Harbour 2-0 Recreativo
25th April 2008

Another valiant effort by all involved this evening, against a team who we felt we should have beat this time round, but once again it wasn’t to be. As our season nears the final couple of weeks, we look back and accept that we have been up against it. It’s been a hard introduction for most of us.

We saw a familiar pattern unfold here this evening; starting brightly and equal to our opponents, but failing to win the ball and take the game by the scruff of the neck. However, it was a testament to our fighting spirit that the opposition’s manager saw fit to bring on their sub, their biggest and most physically player, so early on to try and defuse our attacking play. Louis, George and Storm had some great forays into the Harbour penalty area, but couldn’t seem to get a decent shot on goal.

Sam, captain for this game, saved us with some fantastic tackling. And later on, both Lara and Harry did a fine job slotting into the defence and putting in 100% effort. So another game lost, but not through want of trying.

With the parents and players gone, a couple of us sat in a deserted and eerily silent dressing room, a little worn out by it all, quite deflated after losing what was really a must-win game. We stayed to watch another match (a fiercely contested Crown & Manor vs Regents Park game) and sat on the terrace, gulping down a burger and glugging on Coke. The dark cloud hanging above us soon lifted as we surveyed the scene in front of us. Here we are on a Friday evening watching quite literally hundreds of local kids actively taking part in grass roots football, meeting their mates and having a laugh, being part of a team and keeping fit and healthy.

Despite our hard season, despite the defeats, the scrapes, grazes and odd tear, it’s been great to be involved in this little footballing corner of north London. Recreativo Juniors have done us all proud with the supreme effort they have all showed and will come back for more when they step up to under-10s level after the summer break. Our league position may be grim reading, but if points were awarded for effort and commitment, we would we league and cup double winners by miles!

Team (all played) : Eren Doldur, Sam Abdullah-Kirton, Jaye Paul, Benji Barbour-Ricketts, Louis Dillon, George Wakefield, Storm Gregory-Hickling, Jaden Stephenson, Ollie Goldblatt, Zeki Bolat, Daniel Garcia Fernandez, Harry Butcher, Lara Tollington