Consett Sharks refuse to take bait (u9's)

By Gareth McCoy 10/09/07 The Sharks came into this weekends game of the back of a 5-1 drubbing last week at the hands of Newcastle Independent, to Face a Cleveland Hall Team that they came up against two weeks ago in the tournament at Rutherford. The Cleveland hall players booing the other teams at the presentation left a bad taste in the mouth and the Sharks vowing revenge on them in the league.

And so once again the Sharks were back in the shadows of Redeaugh's answer to Nelson Mandela house, on a very sunny September morning, although it was a new look team facing Cleveland hall with Dane out for at least 2 weeks after doing a very good Marcellino impression after breaking a couple of fingers. Mathew Davison was recharging his batteries at our summer training camp in Minorca a for two weeks after a long pre season !!

The Sharks started the game off with their new keeper Daniel Gowland making his much awaited debut after finally agreeing personal terms just before the transfer window closed!! With Jordan Nattrasss and David Dawson in defence , Philly Chapman out on the right ,Connor Sullivan wide left with Nathan McCoy in his preferred central midfield role leaving Jared Boyes to cause problems up front, The Game got off to a frenetic pace with Cleveland hall kicking off and the sharks living up to their names and going for the kill straight away Nathan and Jared charged them down as soon as the ball moved and the pressure was on Cleveland hall from the off .The Sharks were out for revenge and it definitely showed with Philly,Connor and Nathan passing the ball between them to put Jared through put the Cleveland hall defence managed to turn it out for a corner. Cleveland Hall did manage to break through but Jordan and David didn't panic and smothered the danger and cleared it out . Nathan launched one of his now trademark long throws to Connor who slipped the ball to Jared who then fed it to Philly but he could hit the keeper and it fell to Jordan outside the box who shot over. Cleveland hall finally managed to find away past our defence but Daniel pushed it out for a corner.The Sharks finally broke the deadlock after sustained pressure from a corner the ball fell to Nathan whose shot was blocked only for Connor to hit the rebound at the keeper and there was Philly chasing it up to slot it home1-0 to the sharks you could have heard the cheers from Consett.

Cleveland Hall tried again to break through following the restart and this time they were through on goal only to find Phillyhad ran back to intercept and put out for a corner which was duly put over only for Jared to clear with an overhead kick.

The Second half saw a few changes made,David and Jordan came off for John and Ewan at the back with the Sharks now having Cleveland hall firmly on the back foot . But it was getting a bit rough out in the middle of the pitch with Connor coming off after taking a blow to the head then a few minutes later one to the face and caught one in the throat!(Fortunately he was ok by the end of the game )so Jordan went back on to cover then minutes later Nathan had to come of after running himself ragged to the point that he had nothing left in the tank so David was launched back into it.

Time after Time the Sharks pressed forward with Jared leading the way dancing past players passing the ball about but time after time the Cleveland hall keeper was there to deny the Sharks another goal. At the end of a really good game and well deserved win there was some very happy and tired out players and very happy parents with worn out voices!

Man of the match - Jared Boyes , well deserved he was at the heart of everything (and he can pass now too).

Goalscorer - Philly Chapman Post match comments - I told the boys that I was so proud of the way they played and they were also good sports too making a point of shaking hands with the opposition but not rubbing it in that we beat them and if we play like that every week there is no reason we cant have a good season.

Gareth McCoy 10/09/07