NEW SEASON OFF TO A FLYER

Tranent Juniors 3 - 22 MYS Black Stripes (7Mar09)

The first game of the new 2009 season got off to flyer with a goal in the first minute. Josh found space with the ball just outside the Tranent penalty box, skipped past his marker, and fired the ball into the top corner of the net. A couple of minutes later, Josh was involved again as he beat his defender and drilled the ball low across the goal line for Calum to get on the end of it for an easy knock-in. Soon afterwards, Harvey won the ball on the half way line and charged down the right wing. He skipped past three Tranent players on his way to the penalty box, before shooting low into the bottom corner for goal number three. Morgan then had a superb effort saved by the Tranent goalkeeper, but the ball rebounded to Harvey who struck it sweetly into the back of the net. Innes in goals, and Sam and Mark in defence, had little to do in the first period as the Youngstars piled on the pressure. The fifth goal of the game was scored following a smashing cross by Harvey that was met by Calum and he fired the ball low past the diving keeper. Morgan was then unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when his effort from outside the box flew just over the crossbar.

To help balance the teams, Josh and Calum joined the Tranent team for the second period and both were heavily involved throughout. It was the Youngstars who scored next, though, as Lewis played a great cross into Harvey's path and he blasted the ball high into the net to complete his hat-trick. Innes was playing as a striker in this period and made a great run with the ball through the middle, but his shot was met by a good save by the Tranent keeper. Jason was next to get on the scoresheet, after some great footwork at the edge of the penalty area followed by an excellent shot straight into the goals. Seconds later, Lewis scored his first of the match (and the team's eighth). Lewis was then involved in the next goal as he charged down the right wing, cut inside, and played a great pass across the 6 yard area. Innes was waiting to meet the ball and he swept it high into the roof of the net, scoring his first ever goal for the team. This gave Innes a great boost of confidence and he scored his second moments later. Lewis won the ball in his own half and played it to Innes, who layed the ball of to Jason and ran forward. Jason looked up and played a superb pass into Innes' path and he struck the ball low and hard past the keeper's near post. Mark had taken a turn as goalkeeper in this period, but had no action as Ross and Morgan in defence broke down every Tranent attack. A weak kick-out by the Tranent keeper was met by Lewis, who found Harvey with a well-weighted pass. Harvey met the ball on the run and drilled it past the advancing keeper for goal number eleven. The scoring was then completed in this period after a great clearance from Morgan found Lewis in space just outside the Tranent box. He turned his defender and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

In the third period, Lewis and Mark took the place of Josh and Calum in the Tranent side but were unable to stop Jason getting on the scoresheet again. Harvey was playing in goals and his kick-out found Morgan on the left wing. Morgan then played a neat pass to Jason, who rounded his marker and blasted the ball into the goals. Jason was invovled in the next goal too, as he played a great square pass across the goal line where Calum was waiting to knock the ball into the empty net for his hat-trick. Tranent managed to pull a goal back, however, as Lewis' pass was knocked forward by Mark and it took a deflection past Harvey's diving hands. The Youngstars bounced straight back, though, when Calum's cross found Morgan in space and he drilled it beyond the Tranent keeper. Tranent scored their second following a scramble in the box as Mark set up their striker for a great shot that sneaked past everyone. Lewis then scored for Tranent with a great effort from outside the penalty area. From the resulting kick-off, the Youngstars scored again as Calum's reactions meant he was first to the ball after the Tranent keeper parried it out with a good save. With the keeper on the ground, Calum had plenty of time to pick his spot in the back of the net.

The kids were beginning to tire a little in the final period, as the pitch was fairly heavy by this point. But that didn't stop some great play by Josh out on the left wing as he left a trail of opponents behind him with a mazy dribble. His accurate pass went straight to Lewis' feet, and he slotted it cooly inside the post. Mark then found some space with the ball on the left wing and played a great cross into the box, where Lewis met it with a volley past the helpless keeper. Lewis then returned the favour with a pass across the goals to Mark, who slotted it away with great confidence. Ross had been playing well in midfield during this period and set up the next goal with a great through-pass to Lewis, who controlled the ball well and rounded the keeper. Driving towards the empty net, it looked like Lewis would walk the ball over the line but Jason wanted more of the action and stole in to knock the ball into the net for his hat-trick. Sam had been playing as a lone defender in this last 15 minutes and some strong tackles ensured no one got past him. Ross then set up the next goal as his strike bounced off the keeper and into Lewis' path, who took the opportunity to score his 5th of the game. Lewis then rounded off the scoring with the last kick of the ball - a smashing effort from outside the box to complete his double hat-trick.

It was good to see all the kids getting lots of touches of the ball today, setting themselves up for the new season. They played really well as a team, with some great passing on display for the supporters, and all the kids can be realy proud of their performance. This was Lewis' last game for the Youngstars as he moves on to pursue his footballing ambitions with Hearts FC, and we wish him all the best for the future.

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

Goal scorers: Josh, Harvey (4), Calum (4), Jason (3), Lewis (6), Innes (2), Morgan, Mark