Ludlow 1-4 Sundorne

Ludlow School 1-4 Sundorne School

Starting XI: Wills, Jones, Smith, Green, Simmons, Jehu, Burrows, Rogers, Hanks, Dance, Clarke

Subs: Bebb, Mitchell

Sundorne School’s Year 11 team began their season with a victory that was less comfortable than the score line suggests when they made the trip down to the South of Shropshire on the 6^th October. The team had been training for a few weeks and were finally ready to play their first game of the academic year.

With goalkeeper Matthew Richards ill and unavailable to play as well as Matthew Parton for the same reasons, the team were given an early setback, also without Mark Murch and Aiden jehu because of injuries. Will Wills was called in to play in goal, and Chris Green was called up to the squad along with Jay Clarke. This match also saw a debut for Chris Jones who made a great first impression at the back.

The visitors started the game well, keeping possession and making regular attacks putting pressure on Ludlow before Josh Hanks had a great chance to open the scoring but he could only put the ball straight to the keeper who collected comfortably. The rain started to fall down and the conditions were not the most pleasant, particularly for those on the side lines. Then another opportunity fell to Jay Clarke who again couldn’t put it past the keeper and was unfortunate not to score. Sundorne kept on pressing and were winning a lot of corners and when the opportunity for a long throw from Hanks came about, defender Chris Green made his way up from the back but his close-range effort was put over the bar much to the agony of manager Mr Street. Ludlow were beginning to deal with the constant attacks and started to play the ball around themselves creating a few opportunities before they got their first real chance which they took with two hands. Against the run of play, the home side took the lead and that probably gave Sundorne a reality check and the need to start playing it on the floor more. Ludlow almost doubled their lead when their striker decided to have a shot that hit the post .However, they couldn’t find an equaliser before half-time and when the first period was over, Ludlow were leading 1-0.

Mr Street gave his side a thorough team talk and motivated the players to come out stronger in the second half. This appeared to have just gone in through one ear and out of the other when the second half started as Ludlow continued to attack with the Sundorne defence dealing with it well and managing to clear the danger. Eventually with just over 20 minutes to keep themselves in the cup, Sundorne started playing a lot better, Jordan Burrows was controlling the midfield and made some pin point passes finding James Jehu on the right hand side who was looking a lot sharper and eager. After a long time with no chances, striker Josh Hanks managed to get an opportunity which he took first time and grabbed an equaliser for last year’s County Plate and District Cup finalists. This certainly gave the away side the momentum and confidence to finish off the game and that they did. Hanks doubled his goal tally with a second for Sundorne which was shortly followed by a goal from Scott Dance who realistically ended all hopes of Ludlow coming back. It was great to see Ashley Bebb back on the football scene after his recent torment with his kidneys and he was brought on to replace the Jordan Burrows who, along with Jamie Rogers, controlled the midfield very well in the second half. We hope that Ashley will return to full fitness very soon and wish him the best.  Scott Mitchell also came on after for James Jehu. Although Ludlow continued to advance up the pitch, they couldn’t find a second and when Sundorne won a corner Chris Green rounded up the match with a fourth; the year 10 centre back rising up brilliantly to head it home. This was the final action of the game and the referee blew the final whistle.

Despite a rusty start, Sundorne had completed the comeback and put in a lot better performance towards the end of the second half. This was a good start considering it was the first game and should give the side a lot of confidence, the younger year 10’s were excellent; Jay Clarke and Chris Green showing great displays in their respectable positions. Captain Jamie Rogers spoke after the match of the need to be more punishing when in front of goal “I feel we need to be more clinical in front of goal and take some of our opportunities, they took their one chance and scored.” When asked about the younger talent in the squad he added “Yes, they fit in almost perfectly, Chris Green is a great new addition at the back along with Jay Clarke and we know Aiden Jehu and Mark Murch can offer a lot of talent to strengthen the squad even more.” Last year, the team reached the County Plate final and the District Cup final losing on both occasions. Rogers hopes the team can go one step further, “I believe we can go very far this year and I hope the lads feel the same as well because falling short in the last 2 years has been very disappointing. I think the silverware is ours this year.” The next game for Sundorne is against Bishops Castle who they beat 2-1 last year, this will be at home which will come as a relief for a lot of the players not having to make the long journey down to the south of Shropshire once more.