop us as we had a couple runs at them, the early highlight was a cross from today’s captain Joseph which was a carbon copy of what we worked on last night in training but we couldn’t manage to connect the shot properly. But it wasn’t enough as before we knew it we were 3-0 down! The instructions were to keep playing our football and not give them any space on the ball as they weren’t afraid to shoot as soon as they seen goal from anywhere on the pitch. We got our rewards when Mikey played a cross across the goal to Jacob who got his first of the day I’m not 100% sure if it went over the line as the ref let it play at first but Jacob was already celebrating so she gave it, 3-1 game on. Not long after Mikey had a shot at goal which might’ve just went in but Jacob made sure it was definitely a goal after it bounced off the inside of the post 3-2. Full of confidence we kept the pressure on and Jacob managed his third of the match to make it evens 3-3. Lewis managed a couple saves but the shooting happy Gateshead managed to squeeze one under his diving body to make it 4-3 just before half time.
Second half and both teams were starting to feel tired after battling away in the first half. We had plenty of runs and attempts at goal but their second half keeper managed to keep them in the game the second half. Lewis didn’t have much to do in goal but that was more credit to Finlay in defence and Jack on the left who got back to cover basically everything.

Todays MOTM was Jack who played really well in an unfamiliar role on the left wing, he played some great football and was unlucky not to get a goal or 2 but he definitely contributed towards stopping them scoring a goal or 2 which is just as important.

It was a tough game but far more competitive than the previous 2 weeks, and the lads will learn far more from this than an easy win. I think we suffered in the heat today and only having the 1 sub, but the lads put a shift in and should be proud of themselves. Onto next weeks game against Hebburn, hopefully as competitive but with 3 more points on the board. : )