Match report

Match report

Woodside U15 hosted Rangers this week for a round three tussle that pitted two very different teams against each other in a nail biter that would not be decided until the dying minutes of play.

From very early in the encounter Rangers were able to establish a territorial advantage as they pushed the ball forward and attempted to beat their way through with sheer force. This led to several dangerous runs that threatened to break the game open. But the Woodside backs were up to the challenge, establishing a wall of bodies 20 yards from home and keeping all-comers at bay. Rangers did manage to fire off several shots in the first ten minutes of play, but the pressure of the Red and Blue ensured that these were hurried, and the skill of their gloveman kept the scorecard clean. And when Woodside broke free, they showed what they could do with the ball at their feet. Finding space down the left, they surged through the Rangers defence, getting behind the line and running on at the keeper. The finish from their left midfielder was cool, calm and precise, and sent the home crowd into rapturous applause. From here, the game settled into a familiar rhythm – Rangers hacked at the fortress walls – Woodside stood resolute! And it wasn’t any one individual who stood up at the back for Woodside, it was the collective! Teamwork in defence! Yes, individuals were beaten by their opponent, but on every occasion, their mates were there for them, covering their backs and fighting for a common purpose. And when they did get beaten, they scampered around to provide cover in their turn. But none of this should detract from the performance of the Rangers, who were enjoying a sound territorial advantage and firing off plenty of shots. Eventually one found its mark and locked the game up at one all after half an hour of play. If it wasn’t before, this game was really on a knife’s edge now. With their backs up, Rangers were threatening to blow the game apart. But still they could not penetrate the line and it was Woodside who drew next blood. This time they attacked down their right, got creative through deft, accurate passes and had their centre mid slide one past the keeper right on the stroke of half time.

The second half brought more of the same. Long periods of attack and individual brilliance from the visitors – organised, dogged defence from the locals. As a result, Rangers sent five shots at goal in the first 20 minutes of the half that were comfortably saved by the keeper. Eventually, one of these found its mark putting the scorecard back onto an even keel as we were locked at two goals a-piece. Bloody hell! There is only so much of this that a parent can take! It was one of those gripping, nail-biting games that you wanted your side to win but you could certainly accept the aptness of a draw. But the football gods had not written a draw into the script of this one… Woodside had their best chance to go ahead after 25 minutes of the 40-minute term, Rangers after 32, but with neither defensive unit yielding, it would take something else to decide this contest – A free kick… 25 yards out from the Woodside sticks. With two minutes left on the clock, the referee’s whistle caused a simultaneous pause in the rhythm of a hundred hearts. All in attendance held their breath as the ball was placed on the grass. The wall stood at attention. The keeper clapped his mitts together. And the tall Rangers’ striker sunk his boot into the leather. The ball sailed over the wall, initially heading for the scrub, but it curled downwards, arcing an inch under the crossbar and grazing the finger-tips of the desperate keeper. Elation and heartbreak filled the Woodside Recreation Grounds in equal measure.

And as the ref blew her whistle to close proceedings, we were again reminded why we drag ourselves out of bed to brave all weathers and watch our youngsters compete in the beautiful game. Despite their elation or grief, the opposing groups came together to shake hands, half of them humble in victory, the other gracious in defeat.