To Win when not playing well …. A sign of a good team

Today’s squad Frankie, Reynolds, Jack, Morgan, Edonis, Jed, Tom, Saul,Louis, Connor, Gabe, Theo, Joel,Chris and Joey.

Once again Captain Morgan won the Toss !! What can i say …..

We started the first half far too slow. Too many touches at the back and not getting the ball wide quickly. Very little in the way of chances and if anything we were letting them dictate to us in midfield. Up front they had only one player but far to often we were letting ourselves end up one on one. After 15 minutes, Reynolds played the ball into the box Connor laid the ball back to Gabe who’s shot went straight at the keeper. With 30 minutes gone they broke and the forward was though on goal, Frankie came out quickly and got a good foot into block the run/shot. Last 10 minutes Tom hit the cross bar from a corner. Plenty of pressure lots of corners but we never got any real clear cut chances. 0.0HT

Second half and we were on the front foot, still i felt susceptible to the counter attack as too often we pushed up too much. Main thing of note for me was you did start to get it wide but it all went down the right, No cross field ball, No switching play we didn’t use the fact that we had a extra player to our advantage. Finally we did get the ball down the left Jed made a good run and forced the corner. Connor played a short corner to Chris who drove into the box and unleashed a curling right foot shot that dipped into the top corner. Really good goal.

Final twenty and we still had the play but could not fashion a clear cut chances. Joel had a half chance and so did Jed but nothing would drop. With 30 minutes the ball was played into the box and Connor hit it first time with his left (old Swinger) and it flew into the bottom corner another really good goal. From that you saw there heads drop and the last 10 (or should i say five as the referee blew up early) you were in Cruise control. 2.0 FT

A strange game you played no where near as good as you can or did last week, yet scored two fantastic goal. Some of the play was two frantic and sometimes just too slow.

MoTM  A couple of mentions Frankie had his first clean sheet of the season and made a good save in each half. Louis had a good game at right back in the second half, keeping close to winger and playing good balls forward. Today’s MoTM was Morgan in the first half alone he manged to clear the danger about eight times when left one on one and sometimes it looked like he was defending on his own. Too often full backs got caught up field and the defense didn’t move across to cover the danger quick enough. Also if a defender is holding an attacking player up players getting back  should try to win the ball back from the blindside and close them down give them no space.

Training is at Ashmole tomorrow night see you at 6.30 PM

Oops i forgot to take any photos ……

Sorry boys got so involved in the warm up that i forgot to take the pre-match snaps. Parents if you ever take any photos during the game please send to me to use in the blog.

So today was all about revenge, we lost to this team a couple of weeks ago in the last minute of extra time 4.3. How did you do today ?

Today’s squad Frankie , Jack, Morgan, Edonis, Jed, Arlind, Tom, Saul, Reynolds, Connor, Gabe, Chris, Bucks and Joel.

Morgan won the toss again to keep going his lucky streak and they kicked off. We soon won the ball back and went in the attack, Saul drove forward and unleashed a really good shot that the goalie saved and pushed round for a corner. Connor floated the corner in Saul went for the acrobatic overhead kick that smashed against the cross bar. After one minute we had had two excellent chances, this was to set the tone for the first half. Gabe soon after was put through and the goalie made an excellent save. Another corner came and this time Edonis was unlucky as he came in unchallenged. In the first ten minutes we must of had six or seven corners that we nearly scored from each time. Gabe had another couple of chance but each time a lucky block seemed to thwart him. A couple of times we got caught at the back Full backs remember to get goal side of the opposing player,  give yourself a couple of yards. This allows you to either attack the ball at pace in the air or gives you time to turn and cover if it goes long. Also you must remember to defend as a unit. If a center half is pulled over then the remaining centre half and full back need to all move across to fill in the gaps. its up to the wide midfielders to then slot in at full back to keep us solid.

With twenty minutes gone Nick rung the changes to bring on some fresh legs and it paid off straight away. Reynolds won the ball and quickly released Chris who out paced the defense and calmly finished. Really nice goal 1.0

Five minutes later Jed broke down the left fed the ball to Connor who’s good shot was well saved however Reynolds did what we had been talking about last week followed in the rebound and made it 2.0

Jed had a good shot with his weaker foot hit the post and roll across line and we just missed the rebound. With ten minutes to go Bucks made a good tackle and released Gabe, who in turn ran on ten yards and played the ball forward to Chris who finished well again 3.0 HT

So what did Nick and I say not to do at the start of the second half “Switch Off” what did you all do “Switch Off” almost from kick off they strolled forward in acre’s of space, no one closed and shot really well from just outside the box. 3.1

At least this seemed to wake you all up and you started to press again. Chris was unlucky not to get his hat trick and Arlind had a shot go just wide. Still at times we pushed too many players up fortunately Morgan , Edonis and Tom swept up well at the back but at times we were exposed. It was from one of these breaks that perhaps they should of scored . They broke and hit the post as they followed up Bucks cleared of the line could of easily been 3.2. However it was not to be Tom won a free kick , played the ball in Saul toed the ball out of one of the keepers hands and Gabe calmly finished getting the goal his good work in the first half deserved. 4.1

As we moved into the last twenty it was old Connor, Reynolds One-Two Another good shot from Connor was really well saved by the keeper and there was Reynold to slot home his second from a tight angle 5.1

Fifteen minutes to go and again a little too gun-ho and we got punished. Frankie saved really well first of all however the rebound fell kindly for another player to make 5.2.

Last five minutes and Saul got his goal that was long over due around 75 Mins, Connor floated in a corner Saul met it firmly and directed it into the bottom corner 6.2 FT

Overall very pleased with the performance, i thought you controlled the game from start to finish. we don’t need to over commit men as we have enough dangerous players to score goals. Keep it tight at the back and you wont lose !

MoTM Today i thought we had a few candidates Reynold had a really good first half, Gabe played very well, but today it went to Connor he tackled well in midfield but his though balls and link up play were excellent. Another day and his shots would not of been saved but they created two goals. His corners were well delivered and we could of scored five from them rather than just one. Well done

All training is at 6.30 Ashmole see you all then. Remember to work hard in training as it pays dividends on the pitch. And it is starting to show.

A Game of two halves………..

Today’s squad Frankie, Theo, Morgan, Tom, Edonis, Jed, Joey, Louie, Connor, Gabe, Chris, Arlend, Bucks, Reynolds, Saul.

Lunchtime kick off , even then Saul decided to have a extra lie in, but in the end the extra sleep paid off.

Morgan won the Toss again to keep his streak going and we kicked down hill the first half. To be honest straight away we were on the attack. Jed was getting joy down the left and Chris had the pace of the defense from the start. A few half chance fell early on sometimes you just have to hit with your weaker foot. If you cut in the chance can be gone.

We definatley started the better team, however it was not to be after ten minutes they broke down the right. We held them up but then you all stood off them no one closed the man, he then had all the time to pick the ball out at the far post and they scored 0.1. Reynolds was unlucky very soon after with a shot on his left but we didn’t just get that break we needed.

You picked yourselves up and carried on still the chances came. Chris hit the post and we just missed the follow up. Corners we looked dangerous but nothing seemed to drop. Then you all started to take too much time. We are a much better team with quick passes and playing it wide or behind the back for. Sometimes you all hold the ball too long and lose possession whilst we are attacking. It was from one of these they broke defense was too slow and out of position 0.2

Almost straight from kick off it was 0.3 a long ball into the box and the defense were marking each other. They had three men lining up to head the ball in the net which they did !!! Did we need half time !!!!

Second half Nick changed it around to get more pace up front pushing Jed through the middle and it paid off straight away. Tom played the ball and Jed ran on and scored with his weaker foot. Good goal back in the game.1.3

Suddenly you were a back to the team that i know.Chris was causing all sorts of problems up front and on the right. I think he won three or four free kicks and it was another run from him that ended up as a penalty. The defender took the man then the ball and the ref rightly gave a penalty. Tom stepped up and struck the ball hard. The goalie got a hand to it but it still went in. 2.3

Just as we looked like we would push on you got a wake up call. They broke down our left Frankie came out really well and narrowed the angle forcing the shot wide which hit the post. The defense then cleared the danger. From then i felt anyone who played in the back four controlled there forwards (Louis, Morgan, Edonis, Bucks, Reynolds)

From a corner, the ball was cleared and Gabe hit a fantastic volley that flew into the net. Fully deserved 3.3

From now on there was only one team, they were arguing, losing there discipline, with ten minutes to go Jed ran down the left and worked well, pulled it back to Connor who finished 4.3

Game was not over yet still had time for one more goal, another corner the ball was cleared straight back to Connor who hit it back first time . Saul came steaming through the middle to power a header into the bottom corner. A really well taken goal.

Last ten minutes you all closed the game out with no fuss. In fact we still had a couple of chances.

Overall such a good second half. Defense was solid, midfield drove the team forward and the front ment had pace and a eye for goal.

Well done all you. Today’s MoTM was Jed he worked hard up down the left flank and then put a great shift upfront in the second half. He is a really good player and its a big welcome to the the team. To be honest the second half you all could of got MoTM with the effort you all put in.

Training this week is on Wednesday 6.30 till about 7.45 light permitting.

Next week as Louie quoted “Revenge”

Happy New Year to our Jewish players

PS . The ref was awesome

First game of the season ………..

Todays Squad was Frankie, Theo, Saul, Edonis, Morgan, Joel, Joey, Tom, Connor, Reynolds, Chris, Louis, Louis B (Bucks from now on), Jack, Arland.

To be honest we started slowly, they definitely started the better team and put us under pressure. Frankie swept well behind the  back three. Their right winger who was their best attacker put in a few chances but most drifted wide. Our best chance in the first half who poked the ball just wide as he and the keeper slid for the ball. Half time 0.0 but we grew into the game more towards the half.

Second half stated and we got a few chances. Reynolds was unlucky a couple of times and nearly scored with his knee  from outside the box after good work from Chris as he created the rebound and the ball rolled wide of the post. However  with 18 minutes to go we got caught short, didn’t close the player quick enough and a speculative shot flew into the top corner. Nick changed it to 4.4.2 and we applied more pressure. With five minutes to go a good ball into Tom who turned well in the box and finished well 1.1

Extra-time first five minutes we were sloppy and almost gave a couple of chances away, in a 4.4.2 the full backs got caught a bit too far forward. Our attacking play was good and Saul drove down the left and after a couple of nice one-two he drove the ball home. 2.1 . Unfortunately the lead didn’t last long as Frankie miss-kicked  and it fell to opposition attacker who passed into a empty net, the kick was unlucky but we must remember to be goal side of the opposition 2 .2

This half was still not over we attacked again and every time we did we looked threatening the ball fell to Tom and we were back in front. 3.2

Still not over more drama, The ball got played down our right and we had a couple chances to clear, unfortunately we tried to over play it a bit too much, the ball got switched and the player went past Frankie as he came out and slotted the ball home Half-time 3.3

Second half started and it was end to end Chris hit the post almost from kick off and then they went up the put the ball across the goal and just missed when it seemed easier to score. Half chances came and went but nothing we should of scored. With one minute of extra time left and just when it seemed penalties were guaranteed they scored a dubious goal. Morgan made a good tackle and the forward went down he seemed to handle the ball on the ground claiming a free kick, The referee said play on as we all stopped to stop, they broke and scored. 4.3

At the kick off every pushed forward Jack played a long ball and we nearly scored , Their defense cleared the ball for a corner. Connor and Chris took a short one, Connor played the ball in and Saul volleyed just over the bar. So so so unlucky and that was that. Final score 4.3

Overall we played well, a bit sloppy in places but it was the first game of the season, that saying we have this team in the cup again in a couple of weeks and i want a different result !!!

Well done all of you, I thought you all played well today MoM was Saul who was rock solid in defense and when pushed into midfield he drove the team forward.

Training tomorrow is 6.30 at Ashmole on Astro. As we wore the yellow today please wear any kit but not the HOME kit

Thanks

David & Nick