After two games in two days last weekend Cranleigh’s U12s returned to league action at home vs Henfield, a game the home side were expected to win.
Cranleigh kicked off the first half and within the first few minutes they look laboured, as if going through the motions in a game they were going to win, although Cranleigh had the first couple of attacks their play was broken down with ease by the Henfield defence, the more the game wore on, the more Henfield’s confidence rose, they were beginning to take command of the midfield and played some balls through the Cranleigh defence with precision, only for Jake to be on his toes to sweep up behind the defence with some great clearances up field. It wasn’t long before Cranleigh started to create, Raul with a cross shot from the left, just went passed the keepers left hand post, from the resulting goal kick, Henfield were on the attack and only superb teamwork between Elliot and Harrison kept the visitors at bay, a switch of tactics by the Cranleigh coaching team made no significant difference, the Cranleigh midfield were not tracking back, and the defence were really having to be on their game. When Cranleigh did attack there wasn’t always that penetrative pass, although Dom slid the ball through for Raul who could only hit the side netting via a deflection, from the corner Rylan hit a fierce shot that again was blocked by the visiting defence. Raul looked to be brought down in the box, but no penalty was given, in fairness it looked to be the correct decision. Elliott hit an effort from 25 yards that was blocked and now it was Henfield’s turn to attack, they broke clear, and with a shot from distance of their own, it only troubled the corner flag! Chance after chance was being wasted by Cranleigh and the half-finished goalless.
Into the second half, and it started as if we hadn’t had the half time break, with Cranleigh being wasteful with every opportunity, Dom hit the crossbar from a distance on the angle, unlucky, but if we were going to win this then luck was going to have nothing to do with it. Great pressure from the Cranleigh midfield and forwards, penned Henfield into their own half, and it seemed like there was no escape, tensions were fraught in the coaching area after some incorrect decision making by the linesman, a thankless task we can’t always get right, and human error can sometimes result in an incorrect flag that we have to live with, however as the game wore on Raul was another to have a go at the crossbar challenge, another chance that deserved to hit the back of the net. Two fantastic last-ditch tackles from Harrison prevented a one on one with the Cranleigh keeper, before Cranleigh once again hit the woodwork, Cranleigh were desperate to get the winner, but to no avail, Henfield put up a strong performance against the champions, and for once, Cranleigh came across a side they just couldn’t break down.
Man of the Match – Harrison
Report – Alan Lightfoot
