01/03/2008 - 02/03/2008
Under 11s
Match report by Kevin Lofthouse.
Last weeks performance and result had a huge influence on today's visit to mid table Juno, we had learned to battle to earn a victory and this week we managed to achieve that commitment once again. The plan on this windy day was to keep the ball down and play our brand of passing football, unfortunately, on a wet pitch with a few puddles this was not always going to be possible
Early on Juno worked hard to earn the ball and one or two of our players found going hard, much as last week, so when goal king Milo was sent clear from two similar passes over the puddles we were 2-0 up, by half-time. Superb finishing! although Milo could easily have been awarded a penalty kick either side of his goals.
With some changes just after half-time, added to the fantastic second-half display of George, who got in on the goal scoring act himself on two occasions, with the second being a perfectly placed shot from the edge of the box that professionals would be proud of, added to that, later in the game he showed the desire we need to win things, when he battled to win the ball back in the area and unselfishly set up Mathew for what we hope will be a confidence boosting goal for the few remaining games. Final score 5-0. George could easily have been awarded Man of the Match as his qualities shine through every week, but the Man of the Match was awarded to an unsung hero at the back Joe Marshall who paired with Dan B were superb in front of keeper Joe Chorlton, giving us a clean sheet this pleases me as much as the goals we score.
The Under 11s now have just five remaining fixtures to complete their first 11-a-side season, but I truly believe that this group of players can finish the season very strongly, throughout the season a team has been picked to try to win most games, but equally as much thought has gone in to trying to give every one of our 21 player squad, match time, this policy has worked very well, but as the season reaches the final stages I feel that my team selection may alter slightly to give our club the chance to finish the as high as possible in the league. I hope this decision proves to be correct, but I am learning each week just as the team are! everyone not in the squad each week are very welcome to come along to the games and support their team mates, this may well be the extra help we need to achieve a possible promotion. Keep up the hard work!
Under 12s
Match report by David Hanson.
Within 5 minutes of kick off I realised I would be writing a report that would never see the light of day on the website. Subsequently I have revised my earlier reactions and my first draft and have had another go. The simple reason being that the team played so wholeheartedly and so bravely that they deserve to read about their exploits. There was no shame in this defeat, not for our team anyway.
We surged into the lead three times in the first-half and put the opposition in a position they clearly weren't happy about - being behind to a team who were playing better football. Firstly Josh Smith-Webb stepped up to take a free-kick two-yards outside the area. You could tell from his body language there was only one place this ball was going - and it sailed past their bemused keeper. Josh hadn't finished either, his second came from a foray into their area and an angled shot, low into the bottom corner that the full back could only help on it's way. The third deservedly fell to the courageous Ben Wood who finished from close in after more pressure had resulted in them failing to clear their lines. We played bravely through the middle where David Potter did his level best to stem the flow of attacks and Alex Dyson, at his side, toiled tirelessly to keep possession. Jake Miller played a captain's game supporting Jack Cooke on the right against an onslaught that at times beggared belief. Matt Rogers and Ben had it no easier on the left and their work rate was phenomenal. Tom Colbert did brilliantly to keep his eye on the ball, as on many occasions he was under tremendous pressure to remain clam as their attack bore down on him. The one occasion it eluded him should in no way detract from all the other times he cleared his lines quickly and accurately. In the middle Mattie Hanson and Shaun Farrell showed why they are the next Vidic and Ferdinand. They were simply superb. Brave and incisive. Unflinching and supportive, they tackled and covered as if their lives depended on it. Even at the death when two goals down Mattie flew across for the tackle of the match to dispossess the winger who had minutes earlier disrespectfully and dangerously lain down on the goal line to head the ball in. It was a defining moment in an immense performance from Mattie that shone like a beacon of decency on how to play the game fairly and helped win him Man of the Match.
Subs Jake Smith and Andy Hart came into the cauldron and showed no signs of being neither cowed nor afraid, which is all credit to them. The sight of Alex Dyson, who'd been forced off, hurt, rolling his sleeves up and going back on to plug a gap summed up what the team was about on Sunday.
Another outstanding performance from everyone that showed solidarity and spirit that will stick in the memory of all who watched this far longer than the score line. They made us proud again.