Janek came out to greet Stark with a strong challenge. The ball popped free and into Calum’s path.
But Calum couldn’t react in time. He was helpless as he watched the ball ping off his knee, past Jordan and into Caleytown’s box, where Barclay was waiting.
Ravi ran out and made himself as big as he could, but Barclay rolled the ball through his legs and into the net to make it 0–2.
Barclay hardly celebrated his goal at all – it was too easy.
“Thanks for the help,” Stark chuckled, as he jogged back towards his half.
“Yeah, nice pass, Calum,” Jordan added.
Calum’s head dropped. He felt way out of his depth.
But minutes later, while Muckleton were thinking about their half-time oranges, Leo intercepted a loose pass near halfway and scampered up the pitch.
All alone on the wing, he beat his man and tried to cross the ball to Calum. It was easily cut out, but Leo had won his team a corner.
“Janek, stay back. Jordan, go forward!” Mr McKlop shouted from the sideline.
“Watch how it’s done!” Jordan said to Calum as he arrived in the box.
With only seconds to go until the half-time whistle, Leo swung a corner towards Calum at the back post. Out of nowhere, Jordan leaped to meet it, heading the ball powerfully towards the goal.
It was going wide but the ball cannoned off the back of a Muckleton defender’s head, sending him sprawling. Still spinning in mid-air, the ball clipped the post and fell over the line!
“YEEEEEE-eeesssss!” Jordan punched the air, totally ignoring the Muckleton player lying face-down on the Astroturf.
“Brilliant goal, Jordie!” Jordan’s mum yelled from the sideline. A few of the Muckleton players sniggered – even the defender who was now being helped to his feet.
PEEP, PEEEEP, PEEEEE-EEEP!
The referee blew his whistle to bring the first half to an end. At 2–1, somehow, Caleytown were still in the match.
Calum jogged over with the rest of the players towards their coach. Mr Aziz’s boots creaked and groaned but Calum had hardly broken a sweat.
“Chins up, guys!” Mr McKlop said. “The team you’re playing has been around a lot longer than you – you’re doing really well!”
The boys gulped down water and ate their slices of orange.
“Catch your breath and think about how we’re going to score our next goal.”
The coach’s words floated past Calum. There were moments in the first half where he had wanted the ground to swallow him up. No one would have noticed, he thought.
“Nice job, Museum Boots,” Jordan said, with orange all over his chin. He was going to say more but something over Calum’s shoulder stopped him.
Ruff!
Calum felt two little paws on his leg. And then heard a familiar voice.
“What’s the score, Cal?”
Calum’s mum and dad and Leighton – they were all there!
“We’re losing 2–1,” he said.
“That’s not bad… hey, what’s up?” his mum said, looking worried.
“Nothing, it’s just…” Calum wanted to explain how he hadn’t played well. But seeing his parents and Leighton made it seem less important somehow.
Then Calum spotted Erika on the sideline with her mum. She bounded over.
“Hey, Calum, great job out there!”
“Not really, but thanks anyway,” he said.
“Do you want my advice… as a goalie, I mean?”
Calum nodded. He would take all the advice he could get at this point.
“Their goalie keeps rushing out. If you get a chance, wait for him to dive and just take it round him. Easy, right?”
Calum smiled. “Erm… yeah. Cheers.”
Erika smiled back. “Good luck!”
Seeing Leighton, Erika and his parents had loosened Calum up, boots and all. He ran back on to the pitch, ready to forget the first half and start again.