FERNIESIDE 2 MYS BLACKS 3
A brilliant performance from a squad depleted by illness saw Youngstars end the first half of the season on a high with a third straight win.
Cammy Brown was unavailable for this game and in the 24 hours before kick-off, we lost Callum, Blair, Seth and Brandon, who were all unwell. Ross McGuire was drafted in from the blue stripes to play in goal but we still had only seven outfield players for the game.
Luckily, those seven outfield players - and Ross - were all outstanding as we continued our fine form to record a great win.
Youngstars were straight onto the attack and won a succession of corners. From the first one, Lloyd put the ball perfectly on Jack's head and only a deflection off a defender's back prevented a goal. David had a left-foot shot saved after a great move and Scott also went close before Youngstars took the lead. Jack knocked down another Lloyd corner and David smacked a terrific shot past the keeper and high into the net.
Scott sent a superb flick header narrowly wide from another corner and there was some excellent passing play, especially from Lloyd and Jack. Fernieside had a few efforts, but there was little to trouble Ross - largely thanks to very solid defending from Connor and Jason, who also distributed the ball exceptionally well.
A long clearance from Jason came back off the post after squirming through the Fernieside keeper's hands, but the half-time score remained 1-0.
Youngstars continued to press after the interval, with Cammy Dunlop putting in a good shift in an unusual position of left midfield, with some good challenges, passes and throws. He almost got on the end of a great cross from Jack as the game swung end-to-end before Scott put Youngstars 2-0 up. Jack's shot was saved by Fernieside's excellent keeper, but Scott followed in to poke home.
Fernieside came straight back when a long-range shot was brilliantly saved by Ross but a striker followed up to score. At 2-1 the game could have gone either way, but thanks to a couple more great saves by Ross and more excellent defending, Youngstars held on.
Scott almost made it 3-1 when he ran clear after a long pass by Connor but the keeper saved well - but we did restore our two-goal lead when Jack's cross-shot squeezed in at the far post.
Fernieside went close to pulling one back a couple of times before a scramble in our goalmouth saw one of their strikers fire home through a crowded penalty box.
However, although all the boys were tired, they kept going superbly and the Fernieside keeper made another good save after a strong run by Scott. We then missed a great chance to go 4-2 up as Scott's looping shot came back off the bar and he picked up the rebound to cross for Jack who hit the top of the bar from point-blank range.
David shot wide as Youngstars continued to press, and we held on for a well-deserved win. This really was a magnificent performance in difficult circumstances and apart from 15 minutes of madness against Easthouses, we have played really well now for the last five games and are a match for anyone in this league on our day.
Well done boys and see you all in the New Year! Lloyd takes the man of the match award today for a superb, all-action performance from the first minute to the last.
Squad: Ross, Connor, Jason, Jack, Lloyd, David, Cameron D, Scott
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