69 Striker?

The Man City players and staffs were a little bit more happy as they at least avoided a defeat as they managed to draw the match.

Tony was also happy as they still managed to share the points but was a little bit disappointed in not being involved from the bench.

But he knew that a players training and body development was more important in academy teams. Not like the first teams that might be more competitive and take more risk to a higher extent to achieve victory.

The focus of the academy teams where developing good players for the future and not just on solely focused on match results.

Tony had congratulated John on his goal before they had all entered the team bus and began there journey back to Manchester.

*****

Training throughout the week went smoothly and Tony also made time to check out the arcade centre occasionally as his life began to fall into a rhythm mainly focused on training.

He was named back in the starting 11 and was even asked to play as the striker in the match. He had been asked to play as the striker in a training match during the week by Coach Taylor and he had scored some goals.

But he wasn't expecting Coach Taylor to decisively give him an opportunity to play as a no. 9 in a match, Even if it was a home match against Blackburn in the league.

*****

The match had started and both teams passed amongst each other when they had possession of the ball, as they both probed for opportunities to score the opening goal.

After about 10 minutes Tony gradually realized that he preferred his role back in midfield as he was more involved in the game and build up. But as a striker he had to act as a focal point ready to serve as an outlet for an attack at any time, so he had to stay at least at the halfway line even when his team was not in possession of the ball.

If he had top or world class midfielders like the Iniesta, Xavi, Lampard, David Silva, Steven Gerard, etc behind him creating opportunities for him, he wouldn't mind playing as a striker, but his present teammates and midfielders were majorly still developing academy players. So he could not complain as they were all still trying to develop into top class players that would shake the world.

But as a striker, he at least saved more of his energy and stamina as he finally saw a pass come towards him for an attack in the 15th minute, he took the ball in his strides for a quick counter and began to run into the opposition half.

Tony presently had a speed skill of B-, so he was definitely faster than the average academy player as continued to run with the ball in the opposition half of the pitch.

There were only two central defenders who were now retreating as Tony quickly tore through the opposition half and arrived outside there 18 yard box as he looked around for support and discovered he was now being closed down by some of the retreating opposition players.

He quickly rushed into the box and skillfully slid the ball in between the legs of one of the defender in front of him who finally came forward as he nutmegged the player and adjusted the ball a little, before powerfully shooting the ball into the top corner of the net as the other defender and keeper tried to interfere with the shot from inside the box.

It was a wonderful solo run of over 30 yards as Tony and his teammates along with the man city fans all jumped up in celebration. Tony who had yet to decide on an iconic celebration as he just shouted and jumped in celebration with his teammates.

After a while the game resumed and the Blackburn players were now more focused on defending as they also gradually looked for opportunities to score back.

Tony who was serving as the focal point of the attack, was tired of waiting around in the edge of the opposition half as he had found himself being gradually isolated as he sparingly got hold of the ball due to the opposition's tight defense and the ball being mostly deep in the midfield.

He gradually began to drop deeper to try and influence the game more and get on the ball as both teams were locked in a battle for possession as they both looked for opportunities to score more goals.

In the 37th minute he got an opportunity from deep into his half as he got hold of the ball and dribbled past a player and freed himself, before he began to run into the opposition half.

The opposition were now very aware of his ability of running with the ball so they paid more attention to him when he began to get close to the centre of the pitch with the ball.

Tony looked up and saw that John was free on the left wing and sent a through ball towards him.

John recieved the ball just outside of the box and quickly went into the box and shot the ball past the keeper into the net before the defenders could properly defend the ball.

The players all celebrated together as the game later resumed as they continued to play until it was half time and the players all returned to the locker rooms with a 2 goal lead.

The City players and staffs were all satisfied with the performance as the players rested and Coach Taylor made some slight changes and arrangements before it was time to resume the second half.

During halftime Coach Taylor had encouraged Tony to freely move across positions when it was necessary. So in the second half Tony played as more of a false 9 as he continued to drop down deeper into the midfield instead of staying up top like a regular striker when his team was without possession.

Earlier in the second half he had gotten an opportunity to shoot on goal, but the keeper had promptly saved the ball. He later had another opportunity and scored his second goal of the match with a header from a direct corner in the 53rd minute to make it 3:0.

Tony celebrated and was now a little bit excited at the prospect of scoring his first hattrick in the academy as he continued to look for opportunities to score an additional goal.

But the Blackburn players were having none of it as they were now more aggressive and focused on defending as they tried to prevent the scoreline from getting any higher.

Luckily in the 79th minute the right winger of Man City was fouled inside the 18 yard box as he tried to dribble past a player in the box. Tony was asked by his teammate who had been given the spotkick duty for the match to take the spotkick and complete his hattrick.

Tony thanked him and happily agreed as he prepared to take his first ever penalty kick. He looked at the ball and performed a normal run up and accurately shot the ball into the right side of the net, as the keeper followed the ball but failed to get his hands on the ball to keep the ball out as it went into the net.

Tony jumped up in celebration as he celebrated with his teammates for a short interval before the game resumed again.

In the 83rd minute Tony was substituted for a midfielder as he happily went to the bench as the fans gave him a generous applause while he waved at them and shook hands with some of the Manchester city players and staffs he went past on his way to join his teammates on the bench who also congratulated him.

Tony finally settled down on a seat and continued to happily watch the game and talk with some of the players besides him as his mind continued to constantly think about goals and his hattrick.

His teammates on the bench also continued to talk with Tony about his goals and his performance, especially the first goal which was a solo run of over 30 yards.

It was a fact that almost all players would be very pleased with scoring a goal. Then scoring more than one goal in a match would definitely add to the happiness the player felt.

Rose mind communicated to Tony in a really excited voice when he was done talking with his teammates. 'Congratulations Tony on your hattrick and fully announcing yourself to the world with this hattrick.'