Into The Team Read Free Page B

found it easy to tackle John. As good as the other youth was, he didn’t have the swift-footed moves Todd had practiced over the years. And after ten minutes, Todd had scored eight goals and had only one saved. John hadn’t kept possession long enough to even attempt a goal.
    Another ten minutes with John in net, Todd went against Vince. He was slightly faster than John and managed three goals. Todd put six in the net.
    Wayne applauded and gathered them round.
    “Ok, I want all three of you to compete now while I’m in net.”
    John and Vince glanced at each other. They appeared uncertain, but eyebrows lifted as if to show eagerness.
    Todd was fired up now. His heart pumped and his legs and feet felt like air. He loved these moments when he was at his peak on the pitch, when it felt like some hidden channel had opened between his mind and feet. He was ready to knock these two down.
    “Just do your best guys,” Wayne said before taking the ball with him to the net.
    Todd watched him go, marveling at the fact he was about to score goals against a Manford Reds player. Not that he knew for sure of course. But he had that goal scoring head on him now, and he could feel his legs craving to run and shoot the ball over the line. His mother will eat those words.
    After making it to goal, Wayne turned, waited a second or two, then kicked the ball high through the air.
    Todd’s eyes homed in on that tiny point as it seemed to hang in the sky above him. Everything else didn’t exist now. It was just him and the ball.
    Seeing it grow bigger, slanting down in its arc, he positioned himself. From the corner of his eye he saw John moving closer, and in front, Vince was backing up. They were going to crush in for this one but he didn’t care.
    As the ball came in and John tried to shove him aside, Todd leapt up and head butted the ball to his left.
    As soon as his feet hit the grass again, he launched himself after it.
    He reached it first, John and Vince coming at him from behind, almost getting a touch. But once Todd had possession he never let it go. Tapping and rolling he ran with it towards goal.
    The other two speeded up in pursuit, and from his left, John came in low, giving a backwards lurch as if about to skid his foot into the path of the ball. Todd was ready. Giving the slightest of taps, the ball lifted just enough to avoid the incoming foot, and after leaping over his opponent, Todd was away.
    Vince came from behind, doing his best to swerve around him, kicking between his feet every time Todd made contact with the ball. But his prized possession wasn’t going anywhere, and Todd gave it more pressure on his next kick and picked up his speed. Soon, those tackling feet were gone and it was just him and the alert face of Wayne waiting with arms outstretched and legs ready to propel in either direction.
    He took it head on, made it look as though he was going to play it fast. But just as he was about to slam his left on the ball, he halted and fired it with his right, almost sending it wide. But it went in and Wayne was flat out on the grass.
    After lifting himself up and giving Todd a serious but admiring glance, Wayne gathered them around.
    “Ok lads,” he said, pointing at Vince and John. “Vince, you defend the first twenty yards around the goal, John, you defend the next twenty yards up to the midway line, and you Todd…” He pointed with a narrow set of eyes. “You go right up to the other end of the field. When I kick the ball all the way down to you, I want you to go for goal.” He pointed at Vince and John. “You two have to stop him.”
    With those orders, John and Vince nodded after giving Todd a wary glance.
    “Go,” Wayne shouted.
    Todd legged it up the field into the opposing half, his heart full of power and his legs flying. When he reached the far side, he turned and waited in a central position, clocking Vince and John as they occupied their territories.
    Wayne kicked the ball high and long and