Although this was technically a home game for Predators, it was played at Southfields in Littlehampton, and it was a nice pitch for an evening fixture against Worthing Brazilians.
We just needed one win to secure promotion to Division A, so it was going to be a tense night to try and earn those precious 3 points.
First Half
It took a while for either team to make a breakthrough with Worthing creating most of the early chances. But it was Predators who eventually took the lead when Massimo was put through by Curtis and battled with defenders to get the final touch, knocking the ball in from close range.
Almost immediately Predators doubled their lead, and it looked like Ethan was going to tap the ball in but his shot hit the bar and the ball was cleared to Isaac who dribbled through the Worthing defence and struck the ball past the keeper.
Half Time : Predators 2 – Worthing Brazilians 0
Second Half
Worthing grabbed a goal in the early stages of the second half from a well worked free kick which floated into the penalty area and one of their strikers put it into the back of the net.
Predators responded with an attack but Mass was brought down and the referee awarded them a penalty which Noah coolly slotted away to make it 3-1.
Predators increased their lead when Mass went on another weaving run towards the Worthing goal but his shot was saved by their keeper. Mass picked up the rebound and passed to Curtis who tapped it in.
Ethan made it 5-1 when he lobbed the keeper having been put through by Harley.
Worthing weren’t giving up though, scoring a second from another set piece, and then grabbing a third to make it 5-3.
Ryan was busy in the Predators goal and if it hadn’t been for some athletic saves Worthing could have easily scored more goals. They did get a fourth after a breakaway when their striker was through on goal and squeezed it past the advancing Ryan to make it 5-4.
The Predators supporters were getting nervous at the slim lead but Predators reinstated their two goal lead when Kal won a penalty after being brought down and Noah stepped up again to score from the spot.
There was still time for another great save by Ryan from a dangerous long range free kick, tipping the ball away for a corner.
Final Score : Predators 6 : Worthing Brazilians 4
They did it! Two promotions in two years is a superb achievement from the boys and their coaching team. Well done to them all, and also well done to Worthing for making it a really tricky match where the boys had to work hard for every goal.
