Strike!

Jake loves football and fishing, though he rarely catches any fish. His best friend Adam thinks fishing is cruel. Jake also hasn't been doing very well, playing football for Rangers in the team's Sunday league matches. He is determined, however, to prove himself, score a hat trick and win the match ball in the game against their arch rivals, Villa. Adam makes the stakes even higher by suggesting a deal with Jake - he'll help Jake to score his three goals but in return Jake will have to give up fishing! There is the usual scenario of our hero's side going down 2-1 in the second half with seemingly no hope of the team winning or of Jake netting his hat trick. No prizes for guessing what happens in the end. Young readers with an interest in football and/or fishing will enjoy this undemanding and simply illustrated book. Just one small niggle for me; the league table on page 20 contains details of matches won, lost and drawn and goals scored and conceded which do not add up correctly.