In Crosfields second game of the U-13s season they lost 7-2 by Eagle at Mary Ann Meadows. After a brilliant first half where they took the lead Crosfields relaxed and even though they scored a second early on in the second half they were beaten yet again and remain very near to the bottom of the Warrington Interox League.
In the first half Crosfields defence played well catching Eagle offside lots of times. Captain Daniel French led by example and player excellently alongside another good performer, Josh Hill, in the centre of the Crosfields defence. Matthew Gardner and Carl McLean, the two full backs, also had good first halves but it would turn out to be all in vain. After James Gordon had nearly scored from a Mark Sherlock free kick, Craig Anthony was put through by Nick Hamblett to score. For the rest of the first half the Crosfields defence were under a lot of pressure but held out until half time.
In the second half Chris Kirby the Crosfields manager made a few changes and they spoilt the teams fluency and them decisions changed the game. Josh Grimward scored early on for Crosfields after the Eagle goalie had spilt the ball right in front of the goal. Eagle were forced to push forward at one point playing with just one defender and it paid off. Eagle won a corner and Lee Chadwick the Eagle striker shot but Hitchen in the Crosfields goal kept it out but the ball rebounded in off another Eagle player and into the net.
Minutes later Chadwick was put through and tucked the ball past Hitchen and into the net. The killer blow for Crosfields came less than ten minutes later when Eagle took the lead for the first time. The Crosfields’ players heads went down and Eagle walked past them and scored four more before the final whistle. Unlucky Crosfields who deserved more, were defeated again, this time 7-2, and it shows just how much substitutions can change a game.
