Dragons came up against Hednesford for the second time this season, this time in the Quarter Finals of the R. N. Crutchley Cup.
Right from the kick off Dragons started well taking the game to Hednesford as they settled down the quickest with some neat passing play putting Hednesford under pressure. As Dragons defence stopped any meaningful attack on Nathans’ goal the midfield of Dom, Ewan, Carl and Tom H battled away hard to win any loose balls and early on this paid off a couple of times as both Kieran S and Liam R had half chances to take the advantage and put Dragons in the lead but to no avail. The breakthrough came after 11 minutes with Doms’ cross from the left being blocked out by Hednesfords defence only to drop for Moggy who looped it up and over their keeper and into the back of the net. Dragons second goal once again came from the left hand side as Tom F and Liam H cleared from defence and the ball being flicked onto Liam R who broke away from his marker and slamming the ball across the front of the six yard box towards Kieran S only for it to be deflected into the goal by one of Hednesfords defenders as he tried to clear.
Dragons now looked firmly in control attacking any loose balls and controlling the game by closing Hednesford down notably with Edward leading by example who cut out many a run by making some excellent well timed tackles. Towards the end of the first half Hednesford managed to pull a goal back seemingly against the run of play as the game equalled itself out just before the half time whistle.
Half Time 2 -1.
Dragons started the second half with just as the first striking for their third goal after just two minutes, Cirean W won the ball in midfield resulting in the ball being crossed over for Ryan to head goal-wards which Hednesford cleared but only as far as Ewan who headed it straight back and into the goal. It started to go wrong for Dragons not long after with the visitors pulling one back and starting to gain confidence with every kick of the ball. Dragons heaped pressure on themselves as they started to get nervous and panic seemed to set into the play as they tried to clear their lines as Hednesford pushed hard for the equaliser. Brandon did seem to cope quite well as he was called upon to play firstly in the centre of defence then in midfield and then at left back as Dragons had to make changes due to injury with Kieran S having to come off first with a recurrence of last weeks injury and then Dom, after getting the ball kicked into his face. Hednesford scored the equaliser after 52 minutes and despite Dragons trying to hold on valiantly, they scored the winner with three minutes left. Nathan pick up a dead leg after colliding with Hednesfords’ goal scorer leaving Tom F to fill in as keeper for the remain few minutes of the game.
Full Time: 3 – 4.
Managers Man of the Match – Liam H
Parents Man of the Match – Nathan
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