We finally saw and played more than 5-10 mins of football in a match today!
The conversations and drills at training coming together on the pitch. We saw the work of our press working high, the back 4 holding their line to countless offsides, and we passed the ball around with time and space for most of the first half. We had the better of the opportunities and gifted a penalty within that first half too.
Neil stepped up on his debut for the club, having not played for a team since U7’s. Hitting the crossbar with a well struck penalty so unfortunate not to score.
Half time and all square. Who was this Whitegrove side? This side was playing some fantastic football. They were encouraged even with the upcoming and half time changes to attack the second half in the same manner!
Unfortunately for us, Ollie H neck was too sore following a bad challenge in the opening 5 mins and we had to pull him off but meant Neil could slide into the role effortlessly half time and 0-0.
We were then beaten twice by the opposition who came out into that second half raring to go. How were they drawing with this team, they really felt they were going to walk all over us; we just told the boys to play our football our way!
Late into the second half, and after countless opportunities, hitting woodwork, fantastic crosses with not quite enough on the end of it, and agonizing cries from the sidelines; generally the coaches, we got our very well deserved goal. Some fantastic work on the right hand side, saw Reece, Harrison and Phoenix link up, before Pheen slotted it through to Harry; One on one with the keeper, the keeper dives for the ball, and the perfect touch takes it round the keeper to slot home with your less favorable right foot!! Leo last week, Harry this week… how about both next week?!?
Overall the boys, and Sofia (which will be the phrase of the season), played their hearts out and ran their socks off. A team is built from defense and the first line of defense is the striker! That’s exactly how the boys (and Sofia) played!!
Chayley - parents award for some fantastic saves and sweeper keeper work, playing back in Goal with confidence in your comms and positivity across the pitch!
Harrison - managers man of the match - a true captains performance - getting the team going today, leading from the back. Great footwork and your passing accuracy today was superb!
Cristiano - a workhorse and a fantastic partnership forming with Matthew! The comms between you two were much better this week and it shows as it gives you freedom to push forward at times, to let the other know who or what is there was testament to the amount of offside calls against our opposition today!
Matthew - those challenges each and every week leave us on the edge of our very cold seats!! But my you became a thorn in their side time and time again cropping up with that challenge to stop them! Intelligent play forwards and comms with Cristiano improving week on week!
Sofia - you stood your man up at left back and left him frustrated mostly. Always listening and looking to learn more, your throws today were spot on too!
Bradley -can we have this Bradley every week please? You were calm and composed on the ball, working to close down each of their attacks and get your pass away effectively! The hit and hope had got up and gone!
Neil - a fantastic debut, bossing the midfield, left right and definitely Centre. You worked with the two wingers no matter who they were like you had been working with them all season not just 2 training sessions!
Ahmed - some quick feet to get a shot away in the first half. Next we need to look at your starting position, making sure you stay on that last man to give you the turn to get round and get a few more shots off!
Ollie L - another Debut and a little firecracker, countless runs on the right hand side with some really inspiring crosses, unlucky to not score or assist today! Also a very well nominated team spirit too!
Leo - it was almost 2 in 2 weeks. You’re intelligent play and how you protect and shield the ball from the opposing team working a treat!! You weren’t afraid to get stuck in today and it showed in your tenacity and style of play.
harry - I love a right foot finish from a left foot striker. So a couple more of those would be lovely?!! You never stop trying and were pushing right up until the ref blew his whistle
Ollie H - a nasty knock to your neck, although this game was there for the taking, we missed that speed of yours a little and we had to leave you out of the rest of it today :(
Pheen - a solid shift today. Some nice light flicks and passes through and into the box. Working with Oliver and Reece on the right and showing us what you can do with your footwork!
Reece - some great runs on the right wing, could this be your position ?!? Set pieces are a specialty of yours that I look forward to exploiting further in the coming weeks.
Wyatt - a boundless energy when you came on to support the midfield and pushing the team higher up the pitch. Working back to recover lost possession, you didn’t stop trying!
Alex - fantastic throws as always and some great forward runs today, don’t be shy going forwards with the ball, the CDM role is there to help if you are caught out of position!
Overall a frosty start to today, but a very warm sunshine that never quite hit the toes!! But it didn’t stop all the boys (and Sofia) from running and playing the game they love! Working together on comms more and more, we saw a team that were gelling together today! They worked hard for each other, when we had a throw, there was movement and space created. If someone was surrounded help was never far away. I heard shouts of man on, down the line, time, it goes; all of which helped us play the right ball and make decisions as team!
Remember what Team means Together Everyone Achieves More
Thank you parents, siblings and relatives for all your support from the sidelines. Cheering these boys (and Sofia) on the way you did today makes me smile - a lot!
Let’s go again next week Bees! ?? ?? ??
