Troopers outgunned by the outnumbered Jedi!

We reported earlier that in the Chiltern Church Junior League Cup tie last Saturday, HT Troopers (pictured left) went down 2-3 against their local ‘rivals’ the HT Jedi (pictured right). Click each picture to enlarge.

HT Troopers manager Mark Smith submitted this match report:

Troopers squeezed out by 10-man Jedis

Well last week’s cup match against the Jedis didn’t disappoint, did it?!  The result was unfortunate, losing 3-2, but much of the second half of the match was played in the Jedi’s half and the result could so easily have gone the Troopers way.  

The match started in the traditional Troopers format, with the boys waiting to see what the 10-man Jedis would hit them with and not playing with any real conviction or confidence.  An early goal for the Jedis was the answer.  The Jedis were unlucky not to make it 2-0 soon after with a high bouncing lob clearing our goalkeeper, Sam Wainman, but then hitting the crossbar!  The Troopers started to get into the game towards the end of the first half, thanks to some dedicated defending from Charlie, Tom, Jordan and Amin - who all played well – but chances for the Troopers to score were very limited.  On the plus side, thanks to some good defending, the Jedi’s didn’t have that many chances either and it gradually looked like a fairly even match. 

The boys needed a rousing half-time team talk from Mo – which definitely appeared to do the trick.  The Troopers started much more confidently, showing glimpses of some really good football, getting the ball under control and looking for simple, easy passes.  Some of the passing was still a bit below par but the pitch definitely didn’t help as it was pretty lumpy and cut up through the middle!  

The Jedis again managed an early break which saw their centre forward get clean through the defence and slot the ball past Sam W.  The Troopers kept their cool though and gradually played their football further and further in the Jedi’s half.  This was well rewarded with a surprise goal from James Smith - taking a throw-in near the corner flag, with the ball controlled and passed back for James to hit a hard, looping shot which cleared the Jedis goalkeeper and dropped in the far top corner!  This obviously gave James a thirst for more goals – ten minutes later the ball rolled out to him halfway into the Jedis half – which James instinctively hit – the shot soaring over the Jedis keeper and just creeping in under the crossbar! Jedis 2 Troopers 2!  The Troopers then dominated most of the half, keeping the Jedis pinned back and creating several good chances. 

When the Jedis did manage to break out, some excellent last-ditch defending by Jordan contained all but a few attacks.    Not to take anything away from the Jedis, who did eventually manage to break through, hitting the crossbar again on one occasion and scoring the winning goal on another! The Troopers had several chances to draw level and take the lead but conspired to miss all of them, including a couple of goalmouth scrambles and an almost open goal. 

It was encouraging to see the whole team competing and working better together as the game wore on – Ally and Darius kept the Jedis defence busy, while James Smith, Sam Cloke, Matt Sewell, James Lewis, Kyle Mockett, Sam Woolldridge competed well in midfield. Sam W had very little to do for much of the second half!

 Man of the Match was James Smith - for his two long-range goals and a solid captain’s performance too. Well done James! 

I think the parents who came along to support the boys all enjoyed the game, which was a lot closer than some we have played this season. We wish the Jedis lots of luck for the cup semi-final!