Pegasus Blue (under 14) v East Valley United (under 14)

Following last week’s defeat to promotion chasing rivals, Hucknall, this was a must win match to maintain their own promotion charge. It was always going to be a close match against bogey team East Valley.

Pegasus had their first effort on goal on 7 minutes, a free kick headed straight at the keeper, but the visitors responded with 2 efforts of their own on 8 an 14 minutes, the 1st , a defensive mix up allowed a cross and header wide, then a long range effort well over. On 18 minutes Pego had a great chance to take the lead, a long ball by Winfield , flicked on by Rice, fell perfectly into the path of Gossling , he raced clear, but his drive fizzed just over his former club’s cross bar. A minute later the visitors were ahead, a long ball down the middle bounced perfectly for the striker to head over the keeper and a helpless covering defender, 0 – 1. Pegasus responded immediately, great skill and cross by Rice on the right found Brady who fired wide. On 25 minutes Pego keeper Bales prevented United from getting a second with a magnificent flying save, tipping over. On the stroke of half time Pegasus levelled, Cerutti found Adam Rice wide on the left, he raced clear and beautifully lobbed the keeper to go in at half time 1 – 1.

Half time: Pegasus Blue 1 – East Valley United 1

Pegasus needed to start the second half well, and they did just that, in the 1st minute Warburton found Cerutti on his own with a diagonal pass, but he sliced wide when in a good position. On 46 minutes Bales pulled off another great save from another long range effort, and that was it as far as the away side were concerned, from that moment it was all Pegasus. On 54 minutes a long ball fell to Brady, but he blazed over, and 3 minutes later Dunn found Sable 15 yards out and he struck the ball narrowly wide. Pegasus piled forward in the later stages, on 66 minutes Winfield fired over from long range, and on 68 minutes Cerutti shot wide from 10 yards, then in the last minute the same player showed great skill crossing from the left, straight onto the head of Winfield six yards, with the goal at his mercy, but the ball somehow found its way over the bar. Things could have got worse for Pego, as the visitors raced straight up field, smashing a shot just over the bar, that would have been a complete injustice. Pegasus should have taken all three points, but in the end had to settle for only one.

Full time : Pegasus Blue 1 – East Valley United 1

MOM - Sean Gordon – Strong at the back