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| Football U9B Team 'Blog' |
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MATCH 4 VS HOE BRIDGE (HOME) 13/10/2010 EAGLE HOUSE 0 HOE BRIDGE 2 Team- Stephen Giannikas, Lewis Sharp(gk), Christopher Myers, William Brown, Mani Kher, James Scott, Max Rickard(cap) and Zak Tilley. This was another testing game for us today but I was very impressed by the attitude and effort throughout the game. Hoe Bridge were a strong side that attacked us from the beginning and it was really down to our back three of William Brown, Stephen Giannikas and Lewis Sharp who kept the score down with some excellent defending.
Unfortunately we never had enough possession to get any momentum to attack and it really was a case of defend. I thought this was Stephen Giannikas's best game as he managed the defensive line so well and he took all the goal kicks and made the throws. Hoe Bridge scored a goal in each half and they were great shots. I would like to think we have improved during the season and we have made it very difficult for the opposition especially with our sturdy defence. Well done boys and I hope you really enjoy your football as you move up through the school.
MATCH 3 VS PAPPLEWICK (HOME) 9/10/2010 EAGLE HOUSE 0 PAPPLEWICK 3 Team- Stephen Giannikas, Lewis Sharp(gk), Christopher Myers, William Brown, Mani Kher, James Scott and Zac Tilley. We played really hard in this fixture and it was only in the last 5 minutes that we let in the three goals. Papplewick are a strong all boys school so they have more children to pick from but I really felt that we were more than competitive throughout the match.
The match was very scrappy but I do feel improvements have been made. In the first half it was very even as both sides took time to get into the match and both sides had opportunities. Either side could have been up at the break and I felt we were very unlucky when an excellent shot was stopped by their keeper. I also felt like more of our players could have pushed up to put more pressure on their defence. During the second half I really felt like Papplewick got on top and some of their quicker boys started making some dangerous runs at our defence. We were struggling to keep our structure and therefore were being caught out of position. Our defence stood firm though and it was only until the last five minutes once their first goal went in that they really dominated. They seemed to gain confidence and finished very strongly. I know the boys were upset by the result but I felt they tried very hard but we need to keep working as there are areas we can improve on.
MATCH 2 VS YATELEY MANOR (AWAY) 22/09/2010 EAGLE HOUSE 0 YATELEY MANOR 3 Team- Stephen Giannikas, Lewis Sharp (GK), Christian Gale, Christopher Myers(cap), William Brown, Mani Kher, James Scott and Zac Tilley. Today was a tough day. Yateley were clearly a very good footballing side and for most of the match we had to defend as well as we could. I was very proud of the boys as they did not let their heads drop and they just kept trying. Yateley could have scored many more goals but it was a testament to our team that we did not concede more goals.
We let in a goal in the 1st minute which meant we were in trouble from the start. Yateley spread the ball beautifully and this meant that we were often chasing shadows but our defence was superb once again with Stephen Giannikas and Christian Gale proving very difficult to get through. Lewis Sharp also improved considerably as the match progressed and made some excellent saves. Yateley scored one more goal in the half but I felt we had done well. The second half was pretty much the same as Yateley poured the pressure on but we only let in one goal which showed again how well we had defended. I just hope now that the boys have had a taste of playing against a very good side that we learnt a few things about positional play and passing that we can bring into our own game. Well done boys you showed a lot of character.
MATCH 1 VS CRANLEIGH (HOME) 18/09/2010 EAGLE HOUSE 2 CRANLEIGH 1 Team- Stephen Giannikas (cap), Lewis Sharp (GK), Christian Gale, Christopher Myers, William Brown, Mani Kher, James Scott and Zac Tilley. Wow what a start boys! I was very impressed by how the boys gave it their all and really stuck to their task to get a victory in this match. Being our first game we were very rusty to start with. We were struggling to hold on to possession and our passing was virtually non existent. This obviously led to Cranleigh being on top in the early exchanges. In about the 5th minute we let in quite a careless goal and I must admit I was worried. This was when the boys started showing true heart though, and they started improving as time went on. I must give huge credit to our two defenders Christian Gale and Stephen Giannikas who were superb throughout the match. They really kept their positions well and hardly let any of the Cranleigh boys through with their solid defence.
As the first half progressed we were getting stronger and soon we were starting to put more pressure on their defence but time was running out in the half. In the dying seconds of the half Christopher Myers got a lovely through ball which he chased on to and although he was wide of the goal he had a shot which was outstanding as it flew into the goal. That was the end of the half and we were firmly back in it. During the second half both sides really fought hard for the win. The football definitely improved and both teams had chances at different stages. I was so impressed with our boys during this time as they kept their concentration and made it very difficult for the Cranleigh team. Lewis Sharp who was our keeper also really gained more confidence and started to make some good saves. In about the 10th minute of the half we had a lovely break and put real pressure on their defence and as the ball was bobbing around in front of their goal Zac Tilley pounced and struck the ball neatly into the net. The last few minutes were frantic as Cranleigh were desperate to score but our defence held firm and I really felt we were the stronger team by the end of the match. Well done boys but we have got tough games ahead and we need to keep working hard if we want to keep improving.
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