After a very chilly start to the day - the ground mostly, and a long wait, we eventually were ready for kick off just after 10am!
Captained today by Reece, both teams saw a feisty start and both teams battled hard, seemingly well matched and on for a potential repeat of the earlier game back in September.
Holding them off nicely, before we switched off from a corner - leaving a man in marked making it far too easy for them. They have hen hit us with a second goal, again allowing them to pass within the box and not closing down fast enough.
Our keeper kept the score to just 2, producing several fantastic saves, which seemed to frustrate winnersh!
A game of 2 halves and Ollie and Ollie were raring to go! Harry stepped up after Ryan pulled out during the warm up with an injured knee - and luckily Harry had his kit on - just in case! Also coming on at half time a change in keeper where Luke picked up a knock, and a nasty case of cramp in his foot, Chayley stepped up between the sticks!
We started the second half with a huge amount of spirit and hit home 2 fantastic goals. A lovely through ball after a nice bit of trickery on the wing from Ollie L straight into the path of the Engine Ollie H - and one touch and he slots home! The term the crowd went wild - if you can call us a crowd - was loud - a goal that has been a long time coming!!
Sure enough a few minutes later, a flick from Harry, to H, a first time flick from H to Reece, who plays a clever ball through for Ollie H to latch on to - and he scores again!
We were riding a high for 2 quick goals. Our opposition moved one of their players into the defense and this stifled Ollie’s run, but through on goal again, he was so close battering the top of the side netting, Dad thought it was in. A hat trick seemed on the cards and we were on the Ascent!
They say moments can change games - and had that goal gone in… who knows? Sadly it did not and over the next 10 minutes our opponents slotted 4 more past us.
The resilience shown by the team, we still pushed and came close on more than one occasion - shots from Pheen and H just going wide - free kick from H saved by the keeper, before that final whistle went we never gave up!
Reece stepped up fantastically as captain - kept the boys (and Sofia) moving during our hours wait, and had them organised running drills! He lead the team on the pitch and was encouraging throughout!
Ahmed - a busy day up front, but sitting a little deep in midfield with no real outlet - make sure your hold your position so we have someone to play the ball to! Physical and nice footwork on the ball too!
Leo - great support for each attack, you were always there - drew in their players and shielded the ball nicely to draw in fouls from them - clever play!! Always there to help out when tracking back too!
Bradley - always tracking the ball and players and making sure to stick that leg out whenever possible - don’t panic - don’t hit out too quickly to swipe at the ball - trust your technique!
H - great passing and work in midfield - don’t forget if you lose the ball or give it away, work to get it back! Fantastic free kick effort , and great link up with Harry and Leo alike today!
Pheen - a spell on the right in the first half and into the middle for the second half. At times you seemed to lose belief in yourself, but the footwork and passing in the middle with H was strong, when you took on their players you went past them with ease - believe and trust yourself!! Great comms as always too!!
Harry - started the one touch passing that lead to the second goal, and a change of position out on the wing for you. You out in an excellent shift and never gave up - playing some clever passes to your team mates!
Wyatt - a change to a wing back and covering left back today. Caught out higher up the pitch a few times and jumping in some times too soon. But the energy and fight you constantly showed to push the team up and press on was fantastic!
Matthew - Parents award - consistently getting us out of trouble, and they were more than physical with you today! Thrown around, slapped in the face, pushed every which way, but that shows just how much you infuriated them! Still working on the partnership with Alex - but it will come :)
Alex - you have a presence being in the CB role - your tall and fast, and just need ti build that relationship for how you work with Matthew, and you will shine in this position too!
Sofia - fantastic throws and also pushed around a fair whack - you got up and carried on like it was nothing! Don’t rush your passes - look for those wingers down the line as well as the boys in the middle of the pitch! Trust yourself, you have a fantastic pass on you!
Ollie H - 2 goals for the birthday boy!!!! Team spirit and manager man of the match! It was a long time coming, but you took the goals so well, if we hadn’t watched the last gazillion games, you would have thought you’ve been knocking them in every week! :)
Ollie L - you made an impact straight away and linked up with Ollie H perfectly, for a fantastic assist! Playing you on the left you found space to make your runs and cut back in! A force to be reckoned with on the wings, I want to see those shooting boots at the next game!
Chayley - stepping up into the hardest position on the pitch is never easy - especially when you were going to come on as striker!!! You did it proudly and whilst they hit us for 4 quick goals, you were always there and just got unlucky with the bounce for a couple! Make sure you call your defense back and we will look at how to narrow the angle on coming out of goal too!
Luke - you kept us in the game that first half frustrating their players as you made save after save and flung yourself in the way time and time again! Excellent comms today with your back 4, hearing you tell Alex when he had time or where to put the ball really made a difference and his trust in you showed as he listened to everything you said!
Whilst it may not have been the result we hoped for - there were so many positives to take from the game too!
Every player will have a target to reach before the end of season and these will be communicated over the coming training sessions!
I thank all the parents for their patience and especially those that helped put up all 4 nets for the goals!!
Steve and Chris for running the line also and George for being my wingman!!!
Let’s bring on the next game bees - keep you heads held high - and let’s play our game our way!!! ?? ??
