LONGHOUGHTON RANGERS 1 - 0 KYPC GALAXY

Longhoughton Rangers Vs KYPC Galaxy
 
Pin Point Junior League League Cup 1/4 Finals
 
10.30 am
 
KYPC Galaxy returned to action for the 1st time in over 1 month as the previous weeks have all been called off due to poor weather conditions and waterlogged pitches home and away. The return to action was away to Division 2 neighbours Longhoughton Rangers in the 1/4 of the League Cup and this was the 2nd attempt of getting this game played. Galaxy suffered a double blow before we travelled the long distance as Luke and Dominic both pulled out of the squad with injuries and this left Galaxy with 10 players to choose from as Jamie lined up in goal, Jordan right back and Elliott left back with James in the centre of the defence. In the midfield 4 Sam started on the right and Dean on the left with Scott and Ethan in the centre, Callum started up front which left Jake on the bench.
 
The game got underway and great credit to longhoughton as their pitch was perfect and no one would have noticed it had been such poor weather over the past month. The conditions on the day were terrible though as there was a Gail force wind which was to go on affect the game massively. Galaxy kicked with the wind 1st half and from the off Galaxy looked to knock the ball about and use the width they had on both sides and in the early stages some great balls out wide from Ethan to Sam led to a few crosses coming into the box but been cleared away from danger. Galaxy were on top and Scott was winning the 1st and 2nd balls and looking to feed the killer ball through the middle for Callum but their keeper swept up well at the back as the wind kept picking up the pace of the ball. Longhoughton looked to counter attack the Galaxy backline but on each occasion Elliott on the left was having a great game and not allowing anyone past him and Jordan was doing the exact same thing down the right as he won the ball and broke free down the right side. Near the end of the half after forcing a lot of corners without and real threat Galaxy should have scored as the ball was played back to the Longhoughton keeper who went to clear the ball it fell to Callum who had to adjust his body and fired a shot at the goal but their keeper did superbly well to recover and save the shot. Dean down the left then fed Callum with a through ball and he chased onto the ball but again the wind drifted the ball into the keepers hands, 0-0 half time.
 
Galaxy came in at half time and looked very disappointed as they hadn't took their chances and they were going to face a battle in the 2nd half as they were kicking into the wind. Changes had been made as Jake was on and within minutes of the 2nd half Jordan had to come off through injury and then a few minutes after this Jake also came off injured which left Galaxy with no other subs and having to drop down to 8 players. Longhoughton used the wind in the 2nd half as did Galaxy and started to create chances and some long distances efforts fell straight in Jamie's arms. Galaxy looking to counter attack were finding it hard with only 8 on the pitch and were looking for Callum to use his pace on the break. James in the centre of defence was his usual self and has become such an important player as he was sweeping up at the back and holding off the Longhoughton attacks and defending very well. The game was heading to extra time and minutes left Longhoughton broke clear and looked dangerous on the counter tested Jamie out again but he was in no mood to concede as he saved the shot down low, 0-0 full time, extra time.
 
The lads came in shattered after a great effort and knew they had battled throughout and defended superbly throughout and who ever scored the 1st goal would go on and win the game. Heart break struck with just minutes into extra time as Longhoughton broke on the counter and scored the killer goal which would send them through to the next round, Galaxy's heads did not go down as they battled to get a goal to take the game to pens but they just couldn't find the break through, full 1-0 Longhoughton after extra time.
 
On reflection at full time Galaxy were very disappointed as we failed to take our chances and looked very rusty after not playing for such a long time but their was plus points to todays game as the lads battled in terrible windy conditions with 8 men for most of the game and it took extra time to kill us off.
 
Full Time: Longhoughton Rangers 1-0 KYPC Galaxy (after extra time)
 
Man of the Match: James