2008 2009 Under 11 Falcons

MANAGER:

Manager: Jason Balogun
Assistant Manager: Ian Sampson, Darren Heart

PLAYERS:

Final Position

	P, W, D, L, F, A, D, P
Edson Youth U11	12 10 2 0 79 18 +61 32
Hadley Rangers U11 West	12 10 1 1 69 19 +50 31
Olympiacos U11	12 8 1 3 42 20 +22 25
St Albans Rangers U11	12 5 1 6 53 37 +16 16
Nascot Wood Rangers U11 Falcons	12 3 2 7 39 67 -28 11
Gadeside Rangers U11 Whites	12 1 1 10 9 100 -91 4
Bedmond Ajax U11	12 1 0 11 12 42 -30 3

End of Season Report

We started the season like a team in meltdown, but rallied the troops and finished the season as high fliers.

Moving up to 11-A-Side football this season was an eye opener for the players and myself as a manager. The adventures of the season tested us to the limit (as a team) and it was pleasing to see that the dedication and support of both our players and the parents saw us through.

The best lesson from this year’s experience is that : “As important as wining a match may be, it certainly wasn’t everything and what really matters are the people who make the team tick (the players and parents)”.

As testing as the season was, we kept our spirits going (both on and off the pitch) and our efforts were rewarded with the Thomas Hardy Cup. Winning the cup is a fantastic achievement for our players and I could not have asked for more spirit and commitment than they’d shown throughout the season.

I am delighted for the boys and trust they will thrive from this success and carry the confidence that comes with being cup champions on to next season.

My thanks go out to every single parent of our players for their loyalty and support. A well deserved thank you to Darren Hart for helping to coach the boys and refereeing our home matches.

I would also like to thank “The Prince of Bengal” (POB restaurant) for their continued sponsorship.

NEWS:

• Fantastic result for the team: winners of the Thomas Hardy cup 2009. Well done team!.
• The Falcons welcome on board; Alex Bushnell, Kacper Szatkowski, Mathew Pickford
• The team would like to thank the Prince of Bengal (POB) for sponsoring the Falcons for the 2nd year running.

RESULTS:

• 5 Oct 08 NWR Falcons 5 V Bushey Rangers Hawks 9
  Jack, Kyle, Jordan, Osa, Matt
  

  Our first match with 2 players on the sub bench (Praise the Lord !!!) was played in bad weather conditions, as the rain never stopped throughout. Tackles from both set of players were just as bad as the weather and the contest was not one for the faint hearted.

  The match itself started with our boys caught day-dreaming. We kicked off the match, then gave the ball away and was a goal down with less than a minute into the game. We were only 1-0 down for 3 minutes before Jack levelled the scoring, but our Radar went blank again and the opposition took the lead to go 2-1 up. Kyle later levelled the match at 2-2 and the opposition scored again to take a 3-2 lead into the break.

  In a nut-shell; changes were made in the second half to enjoy our new found luxury of having a subs bench and with the changes in personnel, we quickly found ourselves on the road to nowhere. We gave the opposition too many piggy backs and was never at the races, finishing the match 9-5 against.

  Overall : Not the best display from the boys, but they battled hard today. However, (as a team) must learn to keep to our positions and game plans during matches.

• 7th Sept. 08, Northwood Black 12 v NWR Falcons 0
  

  With a skeleton squad to choose from, our introduction to 11-a-side youth football saw us kick the season off with only 9 players.

  Starting with 9 players meant our backs were against the wall from start to finish. We let in 6 goals in the first half and concluded the second by the same margin.

  Overall:

  With 9 players against 11, we needed to make a mountain our of a mole-hill to get any kind of result today.

  However, it was evident we need to improve our stamina, adapt to 11-a-side football and the shear size of a full football pitch.

  The boys worked very hard against the opposition and never put their heads down throughout the match. Unlucky boys, your efforts was a top notch! And the result is one I have already forgotten.

• 10th Sept. 08, Croxley Guild 10 v NWR Falcons 1
  [Jordan]
  

  Yet another match we started with 9 players, just like we did on Sunday. We battled all the way to the very end with Jordan scoring a curler of a goal direct from a corner kick, to bag our first goal of the season.

  It is never easy playing with less players than your opposition, but our players responded really well today.

• 14th Sept. 08, NWR Falcons 2 v Hadley Rangers 9
  [Osa & Josh]
  

  Our only match to date with 11 players against 11.

  We looked promising at the start and took the lead with only 3-minutes into the match, when Osa ran the ball into the opposition box and unleashed an unstoppable shot to put us in the lead. We let the opposition back in the game and ended the first half 4-2 down.

  It was downhill for us in the 2nd half and finished the match 9-2 against.

  We started the match brightly and I am disappointed we did not hold on, but pleased with the way we played.

• 17th Sept. 08, NWR Falcons 11 v St Albans 4
  [Jack 3, Jordan 3, Matt 2, Josh, Osa & OG]
  

  Another match we started with 9 players, but luckily for us St Albans can only field 9 players also.

  Starting on equal terms, we took control of the match as Jack scored his first goal of the season within 5-minutes of the start. Again, we let the opposition back in the game as they raced to a 4-1 lead, but Jack scored his second of the day to finish the first half 4-2 down.

  The second half was all Falcons as Jack scored again to bag his first hat trick of the season. Jordan then followed suit scoring our second hat trick of the match, Matt got himself a brace while Josh and Osa helped themselves to a goal each. The match was concluded with an own goal from one of St. Albans players to give us our first victory of the season.

  Starting the match on equal terms with the opposition, our boys looked and played better. Well done boys, you were all up to scratch today.

• 24th Sept. 08, NWR Falcons 5 v Broadhall Youth 6
  [Jordan 3, Kyle & Osa]
  

  You've guessed it, yet another match started with 10 players against 11. Playing with less players than the opposition has now become second nature to us.

  The opposition came out all-guns-blazing finishing the first half 4-1 up.

  We came out stronger in the 2nd half but could not buy a goal for love nor money, missing chances after chances.

  With less than 10-minutes left on the clock, we found our finishing touches again as Jordan completed his 2nd hat-trick of the season, Kyle opened his scoring for the season and Osa scored his third goal in as many games.

  With less than 2-minutes left on the clock and time against us, the opposition was hanging on for dear life as we hit the cross-bar twice and had a couple of chances cleared off their goal mouth to finished the match 5 - 6 against.

  We were the better side by far in the second half, but left it late to find our finishing touches and paid the price. Unlucky boys, It looked there was no way back from 4 - 1, but we kept the ball and played better in the second.

Sponsor

The Prince Of Bengal (P.O.B Restaurant)