CRC 2 Wroxham 2

Our scholars pitted their wits against the reigning Champions last weekend (16th February) and it is an indication of our progress that despite not being at our best throughout the 90 minutes, we were still able to gain a share of the points.

The first half performance was excellent. We really rocked the visitors with a powerful display of attacking play and should really have been ahead at the interval. A flowing move was almost finished by Jordan Patrick in the opening stages but he failed to connect with a low right wing cross from Craig Bussens. Sam Cutler then fired over after a five man move down our left but the pace and movement of our players were cutting swathes through their back four.

The opening goal was spectacular. Sam Cutler curling a 25 yard free kick into the top corner with Woodcock in the Wroxham goal rooted to the spot. Unfortunately, within a few minutes of gaining the advantage, we surrendered the lead in bizarre fashion. An inswinging corner was left by Cutler and Kirby at the near post, believing it to be going out of play, but it hit the inside of the post, rebounded off Luke McShane and over the line.

The team seemed galvanised rather than demoralised by this freak equaliser and Piers Wixon punished a static back line by lobbing the ball over the advancing keeper to re-establish our lead

Luke McShane made a great save in a one v one break on the half hour but just on the stroke of half time we relinquished our lead again. This time, Gilman was first to a left wing cross and fired a volley into the bottom corner. Our central defenders were caught on their heels and this summed up much of our first half defending. We did not recover our shape quickly enough in losing possession of the ball, so we were always vulnerable to the counter attack. Obviously we spoke about that at half time but as often occurs with young players, we over compensated in trying to solve the problem.

Therefore, in the second half, we were much more solid but failed to change our shape quickly enough when winning back the ball, which meant that we failed to counter attack effectively and too often squandered possession. That said, Wroxham upped their game and we coped well with their pressure and rarely looked troubled. Earlier in the season, this group of players would not have been able to defend for such a prolonged spell without conceding, which shows an increased resilience and maturity.

We have taken four points from the reigning Champions and undoubtedly won their respect. Over our final sixteen games, we now need to collect more points to finish in a healthy league position whilst still blooding more first year scholars and pushing our second years in their individual goals of gaining professional contracts. Sam Cutler (above) and Rory McAuley have really pushed on in the last few weeks, both in training and matches, so now we need more to follow.

Collective success, in both performances and results, will only serve to help individual ambitions. This is the business end of the season and we are all looking forward to the challenge.

Team: McShane, Bowe, Kirby, Carr, Costello, McAuley, Bussens (Hunter 70), Cutler, Wixon, Marriott (Ives 80), Patrick

Jez George