Honours Even In Derby Match

Joel Nathan - Monday 17th 2008f November 2008

WFL U12 Blue Division
Aldenham Wildcats 1 Brady Maccabi 1
Sunday, 16 November, 2008

It was derby day in Radlett as Brady Maccabi and Aldenham Wildcats played against each other for the first time this season.

With the majority of both teams made up from boys who used to play together at the Excel Academy this was always the game that both teams wanted to win more than any other this season, but at the end there was nothing to seperate them.

Both teams started the match at a frantic pace and good football was hard to find as the boys tried to adapt to the boggy conditions. If anything Aldenham started the better but even though they had the majority of the possession they did not trouble the Brady keeper. Brady started to find their feet but with the majority of the game being played in the middle of the park neither team could create a clear cut chance and the first half ended goalless.

The second half however was much better as Brady started to take control and finally got into their rhythm as they got their passing game going and it was no surprise that they created the first real chance of the game when a Winters shot was easily saved.

Brady did not have to wait long for their next chance and they duly took the lead when after 10 minutes a Davis shot from 20 yards was superbly tipped onto the crossbar by the Aldenham keeper however Brady were quicker to react to the rebound and when the ball fell to Samuel Leader, he slammed the ball home.

As you would have expected Aldenham came back at Brady but still they could not find a clear breakthrough and were only able to have long-range shots which were easily dealt with.

Then with 10 minutes to go, disaster happened when another ball over the top should have been easily dealt with by the Brady keeper but instead of clearing the ball he waited for it to roll into the area but the Aldenham striker did not wait nicked the ball and put into the empty net.

Both teams looked for the winner and it should have been Brady when winters was clean through with a couple of minutes left but instead of taking his time rushed his shot and put it wide.

At the end of the match Brady manger Joel Nathan said: "It was not a classic game especially in the first half but I did feel we deserved the win with our second half performance and it was only a moment of madness from my own son that cost us."

Man-of-Match:
Aden Samuels

Team:
Zack Nathan, Justin Mullem, Aden Samuels, Jacob Leigh, Etai Page, Ben Winters, Harrison Baum, Oli Marshall, Max Bull, Samuel Leader, Jack Davis, Toby Constad, Jordan Harris.