The season opener arrived with a mix of excitement and tension. Crestwood faced Marston Vale, a team they were favored to defeat, but the first game of the season always brought its own pressure. The pre-season struggles were over; now it mattered.
In the changing room, Coach Shaw's voice cut through the nervous energy. "A new season starts today. Everything you achieved last year doesn't matter. Everything you did in the preseason was just practice. Today is about setting the standard. Don't be arrogant. Go out there and earn your first three points." He paused, looking around the room. "One more thing. Some important people are watching today. Don't let it affect you. Play our game."
As Ethan stepped onto the pitch, he looked along the touchline. He saw parents and academy staff, but then his eyes caught a man in a sleek, dark coat with a small embroidered crest on the pocket. Ethan felt a chill. It was the crest of a Premier League club, one of the biggest in the country. The man held a notepad, his eyes focused on the game.
The whistle blew, and suddenly, the simple game plan felt complicated. Every touch weighed like an audition. Midway through the first half, Ethan received the ball and noticed Callum making a run. The smart move was a simple through ball. Instead, Ethan went for a bold, lofted chip over the defense, aiming for a highlight moment. The pass was too strong, and the opportunity was lost. Callum shot him a frustrated look.
Marston Vale, hoping for a draw, sat back in a tight formation, frustrating Crestwood. By halftime, the score remained a tense 0-0 stalemate.
In the second half, the pressure increased. The scout on the sideline remained still. Ethan pushed himself too hard, forcing plays that weren't there, disrupting the team's rhythm. With twenty minutes left, Mason made an important tackle and passed the ball to Ethan.
For a brief moment, the crowd noise faded. Ethan imagined the scout in his mind. He could try to beat his man, take a long shot, and become the hero. But then he recalled Coach Shaw's words: Play our game.
He looked up and saw the right option, the simple one. He drew a defender toward him and slid a decisive pass to the overlapping fullback, who had plenty of space. The fullback made a low, hard cross, and Callum, having timed his run perfectly, hammered it into the net.
Crestwood secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory. As the team celebrated, Ethan felt a deep sense of relief.
After the match, Coach Shaw pulled him aside as he headed for the bus. "You know who was here today," Shaw said, not asking a question. Ethan nodded. "For the first seventy minutes, you played for him," the coach continued, his tone sharp. "For the last ten, you played for us. He wasn't there to see one flashy pass, Matthews. He was there to see if you could win a football match. You showed him you can. Remember that."
Ethan got on the bus, feeling the victory weigh more than he had expected. The pressure had surged to a level he had never faced. He wasn't just playing for Crestwood or a spot on the England squad anymore. He was playing for his future.
League Table After MD 1
Rank Team P W D L GF GA GD PTS
1 Ashbourne 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 3
2 Riverton 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 3
3 Crestwood 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
4 Westford 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 3
5 Eastfield 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
6 Northbridge 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1
7 Marston Vale 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
8 Greenford 1 0 0 1 0 1 -1 0
9 Linton 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 0
10 Harrington 1 0 0 1 0 3 -3 0