Despite the rain during the week the pitch was in great condition, and even the sun came out, as Ross Juniors U11s welcomed familiar opponents Ledbury Swifts.

The home side started brightly with Harvey and Luca linking up well down the left. The first clear chance of the match saw Niall through on goal but he was denied by the Ledbury keeper. Ledbury gradually got into the game and forced Roo into a good save, then David made an important clearance but Ross went ahead halfway through the half, when Jake played a great through-ball that Harvey raced onto and finished off brilliantly.

Unfortunately, straight from the kick off, Ledbury were awarded a penalty which they converted.

There was some neat football at times from the home side but they couldn’t quite execute the final ball. Harvey and JT both hit good shots from outside the area but Ledbury continued to threaten the Ross goal.

Roo made a great save to deny Ledbury a certain goal but was then unlucky as a shot from distance bounced awkwardly and was put in by an opponent following up. Ross almost equalised as Niall’s shot was parried by the Ledbury keeper on to the post and just before the end of the half a dangerous cross was punched away by Roo to ensure the home side didn’t fall further behind.

Coach Tompkins made some positional changes at half time, bringing Bill and Theo into the midfield and they worked really well together. Ross were unlucky not to equalise from their first meaningful attack of the second half as Theo played a great ball that sent Harvey away but his shot cannoned off the crossbar. The equaliser soon came as Harvey sent in a great corner that Niall met at the far post and Ross almost took the lead minutes later as Harvey set up a great chance for Niall.

Roo was called on to make another good save and JT made a vital clearance in the Ross defence as Ledbury threatened to retake the lead.

The game could have gone either way as it entered the last quarter and there was a good chance for Harvey that was saved by the visiting side’s keeper before Jake once again sent Harvey away and he found the inside of the far post with a clinical finish to win the game 3 - 2. That’s 12 wins from their last 13 matches for the U11s but they now have 3 very tough matches coming up.

The Harley Finishings man of the match was awarded to Harvey Briscoe for an assist, two well taken goals and overall great teamwork.