Under 13 Match Report

U13 domination hits the Century with 0-7 victory in evening fixture against Harborough Town.

Harborough Town’s invitation to move Sunday’s game to an evening fixture under the old Leicester City floodlights was eagerly awaited by all the boys. An early arrival meant time before the game for the dressing room pre match talk, out on to the pitch for 30 minutes warm up, back in to the changing rooms to calm the excitement and then out again for the kick off.

Did what is perhaps the largest pitch in the division have the making of some quality football after Thrapstons hard won 3-0 home victory against Harborough earlier in the season? Reece Evans certainly thought so as 1 minitue after a very professional referee blew for kick off he made no mistake picking up on a rebounding cross off the near post to claim Thrapston’s first goal.

Two minitues later with Harborough still in disary Thrapston carved through the opposition mid field and Reece again, this time sprinting into the18 yard box gave the keeper no chance finishing with a quality strike. 0-2.
Thrapstons total domination continued, first to the ball every time and with good distribution and communication to both wings Harborough were unable to cope with Paul Spickers fourth minute cross into the 6 yard box for Jack Rawcliffe to finish off.0-3.

After working to make space Jordan Ward made it 0-4 with what this season has become a feature of Jordan’s game, a superbly weighted lob from the edge of the 18 yard box.

Full credit to Harborough who despite being four down in 11 minutes managed to re organise and stem the onslaught making the occasional break into Thrapstons half only to be shut down by the ever aware centre back pair of Ryan Kirk and Will Anns. With cool wing back play from an impressive Kyle Fox down the right keeping the pressure on, creating well thought out moves often from deep in his own half and Andrew Meadway putting in a sound performance on the left it was a question of how long could Harborough hold out till the next goal rather than would there be another.

Reece was in on the act again as his strength and sharpness in the 18 yard box resulted in an unfortunate Harborough putting the ball in their own net after a defensive error. Not to be out done, Jack finished the first half by calmly lobbing over defence and keeper to make it 0-6.

In the previous encounter Harborough managed to keep a clean sheet in the second half and this game was almost to be the same. Thrapston mid field duo of Danny Smith and Carlos Lewis were made to earn their jelly babies during the second 35 minutes as Harborough came out more determined and mistakes started to creep into the away teams game. Danny, determined to score at least once this season, driven on by both the away crowd and the rest of the team saw him come close with various chances but alas it was not to be.
Equally determined was half time substitute Haydn Jons who’s stunning speed caused Harborough to find them selves almost back on their own goal line despite not having lost possession since the kick off seconds before. Hadyn’s speed allowed him to play the “off side game” with the opposition finally being rewarded with a fine through ball from Callum Vorley which he very professionally put round the keeper in the 40th minute to score the 100th goal of the season for Thrapston Town U13.

Despite obvious signs of tiredness amongst some of the Thrapston players, Harborough were never allowed to get a foot hold in the remaining half hour of a game controlled from beginning to end by an ever improving TTFC with the final whistle coming at 0-7.

A big thank you to the Ref, Lines Men, Mick Carter and his wife and Harborough Town for their superb hospitality which extended to well received hot dogs in the club house after the game which we look forward to being able to reciprocate when the new facilities are completed at Chancery Lane.