First season finale

Despite it being an international fixtures weekend, Hearts U10 Lions where scheduled to an away fixture at FC Bracknell Cannons.

With a club vs country controversy brewing all week, there were concerns that we wouldn't be able to get a team out. In the end, the squad emphatically chose to play for the Lions over the chance for international glory and 10 travelled to the final league fixture of this inaugural season. Unfortunately only nine of the selected squad actually made it, with poor Jack breaking down en route...fortunately Charlie had decided to come and watch the team play and so was rewarded with a late call up, admirably filling in for Jack.

News of the Lion's fluid passing game had travelled west and the Cannons response was to come out firing, letting us know they were up for a game from the very start. The tight stadium and vocal home support added to an intimidating atmosphere and it was reminiscent of a trip to Goodison Park (or would have been had we actually played there).

Perhaps a few games ago and certainly at the beginning of the season, such an occasion would have knocked us off our game...but not on Saturday. The team were determined to finish the league season on a positive note and were ahead early on in the game, Sean running onto Tara's long through and finishing with a delightful chip to give Hearts a 1-0 lead. This calmed the nerves, silenced the crowd and the Lions saw out the rest of the first quarter with ease - Charlie, playing in goal, was almost as big a spectator as he would have been had Jack's car not broken down..

After the first break, Bracknell regrouped and started to probe for an equaliser. Hearts also had their chances, winning corner after corner, but couldn't make the vital connection from one of Daniel's or Joe's fabulous in-swingers...And in fact it was from a rare Bracknell corner that their equaliser came. A cross half cleared followed by a goal mouth scramble and as the ball was sailing into the top corner with immense athleticism Tara lept to her right and finger-tipped the ball over the crossbar. At this point it would be pertinent to point out that Tara wasn't actually goalkeeper at the time and unfortunately the referee also noticed this and had little choice but to point to the penalty spot...

Up stepped their centre forward and drilled the ball towards the bottom corner but with Tadgh diving to his left he kept it out superbly. However, the Cannons were quicker to the rebound and Tadgh could do nothing to keep out the follow-up - 1-1 and spectators from both sides felt that justice had been done in the circumstances.

The equaliser reignited the Lions and they almost immediately hit back, Sam scoring an absolutely belter to give us the lead. But Bracknell had found belief and deservedly and equalised for the second time right on the stroke of half time. So 2-2 heading into the break, with the Cannons having the wind in their sales.

The third quarter started out a close affair, both teams having chances, perhaps the confidence of the Lions a little low having lost the lead twice and Bracknell's support having found their voices once again. And although the Cannons were enjoying a bit more possession than the first half, Will, with a man-of-the-match performance marshalled the defence brilliantly and on the rare occasions Bracknell did get through, they found Tadgh in imperious form between the posts.

With a strong performance from the back helping the Lion's regain their composure, they regained they started to pass the ball well again, retaining plenty of possession. This was rewarded with the goal of the game. A wonderful passing move started from the back, culminated in a piercing run from Joe, who, when he may of shot, selflessly found Sam whose killer instinct did not desert him and drilled the ball into the back of the net for his second and the teams third. 3-2 quickly became 4-2, with Sam capping a fine performance with his hat-trick.

So a game we most likely would have lost at the beginning of the season ended up being a great victory, capping a truly memorable first (half) season. The team can go into the summer tournaments full of confidence and with immense pride that their hard work on the training field is paying off.