Year 2 Foxes v Rockleaze Rangers

Saturday 14th December dawned bright and dry(ish), it was the day of the long awaited clash with Rockleaze Rangers. Drawn from a number of schools in the area, many of the Rangers players were known to the Foxes and with a reputed but unconfirmed 100% record for the season, this was a big game for our boys.

23 Foxes were "organised" into three teams, Rockleaze Rangers selecting 14 from their large squad for the short journey up on to the Downs from Coombe Dingle. Unsurprisingly, as the first two games kicked off, it was clear that there were no weak links in the Rangers line ups. Yet it was the Foxes that made the better start and within a couple of minutes the Rangers' ref's whistle blew shrilly to announce a penalty to the Foxes. Silence descended, the ball was carefully placed on the spot muddy bit in front of goal. The Foxes coaches were anxious, the keeper looked worried. Unfortunately FA Regulations don't permit me to tell you what happened next! Suffice to say that Foxes gave their all in six hard fought matches and their were superb performances within both teams with some impressive talent on display.

The sixth and final game of the day was the best as two evenly matched sevens went at it hammer and tongs in an end to end battle. Year 2 Foxes made a bit of history by the coaches employing tactics and the boys sticking to it! We had a formation for goodness sake and it was almost recognisable in action - 2-3-1 with Cos under strict instructions to stay up front and act as the outlet ball for the underpressure back five. It almost worked a dream with Foxes star man Charlie finding the net to twice give the Hoops the lead. Pegged back by two superb roof of the net strikes (Jacob C would need to have been twice as tall to have a chance of saving!) Foxes kept going. With seconds left and the Foxes goal under heavy pressure, a long ball upfield found the waiting Cosmo. He took the ball in his stride, the ref checked his watch and decided completely correctly that a few extra seconds were fully justified, Cos headed into the box with just the keeper to beat, defenders trailing in his wake THIS SECTION OF THE REPORT REDACTED and the Ref blew the final whistle on a superb match and a superb morning. For the record, there was a well deserved third goal in as many weeks for Josh to add to the two for Charlie.

It was tough and by the end it was cold, but the boys arrived with smiles, played with smiles and were a credit to the club. Rockleaze Rangers have some excellent players and an impressive strength in depth. More importantly they were polite and very sporting even if their reputed perfect record for the season now has one small Foxes shaped dent!

Player of the Week: Charlie, an all round star performance, body on the line defending and still time to head up the pitch to score twice.