MATCH REPORT - SHIELD SEMI FINAL - SAT 29 APRIL

SHIELD SEMI-FINAL

ROCKETS 7 - 3 TARVIN WHITES

The boys cruised into the Shield Final with a full throttle performance from the first whistle. Its not a understatement to say the result could have been 15-1 but for Tarvin's excellent goalkeeper in the first half and two goals conceded which on another day we would deal with better.

In the first half we started really quickly and out-battled Tarvin in the middle. We had talked about how important it was in a semi final to win our first tackles and individual battles and Bailey, Zac and Harry did this perfectly with some robust ball-winning backed up by William and Charlie. Up front Rory was finding space and was too quick for the Tarvin defenders.

We opened the scoring through Bailey, who also managed to hit the post and bar 6 times! This was quickly followed by Harry to gives us a deserved 2-0 lead after 12 minutes. We took the opportunity to make a couple of changes with Austin coming on with George and Fin.

Our style of play didn't change as Austin got about breaking up the play and putting in firstly Fin who exchanged passes with Rory before firing low for 3-0. Quickly after George collected the ball on the left and hit an arrow like shot to the corner for 4-0.

Making a couple more changes we continued to press but got caught on the wrong side at the back and conceded a free-kick which Tarvin dispatched for 4-1. This gave them some heart going into the 2nd half.

The game evened up in the second period and Hugo made a couple of outstanding saves which were important. We went further ahead 5-1 through Austin before conceding an unlucky own goal from a Tarvin corner, for 5-2. Rory then put us further ahead at 6-2.

Following a good Tarvin goal for 6-3 Rory scored a goal which would grace any semi-final. Picking the ball up on the half-way line he jinked and bustled his way past 3 players, cut in the from the right before firing low.

MOTM was between Bailey and Rory. We decided that Rory just sneaked it due to his threat during the periods he played. So Rory will be Captain and Bailey Vice Captain for the final next weekend.

Well done boys, we couldn't have asked for more.