Free Zero to Hero by Seb Goffe Page B

on his best mate but really he wanted to be out on the pitch.
    Mr Smith was talking to the team, and Will could see Steve and the other new players being given extra advice. Then Mr Smith’s phone rang. He looked worried as he took the call. What was going on?

    Will looked at the team again, and saw what the problem was. There were only ten players!
    Just then, Steve came running over.
    â€œSmithy has just had a call,” he told Will. “Lee’s got the flu and can’t play! Kingham will be here soon and Smithy thinks we’re going to forfeit the match, but I said you’d step in.”
    At last , thought Will. I have a chance to prove myself!
    Lee played in midfield, so Will would even be playing in the position he liked best.
    â€œBut I haven’t got any kit!” he said.
    â€œThat’s OK,” said Steve. “The team kit bag is in the changing room, and there’s a pair of boots in lost property.”
    â€œI just hope they fit!” said Will, as he rushed off.
    Minutes later he was ready.
    He jogged out to join the rest of the team. The Ravens shirt was massive on him, and the boots were a size too big, but Will didn’t care. He was finally getting a chance to play for the Ravens!
    â€œOK,” said Mr Smith. “We are missing a lot of first choice players, but we can still get a result.”

    He looked at all the players in turn. “The game plan doesn’t change; we get the ball forward fast and often, and keep Kingham on the back foot. Stick to your opponents if we lose the ball, and pressure them into making mistakes. We can win this!”

Chapter Six

Making Chances
    The ref blew his whistle, and Ravenshill kicked off. Adam passed back to Will from the centre circle, and Will had time to pick a neat pass out before any Kingham players got near him.
    A good start, but soon the Ravens were playing their usual style of booting the ball from defence up towards the strikers. This meant the ball came nowhere near Will. But when Kingham got the ball they played a patient passing game.
    The Ravens’ efforts to closely mark their opponents weren’t working – whenever they got near to the ball it was simply passed away.
    Steve was getting dragged all over the pitch trying to mark the Kingham left winger. He tracked him into the centre of the pitch – but he’d left a huge gap in defence. Kingham saw it, and were onto it at once.
    The left-back surged into the open space, before knocking a simple ball across the box to where their striker was waiting to smash the ball home.
    Kingham cheered, and the Ravens players all started shouting at each other, with Steve taking most of the stick.

    â€œWhat were you thinking, Steve, leaving that gap?” yelled Adam.
    â€œI had to track him, nobody else was there. Why didn’t David get back to help?” said Steve.
    â€œHe was chasing one of your rubbish passes. Try getting the ball to one of our players,” said Tom.
    â€œBut with you all so far up the pitch, all I can do is hoof it and hope for the best,” said Steve. “Maybe if the midfield dropped back we could keep the ball for more than ten seconds.”
    â€œOh, so you know better than Smithy, do you? You’re only on the team because everyone is ill!” shouted Tom
    Will knew he should speak up for his friend – after all, Steve was only saying the sort of things Will usually said on the touchline – but he wanted to keep out of trouble. So he kept quiet and took his place for kick-off.
    The ref blew his whistle, and both teams fell back into the same pattern. Ravenshill played the ball forward, lost it, then chased while Kingham passed it around. It was tiring the Ravens out.

    Will drifted closer and closer to the defence, hoping to get a touch of the ball. While the other Ravens players chased, he held his position, watching and waiting.
    Suddenly Kingham tried a long shot towards the goal, but