Outstanding Oliver Ousts the Otters

Another Week, Another fantastic performance from the TD boys!

These boys continue to Surprise and Impress us week after week. Going into today's game against a tough Division 1 side, they knew they had to be on top of their game and boy were they!

Setting up slightly differently In front of Oliver with Ethan in the Cb role, Cam and Dean Flanking. Riley alongside Jack in the midfield, George on the left and Dorian on the Right with our normal front 3 of Sam, Stan and Kieron.

The boys started strong and got right into the passing game looking to play the ball around quickly while looking to push forward and create Chances and space for the front 3 to run into.

Rustington were a brilliant, possession based side with dangerous players on both wings and their captain floating in the midfield and we could see it was going to be an interesting battle throughout.

Riley was causing chaos in the midfield with his driving runs, Jack keeping the shape solid. Cam, Ethan and Dean were all doing extremely well keeping the Otters at bay. After about 10 minutes George had to come off with a painful looking knock to the knee, hoping it isnt too bad buddy!

Captain Concussion aka Stephen came on to fill in the gap on the left side and did well getting involved straight away trying to thread some passes through to Kieron, Sam and Riley when they were pushing through.

Rustington created a few chances down the right side with Oliver getting off his line quickly to snuff out any chance and pulling off several outstanding one handed saves to keep the scores level going into the break!

HT Rustington Otters - 0 - 0 TD Shipley

During the Half time team talk, it was brilliant as I only needed to calm the boys down and get them talking to each other. They told me what they needed to do and how we could improve and that is exactly what they did. I made a change and bought on Lewis for Riley in the middle and kept it as that.

Rustington came out of the blocks flying and started to knock on the door but Ethan, Cam and Dean held strong and all the boys were doing a great job getting back and helping out with the defensive side of the ball. We were getting a bit of luck down the right hand side through Dorian, Sam and Kieron. With the movement of the front 3 causing issues in the Otters defence, this is where we got through. Stan dropped deep and controlled the ball with a brilliant touch before laying it into the path of Lewis who dinked a pass over the top of the defence for Kieron to run through clear on the keeper. The Otters defending got caught for pace and just as Kieron was about to take his shot he was clipped from behind. Pen!

After some conversations between the boys, Stephen stepped up to take the pen but mishit his attempt and it went straight at the keeper.

Not long after this Otters took the lead and it came from our attack. We were a bit sloppy with the possession on the edge of their area and the defender knicked in and played it out to their midfielder who lobbed a ball over the top of our retreating defence for their striker to be one on one with Oliver. Despite Olivers efforts it went past him and into the back of the net.

The boys never let their heads drop and came out swinging, winning the ball all across the pitch! Zack came on for Stephen on the left and put in a brilliant shift against a kiddie double his size, showing his character and doing his best to help the boys push forward down the left side!
Harry also came on for Ethan who had put in a fantastic shift too and deserved the rest. Jack dropped into the CB role and Harry joined Lewis in that midfield. Both were all over the pitch covering every blade of grass they could, with both showing the fight and doggedness they needed too. This is where we would get back into the game. Dean won a dual with the winger on the left side and got a brilliant pass down the line to Zack who beat his man before playing a pass into Kieron, who then sent the ball into the path of Stan. Stan controlled and Saw the run of Sam on the right side and played a great weighted pass into him before Super Sam took it past his man and finished with a composed shot into the bottom left hand corner before celebrating like our very own Jude Bellingham!

Chances continued to come at both ends with both teams going for the win with some great football being shown.
Oliver continued to pull off save after save as did the otters keeper doing their best to keep the game level.

With 7 minutes left of the Game, Dean had to come off due to an injury ( Get better soon bud) and Stephen came back into the game at Lb. The game started to speed up even more. We did our best to control midfield and give our boys the chances to go forward with Sam, Kieron and Stan all coming close to finding the winner in normal time.

FT - 1 - 1

Onto Penatlies we go and Otters won the toss and chose to go first.
Up steps Oliver who pulls off an incredible diving save to the right hand side.
Next up Stephen who wanted to put it right after the miss in the second half. Stephen puts the ball to the keepers right - 0-1
Oliver back in for the 2nd one and doing his best Dudek impression dives to his right and gets a strong hand on the pen to keep it out.
Stan is up next and puts the ball down before placing the ball so calmly into the bottom right hand corner - 0 - 2
Dudek (Oliver) stepped up again and again pulled off a wonder save diving high to his right and palming the ball against the crossbar with his left hand!
Zack bravely up next and he struck the ball well but the keeper just got his hand on it to keep it out - 0 - 2
Oliver back in but this one the Otters player narrowly put past him - 1- 2
Kieron stepped up to take the decisive penalty and he calmly placed the ball to the keepers left and sent our boys through to the semis! -1- 3

Oliver the hero in the Shoot out with 3 unbelievable saves!

FT - TD 3- OTTERS -1

MOTM- OLIVER Kolakowski - Could it be anyone else, a wonderful performance throughout with some vital stops before becoming a man possessed during the shoot out! Well done!

Quick thank you to Rustington for being great hosts and their manager for being supportive throughout.

Thank you to all the boys and parents today for their efforts and support, onto the SEMI FINAL we go!!