DRAYTON GRANGE STORM vs WOOTTON ST GEORGE

The final game of the season saw us travel to Wootton for a showdown with St George. We started the game in superb fashion with some neat football being played and no sign of any silly mistakes. After going close with efforts from George Pyne and Ben Winterbourn hitting a post, Wootton managed to grab the lead against the run of play to make it 1 nil, and a deflected shot past Tom 20 minutes later made the score line 2 nil. Drayton kept their heads though and upped the work rate even more. It was not what the boys deserved having been in control of most of the first half, but with the whistle approaching Tyler burst into the box and slammed a great shot past their keeper and in to make the score at halftime 2- 1.

Storm flew out of the traps in the second half and went at Wootton at every opportunity, with Georges Underwood and Davies working forward down the flanks, and a backline of Aly, Alex, Warren and Jack mopping up any attacks and feeding Cookie and Tyler in the middle. With Ben and George P chasing everything down up front it was only a matter of time before we scored again. It came from a corner, which was whipped in by Cookie and found Aly (yep, Aly) who had got into a great position in the box, and with the deftest of touches, forced the ball over the line courtesy of the stranded defender.2 - 2 then.

Wootton hit back on the break and were awarded a harsh penalty when the Wootton player, losing control of the ball, smashed it against Warrens forearm and the ref pointed quickly to the spot. Now then!, Tom has been threatening to save a penalty all season after getting his hands on a few previous ones, but just not been able to keep them out. It went hard to Tom’s right, but so did Tom! And a really strong hand sent the ball up and over the bar for what was a well deserved save from Storms number 1.

This save lifted the boys again and they got the all important 3rd a few minutes later, Alex fed Cookie in the middle and he in turn lofted the ball to Ben, who ran through the Wootton back line and drilled the ball towards goal, a fine save from the keeper denied our number 9 but Ben managed to get to the rebound and send it goal wards, this time it clipped the post and Tyler McKie on the follow up smashed the ball in to give us the lead!! 3 - 2!!

The Wootton keeper was in inspired form today and he stopped another bullet from Ben a few minutes later, saving low to his left, and it looked like Storms forward line were to be denied. However not done there though, we made the game safe with 4 minutes to go, as George Pyne got onto Bens little flick and race through to finally beat Woottons star man and make the final score 4 - 2 to Stom.

A truly great game to watch and Wootton were superb as well, especially their keeper. But with a performance I wish we had maintained through the year Storm were a credit to the club and it’s a shame we have to end the season at all. Everyone on the sidelines was blessed with a spectacle of a game and both teams were fantastic, a real contest. Well done!!

It’s a difficult choice to pick 1 man of the match as today we had 11. But with the ground he covered and the goals he grabbed, today’s Martin Kenny Man of the Match award goes to Tyler Mckie. Well done fellas, proud of you all.

Martin, Matt and Andy.