Pass & Move it’s the u7 Saints Groove
This Saturday saw the Junior Hoops u7 Saints take to the green, green grass of Clitheroe as they faced Clitheroe Wolves in a ADJFL league clash at the Wolves home ground.
The rain clouds parted just before kick off to leave a slick playing surface that was to suit the Saints quick passing style. Head Coach Dean Mc and his Assistant James encouraged the boys to keep in their positions and let the ball do the work, a game plan the team put into place from the off.
With only a couple of minutes on the clock midfield powerhouse Oakley set the Saints on their way with a quick fire double, the second of which was a delightful right footed curler. The goals were quickly followed by a long range strike from Matthew. Making his first start for the Saints, Matthew was involved from the off. Teddy played the ball out from the goal to Alfie who strode out of defence and spread the ball wide to Matthew. A neat one, two with Oakley followed before Matthew smashed the ball home with precision from 12 yards out.
Keen to play the squad game and keep the team’s legs fresh, Dean brought Leighton and Seb on at the 10 minute mark and both were quickly into the fray. Teddy picked the ball up in his own half and played a delightful through ball to Leighton 5 yards outside the Clitheroe box. Seb had made a clever run cutting in from his left wing position and the selfless Leighton made an incisive pass rather than taking the ball on himself playing in Seb who finished with aplomb to take the Saints through to half time.
Into the second half and it was Seb again who stretched the Saints led with a cool finish this time with his left foot. Oaks then scored again from long range before a goal of the season contender and a move fit to grace any football pitch had the home and away fans applauding in unison. Under pressure from the Wolves strikers Alfie calmly played the ball back to Huey in goals. Huey looked up and showed quick fire awareness to pass the ball first time to Teddy who took it on the half turn before stepping out of defence past one player and into midfield. Rather than continue his run Teddy found Oakley in a yard of space who took the ball forward before playing a defence splitting pass to Seb in the left hand channel. Rather than taking a touch Seb simply opened his body up and curled the ball first time into the top right hand corner. Total football at the ages of 6 and 7!
The Wolves battled back with a break away goal before Leighton, whose centre forward play deserved a goal, was denied by some great handling from the opposition keeper.
The final whistle was blown shortly after on a thoroughly entertaining game that the parents would have been happy to pay an entrance fee for.
C’mon the Hoops!
