So a new summer season and a new format for the mighty Glossop juniors under 8/9 squad! It was a muggy, hot Saturday lunch ish time as the mighty 10 hit the rather large pitch!
The squad for today had several new members!
Matthew in goal, Lucas and Harvey I in defense, Len, Louie, Drew in the mid field and Luke up front! The team was rotated as the new pitch is huge and the game so much longer!

At the kick off the boys settled in to their first match together! From the off the new defense partnership had to be ready! Middleton were fast and had skills! They pressed hard and tested our new Members! But like rocks the new defense stood up to them! Proving their worth! Some really good tackles were made and some of the passes were clean and tidy!

Len ran round ragged in the middle and made some good stops for the team!

Matthew had to make several saves as the Middleton boys pressed hard pegging our boys into their own half!

A substitution was made and James, Sam and Harvey R came on. Len dropped into defense with Sam, Harvey R went up front and James on the right ! Immediately they found their space and the boys began to enjoy pressing them back! A great run from len saw the ball enter the other half for quite some time! A shot but just wide!

The Middleton lads then pressed hard and after making another set of great saves the inevitable happened! A goal! Just a little bad luck for the Glossop boys! This seemed to make them more determined! They got the bit between their teeth, they weren't going to loose without a fight!

At half time the boys all grabbed much needed drinks and the coaches explained how pleased they were and just keep going! Find and make space!

Second half started up with Lucas and Harvey I back in defense, Drew, Louie and Sam midfield and Harvey R up front! Immediately the boys started to battle and challenge for the ball! They played out of their skins making it hard for Middleton to pass with balls being picked up! Matthew had to make several diving saves and kept the team in the game! Subs made again and the boys continued to press! Several great moves saw the boys earn their first corner! Len whipped it in the box and some scrabbling in defense saw Middleton get the ball free! But Lucas managed to stop the attack and send the ball back! Another corner and again the boys were just not able to scramble it over the line!

As the match drew to an end the Glossop boys showed great teamwork and determination all over the pitch!

Unfortunately the whistle came and they didn't score but a fabulous first performance for our boys!

A loss but so close! Both coaches told the boys how pleased we were with them and mom was given not only by coaches but all the players agreed to Matthew for his showcase of goalkeeper skills!

A massive well done too to all the team especially Drew, Louie, Harvey I and Lucas in their fully fledged first match as Glossop boys!!
The future is bright the future is Glossop blue!!! Come on mighty blues/whites!!!!