Maldon & Tiptree Eja u13 0 Chelmsford City Eja 0

The u13 City Eja boys got the season underway with a league game away at Maldon and Tiptree.
The boys lined up in a 3-5-2 wingback formation and for the first 10 minutes had nearly all the possession passing the ball from back to midfield and attack, but crucially without making a chance on the Maldon keeper. Maldon got back into the half and after a poor clearance from Keeper Cam the Maldon Striker should have done better than hit the bar. Maldon also came close with a shot off the post and Cam recovered from a clearance to make a good save that he tipped wide. Gabe replaced Alex 10 mins before halftime. But The half ended 0-0. Lots of the play in the first half had come through Tennie and James who looked tricky on the right wing. At halftime Joel replaced Brandon on the left wing and Reece replaced Sam up front. More chances came for City who were using both sides of the pitch more. Reece came close to scoring from a scrambled corner, and Joel had a tame shot with his weaker foot. Max was looking solid at the back and as George tired in the 2nd half Luke S replaced him in Midfield with Ed coming on at the back. Maldon did scare the City defence as the rain came down when a shot slipped through Cams hands onto the bar and the resulting shot hit the post. (Maldon hit the woodwork 4 times on the game.) but the best save of the game came near the end when Charlie made room for a shot that the Maldon keeper tipped wide. Kyran had replaced Billy in the attacking role in midfield for the last 15 mins, but neither side could find a winner. The game ended 0-0.

A good test that we could have won, but also could well have lost. Will take a point and move on to next Sunday.

A few options for man of the match, Tennie was solid in Midfield, Joel had a award winning 2nd half working well with Reece, but for his first half skill and overall work rate Motm goes to James.