Ruddington Colts (under 14) v Pegasus Blue (under 14)

With a loss and a draw in their last 2 matches, this game really was a must win match to gain promotion, but a draw or loss would mean their rivals Ruddington would get the promotion spot.
Pegasus started poorly with Bales making good saves on 3 and 6 minutes, Pegasus then found the fire in their belly, which had been missing the last few weeks and started to play some great football. On 7 minutes Rice collected the ball on the left but his shot was easily saved. A minute later Brady shot narrowly wide. On 11 minutes a great cross by Warburton was flicked on by Rice to Winfield, who raced clear, lobbed the keeper but also the bar, then on 15 minutes confusion in the home team’s defence allowed Winfield to steam in but head over. A minute later Pegasus got the breakthrough they needed and deserved, A long punt up field found Winfield shoulder to shoulder with a defender, his strength took him clear, he rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the empty net, 0 -1 to the visitors. On 24 minutes Winfield nearly got his second, a diagonal ball by Warburton and flick on by Rice, but he slid the ball agonisingly wide. On 27 minutes Warburton showed great skill, beating several defenders before firing against the keeper’s legs from an acute angle, and from the resulting corner headed over, Pego had given a great 1st half performance, but we did wonder if the missed chances would be costly.

Half time: Ruddington Colts 0 – Pegasus Blue 1

The second half was a much more even affair, with Pegasus having the first effort on goal in the 40th minute, Sable firing just over. On 45 minutes Bales rushed from his goal to dive at the Colts striker. Chances where few and far between, then with 13 minutes to go, a controversial incident that almost certainly has cost Pegasus promotion. A long ball over the top, the flag went up for offside with the striker quite clearly several yards offside, he raced in on goal, his shot was well saved by Bales, but the ball was followed up and bundled into the goal. The home team celebrated with the flag still raised, the referee’s attention had to be drawn to the fact the linesman was vigorously still waving the flag, the referee eventually walked over and said the goal stood. .Pegasus still poured forward in the closing minutes, on 60 minutes Brady shot wide and with only 1 minute to go a Pegasus player found himself free at the far post, only to fire against the keeper’s legs. The whistle blew exactly on time, when there really should have been some overtime, and with it all real chance of promotion. In the last few weeks Pegasus had wobbled a bit, but today they had given everything.

Full time : Ruddington Colts 1 – Pegasus Blue 1

MOM - Lewis Lloyd-Jones – Back from injury and firing on all cylinders