Ahhhhh, it was a glorious spring day as 12 year 5 Foxes crossed the Suspension Bridge to take on Clifton Utd. This weeks travelling contingent included Omar, Jack T, Ollie C, Ollie K, Max, Joey, Aidan, Harry F. Seb, Sonny, Alec and Archie.
The format of the day's play was 8-aside, with the coaches deciding on a 2-3-2 formation and two 40 minute games.
Match One.In the first half the Foxes started brightly with some good passing and movement against a well organized Clifton side. Seb was imperious in defence which lead to a clearly over-excited Foxes coach to exclaim - 'It's just like watching Bobby Moore!'- and the team was thankful more than once for Aidan's positional play at the back allowing for Seb to move up and help influence the play. The single goal of this half came as the front two combined with Max gathering a pass from midfield turned and played a pass into Sonny path who coolly slotted the ball past the keeper.
The midfield worked well all half with some great running from Alec and Harry on the wings and Ollie K bossing the centre. 1-0. Second half and on came Joey, Omar, Ollie C. and Jack. With the substitutions the Foxes lost their shape to start with allowing Clifton to come into the game and to score when a ball came through a crowd of players to beat an unsighted Archie. 1-1, game on - but this only acted to galvanise the Foxes and once again the midfield started to find some rhythm. A fine pass from Ollie C. lead to another cool finish from Sonny, then a cracking cross from Joey lead to what may have been an O.G. although I think Ollie C. claimed a touch. Two more goals folowed, one for Omar and then, after four great saves by the Clifton keeper Joey scored. Unlucky for the Clifton Keeper who also played well all day. 5-1.
Match Two. The foxes came out and dominated from the start. Goals from Omar and then Joey set us on the way. Five more followed before half time - with Alec, Ollie and Joey adding to the total before Max played in Omar who finished well and the added another for his hat rick. In the second half Clifton came out reorganized and started to combine well working Archie a couple of times and beating him once only for Seb to clear from the goal line. Sonny almost scored from a fine volley after fine close control in the box. 7-0.
The coaches were very pleased with all the hard work that the team put in. Another fine display by all the boys who played against a Clifton side who can consider themselves unlucky at the final scores. Also for the great travelling support from the parents.
Players of the week Ollie C and Aidan.
Sunday 27 March 2011
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Year 5 vs Sefton Park, 12th March
The Foxes took a squad of 12 to Kellaway Avenue and enjoyed two very competitive and exciting games, winning both, 3-1 and 2-1, with all of the 12 contributing well on a compact and fast pitch, playing 8 a side.
In the first game, the first half went from end to end, with the ever-busy striking twins Raul and Jacob coming close, before Sefton Park exploited the temporary absence of the Foxes defence to slot home. Danny then showed the benefit of 'playing the whistle', blasting home a long-ish range effort to level the scores close to half time, after the ref had waved play on following a suspected handball - not by him (video footage below allows you to judge for yourself). Four subs came on for the second half, and with his very first touch of the ball the deadly Jack C fired home from close range into the roof of the net to give the Foxes the lead. A third later followed when a Stoke- style long throw in was turned in off a combination of Nick's right foot and a defender's legs. Good performances all round, with particular mention for Ollie S's powerful runs down the middle and right wing.
The second game saw a succession of Foxes attacks, many resulting in inswung corners on the small pitch, with Raul leaping and getting his head to most of them, coming closer to scoring every time. Finally the deadlock was broken when sustained pressure on the ball in defence resulted in Sam L being a yard out and making no mistake. The Foxes couldn't seem to add a second, despite one Raul headed effort cannoning off the crossbar and onto the goalline. Then a swift and incisive break from Sefton Park, and some defensive hesitation, saw a blue shirt blast in from six yards out, to huge cheers from the home crowd. But it didn't last long...Ian, charging into the box from the right, produced a superb Finn-ish (sorry..) to make it 2-1. The drama wasn't over yet, as a long range Sefton Park blast seemed destined for the bottom corner until Owen dived spectacularly to his left and palmed it around the post. From then on, the Foxes kept the ball and applied pressure until the end, coming out 2-1 winners in a real thriller.
Special mentions also to Seb for snuffing out so many blue attacks, many calm touches from Sam P, a welcome and energetic outfield run out for Archie, and Sam L as a constant and tireless threat down the left. Everyone played and conducted themselves very well in a thoroughly enjoyable and sporting encounter. Now over to the 'Clifton 12' for next week.....
In the first game, the first half went from end to end, with the ever-busy striking twins Raul and Jacob coming close, before Sefton Park exploited the temporary absence of the Foxes defence to slot home. Danny then showed the benefit of 'playing the whistle', blasting home a long-ish range effort to level the scores close to half time, after the ref had waved play on following a suspected handball - not by him (video footage below allows you to judge for yourself). Four subs came on for the second half, and with his very first touch of the ball the deadly Jack C fired home from close range into the roof of the net to give the Foxes the lead. A third later followed when a Stoke- style long throw in was turned in off a combination of Nick's right foot and a defender's legs. Good performances all round, with particular mention for Ollie S's powerful runs down the middle and right wing.
The second game saw a succession of Foxes attacks, many resulting in inswung corners on the small pitch, with Raul leaping and getting his head to most of them, coming closer to scoring every time. Finally the deadlock was broken when sustained pressure on the ball in defence resulted in Sam L being a yard out and making no mistake. The Foxes couldn't seem to add a second, despite one Raul headed effort cannoning off the crossbar and onto the goalline. Then a swift and incisive break from Sefton Park, and some defensive hesitation, saw a blue shirt blast in from six yards out, to huge cheers from the home crowd. But it didn't last long...Ian, charging into the box from the right, produced a superb Finn-ish (sorry..) to make it 2-1. The drama wasn't over yet, as a long range Sefton Park blast seemed destined for the bottom corner until Owen dived spectacularly to his left and palmed it around the post. From then on, the Foxes kept the ball and applied pressure until the end, coming out 2-1 winners in a real thriller.
Special mentions also to Seb for snuffing out so many blue attacks, many calm touches from Sam P, a welcome and energetic outfield run out for Archie, and Sam L as a constant and tireless threat down the left. Everyone played and conducted themselves very well in a thoroughly enjoyable and sporting encounter. Now over to the 'Clifton 12' for next week.....
Sunday 6 March 2011
Y4 have Jekyll and Hyde day against Bishop Road 12 Feb
The sun was shining and all was good on the Downs. Or so it seemed. 20 Foxes turned up for their home fixture against Bishop Road. Trouble was, Bishop Road weren’t there. When they did arrive, it was so late that this, combined with early leaving commitments from 10 of our players meant that our squads effectively picked themselves. Despite the potential for slight imbalance, we still fielded two strong teams.
Match 1
Squad: Josh, Caston, Billy, Matthew Y, Matthew-Jaye, Benji, Brody, Jamie, Jack, William LP.
On a large pitch we played 8-a-side and all were under instruction to use the space and play it wide. By contrast, Bishop Road adopted the “8-man-defence” tactic. For reasons that remain a mystery, the Foxes seemed to abandon the team passing game that they can play so well and decided it was every man for himself. Perhaps over-confidence was to blame. The result was a crowded middle of the pitch and a messy game with far too many attempts to dribble through the entire defence even when support players were available in space.
Attack after attack came to nothing. There was not a single cross in the first half and shots were taken from impossible angles when easier options went begging. Eventually our profligacy became our downfall. A quick counter attack, Bishop Road’s only real attack of the entire game, resulted in them taking the lead.
After half-time, we did improve, as Billy and Caston stayed wide and our midfield, led by Matthew-Jaye, tried to pass our way out of trouble. The game started to flow better and we were rewarded when Josh made the only cross of the day for Matthew-Jaye to score an equalizer. Despite dominating, we continued to dribble when passing was the better option and the game finished in a draw. Bishop Road celebrated as if they had won the cup and who can blame them?
Result Foxes 1: Bishop Road 1
Man of the Match: Matthew-Jaye for a stand-out performance in midfield and a well-taken goal.
Match 2
Squad: Oskar, Eddie, William W, Sam, Henry, Ludo, Joseph, Harrison, Stanley, Caleb.
Different team, same instructions, completely different result. From the whistle, our midfield of Sam, Henry and Ludo completely controlled the game. Our defence was superbly marshaled by Eddie, William, Caleb and Oskar. And our strike force of Stanley, Harrison and Joseph created chances and scored self-less goals almost at will.
We took the lead immediately and then set about scoring goal after goal. Despite the risk of disruption from regular substitutions, we dominated completely – everyone playing their part in a fantastic team performance. The 10 goals were richly deserved and well taken:
1. Ludo – a great individual effort started in midfield.
2. Harrison – finishing a cross from Joseph after Sam had won the ball.
3. Harrison – a tap in after Henry won the ball in the middle and Joseph supplied the final pass.
4. Sam – finishing off a great team move.
5. Ludo – starting the move with a great dribble in midfield before laying off to Harrison and finishing the return cross.
6. Joseph – a great finish after Stan cut in to supply Henry for the final pass.
7. Joseph – another move that began with Ludo’s pass to Stanley for the cross.
8. Stanley – a brilliant volley to finish a lofted cross from Joseph after Henry had supplied the first pass. The goal of the game.
9. Harrison – his hat-trick goal from a lovely pass by Oskar out wide.
10. Joseph – his hat-trick goal, a tap in from another Oskar cross.
A superb display of passing, crossing and finishing from a team that played for each other throughout, and was never threatened. Well done!
Result Foxes 10: Bishop Road 0
Man of the Match – William W for a comprehensive display of defensive football, snuffing out any danger before it could develop.
Match 1
Squad: Josh, Caston, Billy, Matthew Y, Matthew-Jaye, Benji, Brody, Jamie, Jack, William LP.
On a large pitch we played 8-a-side and all were under instruction to use the space and play it wide. By contrast, Bishop Road adopted the “8-man-defence” tactic. For reasons that remain a mystery, the Foxes seemed to abandon the team passing game that they can play so well and decided it was every man for himself. Perhaps over-confidence was to blame. The result was a crowded middle of the pitch and a messy game with far too many attempts to dribble through the entire defence even when support players were available in space.
Attack after attack came to nothing. There was not a single cross in the first half and shots were taken from impossible angles when easier options went begging. Eventually our profligacy became our downfall. A quick counter attack, Bishop Road’s only real attack of the entire game, resulted in them taking the lead.
After half-time, we did improve, as Billy and Caston stayed wide and our midfield, led by Matthew-Jaye, tried to pass our way out of trouble. The game started to flow better and we were rewarded when Josh made the only cross of the day for Matthew-Jaye to score an equalizer. Despite dominating, we continued to dribble when passing was the better option and the game finished in a draw. Bishop Road celebrated as if they had won the cup and who can blame them?
Result Foxes 1: Bishop Road 1
Man of the Match: Matthew-Jaye for a stand-out performance in midfield and a well-taken goal.
Match 2
Squad: Oskar, Eddie, William W, Sam, Henry, Ludo, Joseph, Harrison, Stanley, Caleb.
Different team, same instructions, completely different result. From the whistle, our midfield of Sam, Henry and Ludo completely controlled the game. Our defence was superbly marshaled by Eddie, William, Caleb and Oskar. And our strike force of Stanley, Harrison and Joseph created chances and scored self-less goals almost at will.
We took the lead immediately and then set about scoring goal after goal. Despite the risk of disruption from regular substitutions, we dominated completely – everyone playing their part in a fantastic team performance. The 10 goals were richly deserved and well taken:
1. Ludo – a great individual effort started in midfield.
2. Harrison – finishing a cross from Joseph after Sam had won the ball.
3. Harrison – a tap in after Henry won the ball in the middle and Joseph supplied the final pass.
4. Sam – finishing off a great team move.
5. Ludo – starting the move with a great dribble in midfield before laying off to Harrison and finishing the return cross.
6. Joseph – a great finish after Stan cut in to supply Henry for the final pass.
7. Joseph – another move that began with Ludo’s pass to Stanley for the cross.
8. Stanley – a brilliant volley to finish a lofted cross from Joseph after Henry had supplied the first pass. The goal of the game.
9. Harrison – his hat-trick goal from a lovely pass by Oskar out wide.
10. Joseph – his hat-trick goal, a tap in from another Oskar cross.
A superb display of passing, crossing and finishing from a team that played for each other throughout, and was never threatened. Well done!
Result Foxes 10: Bishop Road 0
Man of the Match – William W for a comprehensive display of defensive football, snuffing out any danger before it could develop.
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