Ross-on-Wye Juniors U10s hosted Withington on a sunny but chilly and blustery Saturday morning.

The home side started well and had a great chance in the opening minutes when Jake Hedges picked out Eddie Price in the penalty area, but his shot went the wrong side of the post. There was the same outcome when Theo Roblin set up Jake with a great pass.

The early pressure soon told as Ross Juniors opened the scoring after just five minutes when Jake once again found Eddie and he slotted the ball past the keeper. In no time at all Eddie added a second goal when he robbed an opponent of the ball in their penalty area.

Once again Jake set up a chance for a team-mate but this time the keeper made a good save from Harvey Briscoe’s shot. Withington rarely threatened Josh Evans in the Ross goal and when they did Bill Ashelford and David Mason were solid in defence.

With a little over 10 minutes gone on the clock Ross scored a great team goal. From Josh’s short goal kick, David passed the ball across the back to Bill, who then fed the ball down the left wing to Harvey. Harvey brought the ball under control and as an opponent went in for the challenge Harvey flicked the ball past him and set off towards the goal, found Jake in the penalty area who poked the ball home through the keeper’s legs to make it 3–0.

After multiple substitutions from the home side, Withington had their best spell of the half and they almost scored from a corner but Jacob Talbot made a vital headed clearance. Ross almost grabbed a fourth goal before the break as Luca Morgan shot narrowly wide from Owen Roblin’s pass.

Ross couldn’t have got off to a better start to the second half with goals from Eddie and Harvey B to put them five up and Luca almost made it six before Josh was called into action to deny Withington. Withington thought they had scored moments later but Harvey Gwillim cleared the ball off the line.

The game really opened up but it was the home side that had the best chances to score. Luca saw his goal-bound shot slip through the keeper’s hands but the keeper recovered to gather the ball before it crossed the line.

A great run from JT after his own defensive tackle and his cross found David who shot wide.

Some good play in the midfield from Jake and Bill then set up David for a couple of excellent chances where he did well to beat the defender to get his shots in but both times the keeper made a good save.

Bill almost got his name on the score-sheet when he tried a fancy flick from a corner but his effort rebounded off the post. Withington did pull a goal back in the last ten minutes but Ross had the last word when Jake scored his second goal, as the ball fell nicely for him following a corner.

The Masons Fencing & Firewood Man of the Match goes to David Mason for his solid defending in the first half and attacking flair in the second.