Bengeo Tigers FC

After two weeks without football the U9 Siberians were desperate to get their boots on again. Our opponents today in the first round of the League Cup were East Herts Youth.

Conditions were difficult with a muddy pitch and ice cold rain but the first game turned out to be an epic Cup battle. Our first goal came during a goal mouth scramble, Zoe martin getting the important touch. East Herts replied instantly with a goal driven from distance. Lewis Thomas edged us ahead on 14 minutes only for East Herts to level again just before half time. The second half saw us go 3-2 down before Will Orton scored a cracking free kick to level. We were again caught out and East Herts took the lead towards the end of the game. We looked the stronger team towards the end of the second half and inevitably we equalised, a well struck shot from William Orton. The game finished 4-4, the kids were covered in mud, soaked and shivering.

Some good individual performances today, Will Orton put in a good skillful display, despite the poor conditions. Man/player of the match today though was awarded to Zoe Martin, definitely her best performance to date.

We sent the kids home for a well earned warm before we began the team talk for the second game.

We looked in control from early on and the boys looked to play football, putting together some good passes and movement. We took the lead on 5 minutes through a Joe Button free kick. Harry-Malady Rashford was having a good day in defence and a lot of the play was coming from Harry\'s forward passes. Joe Button doubled his tally on 16 minutes with a super shot from the touchline which flew high into the top corner of East Herts goal. This was immediately followed by a goal from Reece Giddens who finished first time from a Lewis Matthews pass. The clock still said 17 minutes when Lewis Matthews made it 4-0 with a trademark free kick. Still more to come and before half time Joe Button claimed his hat trick when he ran at the East Herts defence and shot low and hard. The half finished 5-0, another clean sheet in goal for Keaton Weeks!!.
The East Herts goalkeeper was their man of the match for the second half, he may have been little but he flung himself around the goalmouth most of the second half and frequently denied us further goals. East Herts pulled a goal back when we were caught napping and nearly got a second but for a cat like save from Joe Button. The game finished 6-1 after Reece Giddens netted our final goal.
This was a really good team performance and every Bengeo Player was a contender for man of the match. We awarded man of the match to Joe Button for a superb hat trick and a good second half performance in goal.

Marc Sinfield and Karl Howford