If ever a result did an injustice to the closeness of a game, this is it. The young Knights in just their third game back in Youth Kitted Football, put on another credible performance against a much more experienced team of visitors from Bristol. The Aztecs, playing their first game of the season, showed that they had been well prepared by their coaching staff but needed this game to blow the cobwebs away.

The first period was uneventful with both sides battling to get the upper hand. The game suddenly sprang into the life in the second when, after a patient well-constructed drive Daniel Appleyard crashed into the end zone from two yards out. Appleyard repeated his feat to claim the extra two points to give the Knights an 8 – 0 lead. The Aztecs clawed their way back into the game behind a one yard blast from Liam Miller to close the gap to 8 – 6, a score line that was to remain unchanged as the half closed.

The third quarter saw great defensive work by both teams but the Knights got into field goal range for Seb Phillips to slot a thirty-yard attempt to extend the home side’s lead to 11-6. There was the distinct possibility of an upset as the Knights lead going into the final period. It was however not be as the Aztecs turned to their powerful running attack to get them back into it. Stefan Williams darted in from a little over thirty yards out to nudge the visitors into a slender 11 – 12 lead. Erich Dune, in his first game in Aztec colours, carried the ball forty-eight yards for Bristol to increase their lead. Liam Miller blasted in for two point conversion and the game was slipping away from the Knights at 11-20.

The Knights tried to pass their way back into the game only for Bristol’s Anthony Scott to snare his second interception of the game and take it back almost fifty-yards to ease the Aztecs lead to 11 – 26. The two-point conversion was completed on a William Wagstaffe pass to Erich Dune to pad the visitors lead to 11 – 28. With time running out, Wagstaffe found Owain Chambers with an excellent pass from ten-yards out to seal the game 11 – 34.

All credit to the Knights for their performance. They proved that for a little over three quarters they could compete with the very best in their conference. A little more experience and a larger squad will ensure that as the months pass they will move into the upper echelons of the youth game.