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| Football 4th XI Team 'Blog' |
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Season Record: Played 5 won 3 drawn1 lost 1 Goals For 20 Against 10 Fifth Match versus Lambrook (Home) Wednesday 13th October Drew 2-2 Scorers: Soichiro Asao; Ben Moore Team: Robert Cootes; Patrick Davies; ; William Jeffery; Jack Rhodes; Jose Luis de Mora; Morgan Edwards; Ben Moore(C); Soichiro Asao; Daniel Cook; Will Gray; Rudy Singh; Alejandro de Rosa This turned out to be an excellent match between two evenly matched teams. Eagle House started well and took the lead after 8 minutes when Daniel hit a superb shot from just outside the box which beat the goalkeeper but hit the crossbar. Soichiro was the first to react and put the ball in the back of the net. Lambrook were not deterred by this setback and came back strongly, dominating the mid field and had several chances before they equalised. They continued to look the more likely team to score and just when it seemed like half time might give some relief to the home team, Lambrook scored to take a 2-1 lead into half time. I stressed at half time how important it was to hold our shape and for the midfield to work hard at winning the ball back, once it had been lost. Although we were better in this respect, Lambrook looked the more likely to score and almost did so, but were denied by an excellent one handed save by Robert. In spite of the continuing opposition threat, Eagle House did not give up and pressed hard for an equaliser but determined defence kept us out until the ball dropped for Ben just outside the box and he hit a beautiful shot which curled away from the goalkeeper and into the top corner. Both teams pressed hard for the winner but a draw was probably a fair result at the end of the day. This ended a most satisfying season for the Fourths as at the end of the match, our faithful band of parental supporters reflected on how far this team had come since the first game at Cranleigh. All credit to the players as we had a group of 20 players at our practices and it was good that all of them were able to take part in at least 2 games of this very memorable season. Well done to you all to win 3 and draw 1 after a heavy defeat in the first game. You were very much THE MIGHTY FOURTHS! Fourth Match versus Pangbourne (Home) Wednesday 6th October Won 5-2 Scorers: Morgan Edwards (2); Rudy Singh (2); Max Baldwin Team: Robert Cootes; Patrick Davies; ; Matthew Meikle; Jack Rhodes; Ethan Bradd; Morgan Edwards; Ben Moore(C); Soichiro Asao; Pablo Torrecuadrada; Rudy Singh; Max Baldwin; Cory Novis; Lloyd Meakin; Albert Kemp As our fixture on Saturday against Papplewick has been cancelled, it was good to get in this fixture against the Pangbourne Third team, which due to their numbers is their lowest team. It also gave us the opportunity to play some of the boys who have only played in the one match so far. The early exchanges indicated that this would be an even game but we did have the edge up front where the skill, hard work and pace of Max and Morgan soon began to tell and they had put us 3 goals to the good by the interval. Ben and Rudy worked hard in the midfield and so Pangbourne were not able to trouble Robert much in our goal. The second half was more evenly contested but we were soon 5 goals up due to two good finishing touches from Rudy. At this point we started to substitute our better players and this evened up the contest as the game swung from one end to the other. As there were so many changes, we did lose our shape at the back and to their credit, Pangbourne never gave up trying and were rewarded with 2 goals, the second being a delightful chip which gave Robert no chance. All in all, a good win for the home team and it means that from our squad of 20 players, everyone has played in 2 of the matches. This does give the coach a headache as we look to our final game, as no doubt there will be a lot of competition for places as we will endeavour to play our best side, assuming the other coaches do not come and head hunt our best players.
Third Match versus Hall Grove(Away) Wednesday 29th September Won 4-0 Scorers: Ben Moore; Max Baldwin (3) Team: Robert Cootes; Patrick Davies; ; William Jeffery; Jack Rhodes; Jose Luis de Mora; Morgan Edwards; Ben Moore(C); Soichiro Asao; Daniel Cook; Will Gray; Max Baldwin; Alejandro de Rosa For once the selection issue for the fourths was not "have we 11 boys still standing?" or how many of our better players will be pinched by the higher teams. In fact today we were actually given 3 players which meant that for once some boys who could quite rightly consider themselves as regulars missed out on a game. Although the actual weather was not as bad as had been forecast the game was played in wet damp conditions but the supportive parents who ventured out, witnessed a most entertaining game. Eagle House were into their stride from the kick off but in spite of our early dominance, the opening goal would not come as it was almost impossible to get a shot in on goal as the penalty area was more crowded than the Eagle House pick up point on a Saturday lunchtime. The impasse was broken by Ben who hit a rather speculative shot from just outside the box but it took a slight deflection which was enough to give the visitors the lead. Eagle House continued to press forward and Max doubled our lead, but thereafter the home team came into the game and for the first time Robert in goal was brought into the game. It was important to start the second half as we had started the first and we managed to do so with Max scoring his second goal. The team played well together, considering that we had had only a brief practice as an XI, the day before. The game began to open up for both teams and Max was one on one with the goal keeper who prevented a hat trick opportunity, but Max was not to be denied a few minutes later and his third goal put the seal on a great performance which was much appreciated by those who were watching. It was good to witness an evenly contested match (in spite of the final scoreline) and to see our boys working so well together.
Second Match versus Yateley Manor (home) Wednesday 22nd September Won 9-0 Scorers: Oscar Turton (3); Noah Walton (2); Hamid Lawal (2) ; Max Baldwin; Max Hammond Team: Robert Cootes; Patrick Davies; Ethan Bradd; Robin Vonchek (C); Hamid Lawal; Noah Walton; Henry Jones; Will Gray; Max Hammond; Max Baldwin; Oscar Turton; Cory Novis; Albert Kemp; Lloyd Meakin After the experience of Saturday it was roles reversed today as the Yateley Manor Ramblers, their third X1 but their lowest team in this age group against the Spreadeagles, our squad comprising 6 boys who had not played for any team against Cranleigh, 4 boys from the thirds and 4 boys from Saturday's fourth team. The initial exchanges were fairly even, but Eagle House were quickly into their stride with Oscar showing his goal scoring prowess by scoring a hat trick in a 10 minute period. Noah managed to scramble a goal off his knee, giving the home team a comfortable lead at the break. Although Yateley Manor tried hard to get back into the game and were helped by some good goal line defending by their keeper and full back, the Eagle House team were full of confidence and were winning the lion's share of possession and further goals were scored, the most spectacular being Noah's thunderous right footed blast from the edge of the penalty area. To their credit Yateley Manor kept on trying but as we had found in our first game, it is difficult when the odds are stacked against you. Obviously the better players stood out today, but it was good to see the commitment and enthusiasm of those boys who are not regular members of the Fourth XI. They enjoyed their opportunity to represent the school. So the Spreadeagles now go into hibernation until the Lent Term when hopefully they will get a chance to play and enhance their reputations once again.
First Match versus Cranleigh (Away) Saturday 18th September Lost 0-6 Team: Robert Cootes; Patrick Davies; Alejandro de Rosa; William Jeffery; Jack Rhodes; Jose Luis de Mora; Hamid Lawal; Rudy Singh (C); Daniel Cook; Matthew Meikle; Soichiro Asao When I realised that we would begin this year's fixtures with the same fixture as last year against the Cranleigh Fourth team, to say that I broke out into a cold sweat would be an understatement. The memories of that game in which Daniel and Rudy (also playing today) took part were not particularly warm as I blew the game 20 minutes short with the opposition ten goals to the good. To put this result and my fears for today into perspective I would point out that when Cranleigh played their first set of fixtures on Wednesday they were able to put 7 sides out on the pitch in this age group. I did think that it was best to withold these pieces of information from our team so that we could at least approach the fixture in a fairly positive frame of mind as the last 11 of Eagle House playing a team of boys who were in the middle of the ability range at Cranleigh. Fourth team selection especially for a Saturday game tends to be a nightmare as I constantly try to avoid the coaches of the higher teams (who have the poaching abilities that any football agent would love to have) and after starting the morning with 13 players we were probably fortunate to leave with 11 players. To begin with my worst fears were not realised as we competed well and were unlucky not to take a surprise lead as Daniel beat the goalkeeper from a narrow angle close to the near post, only to see the ball roll agonisingly wide of the far post. Cranleigh piled on the pressure, with Robert playing in goal for the first time making 2 great saves but eventually they were rewarded after 15 minutes with the opening score (at this stage last year I had already blown for half time with the score 0-5). For the next 10 minutes Cranleigh were totally dominant and added 3 quick goals with some splendid passing moves. The second half saw more of the same type of commitment from the visitors with Patrick and Hamid in particular working hard to put the ball into our opponents' half where Rudy and Daniel tried hard to reduce the arrears. Two more goals were conceded (and a penalty was missed) but at the final whistle the Eagle House boys could feel proud at the way that they had taken on a much better team and given a good account of themselves. Last year we we bounced back superbly after this fixture to win 2 of the next 3 games (losing the other one 2-3) and I would hope that this year's team will take a lot of positives from our first outing today and work hard in practices, so that we can enjoy the rest of the season. Traditionally the fourths do not have a man of the match or individual ratings as we really need a team effort at this level but in addition to those boys mentioned, the rest of the side gave their all and one cannot ask for more than that. |
