UNDER 18 JUNIOR DIVISION MATCH REPORT: LEFC 3 - 0 Pastures Youth

After weeks of bad weather Emmanuel finally got back to league action - and they picked up where they left off, with a win.   Emmanuel began well putting together two or three fine passing moves but then Emmanuel gradually faded as Pastures pressed, harried and played some superb football which could and should  have given them the lead. And this they would have done were it not  for some top-class defending form Tyrer et al and a couple of quite stunning last-gasp tackles from Schad, Arme, Riman and, above all, Large.  Emmanuel were clearly not working hard enough as a team and the front 4 were simply not doing enough.  A few home-truths were spelt out at half time by coach Dave Day and this had the desired result as very soon the game looked very different.  Crucial in this phase was Aning who began to dominate in midfield with the result that Smithson began to weave some magic on the left and Emmanuel forced a whole series of corners.  Finally, one fell to Sharp who turned well to score from close range.  Emmanuel were now well and truly on top and looked likely to score again which they did when Walker finished superbly to beat the Pastures keeper one-on-one.  Almost immediately Emmanuel scored again as Pownall skipped past a couple of Pastures defenders before curling in an exquisite 20-yard shot.  The game was not, though, over as Pastures pressed and it took a quite stunning double block-on-the-line by man of the match Riman to ensure Emmanuel kept a clean sheet.