Tuesday 5 July 2011

Y4 Foxes Dancing in the Rain at Rockleaze Tournament 12th June 2011

Drought? What drought? Another Sunday. Another deluge. If St Nick’s was miserable, this was desperate. In conditions that duck’s would have hated, Rockleaze decided that their annual tournament would go ahead. Understandable, but not sure the decision was made with the players’ welfare at heart.

Having learnt the benefits of trying to stay dry the previous week, we arrived armed with a large weatherproof shelter (thank you Highams). Tucked into a protected corner of the wind-swept field, our squad of 10 prepared for what would be another battle against the elements.

Tournament Squad: Harrison, Henry, Jack, Joseph, Josh, Ludo, Matthew Y, Rohan (goalie), Stanley, Tee-Jay.

The group stages were smaller, more manageable affairs. Two leagues of 5 teams drew familiar faces from the friendly league and the strongest teams in the area, including the winners of all our previous tournaments.

We played to our strengths - Rohan in goal; Jack anchoring defence; Matthew and Henry as midfield sweepers; Ludo, Josh and Tee-Jay as mid-field dynamos, Stanley, Joseph and Harrison set loose to terrify opposition defences.

League Match 1 – Clifton United Yellows
As expected, the Foxes dominated right from the start and it wasn’t long before Tee-Jay opened his account with a well-taken goal. In defence we were solid and Rohan was not troubled all match long. This enabled the midfield to feed the wings and the crosses being produced were high quality and more chances went begging. The Foxes were playing lovely football despite the conditions, and more goals followed. An accidental clash of heads saw Harrison pick up a shiner but he battled on and was rewarded with two goals.
Result: Foxes 3: Clifton United Yellows 0

League Match 2 – Rockleaze Blacks
Perhaps the weakest of the Rockleaze sides, the Blacks were no match for the Foxes in full flight. Again our midfield dominated the game allowing Jack and Rohan a spectator’s view of the match. In attack we were barely out of their half, and the resulting pressure brought another two goals from Tee-Jay and a goal apiece for Ludo and Joseph.
Result: Foxes 4: Rockleaze Blacks 0

League Match 3 – Rockleaze Whites
A much stronger Rockleaze team meant we had to up our game. Everyone played magnificently and although we continued to play the better football, Jack, Matthew, Henry and Rohan were all called into action to keep Rockleaze out. Stanley supplied the winning goal and we finished the match unbeaten.
Result: Foxes 1: Rockleaze Whites 0

League Match 4 – Shire Colts
Shire Colts fielded their strongest players as both teams started the match with unbeaten records. Both went close on several occasions and the Foxes were unlucky not to score. However, the drenching the players had received all morning was beginning to have its effect. Tears and fatigue began to set in but we held on to remain unbeaten. Result: Foxes 0: Shire Colts 0

After a long wait in the rain, we were confirmed as group runners-up to Shire Colts who were equal on points (10) but had scored one more goal than us. After more waiting around and two changes of pitch, we eventually faced a strong Stoke Lane squad who had won their group (also on 10 points).

Semi-Final – Stoke Lane
Unfortunately the appalling conditions had done their worse and we went into the semi-final with two players down and others far from their normal skillful and determined selves. Rolling subs, lashing of hot drinks, chocolate and anything that would give our players the energy to continue followed. Everyone who took to the field tried their hardest and we did have chances. But much of the Foxes fire had been extinguished and Stoke Lane took advantage to score first. They were then awarded a penalty when one of their players lost control of the ball and went down in the box. The ensuing goal, combined with a desire to get out of the rain meant the match was effectively over. But the Foxes battled on and almost scored near the end. A proud effort.
Result: Foxes 0: Stoke Lane 2

Despite the disappointment of being knocked out, we had the consolation of knowing that we were the only team to have drawn against the eventual tournament winners (Shire Colts) and the only team they could not score against.

As always, the Foxes gave their all, and then some. Again their skill, style of play and sporting conduct drew comments of appreciation and compliments from opposition coaches. Again we were unbeaten in the group stages. Again we conceded no goals in our league matches. Again we were easily as good as the team that won. Again they made us proud.

Thanks must also be given to all the parents who came to support and did all they could to keep us going – Thank you!

Although the conditions were the same for everyone, somehow the rain and cold affects us more than others. As the cats and dogs continued to howl, 10 brave little Foxes headed home for hot baths – bowed but not beaten! Given the progress that every one of the Foxes has made this season, we know our time will come. We might just need a sunny day for it to happen…

Total football, total exhaustion for Y4 Foxes at St Nick’s 5th June 2011


Despite it being half term, the Foxes were able to field a strong squad for the St Nick’s Tournament. In previous years this had been a held on warm sunny days. This time the skies were leaden and the driving wind and rain a constant and draining presence.

With many unfamiliar teams, this was another chance to see how the Foxes match up to bigger clubs that play regular league football – many from the Hanham Minor League and Mid-Gloucester Mini-soccer League. We began in a group of 8 teams! It was going to be a long haul if we were to progress.

Tournament Squad: Billy, Harrison, Henry, Joseph, Ludo, Rohan (goalie), Stanley, Tee-Jay.

Drawing on previous successes, we set up for the tournament with Rohan in goal, Billy, Tee-Jay and Henry sharing the defensive/mid-field responsibilities, Ludo our midfield lynch-pin and Stanley, Joseph and Harrison taking their normal roles as our rapid strike force. With matches of 10 minutes one way, it was essential to get off to a flying start. In brief the results were:

League Match 1 – Wotton Rovers
A cold day and a cold start. Still, we dominated the match and went close but could not convert pressure into goals.
Result: Foxes 0: Wotton Rovers 0

League Match 2 – St Nicholas Blue
Stanley got the Foxes rolling with a well-taken goal.
Result: Foxes 1: St Nicholas Blue 0

League Match 3 – Yate United Blue
Foxes were on a roll. Goals from Harrison and Joseph gave us a well-deserved win.
Result: Foxes 2: Yate United Blue 0

League Match 4 – Stoke Lane Blue
Potentially our toughest match. Played in a downpour, Stanley opened the scoring for the Foxes. Stoke Lane then got one back though an own-goal before Joseph struck to give us another victory.
Result: Foxes 2: Stoke Lane Blue 1

League Match 5 – AEK Boco Red
Another big name club and another great performance. Despite creating most of the chances we just couldn’t get the goal we deserved and some great defending and excellent goalkeeping from Rohan kept the game alive.
Result: Foxes 0: AEK Boco Red 0

League Match 6 – Downend Saints Red
A totally dominant performance with the entire team playing a skillful passing game. Joseph bagged a hat trick, including two tap-ins as Harrison passed around the keeper. It could have been 6 or 7.
Result: Foxes 3: Downend Saints Red 0

League Match 7 – Thornbury Town Red
A must –win match to guarantee our progress. The cold and wet was beginning to take its toll but we still dominated and a stunning goal from Stanley, direct from a corner, gave us our fifth group stage win.
Result: Foxes 1: Thornbury Town Red 0

A superb team performance saw us qualify for the knockout stages as group winners. Sadly a whole morning spent getting soaked with just a couple of brollies for shelter had taken its toll. Other, more experienced clubs had brought mobile shelters to keep dry and warm between matches. A lesson learnt. The Foxes however began to fall by the wayside.

Semi-Final – Stoke Lane Red
Despite having two of our players retire in tears because of exhaustion and the cold, the Foxes tried their hardest. We went one down but a magnificent goal from Joseph brought us level. The game finished in a draw and extra time beckoned. After 82 minutes of sodden, cold wind-swept football it was no surprise that more players were in tears, but without any subs left, they bravely agreed to soldier on. It was too much and we lost in extra time.
Result: Foxes 1: Stoke Lane Red 1 (Foxes lost in extra time)

Man of the Tournament – all eight players deserved an award. All made us proud. But in the end it went to Billy for his tireless running, couageous defending and fabulous concentration throughout.

Overall, the Foxes played magnificently, drawing compliments from the coaches of other teams, including one who said we were the best team they had seen all day. Our record in the group stages was outstanding – played 7, won 5, drew 2, scoring 9 goals and conceding none other than an own goal. Sadly the effort of 70 minutes of high-octane football in miserable conditions took a heavy toll and the semi-final was clearly a game too far. However, the Year 4 Foxes have become a team that others fear to play and we know that with a full compliment of fit players, we can beat anyone. One day, with a touch of luck, our chance will come...

Close call for Y4 Foxes at Thornbury 22nd May 2011

A warm and dry Sunday afternoon saw the gathering of two squads of Foxes for the Thornbury six-a-side tournament. Unlike many other tournaments the group stages are small but lead to everyone going into a knockout stage –either for the consolation plate, or the more prestigious cup. The question was which would our teams end up in?

Green Squad: Billy, Brody, Caston, Eddie, Josh, Oskar, Sam and William W.

League Match 1 – Stoke Lane A
A great start against a team that is historically very strong. Josh scored to give the Foxes a well-deserved win.
Result: Foxes 1: Stoke Lane A 0

League Match 2 – Southmead Community Sp
Southmead were the team of the tournament last year, but the Foxes were stronger this year. Despite some good chances we went down by two goals.
Result: Foxes 0: Southmead Community Sp 2

League Match 3 – Thornbury Town Red
A close match that could have gone either way. The difference was a wonder strike from Josh, a spinning volley that looped over the keeper and brought back memories of David Platt’s goal against Belgium in Italia 90.
Result: Foxes 1: Thornbury Town Red 0

With 6 points we qualified for the cup quarterfinals as group runners-up.

Quarterfinal – Shire Colts B
The Foxes just could not hold out against one of the strongest teams in the tournament and despite fantastic play from everyone, we went out by a single goal.
Result: Foxes 0: Shire Colts B 1

White Squad: Harrison, Henry, Joseph, Ludo, Matthew Y, Rohan, Matthew W and Tee-Jay.

League Match 1 – Stoke Lane B
A great start against what we expected to be a strong side. Goals from Ludo and Harrison topped an impressive team performance.
Result: Foxes 2: Stoke Lane A 0

League Match 2 – Thornbury Town Red
For some reason we never got going – was it tiredness from last week’s efforts? Despite creating some good chances we went behind against a team we would normally beat with ease.
Result: Foxes 0: Thornbury Town Red 1

League Match 3 – Minchinhampton Rangers A
The Foxes upped their game but were still not playing as well as they could. Despite that, we dominated the match, missed our chances and “murdered them” 0:0!
Result: Foxes 0: Minchinhampton Rangers A 0

Again we qualified for the cup quarterfinals as group runners-up.

Quarterfinal – Shire Colts A
Players that last week were playing for Stoke Lane re-appeared in Shire Colts colours for another close match. Again the Foxes were mis-firing and went behind. But we fought back bravely and controlled the match towards the end. Harrison latched on to a through ball to rocket us level. With the clock ticking down, the team conjured another opening and Harrison was away again. This time two players combined to scythe him down. The ref waved play on and blew for full time.

In the penalty shoot-out both keepers did well – Rohan saving a shot to keep our hopes alive. But it was not to be. The penalty curse hit the Foxes once more.
Result: Foxes 1: Shire Colts A 1 (Foxes lost on penalties)

Footnote: Shire Colts A went out in the semi finals after another penalty shoot-out. Shire Colts B went on to win the Tournament 1:0 in the final.

For some, the efforts of last week’s tournament were still on their minds and in their legs. For others, this was a chance to show just how good the Foxes have become. Both teams made it through to the quarterfinals. Both teams were very close to going further. Both teams can take comfort in the knowledge that there was nothing between them and the team that won the tournament. And both teams played with skill, pride and passion. Next time the results might just go our way…Well done to all!