That was a tough game and i felt a tough result. You all had a better first half than second but overall you all did well.

The first half started really well and you came out of the blocks firing obviously that extra hour sleep paid dividends. In the first 10 minutes Reynolds, Gabe and Connor all had chances but either hit the woodwork or the keeper saved well. Nick had to change the formation today with Tom away but the back four of Saul ,Morgan Adonis and Charne looked solid and coped well. To be honest the best chance fell to the opposition, after Josh saved well the follow up was blasted over the bar. We must remember to follow in the shots. We still pushed in the first half with Louis and Joel working hard breaking play up. Faizan had two shots towards the first half one which was well blocked and the other went just wide when the keeper was off his line. Callum and Jonathan both came on in the first half to freshen things up but we just couldn’t find the goal our play deserved.  Josh i thought also had one his most commanding halves i seen for a long time in goal . Half-time 0.0

Second half started well but very soon we stopped challenging for the ball enough, we let them push us back and we invited on pressure. We still looked a threat on the break with Gabe and Reynolds pace. Unfortunately with about 15 mins gone the pressure finally told. We had a couple of chances to to clear the ball but it either hit a forward or would not get from under our feet. They scored from about 5 yards out. Nick ran the changes again and pushed Jonathan back upfront and Charne pushing up to right midfield with Callum going to right back. Still we had chances but nothing really clear cut. With about 10 minutes to go came the decisive moment the forward went offside but the referee continued play and Edonis took him out in the area penalty. I know it was a hard decision but thing happen at all levels of football you just all have to pick yourselves up and move on. They scored 2.0. Heads did drop a bit and Nick sacrificed the holding player to create more upfront but within a few minutes they scored. Again we had two or three chances to clear but i think you were all nervous about giving another penalty away so ran through 3.0. Last 5 minutes at least we kept pushing and again created some half chances but nothing clear, i think Gabe and Reynold both had half chances. Match finished 3.0

MoTM this week was Morgan I thought he was really strong against there forwards and cleared the ball well when we were under pressure. Also it was his first center half start for over a year.

Heads up boys it was not that bad, another day and we could of one this. Match is at home next week 10AM and Nick will confirm later in week. Otherwise training tomorrow night. see you all there.

Good Afternoon. First off someone has gone home with one of my white water bottles, Please can you bring to training tomorrow night. LOL

Lunch time kick off was no issue for us, you were all there early and raring to go. We started the game really well and had the first sustained pressure Charney and Reynolds had the first few chances and were unlucky. With 10 minutes gone Connor picked the ball up from a opposition clearance he fed the ball to Callum, who Cooley finished against a on rushing keeper. It was a really good finish.

From this point we had all the chances and the pressure. Connor hit the post when he should of scored and then the defender cleared on the line on the follow up. With 17 Mins gone Nick decided to Freshen thing up and brought on Faizan,Theo and Joel. Lets say it was a inspired substitution, within a minute neat triangles between Faizan, Connor and Theo resulted in Theo being put clear, who then finished well. Faizan had a couple of chances towards the end of the first half and so did Theo. The defence held really well and Louis and Joey broke up play continuously in midfield. Josh was commanding in goal during the half and made some great throws to set up counter attacks. Half time 2.0

Second half started and the wind really picked up making it very tricky to play against. Again you started really well Charney had a great chance in the first minute then Reynolds chased down what looked like a lost cause and with some help from Callum they won the ball back, Reynold turn and shot was excellent 3.0 (Just as his uncle arrived to watch). After this i felt you dropped your pace, stopped closing down as quickly and invited them on maybe a bit too over confident. A couple of times we over committed and it took some desperate defending  from Morgan, Saul Tom and Edonis to keep them from scouring. However the pressure finally told and they scored a really goal 3.1 20 minutes to go.

Nick decided to rotate again to allow some of you a breather and freshen things up. This seemed to work as you all started to close down again. The wind against us made it hard but you kept battling. Then suddenly out of no where Edonis hits a shot on the half volley and it flys into the back of the net, Beckham style from the half way line. 4.1 OK the wind may of had something to do with it but it was a good strike. However the winds contribution did not end their and with 10 minutes to go they hit a speculative shot that drifted in 4.2, not closing down quick enough on our part.

The last 10 minutes still produced some great moment Tom hit a free kick that just went wide and then a couple of minutes later hit another free kick from Tom that Reynolds got a bullet header on to which hit the side netting. Joel broke down the right a couple of times and little bit quicker passing could of set up some chances. We finished the stronger side and probably should of scored at least one more.

I thought you all played really well today and there was probably 3 or 4 of you who were contenders for MoTM, it went to Theo Rubins on his debut. Theo took his goal really well but also worked tirelessly down the right, winning more tackles he should of and closing the opposition down.

Training tomorrow night hopefully not raining as much as last week.

Next week Home to Whetstone Wanderers Nick will confirm details midweek

Just a note to parents about the respect campaign can I please remind parents not to give “direction” to the players during the game. Whist we encourage you all to support and motivate the players please leave “direction” to Nick and myself. We do not want to confuse the players by giving them varying messages. Thanks Everyone

Let’s not talk about the game too much, Yes you all tried but you had decided before kick off that you were going to lose. No matter who we are playing you always must believe that you can win and give 110% trying. They were 4 division above us and physically looked like two school years and to be honest they played football like it. So the result for me didn’t matter.

From now on we concentrate on the league so far we have won one & lost one and to be honest if you had taken your chances it would be two wins. In this league its about hitting the target and working the goalie. If you we can go two goals up most teams heads will drop and we push from there.

On the match the most annoying thing today was short / hospital passes and then not releasing the ball quick enough. We always have two or three quick players on the pitch. If you cant see a pass play the ball into space for people to run on to. From this we might get a throw, create panic at the back or get the ball first and create a chance.

One thing the opposition showed us today was how to take corners. Good corners that cleared the front and then five men running in at pace. This made them hard to mark and pickup. When you come against teams like this you need to stay in front of your man (Goal side) and at least challenge for the ball run across their line to make them check or let them run into you.

Highlight of the game was Charney goal which came from good closing down and a great strike. So for that he get MoTM

We all wish Mario a speedy recovery from his injury, Home next week to Brady and see you at training tomorrow.

First Thanks to Nick for actually getting the game on. It was a nightmare to organize . The second thanks goes to your parents who got you all to the right ground at the right time. Third thanks to you for all really playing well today and trying your best.

It actually turned out to be a really warm day which made it really hard going we also kicked up the slope in the first half. We started really well Charney broke a couple of times and so did Reynolds. The first real chance fell to Reynolds who put his shot over the bar. Then Connor had a shot from outside the box that went just wide. We were playing the better football with Faizan committing the defenders and playing the ball forward at every opportunity. We still had all the pressure and Josh swept well from the back. However just before halftime they broke a long clearance from the back and we were caught short. Saul did his best but was in a 2.1 situation. They scored a well worked goal. 0.1 Half time

Second half started and we had the slope and the pressure and after two minutes it was 1.1. The ball was worked down our left and cane into Charney who i can only say Miss-hit but the ball rolled straight into the Corner. We now had all the game. Adonis and Tom defended really well at the back against the constant long ball. Morgan and Saul both helped and kept pushing our wingers forward. First chance fell to Joel who should of shot with his left instead he ran round the ball and hit with his right this gave the defender time to clear it off the line. Next both Reynold and Charney dragged shots wide of the post. Faizan and Connor both had shots from outside the box that the goalie saved. Suddenly though HMH broke and the center forward beat two players and should of scored but some dogged defending by Saul prevented him from getting the shot away and eventually we cleared our lines. We continued to apply pressure but it felt as if we were not going to break them down. 36th minute the goalie took a goal kick which Connor picked up in the middle who brought it forward and fed the ball to Joel whose first touch pushed it into space. He hit it and the ball nestled in the bottom corner 2.1 Great Goal great comeback !!!!! Full time whistle went a minute later.

Nick said i could pick a MotM and my choice was Joey. Who while not maybe doing the pretty things he worked hard closed down players and made about 50 tackles. But to be honest it was a close call i thought you all played well and worked for the team

Josh – Much better calling and sweeping from the back

Saul – One of you best games made some vital tackles

Tom – Good sweeping and good captaincy kept encouraging everyone

Edonis – Solid and kept looking to play the ball forward

Morgan – Worked hard down the right linked up well

Joey – Excellent tackling and closing

Connor – Really good 2nd half and dictated the game

Faizan – Always a handful and had the beating of their midfield

Callum – Closed down helped the defense best game so far

Charney – Tireless running beat the defense for pace on numerous times

Joel – Should of Scored but made up for it with a Excellent winner.

Reynolds – Chased everything, battle hard upfront on his own, another day will score a hat trick

See you at Training tomorrow 🙂

PS The Ref was awesome