U16 match report - of sorts

Woodbridge 5 - Clarence United 2

The under 16's game on Saturday could be likened to a sandwich; Clarence provided the fresh full-grain bread with a goal at each extremity of the game, and Woodbridge supplied a flavoursome filling of five goals. The game began shortly after 11:15 am, by which time eleven Woodbridge players had arrived at Cambridge, which was ample cause for celebration in itself. Aiden, Deans, Jack, Rainen, Sindri, Kye, Nadirah, Jordan, Jy, Phineas and Bolan – a full squad! Forget sandwiches, break out the cake!

Perhaps we should therefore say that the game was a bit like a delicious sponge cake; Clarence provided the light and tasty sponge (ie goal) at each end of the game, and Woodbridge provided the ever-so-sweet, five-goal, jam and cream filling. Whichever way you slice it, this was an exciting game; a game which Clarence began early and emphatically with an awesome goal and a dusting of icing sugar. Woodbridge were a bit rattled; but spectators know from past experience that when the chips are down, this team gets frying - which kind of messes with the whole cake metaphor; but cake is never in the vicinity of teenagers for very long in any case.

So, in the first half of a game that was much more like a piping-hot, fresh from the fryer fisherman's basket than a sponge cake, Bolan and Phineas provided three sizzling goals between them (Bolan 2, Phin 1). Jordan had served up a beauty too, garnished with a sprig of parsley and a squeeze of lemon, unfortunately he was offside so the goal was dipped in tartare sauce and disallowed; never-the-less it still served to rattle the Clarence defence and worry their keeper. At half-time, when the teams retired briefly to the sidelines to find absolutely NO oranges (or squid rings for that matter) the score-line stood at 3 – 1 in the visitor's favour.

The second half was a different kettle of fish; crumbed and deep-fried (or perhaps not but this metaphor has a mind of its own) With several Clarence players committed to marking Bolan, Phin and Jordan were able to run riot in the midfield and Jy was freed up to remind us that the jinx has well and truly lifted. He peppered the Clarence goal with shots and ultimately provided Woodbridge with another two goals. The first was a borderline affair, only just crossing the line, but the second is etched firmly into spectators minds; a beautiful long pass from Sindri to Bolan who, with four opposition players converging, lobbed it across the field to Jy who salted it away into the back of the Clarence net. Clarence managed to plate up one more goal before the whistle sounded, to bring the full-time score to Woodbridge 5 – Clarence 2.

Awesome team play yet again from the Woodbridge guys and gal, a veritable feast of fantastic football.

Alio