Must stop giving away silly goals in the first 5 minutes …….

Today’s squad Fankie, Jack, Morgan, Edonis, Joel, Arlind, Saul, Louis, Jed, Connor, Gabe, Theo, Reynolds, Joey and Morris.

We always knew that this season would be tough, however we make it so hard for ourselves with the slow start. After moving to the correct pitch we finally started. And i think half of you were still on the other pitch. Within three minutes we were 0.1 down. No one closed, no one tackled ran through and placed it into the corner.

Slowly you started to wake up, not creating too many chances but you started to get involved. Arlind had a running battle with there left winger but he never gave up and worked hard in the first half a great example. Frankie made some excellent saves from distance and kept held of some strong shots. Finally we got a break, a free kick just inside there half Edonis Shot/Cross was parried by the keeper and Saul followed up to volley it home doing so well to keep the ball down in the first place. However the linesman raised the flag saying we were offside when the free kick was taken dubious……….

With ten minutes to go we were in the game Frankie come for a ball and misjudges it, the ball bounces around Frankie, Edonis & Morgan but unfortunately it falls to the striker who passes it into a empty net. 0.2

With five minutes to go again we give them too much time on the edge of the box and and they get the shot off Frankie makes an excellent save diving to his left. Arlind took a kick to his foot and had to come off injured after a good half. HT 0.2

Second half started better, Nick changed it pushing two upfront and this seemed to help keep them on the back foot, Some good work by Joey and Gabe down the left nearly created a a goal for Gabe but the shot went just wide. With ten minutes gone Jed set off on a run in his own half, he beat four players and then played the ball through to Gabe who ran onto the ball and shot towards the goal. Morris came charging in at the back post and smashed it over the line. 1.2

Almost straight from kick off Frankie came out to save with his feet on a one on one. Another let off but the game was much more open. Gabe was soon played through and finished well however the linesman flag went up and offside given, this one i think was correct. Next it was there attack and after having two or three chances to clear we lost the ball it was switched out to the left and the ran the ball in. 1.3 Boys play football in the opponents half of play the ball into the channels / space if we are under pressure give everyone a chance to reset and get your shape back.

With fifteen minutes to go the pendulum swung again good work between Connor and Saul, Saul feeds the ball to Morris who blasts the ball into the back of the net. 2.3

Ten minutes go and we pay the price, some confusion over the referee blowing, there players looking offside but basically you all stopped, didn’t play to the whistle and they score 2.4

Last ten minutes and we created a few half chances, Gabe is unlucky, Morris nearly gets to the end of some neat work. Frankie makes another good save and kept hold of a shot with the forward closing in.

Final whistle 2.4

MoTM, Well after the first ten minutes which i will pretend never happened you all played so much better Edonis made some good clearances, Jed had a fantastic run for the first goal, but today it went to Saul non stop all over the pitch, probably scored a equalizer but it was disallowed, set up the second goal with a great pass to Morris. Well done Saul

Boys well done today keep your heads up. You have probably played the four strongest teams in our division first. We have some winnable games coming up and i am looking for a change in fortune.

Training 6.15Pm Tuesday

PS Did anyone pick Morgan jumper up?

A tough game ……..

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

The best news of the day was that the rain stopped so we could play after that it went down hill. We started off poorly and invited on pressure from the onset. We failed to close them down and cut out the space. giving them so much time on the ball. Theo had our first chance on goal but struck it out wide. Almost immediately from that chance we came under pressure, The ball was played down our left and worked in back to the penalty spot where the player had more time than Theo Walcotts 2nd goal yesterday (he had about 5 Minutes) and placed it into the top corner. Too many players did not track back and the defence did not close down the space ….. 1.0 20 minutes gone

Our next chance fell to Joey who after good work between Connor and Morris fell to him just outside the box, Joey struck it low and hard but the keeper got down really well and pushed it away. I still felt we were under pressure and failed to really stamp any authority on the game, Thirty minutes gone free kick is awarded just in our half the keeper launches it to the 12 yard line, No one challenges for the ball, it bounces picks up pace and flies into the top corner. Nothing Frankie could do and a bit of a fluke 2.0

Last ten minutes we still looked out of sorts. Saul clears from a free kick surrounded by 5 of there players, no one else went with the runners. Frankie makes two good saves coming out to close down at the strikers feet. And to be honest it should of been 3.0 when the left winger was complete unmarked but blasted it over the bar. 2.0 HT

Second half you started better and attacked from the off, in fact you had the first real chance and the keeper saved well. Unfortunately they went straight up the other end and it was like the parting of the red sea in the middle of defence, we had a couple of chances to clear but took none. They ran and scored 3.0

Just in case anyone missed the first re-enactment of Moses and the Red sea in happen again , no closing , no tackle, goal 4.0

Now for the next twenty minutes you actually played your best football. Jed won the ball in defence played it up to Gabe who ran onto goal and calmly finished really nice goal. 4.1

The goal definitely rattled them and they started to get more verbal and giving away free kicks. Saul was really unlucky with shot that went wide when i thought he was going to score. Gabe was causing havoc down the left and a couple of times he pulled it back but the ball would not drop. The opposition were clearly rattled and it showed in there descent, 3 Yellow cards, Also Edonis got booked for a tackle on the edge of the box ( a little bit of revenge me thinks). Anyway it all culminated in them having a player sent off with Fifteen  minutes to go after he verbally abused the Referee. The best part of this none of you got involved and let your football play. However i also felt the Referee had let to much go at the start of the second half and he lost control and to be honest the match petted out. The match became very stop / start and the flow of the game got disrupted.

Gabe and a couple of half chances but nothing to speak about, Here is an unusual statistic we did not get a single corner the entire game !!! FT 4.1

MoTM : Well i will be honest i struggled today, no one was outstanding and a few of you were good in patches so i am giving it to Nick for his commitment and desire to the club.

Traning is on Tuesday at 6.30Pm

Next Match Home meet 9.30AM at Dame Alice owens

It will come ………..

Today’s squad Frankie, Morgan, Tom, Edonis, Joey, Saul, Connor, Arlind, Jed, Reynolds, Gabe, Theo, Joel, Morris and Oliver

First thank to everyone on getting there on time, I know for most it was around an hour. However for me it felt like most of you were still asleep for the first five minutes. Little talking movement , calling for the ball etc etc etc….

Finally you woke and had the first meaning full attack Saul won the ball and Arlind played it forward to Connor who shot well but the keeper made a fantastic save. The next five minutes you started to play, but they looked dangerous on the counter and from a clearence the ball broke on our right. No one closed the man down and a free shot that flew into the top corner. 1.0 down and i have no idea why.

Still we played the better football, Maybe Saul header from a corner did creep in but it was too tight to call with no goaline technology. Maybe we should of had a penalty. In the meantime they won a corner the first header got cleared no one closed the man on the edge, shot, Goal 2.0

Another break and Frankie saves brilliantly on a one v one situation.

Theo created a good chance down the right played a one too and could of cross (two men unmarked at the back) but shot near post and it was a great save.

With about five minutes to go we were still playing the better football but not taking out opportunities, finally we did good work down the left, the ball fell to Jed who lashed it home. 2.1 and that was HT

Second half started and i felt we invited them on to much, put ourselves under pressure and did not clear our lines properly too much “to you, to me ” nice football but not in our last quarter under pressure. After around 15 minutes we broke, hitting them on the counter, I think Morris got kicked in the box and the ref gave a penalty. Tom placed it in the corner 2.2 back in the game.

However our joy was to be short lived, from a corner the opposition rose unchallenged and scored a header. The sad thing was that was the first corner you switched off for. You had defended them so well from a much taller team. Edonis and Saul won some great headers. 3.2 fifteen minutes to go

With ten minutes to go along ball from the back and the sun blinds Frankie as he comes out. The forward bundles the ball in and then kicks Frankie in the head afterwards 4.2 ten minutes to go. Frankie knock to the head means Reynolds goes in goal for the last ten.

We still created chances, I really thought Gabe scored but shot at the keeper, the ball got cleared but we picked up the loose ball and Morris just misses with a thundering header. Yes a little Argy bargy at the end between Edonis and the No 5 (who also elbowed Jed) but nothing serious 4.2 FT

What can i say….. The referee was good, no blame there, you played well in parts. Where you the better team probably yes but we did not take chances or close down men quickly enough. I have no doubt we can turn this round, you have played some tough teams which will stand you well in the league.

MoTM, Saul, Edonis, & Morgan all defended well today making some good headers and interceptions. Connor played well creating a few chances and good corners (bah one LOL) and crosses. But today it went to Jed who worked hard scored a good goal and only came off due to injury. Well done Jed

Boys no training this week, Nick will let you all know about the match next week.

In the meantime lets encourage everyone, get behind everyone and get this win your season deserves .

So So unlucky

Today’s squad Reynolds, Edonis, Morgan, Jack, Ollie, Louis, Saul, Connor, Jed, Morris, Gabe, Theo, Joel and Bucks (Oh and the BENCH)

For the second week in row we were hit by late fitness call, both Tom and Joey had to pull out, Get better soon boys.

We started well, yes we did invite some pressure and i think they had four corners in the first five minutes, they probably should of scored but the ball went over the bar, After five minutes we got a free kick, too many pushed forward and when the ball as cleared we got caught short at the back. A great run from there forward who finished well 1.0

This actually woke you up and gradually we got back into the game, we started to win the midfield and create chances going forward. Morris looked to have scored a goal but was given off side but i am sure he wasn’t off side some else was. Thus began the referees selective reffing……..Soon after Gabe looked to have scored with a really good header but this time it was judged not to have gone over the line. Another dubious call.

Bucks came on and within minutes was taken out really badly falling on his shoulder, for me a definite free kick but the ref played on and they nearly scored. For the last Fifteen minutes you were the much better side playing the better football. With time gone the played a corner, we cleared the initial threat but failed to close down the shot, it flew into the top corner, DAM 2.0 HT

Second half we started where we left off from the first on the front foot and creating the better chances. Theo and Louis worked well down the right and the ball played into the box and Louis was on hand to finish. A really good and well deserved goal 2.1

Suddenly the pressure was all us. The back three were playing well now and clearing most of the danger. The midfield looked solid and a threat in attack. Morris  closed the defender lost the ball, it fell to Connor who played it back to Morris who finished in the bottom corner 2.2

Literally the next five minutes was crazy First we attacked down the right the ball got played across to Jed who i thought was going to smash it into the net however his Right foot (Jed’s all left) went straight at the keeper if anything he hit it too well, a scuffed miss hit would of gone in. We carry on attacking suddenly a break is on first a offside decision not given (Players in a offside position, but didn’t get the ball in the first half that was offside) play continues Reynolds comes out and dives at the feet misses both man and ball, and ball rolls out ….Penalty ???? Your kidding , for what ME NO understand !!!! Even David (Gabe Dad/Linesman cannot believe it, but the refwill not listen) 3.2

Now boys we mentioned this last week don’t drop concentration or lose focus you do and you will get punished. Yes i think Jack was fouled in the build up but you were all asleep and not tracking back 4.2

Last twenty minutes it got a bit fiesty, Morris was kicked by there centre half (no booking) , Jack moaned, (booking) there midfielder hacked Gabe down when through (Booking).

Saul nearly scored from a Corner by Connor, Gabe had the ball in the net but was rightly ruled offside.With two minutes to go, you got what your play deserved Morris ran through and finished excellently. 4.3

With West Herts rocking the referee decided to play about 1 minute of added time i cannot guess why !!!! 4.3 FT

Well done all of you again cannot fault your effort and commitment, I am sure your first league win is just round the corner.

MoTM. Players of mention Morgan excellent first half when we were under pressure some fine clearences, Morris worked hard upfront got two goals, Joel ran is socks off in 4 positions for the team. Louis Rickard is my MoTM worked hard in midfield and scored the goal that got us back into the game.

Well done all of you

Training THURSDAY 6.30PM