A cool overcast morning provided the perfect conditions for the Albury U9 Hawks to take on their namesakes from Horsley in the 11am kick-off at Tillingbourne. True to recent form, Albury started brightly after a brief opening period of pressure from Horsley – kept in it by bright work from Arjun between the sticks. With possession came territory and in the fifth minute Felix won a kick-in on the right flank. Quick thinking set up left-wing colleague Morty whose shot was parried, but as the ball fell to Micah the Albury man controlled it and placed it exactly where the home fans wanted it…in the back of the net! The quarter closed in promising fashion with Morty and Felix combining again, this time a tantalising corner from the left almost allowed Felix to connect – a brace for Albury narrowly missed.

The second quarter saw Horsley click into gear with the visitors converting an early chance. With the wind in their sails, the away team piled on the pressure calling loan keeper George into action with some stunning saves to keep Albury in it. Mid-way through the second quarter, pressure from Harry on a Horsley kick-in saw the ball break to Stanley whose bright thinking and rocket right boot sent the ball to Felix whose shot bulged the net. The run of play was all Albury as the ref blew for half time.

A change of ends saw a change in momentum with the fatigue finally taking its toll on the home side. A lapse of concentration was pounced upon by the visitors with a strike that gave our keeper little chance. Dogged defending by Harry and some classy distribution from Arjun, who had slotted into the left defensive position, were a highlight in the third quarter. Rian and Micah put in a great shift for their team-mates as their backtracking kept it competitive, but by the end of the third quarter the upper hand had been taken by the Horsley lads.

The home team stiffened the sinews in the final quarter with early effort rewarded by a great strike from distance by centre-forward Rian. A good save from the visitors’ keeper suggested it was going to be one of those days for the Hawks. With just one sub, the Albury lads had done all the running and against heavy legs the opponents capitalised again later in the quarter.

With the Albury team depleted by injuries and absence, it was always going to be a tough day for the Hawks and so it transpired. But against a solid team the Hawks showed some great teamwork and spirit, and in parts no little quality in the football they played. That camaraderie was seen nowhere more clearly than in one of the Albury lads who couldn’t make it onto the pitch due to injury – with Anders showing us what it is all about by turning up to cheer his mates on and reward them with some home-baked cookies.