Midmill , ADJFA A League -, 5/11/23
Me 296
A huge milestone in a kids life is their first game of fitba. I still remember mine. It was for Ellon Youth against Eddie’s(another Ellon team). A 3 v 0 win at Auchterellon park was the outcome. I was hooked on playing from that moment on. Now it was the turn of Wee Man.
I learned today that Kintore has two schools and it was at the newer of the two we found ourselves. Wee Man, my old boy and me. Juvenile fitba is something I know nothing of these days. I have had nothing to do with it since I was a juvenile and that is going back some years I can tell you.
Going into this I could not answer any questions Wee Man had for me. Similar questions to the ones i could easily reply to if they were HFL , Junior etc. Were Kincorth any good? I had no clue. All I knew was I hoped he would enjoy it and maybe get the same feeling I did after my first game.
The game was entertaining with some good players on show. It was less kick and chase than I expected. My brain was clearly doing the boys a disservice. It was quite even earlier on but Blackburn came more into with multiple chances . Some of which pulled out some good saves from the Kincorth keeper (who I thought was very good throughout). He was unfortunate with the opener for Blackburn as his defender passed back to him and got the angles wrong putting the pass into the bottom corner. But this fired up Kincorth a bit and they were on the attack a lot more with a few efforts that left Wee Man untested. But eventually he was called into action when he was forced into a triple save from three close range efforts. The first was a solid hand to a high effort, the danger from here was not cleared and another effort was rapidly fired at him which pulled another solid hand then the rebound from there was palmed onto the bar and away to safety. This leading to a celebratory high five from his team mate. I couldn’t help but feel this was exactly what he needed to settle his his nerves which were very much apparent before the game. Kincorth did get an equaliser before the first third was over when an effort was fired through a bunch of bodies and into the net. Evens was a good reflection on the first period
1/3 time – 1 v 1
It didn’t take long for Kincorth to take the lead after the restart. A ball over the top left two Kincorth players breaking. A cross from the left found his teammate and left a free hit which was placed past Wee Man. Wee Man was soon to take a sore once when he dived at a Kincorth attackers feet to smother the ball. A good save but as he did so he was kicked in the shoulder. This leading to missing a few minutes of the game. Kincorth kept knocking at the door and saw efforts saved and one cleared off the line by Angus. But a third did come finally when another ball over the top led to a break. A ball across the box left a tap in. But Blackburn were not out of it and nicked one back in stunning fashion. Harry received the ball on the edge of the box to the right. He beat a couple of defenders heading left then let fly into he top corner. A brilliant finish it was. Blackburn kept attacking with Connor causing numerous problems with his direct play but never managed to equalise before the end of the second third.
2/3 time – 2 v 3
Wee Man returned for the third period and was forced into a few more solid saves with hands and feet as Kincorth tried to kill the game. It was clear they were the better team now and having the best player out of all the 18 on show is huge at this level and their red headed kid was very very good. Fleet of foot, direct, confident and loved to take on players. It was him that grabbed the fourth when he danced through a few Blackburn players and hit a low drive into the bottom corner. A superb solo effort. The same player continued to cause all sorts of problems and helped Kincorth grab a fifth killing the game.
As all games at this level do they head to a penalty shoot out at the end no matter the score. Wee Man went on to save 5 from 9 (3 scored, 1 wide with the others). Although not obvious at the time, this gave him a huge boost of confidence as was clear once we got home. Biased* maybe, but a decent debut had by the kid in my eyes. Some solid goalkeeping across the game.
The better team won on the day but Blackburn on another day may have won it if they took their chances early on. But that’s fitba for you. I genuinely found it very entertaining and a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon, watching my new favourite team. I look forward to watching Wee Man, Angus, Brodie, Grayson, Connor et al again once I am back from offshore.
*Future write ups will lose their bias a bit, but this was Wee Mans first ever game of fitba, big day, proud dad and all that
FITBAWBAG 