STRONG START AFTER SUMMER BREAK

MYS Black Stripes 12 - 3 Haddington Athletic Clarets (30Aug08)

After last week's game being called off due to poor weather, it was great to eventually re-start the season today. The Youngstars got off to a flyer in the first 15 minutes, with some great play from Lewis and Jason. Some typically strong defending from Mark in his own box allowed the ball to break to Lewis, who looked up and fired the ball over the half-way line to Jason. One-on-one with the keeper, Jason cleverly chipped the ball over his head and into the net for the game's first goal. Soon afterwards, Lewis won the ball just outside the Haddington box and hammered it towards goal. The keeper managed to get a hand to it, but could only deflect it into the goals. With Kyle absent through injury, Innes took his place in goals for the first quarter and made a couple of excellent saves, diving down low to smother the ball. Lewis then scored his second after a throw-out from the Haddington keeper found it's way into his path. He strode forward and tucked the ball under the keeper's body to make it 3-0.

Haddingston played better in the second quarter and gave the Youngstars a real test. Harvey had a shot in goals and managed to get in front of a powerful shot, but it deflected behind him and into the net. Morgan played brilliantly on the right wing during this period, with numerous tackles, mazy runs and attempts at goal (and he was really unlucky not to score from a particular effort that went narrowly past the post).

Early in the third quarter, Josh hit a fantastic corner that looped over the keeper and went straight into the net. Moments later, he lofted in another fantastic corner which Lewis got on the end of and headered just wide. The Youngstars piled on the pressure and a great cross from Lewis was met by Jason in the six yard box and he fired the ball through the keeper's legs for his second goal of the match. Jason then set up the team's sixth goal as he crossed from the right wing and Lewis headered the ball past the advancing keeper. Seconds later, Jason again crossed the ball into the box where Lewis was waiting to strike and he scored his fourth. He then got a fifth after winning the ball outside the Haddington box and calmly stroking it into the bottom corner of the net. Haddington pulled one back, though, with some great dribbling from their striker followed by a cracking shot between two Youngstars defenders. However, Jason then completed his hat-trick after a nice short corner routine with Josh.

Sam played well in the final quarter with some fantastic tackles in the midfield. Lewis played in goals for this period and was called upon to make a number of brilliant saves. His powerful kick-outs also helped set up good attacking moves, one of which resulted in a goal for Harvey. Jason picked up Lewis' kick-out on the right wing, then chipped the ball over towards Harvey who had broken forward from his central midfield position. Harvey finished the move with ease as he blasted the ball into the goals. He then scored his second after some great passing play between Jason and Calum. Haddington scored their third a few moments later, but the Youngstars finished the scoring after Jason's shot came off the cross-bar and fell kindly for Calum who knocked the ball into the net with the last kick of the match. All in all, a great start to the second half of the season.

Teamsheet: Innes, Mark, Morgan, Josh, Sam, Harvey, Lewis, Jason, Calum

Goal scorers: Jason (3), Lewis (5), Josh, Harvey (2), Calum