S7 SOCCER ACADEMY 4 - 2 KAMEN GROUP (Brookhouse) - LAST 32

S7 Soccer Academy kicked off their Orphanage Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over last year's semi-finalists, local business Kamen Group Inc. (also known as Brookhouse).

S7 were forced to shuffle the team slightly after Jake Errey pulled out with a back injury and Mo Nabeel was ineligible for the competition but were boosted with the return of Chris Mason & Jack Brierley to the squad. David Hickey filled in at Centre half, Lewis Hamlin moved into midfield alongside Daniel Stubberfield and Jack Brierley, Zack Dale played on the right of a 3 pronged attack with Chris Mason down the middle and Jordan Macquarrie playing on the left

S7 started the game on the front foot and created numerous opportunities which they failed to convert, they did take the lead however in the 20^th minute when Jordan Macquarrie raced onto a Chris Mason flick on to cleverly chip over the advancing goalkeeper.

This seemed to settle the nerves and S7 doubled their lead soon after when Jack Brierley turned on the edge of the area and fired a left footed strike beneath the goalkeeper.

Kamen Group were causing problems from set pieces and long throws but failed to take any of the chances that fell their way.

The second half continued in the same way the first had finished with S7 dominating possession and creating chances but Kamen Group still looked dangerous from set pieces.

The best piece of Football in the game produced the third goal, Lewis Hamlin playing as the anchor in midfield broke up an attack and threaded the ball through to Stubberfield who found himself in space in the final third; Stubberfield rolled his man and slid a ball through to Chris Mason whose shot looped up off the goalkeeper and nestled in the far corner.

Mason then doubled his tally, he found himself clean through on goal with options in the middle, perhaps he should of squared the ball to players queuing up in the centre but it made no difference as his near post shot found the bottom corner.

Jack Brierley picked up an ankle injury with 20 minutes to go after a nasty looking challenge which mant S7 were forced to play the last 20 minutes with 10 men. Zack Dale and Jordan Macquarrie moved into a 4 man midfield leaving Mason as a lone striker.

This seemed to spur Kamen Group into life and S7 failed to deal with another long throw which ended with a deflected effort ending up in the back of the net to make it 4-1. Five minutes later and it was game on as Kamen Group pulled another goal back when the centre forward looked to have fouled Nathan Sargeson on the edge before unleasing a shot past the stranded Gillibrand to make it 4-2.

That's how the game finished with S7 managing to see out the last 10 minutes without conceding any further goals.

Line up: Gillibrand, Gallaher, Hickey, Sargeson, Corran, Hamlin, Brierley, Stubberfield, Dale, Mason, Macquarrie.

Man of the Match: Zack Dale

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