For the third time this season Generals were up against Corby Hellenic, with both of the previous games closely fought, we knew today's game was all set for another tough encounter.

Generals started the match playing good football from the off, passing the ball around superbly, with Adam looking to put Jim and Tom into good positions, things had started well. But in one of Hellenic's first forays, Generals were caught cold in defence. As the defence started to regroup, the Hellenic attacker hit a cracking low drive into the far corner of the goal. This was game on, 1 - 0.  Generals are playing with confidence these days and the goal didn't dampen their resolve to be patient. Tom followed on from last week's excellent performance and put the defence under pressure at every opportunity. Jim was outstanding, although in a more forward role than of late, and the openings were starting to come. The equaliser started with Cory, with an intelligent throw out to Josh in space on the right. Josh drew his players then passed down the line to Tom. Pressing into the box on the right his drive was saved by the Hellenic keeper, Jim poached the loose ball and passed into the path of the advancing Adam, who used his strength to get to the ball and plant it into the roof of the net, 1 - 1.

This was fantastic football from both sides, one end of the pitch to the other. But after all their good work to draw level, Hellenic made Generals pay for not clearing the ball out of defence early, gifting an easy opportunity for Hellenic to go 2 - 1 up.

The game now became a hard midfield battle, with Ryan and Jake having to work hard to keep control, while Josh played in a more reserved role with fewer opportunities to get forward than we would have liked. In the last 5 minutes of the half, Generals were awarded a free kick, about 30 yards out, left of goal. The strike from Ben was as good as you'll see on match of the day this weekend, the keeper had no chance, but it was a little too high and rebounded off the bar. The crowd gasped, not for the first time, as Tom leapt up and headed for goal, but this rebounded off the bar as well. Unbelievably, Ryan's follow up header, under pressure from the Hellenic defence, also hit the crossbar and the ball went out of play!

Half time 2-1.

The second half saw both teams committed to winning this tight game, but good defending from both kept the opportunities to score to a minimum. Jake was excellent again this week and it was one of his low crosses which Ryan got to within a hairs breadth of tapping into an open goal, what a cracking match, so finely balanced. It was midway through the half when Generals got their deserved equaliser. Toby picked the ball up at right back, playing a superb pass out of defence for Jim to latch onto. As the oncoming keeper closed down the space, he managed to block Jim's shot, but the ball was only redirected in the air to an eager Reece, who calmly ( too calmly for me! ) stroked the ball into the net, 2 - 2.

The pace of the game, amazingly, quickened after this point, with both teams going for the win. Hellenic came close on a couple of occasions but the back four of Generals, Toby on for Phil, Jordan in the middle with Ben, then Aaron at left back, pulled out some superb defending, putting their body in the way when it mattered. Ben is growing into his role week by week, but whilst this time he had less opportunity to show how comfortable he is on the ball, he showed determination, strength and made some good positional choices along with Aaron to keep out the strong attacking force of the Hellenic right wing. As the clock ran down there was still time for one last effort. In the last minute Ryan cleverly chipped the keeper from the edge of the box, only to see it agonisingly pass by the far post.

Full time 2 - 2.

Yet again a superb match between these two teams, a credit to youth football, although it was Generals who won the discipline battle by far. This was a fair result overall, Generals more than deserving a share of the points, either team could have snatched a win. Ryan showed why he is club captain this week, while everybody worked their socks off for the team, but it was the effort and skill, along with his role in both goals, which won Jim the man of the match award, well done boys.