Featured Game - Coundon Court U12’s 6-5 Hawkesmill U12's

John struck just two minutes from time to give Coundon victory over Hawkesmill in an eleven-goal thriller today.

Without back-to-back victories since the end of last season, Coundon twice fell behind early on but brilliantly recovered to hold a 3-2 lead at half-time, courtesy of two goals by Owen and a strike by John. A flurry of goals at both ends in a breathtaking second-half drew the visitor’s level at 5-5. With the clock ticking away, John netted to secure the points in dramatic fashion.

Despite cup success for both teams last week, Hawkesmill started in the ascendancy and found a lead after just six minutes, as the #17 outpaced the defence on the left before firing past Dion. In spite of the setback, Justin’s throw-in from the left played Owen through and he made no mistake, firing under the goalkeeper’s legs to draw Coundon level on eight minutes.

After the breathless opening exchanges, both teams soon settled and the match turned into quite a scrappy affair. Hawkesmill were still looking the brighter of the two teams though and twice came close within the space of a minute via the #8. Firstly he fired straight at Dion from the right side of the box on 12 minutes, before thumping a superb drive against the bar from distance.

The pressure from the visitors was mounting and - after the #9 skewed horribly wide of the left post on 17 minutes – Hawkesmill finally made their dominance pay. A low effort from the #16 was pushed away by Dion and the #17 reacted quickest to slot in his second from close range. Matters were nearly made worse when the #8 skipped past three challenges in the Coundon box before firing wide nine minutes later.

Coundon started to grow in character as the half wore on and equalised just a minute later, as a poor backpass allowed Daniel C to challenge the goalkeeper, the ball subsequently rolled loose for John to nudge the ball into an empty net.

Undoubtedly the turning point of the match came on the 31^st minute, as Dion and the influential #8 were both substituted after a scuffle, and the hosts duly took advantage by taking the lead moments before half-time. John put Owen through on goal and he coolly rolled into the bottom right-hand corner for 3-2.

The hosts started the second-half in similar fashion, as a long ball by Jack M put Daniel C through, and he superbly clipped over the onrushing ‘keeper from an acute angle to produce a two-goal lead. That lasted just ten minutes though, as the #7 seized upon a loose ball outside the box before rifling an unstoppable strike into the bottom right-hand corner.

Every attack looked like it was going to result in a goal and Justin kept that trend going with a superb looping volley to restore the two-goal advantage, after Jack M had flicked on Nathan’s throw on 50 minutes. The deficit was again cut just a minute later, as the #7 found himself in an identical position to his first goal, and sent a powerful, rising drive over Daniel R and into the roof of the net.

Disaster struck for Coundon on 53 minutes, as the #7 was adjudged to have been tripped inside the box, and he duly completed his hat-trick with a powerful spot-kick which the goalkeeper was unlucky not to keep out. Hawkesmill very nearly completed the ultimate turnaround with just six minutes remaining when a low drive in the box by the #17 was brilliantly held by Daniel R.

Coundon’s perseverance and endeavour finally paid off in the latter stages however, as Owen did fantastically well to hold the ball up before feeding John on the left-wing, he ran clear and poked beyond the goalkeeper to clinch a stunning victory at the death.

Coundon Court U12’s 6-5 Hawkesmill U12's

Goals:

Coundon Court:

Owen (8')

John (27')

Owen (34')
-

Daniel C (38')

Justin (50')

John (67')

Hawkesmill:

#17 (6')

#17 (18')
-

#7 (48')

#7 (51')

#7 (64')