Hot-Shot Harry Read Free Page B

said Oliver, who was going to play up front. “Are you OK in that sweat shirt?”
    Harry had borrowed Oliver’s green sweatshirt. It was a bit small for him, but it was that or Charlotte’s yellow jersey.
    â€œYeah, I’m fine,” he lied. He didn’t feel at all OK about playing in goal. “Just make sure you score more goals than I let in!”
    They grinned at each other.
    â€œCome on, get in goal and I’ll take a few shots at you,” Oliver told him.

    They did not have long. Harry was soon called by the referee to toss up with the Ashfield captain.

    â€œHeads!” called Harry as the coin spun into the air.
    â€œTails,” said the referee.
    That wasn’t the only thing that Harry got wrong.
    Ashfield swept into the attack straight from the kick-off. It took a well-timed tackle by Ravi, to prevent an early shot at goal.
    Harry’s first task as goalie was to block a low shot with his legs instead of his hands. He used his hands for his second task – picking the ball out of the net after the rebound had been smashed back past him.
    â€œUnlucky, skipper,” said Brad.
    Harry booted the ball away in a temper.
    â€œHuh! Any chance of
you
trying to stop them shooting?”
    Brad and Ravi kept Ashfield at bay for the rest of the first period. Most of Ashfield’s shots were long-distance efforts which caused Harry few problems, but their own keeper had nothing to do.
    Then Gateway won a free kick for a foul on Leela. Oliver took it. The ball swerved and dipped as it flew, but the keeper got it away to one side.
    Just before the interval, there was a goal that nobody expected.
    Leela was boxed in against the side wall of the pitch. She kicked the ball back to Brad who had moved up in support of the attack, crossing the halfway line for the first time in the game.
    Brad pushed the ball in front of him, looking for a Gateway player to pass to, but everyone was well marked.

    So Brad went even further forward and ran out of options. The only thing he could do was shoot.
    Ashfield realised the danger too late. Before anyone could try to block the shot, the ball was bouncing back out of the net.
    â€œI’ve scored!” Brad screamed in disbelief. “Incredible!”

Chapter Seven

Golden Goals
    â€œTake over from me,” Harry told Ravi at half-time. “I want to get back out onto the pitch.”
    Ravi was about to argue when Mrs Phillips saw Harry taking off the green top.
    â€œJust a minute, Harry,” she said. “What are you doing?”
    â€œEr … letting Ravi go in goal.”
    â€œDid I say anything about that?” she asked.
    â€œWell, no, but …”
    â€œSo put it back on, please, Harry,” she told him. “I don’t want to make any changes yet. We’ve just drawn level and you’re doing fine in goal.”

    â€œBut …” Harry began.
    â€œNo
buts
, Harry, please. Just do as I say.”
    Harry was cross but he didn’t argue. He had a sulky look as he tugged the sweatshirt back on.
    â€œWell done, everyone,” said Mrs Phillips, ignoring the captain’s sighs. “We’re back in this game now!”

    Gateway started the second half with a goal.
    Leela struck the ball perfectly with her left foot, curling it into the top corner to give Gateway a 2–1 lead.
    â€œMagic!” cried Charlotte from the side.

    Ashfield went on the attack, but good defending by Brad and Ravi, plus two more saves from Harry, stopped them from scoring.
    It looked like Gateway were winning – until they gave away the lead. Every single Gateway player was at fault, ending up with a howler by Harry.
    Oliver gave the ball away too easily. Leela’s tackle was weak, Ravi fell over, and the ball rolled through Brad’s legs into the path of Ashfield’s top scorer.
    The striker’s shot was tame and Harry did not bother to save it with his hands. He used his feet,