Year 2 Foxes v Rockleaze Rangers

Saturday 14th December dawned bright and dry(ish), it was the day of the long awaited clash with Rockleaze Rangers. Drawn from a number of schools in the area, many of the Rangers players were known to the Foxes and with a reputed but unconfirmed 100% record for the season, this was a big game for our boys.

23 Foxes were "organised" into three teams, Rockleaze Rangers selecting 14 from their large squad for the short journey up on to the Downs from Coombe Dingle. Unsurprisingly, as the first two games kicked off, it was clear that there were no weak links in the Rangers line ups. Yet it was the Foxes that made the better start and within a couple of minutes the Rangers' ref's whistle blew shrilly to announce a penalty to the Foxes. Silence descended, the ball was carefully placed on the spot muddy bit in front of goal. The Foxes coaches were anxious, the keeper looked worried. Unfortunately FA Regulations don't permit me to tell you what happened next! Suffice to say that Foxes gave their all in six hard fought matches and their were superb performances within both teams with some impressive talent on display.

The sixth and final game of the day was the best as two evenly matched sevens went at it hammer and tongs in an end to end battle. Year 2 Foxes made a bit of history by the coaches employing tactics and the boys sticking to it! We had a formation for goodness sake and it was almost recognisable in action - 2-3-1 with Cos under strict instructions to stay up front and act as the outlet ball for the underpressure back five. It almost worked a dream with Foxes star man Charlie finding the net to twice give the Hoops the lead. Pegged back by two superb roof of the net strikes (Jacob C would need to have been twice as tall to have a chance of saving!) Foxes kept going. With seconds left and the Foxes goal under heavy pressure, a long ball upfield found the waiting Cosmo. He took the ball in his stride, the ref checked his watch and decided completely correctly that a few extra seconds were fully justified, Cos headed into the box with just the keeper to beat, defenders trailing in his wake THIS SECTION OF THE REPORT REDACTED and the Ref blew the final whistle on a superb match and a superb morning. For the record, there was a well deserved third goal in as many weeks for Josh to add to the two for Charlie.

It was tough and by the end it was cold, but the boys arrived with smiles, played with smiles and were a credit to the club. Rockleaze Rangers have some excellent players and an impressive strength in depth. More importantly they were polite and very sporting even if their reputed perfect record for the season now has one small Foxes shaped dent!

Player of the Week: Charlie, an all round star performance, body on the line defending and still time to head up the pitch to score twice.

BGL u11 Westbury Park Foxes 4 v 1 Downend Saints

Foxes unbeaten run continues to Christmas!

Today marked the final BGL game of 2013, and the Foxes looked to build on their midweek schools performance to round off the year in style and maintain their lead at the top of the league.

The Foxes started brightly, using the full width of the pitch, and laid siege to the Saints goal. The Foxes forward 3 seemed camped in the opposition penalty box, forcing a string of corners, with clearances rapidly played back in by the Foxes defensive midfielders. The Saints hung on gamely with 4 behind ball, but eventually the pressure told and the Foxes took the lead with Mara timing a run in on goal to smash home.

The bench thought that the floodgates might open, but the Saints had other ideas, and with the Foxes forward line not tracking back, they started to pressure more in midfield.
 Just before half time disaster struck, as Betty's goal kick was intercepted by the Saints forward, she came out of the box to clear, only to see the kick ricochet back off the closing striker and bounce agonisingly back into the goal.

Half-time and 1-1. Discussion revolved around rolling up sleeves and showing the determination that we had witnessed in the midweek tournament.

The second half was one of the best performances of the season. The Foxes flowed forward and were back in front within 5 minutes of the restart as Sim went on an imperious run and hammered the ball past the keeper. The lead was soon doubled as a fine flowing move was again finished in style as the Foxes moved the ball around the pitch with confidence and the striker was there to again blast low into the corner.

With the job done the Foxes striker took her second break of the game and Lily returned to lead the line. With her knack of anticipation she was on the score sheet within a minute as she popped up in the right place to end another Foxes move.

With Milly on and dominating the defensive line, and Molly proving a revelation on the right on midfield the Foxes went close again and forced a series of corners to see out the game.

So a great result, and a fine way to end the year, but it is only December and we will need to keep our feet on the ground to maintain this standard into the New Year!

Captain of the week: Mara
Girl of the Game: Lulu
Moment of the Match: Double 'Cruyff turn' by Molly - Class!

BGL u11 Portishead Town 0 v 1 Westbury Park Foxes

Foxes stretch lead at the top with tough away win!

Not a great start to the day, with 'keeper Betty up until 1am vomiting but she was determined to pull on the gloves and make the journey to Portishead!
The home team had been in a rich vein of form recently, taking points from Bradley Stoke and Boco, and had only suffered 1 defeat themselves, in the return fixture at the beginning of the season.
The Foxes new they would be up against it today, with a baptism of fire for the new Foxy numbered kit!

With the advantage of end choice the Foxes had the low sun behind them, and were straight on the offensive pushing the home team back and forcing some early corners. Portishead were a much bigger team, and lined up with 3 big defenders, who looked to release their lively number 5 whenever possible. They clearly looked a danger on the counter, but Lulu, Rhiannon and Amelia did a sterling defensive job, and, set piece aside, the Foxes goal was never really threatened.
Midway through the first half the Foxes took the lead, with a powerful run by Sim down the left crossed with pace. The defender's clearance sliced over the 'keeper's head, and was heading goal wards as Ella arrived at the back post to make sure it hit the back of the net.
With Lily on for Sim the first half continued as a midfield battle, with neither team able to breach the oppositions' defensive lines.

Half time and 1-0. The team talk was all about being aware of the opposition's set pieces, closing down in midfield and keeping the marking tight.
Izzy came on as the Foxes looked to soak up pressure and hit on the break, and the tactic seemed to work, with Rhiannon running the ball out and Sim making strong runs. Molly's introduction took the tactic a step too far, as the front line was overrun and Portishead were able to quickly recycle the ball.
Mindful of their strikers powerful shots from distance the Foxes bench switched things around again to provide a greater midfield presence, and the game started to swing back into the Foxes favour.
So the match ended 1-0, and all agreed that it had been the toughest game of the season so far. But a great defensive display and another clean sheet made for a happy trip back to Bristol.

Captain of the Week: Ella
Girl of the Game: Betty

Year 2 Foxes away at Bishop Road

With illness affecting the U7 army, only 18 of the troops were able to muster at the Bishop Road playing fields for this one. Bishop Road are our oldest rivals (i.e. we played them in our first and only game of last season) so it was a chance to see how far the respective teams had moved on since the sunny days of last spring.

Despite yours truly nearly putting his back out helping to lift the solid steel goalposts (pre-war I would have thought but look good to last another fifty years!), the scene was soon set for the clash.

I'm not sure whether the Foxes were still contemplating their breakfasts or not but half time in the first of the double headers left us with, how shall we delicately say it, a mountain to climb in the second half. We improved and ended up with goals from Cos, Ambrose and Eden.

Swapping over for the second set of matches and swapping notes on the opposition made for a gloomy conversation. The omens did not look good. But the Foxes, now wide awake, were paying no attention to omens. Eden came out flying, denied twice by the heavy duty metalwork, he was first to the rebound on both occassions sending the ball into the back of the net for a brace (that's a football / metalwork joke for those that aren't concentrating!). At the other end, the previously prolific Bishop Roadsters were thwarted time and time again by the brave goalkeeping of Omar. As the morning's mayhem came to a close, both Foxes teams could be proud of their efforts and had earned their two week break before the big one (Rocklease, 14th December).

Player of the Week: Omar "The Cat". Great shot stopping and startling bravery diving at the feet of the oncoming forwards on numerous occassions. Seems we might have two or three goalkeepers after all!

BGL u11 Westbury Park Foxes 9 v 1 Longwell Green Whites

Foxes Stay Top and Unbeaten!

Today saw the second of the double header fixtures with the return meeting against Longwell Green Whites at St Ursluas.
The Foxes welcomed Lulu back to the fold after missing last week, with Bea also a change from last week. Amelia and Molly took a rest.
It was also a chance for some of the girls to run out in the new Foxy kit. I am sure they will grow into it.........

Whilst the score looked like a demolition of the opposition, the great thing about this year's BGL is that there really is not a huge gulf between any of the sides, and Longwell Green competed in the centre of the park all the way to the final whistle, and contributed to an exciting match.
Throughout the game the Foxes hardly put a foot wrong, as they attacked down both flanks and scored many of the goals by following up shots, and getting onto the end of some great crosses.
At the back Izzy and Rhiannon looked great, allowing Lulu to play in a more advanced role.

The only real mishap occurred midway through the first half, and was a rare managerial one, as, with the Foxes 2-0 up, changes were made without sufficient organisational instruction, which led to a defensive mix up and a goal conceded. With swift readjustment the Foxes went straight back down and restored their advantage.
The precise scoring tally was a hat trick for Sim and a brace for Ella, Mara and Lily. It is  great to see that the girls all seem to be increasingly comfortable in taking the shot on, and the tactic is paying dividends.
Next week sees us travel to Portishead to take on one of the form teams, but with the resolute defending and goals from all phases of play, we can go there confident of getting a result.

Captain of the Week : Lulu
Girl of the Game: Bea