A comfortable win …..

Today’s squad : Frankie, Ollie, Tom, Morgan, Jed, Saul, Louis, Connor, Joey, Gabe, Morris, Harry, Reynolds and Arlind

Lunch time kick off and its suited you, as we started well. From the off we were in control of the game. The first chance came soon and Morris hit it at the keeper. This was quickly by chance for Connor whose shot was saved low to the keepers left.  Frankie was spectator for the first twenty minutes as we created chances but failed to execute.

Saul & Louis were strong and working hard in the middle stopping the attacks and allowing us to break quickly on the wings. Some nice triangles from the back between Ollie, Saul and Joey soon found us in the oppositions half in three passes even on a big pitch. Same on the left with Jed, Louis and Gabe creating attacking options. Morris should of scored but he didn’t realise how much time he had with one opportunity.

It took us thirty minutes to finally get the goal the play deserved. Joey broke down the left and cut inside to Gabe, Gabe then cut inside his defender pushed the ball out of his feet and curled it into the top corner. Great Goal 1.0

That should of been the cue to take the game away from them , however after them trying to hit us on the break from a corner we actually one the throw. However instead of taking our time and getting our shape back we took it quickly and lost it, so the broke again and scored the rebound after Frankie mad a good one handed save 1.1

Second half you came out strong and wanted to make up for not taking the chances in the first half, in the first five minutes Gabe broke down the left, beat his man and squeezed it in the far post, Initially the referee was not going to give it but the lineman correctly waved it had gone in 1.2

Five minutes later Gabe broke again down the left went to cross the ball and the defender stopped it with his hand… Penalty….. Tom took the penalty and blasted it to the keepers left 1.3

You were now fully in control of this game and must of created another 5 or 6 chances, Harry knocked a a great ball over to Gabe who chipped the goalie as he came out only for it to go wide. Connor played Morris in and his shot smashed against the post but didn’t not go in. Louis was unlucky with a shot that went over after the ball was played to him on the edge of the box.

Finally you got the fourth that put the game to bed. Gabe and Connor played a good 1 -2  in the corner, Gabe crossed far which was met really well by Reynolds who played the ball across/towards goal, Which Morris met with a thumping header 1.4 (A goal he deserved after good attacking play all day)

Last ten minutes and again we could of got another couple but it was not to be, the last chance actually fell to Aldenham as you all switched off with about a minute to go, the ball got played into the box where they had three men free, some how they blasted it over the bar ! Sloppy Boys !!!!!! FT 1.4

MoTM: Notes today Jed & Ollie both worked hard up and down the pitch at full back, Reynolds played in like all four position Nick asked him to play, but today it went to Saul and Morgan. Saul (Nicks) controlled the midfield defender superbuly and played some great balls out, he covered every blade of grass on the pitch and it was a big pitch. Morgan (David) He got a toe, foot, chest, leg and head to so many through balls, breaking up play and then playing a easy to ball to allow others to play the ball forward. Well done to you two and infact well done all of you.

My last job for this year is to say Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

David & Nick

Saul was Happy 🙂

Today’s squad Frankie, Jack, Tom, Morgan, Ollie, Saul, Connor, Louis, Jed, Gabe, Morris and Arlind

Well eventually we kicked off 10:45, The referee got delayed but also the opposition were in no hurry to kick off, It was a nice morning for football the rain had cleared, it was chilly but the rain meant the surface was slick for passing.

The opening ten minutes were very even, both teams having some attacking plays but no real chances. Frankie cleared well around his box and the defence looked solid. Everyone was doing their job and working hard for the team. After around twenty minutes we fashioned our first chance, good work down the left and early ball forward found Gabe in space, as he ran forward the defender got back just enough to put him off his shot and it went over the bar.

The next chance came from a corner, Ollie took the corner and floated the ball to the far post, Saul head the ball down but straight at the keeper, normally you would of bet your house on Saul finishing that chance, he was so unlucky. As we moved to half time, no real chances but the game was there for the taking. We probably should of been one up on at half time on half chance and open play attacking position HT 0.0

Second half and now we were going up the hill but i felt we still had enough to cope with the pressure. However in the first five minutes we gave away a needless free kick, the ball was floated into the box, Saul miss judged the flight and it bounced over him (the only thing he missed all day), the forward nipped in at the back and poked it into the roof of the net. He nearly missed it but not. 0.1

We still looked dangerous when we attacked especially if we ran at their full backs. Louis was unlucky from a shot just outside the box, one of you headed over the keeper as he came out but unfortunately it hit the post.

It was soon after we got another, Ollie broke down the right and played the ball across, Gabe called the ball Connor dummied and Gabe buried it from the edge of the box. First the Referee gave the Goal but the opposition claimed he called “Leave”. Now if he did call “Leave” and Referee heard it then its the correct decision. If the Referee did not hear “Leave” then it should of been a goal. Either way after a heated debate the goal was disallowed. Either way call your NAME !!!!

This just fired you all up and helped your play. You all tackled harder, closed players down and created opportunities. Finally the goal came a good ball forward from Saul found Gabe on the left, he cut in smashed it, great goal and got the equalizer you deserved 1.1

The last twenty minutes i felt we were still the better team but still had to sure of our play and defending, with about fifteen minutes to go the ball found Gabe down the left who again cut inside and shot. The keeper seemed to have it covered but tried to palm the ball away but instead pushed it into the path of Ollie who bundled it over the line 2.1

Last five minutes and almost a repeat of the two previous goals, again Gabe was the outlet ball down the left, cut inside and looked to curl it into the corner, but this time it drifted over.

We still had some defending to do a free kick in the corner which i don’t think was foul was played in but you scrambled it away. Another free kick down our right in a really good position for the opposition, Frankie set his wall, but it was a nervous moment, the free kick was taken and then sailed over the bar. The last couple of minutes we played the game in the opposition and and could of nicked another, but not to be FT 2.1

MoTM -A difficult one today but some notes on all of you

Frankie – Much better coming out and sweeping but excellent kicking from hand and goal kicks.

Morgan, Tom, Jack – Cleared well and got many foot in and interceptions

Saul, Louis, Connor, Arlind – Worked hard in midfield closed, hassled and created chances for the forwards

Jed, Ollie – Up and down the flanks all day

Gabe, Ollie – Tackled back, created chances and scored goals, gave the defense no respite

So MoTM ALL of YOU (and Nick) – Also great to see Joel coming to support and wish him a speedy recovery

Really well played, a good and deserved win, lets use this as a spring board to push on the next couple of games. See you all at training on Tuesday 6.15PM

Very Unlucky to lose.

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

We started fairly well in what was a tight first ten minutes. We had a couple of chances Ollie was unlucky not to get on the end of one and Jed created some good pressure with his pace upfront. Just as i said to Nick that we were looking quite good after 15 mins, we got caught square at the back and the strike ran on to finish really well. 1.0

Nick ran the first of the changes and it almost paid off immediately Gabe ran onto a ball down the left and the keeper save with the shot with his foot as he closed the angle. Frankie made a good save also coming out to narrow the angle. Good work down the right and the ball played to edge of the penalty area where Connor hit it first time but it sailed over the bar. The last chance of the half fell to Saul who rose well at a corner from Jed but his header was cleared off the line. HT 1.0

Second half we almost gave a goal away with some slack passing and clearing, but we weathered the storm and came back into the game. Gabe and Morris were creating problems for the defence and were unlucky not to get on the end of a couple of chances. Connor intercepted the ball in midfield, drove forward and shot only to see the ball go over by a couple of inches.

With twenty five minutes gone Jed won the ball in our half and drove forward, played the ball into the box but it was cleared, only to fall to Jed again, this time he played it to Saul who in turn put a dangerous ball across the penalty box, the defender toe poked it out but Louis was following up to smash the ball into the corner. Really good goal from Louis 1.1

Suddenly we were on the front foot and looked dangerous every time we attacked .  A ball was played from the back Morris flicked it on and Connor came through from deep to finish really well as the keeper came out 1.2

Last five minutes and it went away from us, they started to pressure us more and at times we over committed going forward. It was from a break away that Tom slid into concede a corner and got winded, Whist he was off the pitch the corner was taken and a free header at the near post made it 2.2

The last few minutes was end to end stuff, both teams looking for the win, unfortunately not our day. As we looked to break a stray pass went to the opposition who ran down the left and scored. So so unlucky.

Last thirty seconds we pushed everyone up but could not find the equalizer you so much deserved. 3.2 FT

MoTM : Well last week i couldnt even bring myself to write the nlog. Much much better this week. Player of note Harry , good second half got really involved, Edonis played well down the left of teh three at the back, infact the back three Tom, Morgan and Edonis played well. But todays MoTM was Connor worked really hard on midfield unlucky with two chances but scored his third, Well done

See you all Tuesday –