YOUNGSTARS STAGE GREAT COMEBACK

MYS Black Stripes 3 - 3 Haddington Athletic Clarets (4Apr09)

With the start of the Easter Holidays, both teams had a depleted squad for today's game - but they put on a great show for the spectators on the sidelines.

The first 15 minutes was a very evenly contested affair, with chances at both ends and neither team really on top. Haddington broke the deadlock towards the end of the period after Mark, Sam and Lewis had all managed to block shots from the Haddingston strikers before the ball was finally blasted into the net. Calum and Morgan both came close with a couple of efforts for the Youngstars and were very unlucky not to score (on another day they would each have finished off the chances that fell to them).

Calum almost scored an equaliser early in the second period as he lashed a fierce shot towards goal, but it cannoned off a Haddington defender's face. Josh and Sam were playing at the back and were called into action many times as we were fighting against the wind. Their strong tackling helped keep Haddington at bay, but they could do nothing about Haddington's second goal. Their midfielder picked up the ball in the centre of the pitch and strode into the Yougstars' penalty box before blasting the ball into the far corner of the net.

Haddington went further ahead at the start of the third period when a good cross from the right wing was met by the advancing striker, and he calmly slotted it past Innes. From the kick-off, Lewis managed to break into the Haddington penalty box, but his strong strike was saved by the Haddington keeper, who injured his wrist in the process and had to be replaced in goal. The Youngstars eventually managed to pull a goal back though, following some great play from Jason. He won the ball down at his own corner flag, then skipped past two opponents as he advanced up the left side of midfield before passing the ball to Lewis in the centre circle. Lewis wasted no time in charging into the Haddington penalty box and firing the ball past the helpless keeper.

This goal gave the team a boost, and they managed another shortly after the kick-off in the final 15 minutes of the game. Calum controlled the ball in midfield and looked up before slotting the ball into Josh's path on the right hand side. Josh then played a great first time cross towards Lewis who, 6 yards from goal, simply passed the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Haddington fought back well after this set-back and forced a couple of good saves from Innes - one shot in particular was heading for the top corner and Innes' outstretched hand managed to push it out wide. The Youngstars kept fighting for the equaliser, and it eventually came when Jason played a neat lay-off to Josh and his strike from outside the box was saved by the Haddington keeper... but the ball bounced out and Calum was on it in a flash to blast it over the goal-line. Some typically strong defending from Mark helped prevent any further Haddington goals, as the game ended in a draw.

Both teams can take a lot of credit for the way they played today. There was some great passing on display and a draw was a fair result following the efforts of all players involved.

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

Goal scorers: Lewis (2), Calum