A Welcome opening game for the Herons

Buoyed by their pre-season friendly win away to Lee Rangers the Herons came into this match against East Lodge Hurricanes U8 team that is playing up an age year due to their success at U7 level. The Herons have not faired so well against teams playing up a year in the past, but that wasn't to be the case here.

The First half began and the Herons quickly took control of the fixture using their seemingly stronger physicality to good effect in the tackle but then also using space well to move the ball around with some good passing. This led to some good early chances and it was only 5 minutes or so into the match when Olly 13 found Jack in the area with a good through pass which Jack shot at the keeper who spilled the ball and Jack followed in to poke the ball into the net. The lead didn't last long though as only a couple of minutes later East Lodge broke down their left-wing and a powerful shot just from outside the area got past Herons GK Gethin at the near post.

The chances for both teams came thick and fast in this end to end game and a few good saves from both keepers kept the scores level until Josh managed to get the ball past his defender and slide a ball through to Olly 13 who slotted the ball home to restore the Herons Lead. A few minutes later the pair combined again for Ollys' second of the match and that how it stayed until half time.

The excitement of the first half continued into the second with the Herons having the most possession but often susceptible to quick counter-attacks from East Lodge and it was indeed from a Herons' corner that the Lodge caught the Herons midfield napping and broke away to score their second of the match. A few minutes later Olly 08 won the ball at the edge of his own area and drove forward down the right-wing, moving past two East Lodge players before sending a pass forward to Jack and continuing his run into the box, Jack then took the ball past the last East Lodge Defender and crossed the ball back into the centre for Olly to latch onto and drive the ball past the East Lodge Keeper for what was the best Herons goal of the game.

Another Herons' corner a few minutes after the re-start resulted in yet another Counter-attacking breakaway by the East Lodge players who made easy work of scoring with a 2 on one scenario against the Herons' GK Gethin. Still, there was to be one more goal before the final whistle when Adam got the ball and moved down the left wing before crossing the ball in and Olly 13 was there to complete his hat-trick and ensure the Herons first league win.