UNDER 12 MATCH REPORT: Belper 4 - 3 LEFC

Goalscorers: Kirk 2, Kieron

Assists: Still consulting the assists commission but Jake, Ahmed and Kieron are in the frame pending a steward’s enquiry.

Man of the Match: Kirk (Sublime finishing and passing)

The team of heroes: Tom S (Top man), Matt D, Anupam, Richard, Josh, James, Jake, Ahmed, Matt H, Kieron, Kirk

This morning’s game against a previously unbeaten Belper was an outstanding advert for youth football. In a pulsating end-to-end encounter, played in a spirit of good sportsmanship, Emmanuel twice took the lead and then came from behind only to see Belper grab a cruel last minute goal to take the spoils.

Some Saturday mornings you just don’t fancy getting out of bed. With an injury ravaged squad and a long away trip to unbeaten Belper this was one of those Saturday mornings. When a couple of previously fit players declared themselves injured after not showing up at the pick up point we travelled with the basic 11 players. But on a cold Derbyshire morning the remaining lads put in a performance that they should be proud of.

For most of the match the defence (Josh, Matt D, Richard and Anupam) stood up well to the Belper pressure with all the players making crucial interceptions and challenges. When the defence was breached Tom pulled off his usual quota of impressive saves. At the other end Kirk and Kieron looked like they could score every time they got the ball. Their finishing was superb – 3 times they shot across the keeper to score and it was particularly pleasing to see Kieron going to the ball, controlling and laying it off.

Linking the defence and midfield were Ahmed and Matt H. They spoiled countless opposition attacks and time and again released the Emmanuel forwards. When one of our goals came from a passing move that started in our own penalty area with Josh it underlined the quality of what was happening. Given that the pitch had the constitution of an overloaded sponge the quality of what we watched was all the more impressive.

The team made efforts to use the flanks and Jake and James worked their socks off for the team. But with no substitutes available the effort finally told in the harshest of finishes. Even then Emmanuel didn’t give up with Ahmed inches over the bar with the last kick of the game.

Well done lads – you were an absolute credit – I was proud to be your manager. If you play like that for the rest of the season you will win more than you lose.

The 11 players who came today have earnt the right to be in the squad for next week’s final game of the year. The players who let me know in advance that they couldn’t come will have first choice for the remaining places. Enough said!