Ferndale Flyers U12 0 V Warndon Sharks U12 3

Goal Scorers:- Matt Sowden , Kieran Burns , James Ridge.


AS we anticipated from the first game this was never going to be an easy game as Ferndale are a strong well organised team.

The Sharks started the game well and had most of the possession and should have taken an early lead when James Wood 

look to have been but clear through. His cross shot ended up going wide of the target. 

Then a good run and cross down the left by James Stevens looked as if it would find Jai Gilchrist in space. 
Unfortunately for the Sharks the ball went inches over Jai's head and was just to far ahead of James Wood. 
After this Ferndale threatened for the first time and a good move down the right wing 
ended with a cross to the far post to a completely unmarked player. The Ferndale player had all the time in the world to control 
the ball but he decided to hit the ball first time and screwed his shot into the side netting. 
The Sharks were finding it very difficult to get any real passing and continuity in their game and it was Ferndale who 
looked the happier as the 1st half progressed. Even so the
Sharks should have scored when they created the 2 best chances of the half.
The first came after 20 minutes when a quick break ended with a lofted pass into Jai Gilchrist's path. 
He hit the ball on the volley . but the quick reactions of the keeper stopped the Sharks from scoring. 
Then a quick throw in over the left full back put Kieran Burns through on goal. Kieran managed to out muscle the last defender. 
He hit a good shot and again the keeper made another top save. 
James Ridge should have also made the keeper work after a pass put him clear on goal. 
But James hit his shot early when he could have taken another touch and made the chance a lot easier.
Ben Jones and Liam Dayus looked relatively secure at the back and only looked troubled once during the first half.

The Sharks were told to up the tempo at half time and to their credit they did this as the second half started. 
Both Kieran Burns and James Ridge having early shots blocked as the shark pressed. But a touch of quality from Matt Sowden gave the Sharks 
the lead when he controlled a cleared cross on the edge of the area and his long distance shot looped over the keeper and into the net.
The Sharks dominated for the next 10 minutes but with lots of delays and injuries the flow of the game was constantly being disrupted. 
The Sharks eventually made it 2-0 when a corner was only have cleared and eventually Kieran Burns scored from close range. 
After this Ferndale had a couple of chances to have got back into the game.
The first when a long ball over the top was latched onto by their forward. But strong defending by Liam Dayus slammed the door shut.
Soon afterwards Ferndale were given a free kick just just the area and a far post delivery found a player completely un marked. 
His shot clipping the top of the cross bar.
The Sharks cemented the win win a goal in the last 3 minutes . 
A run and cross down the right wing from James Wood found Kieran Burns just inside the area. 
Kieran hit a cross shot into the danger area and a grateful James Ridge slotted the ball past the keeper from 5 yards out.

Not the best performance by the Sharks but a hard working effort.
These are the type of games where the performance may not mirror the score line. 
The Sharks probably deserved to win but Ferndale could easily have scored a couple of goals on another day.