Predators’ second match in Division B was away in Worthing and started during a thunderstorm, with rain beating down on the players and parents trying to find shelter under some nearby trees. Isaac was making his Preds debut and started the match in midfield alongside Curtis and Mass, with Noah taking a wide role supporting Harley and Alex up front. The defence consisted of Dom, Jacob, Maciek and Daniel, with Ryan between the sticks.
First Half
Predators started the match on the front foot despite being away from home, with Noah and Curtis having early efforts saved by the Brazilian keeper. They won a free kick which Jacob took, creating a chance for Isaac whose shot was saved by the keeper. The ball fell to Harley on the edge of the area who made no mistake, tucking it away to give Predators an early lead.
They nearly doubled their lead immediately when another free kick taken by Jacob fell to Alex who dribbled the ball into the area and shot, but the Worthing goalie parried the ball to Curtis whose shot just dipped over the bar.
Play then switched to the other end with Worthing’s first real chance, but their strike was well saved by Ryan in the Predators goal.
Harley then nearly grabbed a second when a move from the right wing created a chance but his shot went narrowly wide.
The Worthing pressure increased and Predators defended well but then one of the boys in pink unleashed an unstoppable shot from 20 yards which sneaked past Ryan’s leap into the back of the net.
With the match level, Predators made some substitutions with Josh coming on for Alex who had strained a muscle and Kallen replacing Harley up front.
Mass and Noah were busy on the left wing, with Mass weaving past three defenders into the penalty area and placing a perfect pass to Curtis who drilled it past the keeper to put Predators ahead once again.
Worthing nearly drew level when Ryan lost the ball on the edge of the area but he made up for it, making a great save from advancing Worthing strikers, right on the brink of half time to preserve the lead.
Half time : Worthing Brazilian Masters 1 – Predators 2
Second Half
Predators made another substitution with Callan coming on for Isaac and slotting into midfield. The game was very closely fought but neither team could break through the others’ defence.
Ryan was busy in goal but dealt with everything easily. Alex came back on to replace Noah and Isaac returned to give Josh a break. Predators nearly extended their lead with Alex and Mass linking well on the right and Mass’s shot was brilliantly parried by the Worthing keeper, with the follow-up shot going over the bar for a goal kick.
There was another good chance when Mass was tackled by a defender, the ball fell to Kallen but his shot was blocked and then Curtis’s follow-up was deflected away for a corner. Another chance came for Mass who once again skipped past some defenders only to see his shot saved well by the keeper.
Worthing switched the play, breaking through the Predators defence but Ryan made a brilliant save to preserve the lead. Maciek and Jacob were dealing well with any aerial threat posed by Worthing with Daniel and Dom kept busy on the flanks. Dom and Maciek combined well on the right to snuff out a Worthing attack, and then Ryan made another excellent save when a Worthing player was through on goal.
The supporters were biting their nails with the match on a knife edge, and it could have gone either way in the closing minutes as the teams were so closely matched. With the clock ticking down, in the final seconds there was a last gasp chance for Worthing who won a free kick some 35 yards out. Up stepped their keeper to take it, but his shot which was destined for the top of the goal was dealt with by Ryan to earn Predators a second win of the season and send them to the top of the table.
As well as an outstanding team performance from Predators a special mention has to go to the Worthing keeper who was cool as a cucumber and certainly kept the score down, even nearly scoring a late equaliser.
Full time : Worthing Brazilian Masters 1 – Predators 2
