End of Season affair …………

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

The match started well, everyone quiet but the football was good. Pitch was difficult very bumpy but its the same for both teams, However the first chance fell to Finchley and Frankie made a excellent save. Five minutes later they broke again and Frankie made another really good save. Frankie played the ball out after the save and Joey picked it up drove at the defense and released Gabe who’s first time shot went over the keeper 0.1

Now that we were up we should of pushed on however sloppy defending and Edonis knocks the ball into the goal 1.1

Another attack and Chris does well down the right and wins a corner. Jed floats in a great ball and Edonis powers in a fantastic header. 1.2 with 20 minutes gone.

Still chances come and go but to be honest we were not testing the keeper enough, with five minutes to go a hopeful ball up field catches up asleep. We had 2 or 3 chances to clear before the ball is played forward, now personally i thought the player was in a offside position but it was not given we stopped chasing and they scored 2.2  – Play to the whistle !!!!! H.T

Second half started and we were still on the side lines ball played wide down the left played across the goal and tapped in 3.2

Very soon another silly error cost us, A mix up between Frankie and Morgan left the forward a empty net to role the ball into 4.2

After this we went to pot !!! Gave the ball away too cheaply didn’t track back and did not take our chances. Yes we were unlucky with a couple of efforts from Gabe and Louis but in general it was not good enough. I am not going to go on but lets just say looking for a marked improvement in the last game. I going to put this down to “Already on the Beach” syndrome.

MoTM – Not today i am afraid 😦

See you all at training tomorrow

As the magnificent Queen said “We are the Champions” (not that any of the boys know who Queen are) LOL

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

Slow slow start at first it felt like we were all out for a Sunday stroll, intensity was low and all very lethargic. Still as we expected we had the more possession but found it difficult to break them down. The strikers found it hard to get on the ball as they played Five at the back , sat very deep and the pitch was very small so little space to exploit. We had a couple of half chances but didn’t get our shots away. Again we guilty of holding the ball too long after we had beaten a player. As we seem to do so often we gave away the first goal. We got caught from our corner as they broke, they played it down the left and had a spare man at the back to tap it into a empty net 1.0

So that was 20 minutes to ago and we started to wake up , we started to play some nice passing and began to exert some real pressure. I thought we should of scored from the 6 or 7 corners we had in the first half.A quickly taken freekick from Connor to Tom ended up with Gabe being really unlucky not to score at the near post

With ten minutes to go Nick change it round a bit pushed Tom into midfield and paid dividends straight away. Tom ran on to a through ball and hit a scuffed shot on the turn but it fooled everyone himself included as it went. 1.1

From here it was one way traffic for the rest of the game. Arlind played some nice balls from the right which we were unlucky not to score from. Another corner and the ball was cleared however it came to Tom at the edge of the box and he shot into the far corner 1.2 HT

Second half started and we were back to our normal selves Joey was unlucky with a couple of runs but the pressure and very soon we got the goal our play deserved. Connor picked the ball up in midfield and as he drove forward the striker kicked his legs away. Tom took the free kick and lasted it into the corner 1.3

More chances were to come Gabe again was unlucky as he latched onto a long ball forward. Arlind played a good ball to Connor who’s shot hit the top of the cross bar. Frankie swept well at the back and i thought Morgan and Edonis started to control their forwards with ease.

Still the chances came Joey unlucky with a run and Shot, Tom just wide from another free kick, Chris went on a couple of cracking runs only to be thwarted by some last ditch tackles. Louis was unlucky with a shot that went just wide of the post. The last 10 minutes only had one real highlight Morgan had his heels clipped by the same forward who done it all game lost his rag a bit and pushed him. Nick was not impressed especially as he only did it because Morgan was dominating him and was the better player. Note to everyone keep your cool and let the referee deal with, even if he is as poor as as today’s one who was not very communicative.

Final whistle went and 1.3 not our best performance but not our worst however enough to WIN THE LEAGUE !!!!!

MoTM, A few contenders today Arlind played well on the wing he listened to our advice and played the ball a lot quicker today after he had beaten one player. Joel good game at left back still learning his trade but made a lot of tackles , Connor won a lot of tackles in midfield and his passing excellent to the forwards however today it goes to Tom a scored a hat trick played right back, right midfield, center midfield , strike and ended up at center half. worked hard for the team and scored some vital goals at the right time.

Well done everyone for winning the league it has been very much a team effort we haven’t relied on one single player you all have stepped up when needed. The reason we won was the work you all do for each other and the goals have been some fantastic team goals.

We still have two games to go and it would be great to win them both and finish as strong as we started

See you at training tomorrow 6.30PM Ashmole

Some Good football and back to winning ways……

Today’s squad Frankie, Tom, Edonis, Morgan, Bucks, Joey, Saul, Connor, Theo, Chris, Gabe, Arlind and Joel.

I do believe Morgan won the Toss and kicked up hill the first half, Hes a great T******** LOL. The match started from the off we had them on the back foot. Chris and Gabe were proving a handful for the defense. The first chance came and Gabe was unlucky. Joey was unlucky with a early shot and the pressure was all us. Finally we got the goal our first ten minutes deserved. Connor played the ball through and Gabe ran on, out muscled the defender and finished well bottom corner. 0.1

Next ten minutes it was still all us and were very unlucky not too have scored more, between Connor passing the ball forward and Chris maze runs we were creating chance after chance. However this was too change Gabe got caught in the face and went down. The Ref saw it and most players (ours & there’s) stopped however suddenly the Ref says play on. This catches everyone by surprise and long ball to the forward who was offside scored. The Goal stood, now we can moan all we want but the fact is and Nick as he said before the game and at half time play to the whistle. If a team mate is down lets clear the ball off the pitch so he can get attention but don’t stop till the ball is dead. 1.1

Anyway this effected our play for the next ten minutes and we got out under some pressure. Frankie came off his line well to clear a couple of dangerous balls and the defense held firm. Gradually we got back into the game and the last five minutes was all us. Arlind played a good ball through and Theo’s shot was well saved. Another chance fell to Theo, Connor crossed and Theo headed (YES HEADED) a ball that just drifted wide so unlucky HT 1.1

Second half finished where we left off. Chris and Gabe with the slope caused them so many problems. Again first ten minutes and you pushed them back. Saul had a shot and it well saved. Another Saul shot was blocked by a defender but fell to Chris who hit it really well. The keeper i have to say made a fantastic save down to his left with one hand to turn it away for a corner.

Not long after though Chris got his goal that his play deserved. A ball down the left found Chris who cut in and coolly finished .1.2

Very soon after the game was put to bed. Connor picked up the ball in his own half and drove forward. The defense backed off and backed off wary of Chris and Gabe’s runs. Finally he shoots lets just say it wasn’t the best shot i ever seen almost a pass back. However the keeper made a right mess and it rolls through his legs and just has enough power to go over the line.  If you don’t shoot you don’t score …. a goal is a goal ….. 1.3.

The last twenty minutes it was one way traffic. Morgan and Edonis marshaled the defense really well ably helped by Tom or Saul in the holding role. A long ball from Connor and Gabe finished well . 1.4

A short goal kick that didn’t come out of the box had to be played again, again they tried the short Gabe intercepted and ran the ball back towards Goal shot and scored . 1.5

Joey had a couple of great runs and shots that just went over the bar but today was not to be his day. Theo pushes up from full back plays a 1-2 with Arlind , drives into box and finishes nice Goal 1.6

Last couple of minutes and we still looked for more Goals, the ball fell to Tom on the edge of the area and i thought it was in but it drifted wide. Final score 1.6

All really well played. The pitch was awful in the center circle but really good out wide. I thought you all played intelligent football today playing the football when in the good parts and no nonsense in the sticky patches.

MoTM Three contenders today, Gabe hat-trick created chances and worked hard for the team, Connor a goal two assists and some great balls to the forwards, Chris didn’t stop running, worked hard upfront and helped out in defense had a great shot saved but scored a good goal that his play deserved. Chris got MoTM well done.

Training tomorrow Ashmole as usual

Next week Red Kit, 9.30am The London Academy against Aldenham