Line-up: - Jack Beresford, Billy Jordan, Archie Hubert, Connor Crane, Warren Buckman, Will Pearce, MacKenzie Travis, Ollie Griggs, Stan Horne, Liam Shaw, Ewan Parlett
Subs:- Nathan Atkinson, Munashe Chirimuuta, Charlie Atkin, Jack McLeavy and Keagan Hoque

Another game that actually kicked off on time at 3:00pm. The U23s had the honour, kicking towards the bowls green end. Within the first 10 minutes the signs that this could become a repeat of last Saturday’s game against Whittlesey Athletic. An U23s attempt on goal was blocked, the clearance wasn’t dealt with by the home defence leaving the visiting forward with a one on one with Jack Beresford and the U23s a goal down. A good break by Ollie Griggs saw his shot deflected away for a corner. A couple of soft free kick decisions, the second being awarded just to the left of the U23s penalty area led to the second goal. The kick was aimed for the far post and as Jack jumped for the ball he was clearly impeded and ended up being sat on and unable to contest any further for the ball. An FC player was the first to respond to give the visitors a second goal. Just past the half hour Ewan Parlett pressed the ball well, winning it and took it around the goalkeeper, no mean feat given the size of the ‘keeper, but unfortunately this took him wide of the goal and his shot was blocked away for a corner. As the half moved towards its end a speculative long shot from outside the penalty area appeared to have been saved but somehow found its way over the line to gift the visitors their third goal.

Half Time: U23s 0 – 3 Holland FC

The second half started with Munashe Chirimuuta replacing Billy Jordan, closely followed by Charlie Atkin replacing MacKenzie Travis. Within 10 minutes of the start of the half FC were given the chance to add to their lead with the award of a penalty. Unfortunately, unlike last week when Charlie Atkin’s kick was well saved, this one was scored, beating Jacks dive to his left as it was dispatched into the opposite side. From then on neither side created many clear cut chances with Jack in the home goal only called upon to save one goal bound shot which he did gathering the ball at the second attempt. So the major action was the various substitutions. The visitors first was to swap Kyelan Marvell for Jacob Bloomfield just before the penalty award. Around the halfway point of the half Neil used his remaining three substitutes at the same time. Leaving the field were Connor Crane, Stan Horne and Warren Buckman. Shortly afterwards Josh Chyc came on for Ziggy Harms and with ten minutes left Keelan Millburn replaced Ben Dixon.

Full Time: U23s 0 – 4 Holland FC

Clearly another disappointing result but a performance which at times more than matched that of the league leaders. It’s not really my place to single out individual performances but for what it’s worth I thought Will Pearce had a very promising first start.