They say preparation is the key to success!! If that’s the case then there is no explanation to this result today. Being kind to these U14 boys the past three games have been average. And when you leave Chatteris with only 11 players and are hoping that three late call up’s will get there, then you don’t get changed together, don’t warm up together…then you expect the worse.

Luckily a de-frosting pitch delayed kick off by 15 minutes and we started very brightly, on just two minutes the mobile Joyce met a Jackson corner and the loose ball was turned in by Sam McWilliams who was poaching like any good striker does. The next ten minutes was mostly Chatteris pressure with Swavesey attacks being repelled by the hard working and organised Chatteris back four of Seaton, Merryweather, Baker and Ford.

Captain Ransome tried his luck with a 30-yard first time shot with the keeper off his line seeing his effort go just wide. On 13 minutes Pat Ford won a tackle and played a through ball that released Sam McWilliams through one on one. His first effort was saved by the Swavesey keeper but Sam followed up and slotted the rebound into the net to double the lead.

Daniel Mott who may have been still in bed at 9am came on as sub and on 31 mins he swivelled and hit a good left foot shot high only to see the keeper save well. On 33 mins Sam Merryweathers free kick was also well saved by the keeper.

HT CTYFC 2-0 SWAVESEY

 The second half started well for us too with the first 8 minutes being played mostly in the Swavesey half. Jackson found himself though with just the keeper to beat, alas the keeper won. Just two minutes later a Swavesey long throw was not cleared by the normal strong defence. Under pressure Joe baker turned the ball into his own net and our hosts had reduced the deficit by half.

The next ten minutes were tense as Swavesey gain in confidence and everything we tried didn’t quite come off, a great left foot cross by Josh Joyce eluded three of our advancing attackers. Finally on 57 minutes Jackson crossed and young Macca bundled the ball in making it 3-1. Jackson himself hit the bar two minutes later. 

Just 4 minutes later on 62-mins Gary Jackson was to score the goal he threatened. McWilliams turned brilliantly just side the box and played a smart diagonal ball into the box, Jackson followed it in and finished smartly.

Chatteris finished the scoring with a flowing move down the left seeing Josh Seaton clip a smart ball down the line, Josh Joyce flicked it first time into the path of Dan McDermott who crossed for young Macca to score his second.

FT CTYFC 5-1 SWAVESEY

This was a much better performance and MOTM was given, by the parents, to Josh Joyce. Alas Stapleford could not upset Eaton Socon and Comberton also won leaving us one point behind the latter having played one more game. Hey ho still plenty of football to play yet..