ECFC Black U10 0-0 Rolls Royce Leisure Blue U10

Today was a big game, one in which I felt a win was so important to seal promotion as Rolls had stuttered in league 2 after doing so well with us in Division 1 friendly league.

First half I thought that we had totally dominated given Rolls had a couple of opportunities. We passed the ball very well and created serious problems for Rolls Royce but their keeper was in outstanding form. We fired shots in at goal and should have done better at times as we hit everything, posts, cross bar & the barn door but not the back of the net & somehow beyond belief went into half time at 0-0.

Rolls Royce Blue had been showing poor tactics along with their coaching staff who were an embarrassment to grass roots football. Hounding the ref so she would change her decisions to benefit Rolls Blue.

HT our boys knew we had to try & push on and add a couple of goals to our good game play.

We had defended well neutralising their attacks and played some lovely football although Alfie had to make three good saves when Rolls countered. Time and time again we broke well only for a Rolls player to fall to the ground and as we raced towards goal, their manager would scream at the ref to stop play & bless her she fell for it 3/4 times and even made us pass the ball to the opposition on the restart, not forgetting giving Rolls free kicks due to their 3 coaches chipping away. ??

Either way we pushed on holding firm, Rolls were on the ropes then we missed a glorious chance shooting wide. As time ticked on Alfie pulled off a great save from yet another dubious free kick and my heart was in my mouth.

Two minutes remained so I decided to go for it with the team. One last role of the dice, going with a 1-1-3-2 formation we broke forward with pace and flashed crosses towards goal, Rolls broke but we won it back and then with a great attack one of our players got on the end of a through ball and it hit the inside of the post spinning away from goal. How this had not gone in amazed me, so unlucky, then the final whistle blew. The boys had given everything and I couldn't of asked for anymore.

Rolls Blue left without a handshake and I say good riddance but I felt gutted for the boys as I thought all our hard work in the season had just fallen short. I told the boys well done and that I was proud of them and we departed thinking what may of been................

Then the scores came in.....

Toton 2-1 WBR along with Gedling beating Bingham 2-1.

ECFC Black became DIV 2 Runners up.

Amazing boys we did get what we deserved promotion to division 1 of the YEL.