If there were an advert for youth football and for the South Surrey League, it was this match. Elstead Sharks, were weakened by the loss of three players at short notice, but the two clubs were determined to keep the game on. Winning is important, but not as important as getting the boys out on a Saturday morning, enjoying the social and physical aspects of the game and the Loxwood Youth players stepped up to take turns in playing for their rivals. Each gave a good account of themselves and played in the spirit of the game, which is a credit to them.
The match started very evenly. Both sides created openings without drawing either keeper into saves. Elstead had the first real chance, a little against the run of play. A ball down the left channel and a good effort on goal from a very tight angle, was tipped onto the bar by Toby Nicholls and cleared to safety. Loxwood had a lot of the ball and spells of pressure, Tom Pearce doing well on the left wing to hold off his opponent, surge into the box, but his shot was too weak and easily saved. Brodie Gunn, playing in his first match for Loxwood, and Toby Chandler went close to scoring, before Elstead took the lead. A shot from the edge of the box appeared to take a slight deflection, looped over Nicholls' head and dropped into the back of the net. Heads did not drop and Loxwood quickly got back into the game. A fine run from Tom Lillywhite, a good cross into the box and Gunn brought the ball down and tucked his shot neatly into the bottom corner. Minutes later, Loxwood took the lead. A crucial tackle by Harry Comber allowed Loxwood to break, Tom Lillywhite sent Gunn clean through and he coolly found the back of the net.
Buoyed by their half time advantage, Loxwood came out in the second half determined to extend their lead. It came after a few minutes with a fine solo effort from Tom Lillywhite who, from an acute angle, scooped his shot over the keeper and into the roof of the net. Elstead never gave up and pegged Loxwood back. A quick counter attack caught Nicholls in two minds. Quickly of his line and then back-peddling, as the Elstead forward hit a wonderful low drive beyond his reach into the bottom corner. But Loxwood were in no mood to let the game slip and a quick brace from Tom Lillywhite killed the game. The second, a fine run into the box as the pitch opened up, before firing past the stranded keeper. To their credit, Elstead continued to battle, forcing Nicholls into two excellent saves before they grabbed a late consolation with a thunderbolt into the roof of the net that gave Nicholls no chance.
It was a great Loxwood performance with every player making valuable contributions to the game. Ollie Zeffert was immense in the centre of defence. His display was one of the best I have seen in the white of Loxwood as he took control of the back three, made tackle after tackle, interceptions, blocks and showed the confidence to bring the ball out of the back and to feed the midfield. It was a mature performance and one that confirms that the fitness and strength work with Lucy is really paying off. Tom Lillywhite, with a hat-trick and two assists also deserves special mention, as does Brodie Gunn who crowned his debut with two goals. The link-up play between Gunn, Lillywhite, Pearce and Chandler was the difference between the two sides and bodes well for future matches. Toby Nicholls did excellently in the unfamiliar role in goal, making a number of very important saves to keep us in the match. Alongside Ollie, Theo Rawlins, George Lillywhite and Josh Arnold all put in solid performances and Harry Comber rose to the challenge of playing virtually every position on the pitch! A genuine team performance and a great result for these boys that they richly deserved.
Team: Toby Nicholls, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Theo Rawlins, George Lillywhite, Harry Comber, Tom Pearce, Tom Lillywhite, Toby Chandler, Brodie Gunn.
Goals: Tom Lillywhite (3), Brodie Gunn (2)
The match started very evenly. Both sides created openings without drawing either keeper into saves. Elstead had the first real chance, a little against the run of play. A ball down the left channel and a good effort on goal from a very tight angle, was tipped onto the bar by Toby Nicholls and cleared to safety. Loxwood had a lot of the ball and spells of pressure, Tom Pearce doing well on the left wing to hold off his opponent, surge into the box, but his shot was too weak and easily saved. Brodie Gunn, playing in his first match for Loxwood, and Toby Chandler went close to scoring, before Elstead took the lead. A shot from the edge of the box appeared to take a slight deflection, looped over Nicholls' head and dropped into the back of the net. Heads did not drop and Loxwood quickly got back into the game. A fine run from Tom Lillywhite, a good cross into the box and Gunn brought the ball down and tucked his shot neatly into the bottom corner. Minutes later, Loxwood took the lead. A crucial tackle by Harry Comber allowed Loxwood to break, Tom Lillywhite sent Gunn clean through and he coolly found the back of the net.
Buoyed by their half time advantage, Loxwood came out in the second half determined to extend their lead. It came after a few minutes with a fine solo effort from Tom Lillywhite who, from an acute angle, scooped his shot over the keeper and into the roof of the net. Elstead never gave up and pegged Loxwood back. A quick counter attack caught Nicholls in two minds. Quickly of his line and then back-peddling, as the Elstead forward hit a wonderful low drive beyond his reach into the bottom corner. But Loxwood were in no mood to let the game slip and a quick brace from Tom Lillywhite killed the game. The second, a fine run into the box as the pitch opened up, before firing past the stranded keeper. To their credit, Elstead continued to battle, forcing Nicholls into two excellent saves before they grabbed a late consolation with a thunderbolt into the roof of the net that gave Nicholls no chance.
It was a great Loxwood performance with every player making valuable contributions to the game. Ollie Zeffert was immense in the centre of defence. His display was one of the best I have seen in the white of Loxwood as he took control of the back three, made tackle after tackle, interceptions, blocks and showed the confidence to bring the ball out of the back and to feed the midfield. It was a mature performance and one that confirms that the fitness and strength work with Lucy is really paying off. Tom Lillywhite, with a hat-trick and two assists also deserves special mention, as does Brodie Gunn who crowned his debut with two goals. The link-up play between Gunn, Lillywhite, Pearce and Chandler was the difference between the two sides and bodes well for future matches. Toby Nicholls did excellently in the unfamiliar role in goal, making a number of very important saves to keep us in the match. Alongside Ollie, Theo Rawlins, George Lillywhite and Josh Arnold all put in solid performances and Harry Comber rose to the challenge of playing virtually every position on the pitch! A genuine team performance and a great result for these boys that they richly deserved.
Team: Toby Nicholls, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Theo Rawlins, George Lillywhite, Harry Comber, Tom Pearce, Tom Lillywhite, Toby Chandler, Brodie Gunn.
Goals: Tom Lillywhite (3), Brodie Gunn (2)
