Fweeee!
The whistle blew.
Perring didn't sprint. He started at a measured trot, the ball moving in short, rhythmic taps. He let Jonny Dacres commit first.
Dacres, eager to prove himself against the new 'big-money' signing, lunged in for an early interception. Perring didn't even change his pace. He simply let the ball roll, stepping around the defender and using Dacres' own momentum to glide past. It was so effortless it looked like a dance.
Mbete-Sekou was next. He was smarter. He stayed patient, keeping his knees bent and his eyes on Perring's hips, not the ball. He didn't dive in.
Perring adjusted his stance. He performed a quick series of feints, left, right, left, so fast the eyes struggled to follow. Then, a sudden burst of acceleration. It was a change of gears that caught Mbete-Sekou off-guard. By the time the defender turned, Perring was already two yards clear.
Now, it was Toby Kuipers.
