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Date: 27th Sept
Competition: U12 Challenge Cup
Opponents: Borehamwood 2000 4 NWR 2
Scorers: Jake Swaine : 1, OG
MOTM:
Match Report :
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Date: 20th Sept
Competition: Hertfordshire U12 Challenge Cup
Opponents: Bury Rangers Youth, won 20-0
Scorers: James McGarry 3,
Joe Marks 4,
James Yallop 1,
Joash Nembhard 3,
Cameron Quinn 2,
Paolo Deritis 1,
Jake Swaine 5,
Charlie Armitiage 1
MOTM:
Match Report :
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Date: 13th Sept
Competition: League
Opponents: Harvesters Won 5-4
Scorers: Jake (4 goals) James Mcgary
MOTM:
Match Report :
After two defeats we needed to focus on this game from the first whistle. Daniel and I asked all the boys to be disciplined and play in their own positions and to add a bit more passion to our game. They must have all had a late night as we started the half very un-organised and play far too deep, inviting Harvesters to attack us. Not surprisingly we gave away two early goals which only made things harder for ourselves. I do not want to ay anymore about the first half....we went in 2 – 0 down.
Both Daniel and I had to have some harsh words with the boys at half time telling them a few home truths as we both know the boys are capable of playing much better.
The second half started and we were like a different team. We played much higher up the pitch and pressed Harvesters back. The midfield of (Joash,Jake,Yallop Paolo and Joe) began to dominate the game causing Harvesters to panic and play deeper and deeper. We had a great chance following an excellent cross from Yallop to Jake who beat the keeper only to see his header hit the bar and get cleared off the line. I was distraught when Harvesters had one break away which resulted in a goal...3 – 0 down was there any way back??? Only 23 minutes left!
We pushed Jake up front alongside James Mcgary The game was now like the Alamo with some excellent football from the Eagles we showed great character and determination . Following a foul on Jake we were awarded a penalty. Jake picked himself up and coolly slotted the penalty home with a firm strike to the keepers left. Surely we could not get back in the game?
A few minutes later following some great build up play Jake struck a firm shot in the bottom left hand corner....back to 3 – 2. The boys kept piling on the pressure surely it was only a matter of time until we got the equaliser and it was....another great strike from Jake and a well deserved hatrick! We were just witnessing an amazing fightback. The confidence of the team had grown with each goal. We kept pressing for the winner and following a hand ball by a Harvester’s player we were awarded a second penalty. Once again Jake stepped up and as with the first, put it passed the keeper. 3 – 0 down to 4 – 3 up in 18 minutes... that’s what you call a comeback!
The game was not over. Credit to Harvester’s they kept trying and were rewarded with a well taken goal giving Jamie no chance. At this stage I would have taken the draw. The game was held up for over 5 minutes as Archie had to be carried off as he twisted his knee following a brave challenge.
Back to the game whilst attending to Arch I heard a big cheer surely we had not conceded a 5th!....No I looked up and saw the boys congratulating James Mcgary after what I was told was a well taken goal.
The final Whistle an extraordinary comeback and 3 points!
After the game we told the team that was the performance we needed and as a result not only gave us a well deserved win but more importantly, lifted the team’s confidence.
Well done to all 13 boys and many thanks to the parents for their continued support it makes a real difference. Thanks.
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Date: 8th Sept
Competition: League
Opponents: London Maccabi lost 4-1
Scorers: Jake
MOTM:
Match Report :
Not the most ideal preparation for a tough game as most of the boys came from school football trials . I am sure they all did well and I wish them all the best with their respective school teams.
As expected Maccabi were very well organised. The game was played on an excellent pitch and was very even for the first 15 minutes with both teams having good chances. We were starting to get the upper hand when we fell behind to a goal that was really down to a lack of concentration.
We had a good team-talk at half time and the boys responded well in the second – half playing with more width and creating a number of good chances the best coming from Yallop and Jake who both had shots kicked off the line. If one of them had gone in I am sure it would have changed the game. But as with the first game football can be cruel as shortly after, Maccabi went 2 – 0 up.
Our heads dropped slightly and fatigue from the school trials began to show but the boys kept giving it their all James M, Paolo and James Yallop with his tireless running were causing Maccabi some problems. As we were tired we began inviting Maccabi to push forward which resulted in a well taken goal to make it 3-0.
Credit to the boys they kept their spirits up and were rewarded by scoring the goal of the game coming from Jake with a great unstoppable strike into the top corner. We had restored some pride to our game and were unlucky to lose a fourth goal making the final score 4-1.
London Maccabi will be a tough team to beat they have a squad on 16 players and we played them following the school trials so the boys should not ell to despondent. There were allot of positives to come from the game and I am sure we will do better in our next game.
Well done boys
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Date: 6th Sept
Competition: League
Opponents: Hadley Rangers East, lost 4-1
Scorers: James McGarry
MOTM: ....
Match Report :
The start of another long and hopefully successful season. Firstly I would like to thank all the parents for getting the boys to the game within plenty of time. I make’s so much difference with our preparation.
The game was played on a hot Sunday morning on a hard pitch the same size as Wembley! So difficult conditions for both teams.
The team started well in our new formation of 4 -5 -1 and we dominated the early part of the game with a combination of good passing and excellent work rate. Joash made a good impact in his defensive midfield role always in the right place at the right time. The defence (Archie, Cameron Matthew and Marek) remained solid and the midfield (Paelo, James Yallop, Charlie and Joe) were gaining control of the game with some great work-rate and passing and James Macgarry ran tirelessly causing the Hadley defence with some problems with his diagonal runs.
It was against the run of play when we were caught out by a long ball which left the Hadley forward on his own giving our debutant goalkeeper Jamie Hart with no chance.
The boys responded well with disciplined football and it was a shame that down to a small lack of communication we went 2-0 down from a great strike by the Hadley forward.
Again we respond really well and after some great work by Joe and a good pass to James M who beat his marker and finished with an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner. We were deservedly back in the game.
We made two changes at half time bringing on Jake and Bradley. We completely dominated play from the whistle with everyone playing really good football. We had two shots cleared from the line and several other great attacks which unfortunately did not end in the goal the boys deserved.
Football can be a cruel game and following a hopeful punt forward over our defence resulted in us falling 3-1 behind. The most impressive part for Daniel and myself was that the boys heads did not drop and we continued to play good football.
With 7 minutes remaining we conceded a penalty so the spotlight was on our new keeper Jamie. He did not disappoint. Following a number of earlier great saves during the game he got two strong hands to a well struck penalty. He stopped the ball on the line but the ref ruled that all the ball had crossed - a complete injustice for both Jamie and the team.....we needed a video replay!
So the game ended in a 4 -1 defeat which did not represent a true reflection of the game. Both Daniel and I were really pleased with the attitude, effort and performance of all the boys. We were beaten more by the size of the pitch rather than the standard of the opposition. Well done boys!
