End of Cups run ….. But great debut for the new BENCH …..

Today’s squad Frankie, Jack, Tom, Bucks, Joey, Louis, Saul, Connor, Jed, Reynolds, Morris, Gabe, Theo and Joel. We lost our Captain Morgan to a late fitness test before the game (Man-Flu).

This was a team relegated from the Top division last year, so one above us now, so every seemed a little nervous however you settled very quickly and was very much in the game. However with Five minutes gone we let there turn on the edge of the area , everyone backed off and he played a simple through ball to striker who was clean though 1.0 Cannot give players that sort of space at this level.

Again we kept going a couple very dubious lines man decision were given against us, a couple times the man who got the ball was on side and the linesman still flagged for a different player. Fifteen minutes later probably there second attack again we didn’t track back, got caught out of position 2.0

Still i thought we looked a good side against and finally it showed. some good work in the middle and Morris out muscled the defender and made it 2.1 a good goal and back in the game.

However the referee had a different idea and almost straight from the kick off a ball is played and a penalty is awarded against Tom which i thought could of easily been our free kick. Frankie no chance 3.1

The last ten minutes we pulled ourselves back into the game. Jack and Tom began to control the back, Saul was sweeping well upfront, Joey was creating opportunities and Gabe was working hard coming on as sub. It was from one of these that Gabe broke free and smashed the ball into the back of the net a really fantastic goal 3.2

Last five and i felt they were holding on but could not get the goal that i felt your first half performance deserved 3.2 HT

Second half started well again, Gabe had a early chance that went wide and a couple of times we looked to break through the back four. Once we agin though we got done giving the ball away too cheaply. We had a couple of chances to play the forward just inside there half but we tried to beat too many players. They broke down our right, switch it to the left and then it came back over again, Theo tripped the forward in the box penalty. They scored but were made to re-take as Jack went into the box (another strange decision) the retook penalty still scored but Frankie almost got a hand to it.4.2 To compound everything Theo got a Yellow card for the tackle!

Unfortunately your heads did drop for a moment and i think two minutes later it 5.2 after a fluky goal not even sure how it went in

Nick rang the changes and pushed it back to 4.4.2 and it almost paid dividends straight away. The ball got fed out to Reynolds and he ran into the box with it. For me it was a penalty and would swung momentum again but referee waved it away (another strange decision) Now we had a lot more in attack but at the same time open to the counter. It was from a counter they made it 6.2

Last ten minutes you still tried which was excellent to see. We created a few chance and best was a ball from Saul into Jed whose left foot Cross shot just alluded Morris at the far post. 6.2 FT

Personally i don’t think the score reflected the match, it was mush closer than it shows, in another day and a different circumstances i believe you would win.

MoTM First just gonna say was pleased with everyones performance and attitude in trying circumstances. Players to note Jack- Played well in an unfamiliar center half position. Joey lots of effort and looked really dangerous going forward in the first half from wing back but today it went to Tom, marshaled a new defense well tried to keep pushing the team forward with every opportunity and even had a couple really good free kicks. Well done.

Right so its now back to the league and i want to see the same commitment, you all being vocal and team work i have done for the last two weeks.

Training on Tuesday please bring the correct boots & Shin pads!!!

Today’s Squad Frankie, Theo, Morgan, Tom, Edonis, Jed, Connor, Saul, Louis, Ollie, Morris, Joey, Jack, Arlind and Reynolds.

Foxes players i know Jack, Archie, Hadley, Jegern, David, Chris, Rapha, Kwame, Billy and the others

First of all just going to say it was a really good game and i was so pleased at the way the Herons players all tried and gave there all against the first team the Foxes.

Nick started the Game with Three at the back and a strong midfield, yes it did make us a little light up front but at times you need to play certain ways and to be honest it worked.

You all started so much better this week and from the off you were closing down and making tackles. Morris held the ball really well upfront at times and we were unlucky not to hit them on the break. The midfield three of Saul, Louis and Connor worked hard and the defensive three of Morgan, Tom & Edonis all looked solid. A few half chances came and went for both team, both having  goal ruled out for offside. With thirty minutes gone a corner was played in and cleared, however the returning ball in was deflected off Saul and flew into the back of the net. In the last five minute the Herons had some pressure of there own. First Saul was denied by a great save from Hadley and then from the next corner the resulting corner ended up looking like a penalty but after discussion with the lineman it was not given 0.1 HT

Second half started much like the second alot of pressure from Foxes but again the Herons held firm. After 15 mins of the second half the Foxes broke down the right a long cross drifted into the top corner 0.2

Still no heads dropped and you kept fighting with 15 minutes to go the Foxes scored then 3rd a really good corner and was met with a thumping header. 0.3

Last ten minutes was very end to end Nick went back to a flat back four which gave ourselves and them a few chances. Archie should of scored for Foxes and Ollie should of got a consolation goal at the end for Herons but neither were to be. Final score 0 .3

MoTM . A very tough one today, for the Herons every player uped their game from the week before and pushed to the last minute. MAKE NO MISTAKE boys you will need to play at this level every week! So i will give it to ….. ALL of YOU.

As for Foxes I will mention David, Rapha who had good games, but for me Jack was instrumental in controlling the Foxes play Well done.

To all of you great game, enjoyed it. Other highlight no lost match balls !!!

See you at training on Tuesday

Welcome to the Big league !!!

Today’s squad Frankie, Tom, Morgan Edonis, Jed, Reynolds, Saul, Louis, Connor, Ollie Mc, Morris, Gabe, Joey, Theo and Louis.

Well we learnt very quickly that you cannot start slow. First couple of mins a speculative ball into the box and Frankie miss read the flight and fumbled it into the back of net. Shortly after we are still asleep , no marking a simple ball in and a clear run into goal. 0.2 with 5 minutes gone !!!!

We started to get back into the game and got back on a even keel, Nick switched it to 5 at the back and we seemed to stop the flow of goals. Chances going forward were limited though. With 20 minutes gone they attacked down our left and cut in. no one closed on the ball and the player let fly with an excellent shot. 0.3

The good news was that you didn’t let your heads drop but kept playing soon after we got a free kick in there half. Tom floated the ball in there defender poked it into the net 1.3 Back into the game.

With five minutes to go Gabe broke down the left fed the ball to Ollie Mc who challenged the keeper who spilt the ball and poked it into the net 2.3. Thats how it stayed till half time but we were back in the match.

Second half once again started too slow, a quickly taken corner and the tallest man was free , unmarked (ex -player Charney) free head top corner 2.4. To honest we still came under a lot of pressure but always looked threatening on the counter attack. Gabe, Ollie Mc were dangerous down the wings , Saul began to dominate more in midfield and the defense started to control more.

There were chances at either end The Whetstone keeper saved really well from Ollie Morris and almost straight away Frankie saved two one on one. More chances came Connor played a free kick in and with 4 players in the six yard area free it looked like we must score but somehow it didn’t go in. Two minutes Connor was played in by Joey and his left foot shot went the wrong side of the post.

With ten minute to go Nick sacrificed the 5 at the back to try and get that goal that would get us in the game. Gabe was unlucky again on occasion and you kept pushing forward which began to leave holes. From one of our attacks they broke quickly Frankie saved with feet on the one on one but the player following up calmly finished 2.5

That would be it till full time 😦

Not the way we wanted to started but i think it will stand you in good stead as you now know how hard this league will be. A couple of points

1 Must start stronger, switched on and alert at the start of each half

2 Stronger in the tackle too often we let the ball get away

3 Keep tracking back if you lose the ball

4 No sloppy goals

5 Must take our chances

6 If you beat a player look to get the ball away ASAP once you are in space. You will not beat three players in this league.

All in all i was still pleased how you played for the first competive match, Yes we have some tough Cup games coming up but not worried about the result more on the performance, there is no room passengers.

MoTM, Saul and Jed worked as hard as usual, but for me the MoTM on his debut was Ollie Mc he worked hard up and down the right and always looked a threat, topping it all with a goal on his debut. Well done

Training Tuesday 6.15 Barnet Lane no Astro or Blades see you then