The Under 9 team are managed by Steve Scott
| 13 Sep ~ Moreton Hall | 2 - 2 away | Bungay lose on penalties |
WOW; what a game! This was storybook stuff, a cup-tie right out of the top draw between two excellent sides, played in terrific spirit. It was a desperate shame that a nail-biting sudden death penalty shootout was required to split the teams, as a draw would have been a perfectly fair result, as neither Bungay nor Hall deserved to lose the game this morning and both should take enormous credit for their part in a pulsating tie which was a superb advert for u9 football.Moreton Hall 2 Bungay Town 2 (Bungay lost on penalties)
Currently laying second in division one of The Norfolk and Suffolk league, Bungay started the game well and it soon became very clear that Hall had plenty on their plates this morning. The action was fast and furious and swept from one end to the other, as both teams sought out the opening goal. The visiting keeper was kept busy but handled extremely well and exuded confidence between the posts. *Jack, Tom *and *Will *all saw early chances well saved and it was Bungay who broke the deadlock with a well taken goal following a well weighted through ball from the No.10 who enjoyed a superb game. *Oliver *made a great run down the left, but his cross was again well gathered and the whistle blew for halftime.
Ricky Cornish made a tactical switch at halftime, asking *Lewis *to play further up the pitch in midfield and *Tom *to slot in alongside *Sam *in defence. The frenetic pace continued as both sides had good chances to score the crucial second goal. *Kieran *made two superb stops to deny the visitors and the Bungay keeper further frustrated the Hall attackers with a string of good saves. Hall drew level from a well executed set-piece when *Will's *excellent long throw was cleverly flicked home by *Lewis's *deft header. *Well done boys! *
Bungay restored their lead shortly afterwards with a well taken goal which seemed to inspire Hall into finding their best form. The Hall wide players started to apply plenty of pressure, with *Oliver *and *Will *delivering some excellent balls into dangerous areas. *Sam *came on for Ellis and continued to push Hall forward with renewed energy, in search of a second equaliser. With *Sam *and* *defending magnificently, for the first time in the game, Hall began to dominate and the pressure finally told when leading scorer *Jack *smashed in a brilliantly taken goal to level the game up once again. *Superb strike Jack, well done! *Hall continued to press forward and looked slightly the better team for the final five minutes, but try as they might, the winning goal eluded them, as the tie was destined for extra-time.
Although both sides must have felt weary in the sticky conditions, the teams continued where they had left off in normal time, throwing all they had at their opposite numbers throughout the extra 10minutes. *Keeper Kieran was fantastic* and determined in the home goal and Hall made several half chances to snatch it, including a *Sam *effort, a *Jack *snapshot and when captain *Lewis *hit the post from close range with virtually the last kick of extra-time.
After nearly an hour of end-to-end action where the referee barely had to blow his whistle for a foul such was the superb spirit from both teams, an agonising penalty shoot-out was required to split the sides. Both teams found it tricky in the gluey conditions and the two goalkeepers produced heroics, pulling off some excellent saves. Quite how the Bungay keeper tipped Ellis’ spot-kick onto the bar is quite beyond me! (and no it DID NOT cross the line Ollie, you can protest all you like mate!!!)
It was no surprise that after five penalties each, despite both teams having kicks to win the tie, the sides were still level! Sudden death was required and when Kieran pulled off another great stop from Bungay’s seventh penalty, the Hall keeper dusted himself down, took a deep breath and smashed his own penalty into the roof of the net to win the match 3-2 on penalties. *Well done Kieran!* Hall’s other successful penalties were from *Sam *and *Tom *who also kept their composure superbly.
I could have written a novel about this match, it was a pleasure to watch and one of the best contests I have seen at any level of football.
We wish our opponents Bungay Town all the best for the remainder of their league season, your boys were magnificent today, representing your club superbly and did not deserve to lose. It’s a good job we have a week off next Sunday, the lads must be exhausted!
