Colts Overcome Rapid On An Emotional Day

The Humber Colts paid tribute to local girl Jessica Blake and start life in Wyke 1 with a fine opening day win.

The Humber Colts opened their season account with a fine win against Rapid solicitors at Kelvin Hall School. Before the game, both teams observed a minute’s silence in memory of local girl Jessica Blake.

An emotional , Colts captain and relation to Jess said,

“The lads paid a lovely tribute to Jess before the game and this really meant a lot.”

The game kicked off, and the Humber Colts had the better of the early exchanges, on another day this could have seen them two up after spurning a couple of half chances.

On Ten minutes, Danny Moore latched on to a loose ball 25yards out and at full stretch unleashed a terrific volley which rattled the underside of the crossbar and unfortunately fell safely into the keepers’ arms.

With the Humber Colts playing a 4-2-3-1 formation and having the lions share of possession a sucker punch followed when Rapid took the lead with a smart chip from 20yds with on rushing goalkeeper Luke Coxon left in no mans land in the Colts goal. 1-0.

The Colts Hit back almost straight away and after good work by Gary Collins down the right, he looped the ball to the far post and Jordan Dexter popped up and nodded the ball home to restore parity. 1-1.

Both teams settled after a frantic start, but it was once again Rapid’s lively striker who broke the deadlock with a carbon copy of the first goal after the Colts back four tried to spring the offside trap, but the referee waved play on. 2-1.

The Colts again showed great determination to come from behind when Danny Moore opened his account for the season and once again level the scores.

The Colts makeshift back four were struggling to cope with the pace of Rapids lively strikers who clearly needed addressing by manager Tony Henderson at half time.

in the second half both sides had chances to take the lead and Luke Coxon in the Colts goal pulled off a couple of fantastic saves to keep the scores level.

Danny Moore was substituted after he took the full force of a clearance flush on the nose and was unable to stem the bleeding he was replaced by , who was unfortunate not to start the game.

This started a flurry of activity on the Colts bench and when midfielder Jake Fox was winded half way through the second half, he made way for centre back John Anderson, who was making his Colts debut, Mark Richardson was also withdrawn after receiving a booking for dissent, and he was replaced by Simon Blackwell to avoid the Colts ending the game with ten men as the no-nonsense referee made his intentions clear.

After a reshuffle, the Colts started to take control of the game and were playing some neat football, Justin Mason and Craig Evo another Colts debutante was by now bossing the midfield.

With ten minutes to go the Colts management team spun the dice and pushed Ben Thomson up front alongside Dexter in a more traditional 4-4-2 formation and this worked a treat as Thomson coolly slotted the ball home for the winner past the Rapid Solicitors Keeper. 2-3.

The Colts then reverted back to their more defensive formation for the last five minutes which seemed to last a lifetime as Rapid looked for the equaliser but stout defending and great team ethics put pay to any chance of this happening. 2-3FT.

Colt’s assistant manager said, “we’ve got a top bunch of lads at the Colts from 1 to19 and the lads have shown great character to come from behind twice and get the winner against a well organised and pacey Rapid Solicitors team.

We are under no illusions that this is going to be a tough season but the manner of this win is a credit to the whole squad who dug deep to get the result, and this should stand us in good stead.”

Winning goal scorer Ben Thomson later updated his Facebook page, this simply read “That winner was for little Jess, all thoughts are with you and your family! R.I.P xxx”.

A touching tribute which is echoed by the whole of The Humber Colts F.C.

Man of the Match: Luke Coxon

Next up for the Humber Colts is a tricky first round cup tie away at Bilton Grange United.



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