LET THEM PLAY! 15-03-2009

MYS BLACKS 2 EDINBURGH SOUTH 2

On Let Them Play weekend, parents were encouraged to stand back from the sidelines and coaches told to limit comments from the sidelines - and to just praise, not criticise. It is fair to say that I found this a challenge and often physically bit my lip to avoid inappropriate words!

We had beaten Edinburgh South comfortably early in the season and after a great display in our last game outdoors, we were hopeful of a good result. Yet somehow, we just couldn't get going today - the first half in particular was very flat and we just couldn't seem to raise our game apart from a few good moves.

Youngstars had the best early chances but Seth slipped the ball wide after a great run by Jack, Callum shot across goal and then couldn't quite get on the end of Seth's fine cross and Jack shot wide too. Seth then lifted the ball over the keeper and it looked like it would drop in before the keeper managed to claw it away.

Lloyd, who had started as sub, broke the deadlock soon after coming on when he hammered in a deflected shot in a crowded area. However, Edinburgh South came back almost immediately to equalise and gave us some more anxious moments before half-time, with Cammy Brown making one particularly good save. We could also have scored more, with Blair, Scott and Lloyd going close.

The second half was action-packed, with loads of chances at either end. We took the lead when Brandon ran onto a through ball and hammered in a brilliant goal off the underside of the bar. He then had another good effort saved, while the keeper also saved well from Scott and Jack.

Edinburgh South also created plenty of opportunities and Cammy Brown headed against his own post before Jason - who had another very solid game - hammered the ball away. Callum had to make a couple of good saves, too, before he was left exposed as one of the Edinburgh South players was allowed a free run before laying a pass into the path of a team-mate, who slotted home beautifully.

Youngstars could still have won when Connor had not one, but two, long-range efforts come back off the bar - before their keeper made another good save, this time from Lloyd.

To be fair, we could have won comfortably with a bit of luck, but all credit to Edinburgh South for a fine performance. What we definitely need to learn is:
(i) work harder on our tackling and general commitment
(ii) don't argue with the ref's decisions
(iii) remember what we are trying to learn on throw-ins and start throwing to feet and laying the ball back, not just chucking the ball hopefully down the line.