Goal line clearance, a worldy save and a hat trick hero

On Sunday afternoon at Oaklands Lane, the Leopards played London Colney Reds in an exciting competitive league match.
The Reds started the game well and pressed the Leopards high up the pitch. What was pleasing was to see the Leopards keep calm under pressure and continuing to play out from the back and through the pitch. The Leopards quickly went through the gears but it was the Reds that took the lead from a deflected pass. The Leopards 1st goal came from a good passing move, Jonah Howgego passed the ball across the box from right wing to Harris Young, who played a square ball to Milo Hegarty to rifle in the shot from the penalty mark.
The second Leopards goal came from the same area, this time it was Milo's turn to run with the ball before putting in a cross to Harris, who once again provided the assist. As the ball came across, Harris played a little pass back to Samuel O'Hare who scored with a thunderous shot pass the keeper.
The Leopards had to work hard against a strong Reds side, and Daniel Austin making a wonderful goal line clearance summed up their commitment.
The second half was just like the first, with both teams committed to playing football.
Mid way through the second half, George Small who was bossing the midfield, won a free kick 5 yards outside the box. Sam, who already had hit the crossbar in the first half from a free kick, stepped up to take it. Although an ideal angle for his wand of a left foot, the distance was perhaps too far for a direct shot. Sam put in a Willian style free kick, and with Jack Horne, who had flown in the day before from his winter break in New York, making a nuisance of himself in front of the goalkeeper, the ball ended up in the net. The way the boys celebrated the goal, you could tell it meant a lot to them.
Milo had a couple of chances before Sam completed his hat trick from a shot on the edge of the box. Although that was the end of the goals for the day, it was not in terms of excitement. As the game was nearing its exciting completion, Daniel Mckinstry pulled off a wonderful full stretch save from a long range powerful shot. The way he was congratulated by his team mates, you could see that is was a good as scoring a goal down the other end.
In the dying seconds, Daniel Austin pressed an opponent in his own half and won the ball, before finding himself in the box one on one with keeper. Unfortunately a crisp on target shot was saved .
Well done to all of the boys for their commitment and sticking to what we have been working on.