It was a perfect morning for football; sunny, still but cool. The Edlesborough pitch was flat but hard and bouncy, making it difficult for both teams to keep the ball on the ground and play a passing game.

Boca started unusually slowly. For the first 25 minutes the boys seemed hesitant and cagey, which led to EB Lions gaining the upper hand. Every time Boca pushed up the pitch, Lions would strike a long ball over the top for their forwards to run onto. In the opening exchanges, Dan, the Boca goalie, was quick off his mark and came out to sweep up numerous Lions chances.

Midway through the half another long Lions aerial ball bounced unkindly for Harry and then also for Dan. The Lions forward had an easy task to pass the ball into an empty Boca net.

Boca were then under pressure from Lions and struggled to get up the pitch or string their passes together. An unfortunate injury to Harley forced a change at the back for Boca, Alfie replaced him at left back.

Against the run of play, Boca finally put together a passing move and Callum threaded Bobby through for a well taken equaliser, 1-1.

Parity was short lived when another long aerial ball went over the Boca back line and a free kick was conceded midway into the Boca half. Lions went for goal with the free kick, which was saved by Dan but the Lions forwards reacted more quickly to the rebound and finished easily.

Boca made a tactical switch, moving Tom to centre half, pushing Josh into holding midfield and Ivan out to left back. The boys suddenly found their fight and started to push Lions back into their own half.

Jacob started to get on the ball more, with several dangerous runs down the left. One of these runs, combined with a slick link up with Bobby, led to Jacob striking a sweeping cross to the far post. Will timed his run perfectly and side footed his finish into the EB Lions net, 2-2.

In the second half, Boca came out with more fire in their bellies. They linked together several good passing moves, with Bobby causing havoc upfront and Louis getting more of the ball in the number 10 position.

A well worked passing move sent Will away down the right. Will drove to the edge of the box and the unleashed a stunning finish which crashed in off the left upright.

Boca looked a lot more solid at the back, with Harry putting in some strong challenges, Josh breaking up Lions attacks, Alfie tackling hard & passing well but Tom was the star, sweeping up every loose ball and marshalling the backline.

Lions, with a rare second half attack, did manage to get to the Boca by-line down the right and their winger dug out a looping cross, which was headed into the Boca net at the far post, 3-3.

Boca responded immediately, increasing their urgency, passing and pressure. Bobby was threaded through by Louis down the left of the pitch, he rounded the goalie superbly and rolled the ball into the open Lions net, 4-3 to Boca.

On the very next attack a chipped pass into the box, following some good passing play between Callum, Will, Louis & Jacob, deflected off a Lions defender into the path of Bobby who steered it home. The Lions linesman raised his flag and the goal was ruled out for offside. With no VAR on hand, Bobby was robbed of a deserved hat trick.

The last 5 minutes were tense but were mostly played out in the midfield or through a series a throw in down the left of the Boca attacking third. The game had been a battling and scrappy affair but it was good for Boca to still win when they were not really playing at their best and to come back from a slow start, with a brace a piece for Will and Bobby.

Tom was the clear Gartec Player of the Match. He changed the game when he moved to centre back, bringing pace, stability, leadership & a fighting spirit to the Boca defence and by doing so, this spirit fed throw the whole Boca team.

(Thank you to Rob Lane for this match report)