DJM Under 14 Raleigh
Efford Youth U14s 2
Horrabridge Rangers U14s 6
HORRABRIDGE played their first game of the season against a physical Efford side.
The visitors opened the scoring after ten minutes when Max Burgess beat four players and score past the advancing keeper. Horrabridge continued to dominate and with Josh Birch and Billy Rawlinson leading the line well, created a host of chances.
Horrabridge's second goal came when Courtney Fry's pin-point corner was powerfully headed home by Birch and minutes later they added a third when Birch was brought down in the penalty box for Burgess to thunder home the resulting spot-kick.
Efford to their credit started to play some decent football but the Horrabridge defence of Glanville, Northam, Murrain and Dent were always on top of matters.
The home side however did manage to grab a goal right at the end of the half when the scored from a corner.
Horrabridge started they second half well and continued to pass the ball well and with Burgess and Aaron Johnson dictating matters in midfield, created several good chances but found the home goalkeeper in outstanding form.
Efford then surprised Horrabridge as they scored a goal totally against the run of play. This seemed to wake Horrabridge up a little and was not long before they added a fourth when Birch beat the off-side trap to grab his second goal of the game and five minutes later he completed his hat-trick when he capitalised on a defensive error to add Horrabridge's fifth. The Efford keeper continued to make a string of fine saves denying Fry, Madar, Birch and Rawlinson.
Birch completed the visitors scoring with minutes of the game left when Courtney Fry did well to beat two players and cross the ball for Birch to score into an empty net and claim his fourth of the game. Player of the match was Josh Birch.