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| Football Colts A Team 'Blog' |
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Congratulations to Saxon Coop / Will Fletcher / Will Kirk who were awarded their Colts Football Colours
Game 4: Eagle House 0 Aldro 2 Wed. 6.12.06
Team: Harry Gaff, Will Rasmussen, Will Fletcher, Thor Winkler, Jonny Baldry, Will Kirk, Isaac Herring, Michael Wright, Saxon Coop, Justin Parvess, Adam Dewes Sub. Joab Phillips The last game of the season and sadly things were not to be. Our short season has been a story of some great football, coupled with some very careless play that has seen us on the losing side. Yesterday we battled hard but again lost out in the midfield and one of the lessons that the players have to learn is to keep the passing tight and retain the ball. I have said all season that we were playing a young side, this is not an excuse, more of a reason as to why the more thoughful game was not always forthcoming. Will Kirk battled hard on the right as usual and Saxon worked well on the left. Michael Wright was committed and Justin Parvess, making his debut for the As, worked well in attack. We could not find many through balls and the Aldro defence were able to close us down very effectively. Adam Dewes had a quiet game yesterday, frustrated with the lack of the through ball. Isaac Herring worked hard and has some great vision although lost out to the bigger players from Aldro. The back four led by Will Fletcher defended well in patches (the score was 0-0 at half time) but did not always hold position under pressure. Harry Gaff was strong in the goal and he has worked hard to make the team over the last few weeks. So there it is. Not a great season but a delightful team to work with and many will be back next year. Whether the coach will be allowed another chance at the helm is another story! Thanks boys.
Game 3: Highfield 2 Eagle House 0 Saturday 2.12.06 A disappointing afternoon. The plan to bring Saxon out of goal and play on the left wing was foiled as Harry Gaff was off ill. Saxon took the goalie shirt and Toby Barnard was drafted into play the midfield role. Toby played well, although against bigger opposition he was often pushed off the ball. The Highfield team dominated the middle of the pitch and ball after ball was bounced back into our half with our forwards missing out. A minute into the game we conceded a soft goal as our defence were taken apart by an early surging run. We were going to have to work if the game was going to give us anything. Will Fletcher quickly found his defending legs and once again was responsible for keeping the ball out of our goal area. The bigger Highfield players moved the ball around well and when we did get the ball we quickly lost it as we rarely found the space in which to deliver good passes. This perhaps is the most frustrating part as a spectator - seeing the ball being lost again and again. Half time arrived and we were battling. The second half was similar although I felt that all our players fought hard but we could not find a way through the Highfield defence. Some clever play enabled Adam to get a shot on goal but it was straight into the hands of their keeper. At the other end Saxon was having the game of his life. He pulled off some excellent saves and undoubtedly kept us from going down by several more goals. Highfield were having most of the possession and it paid off with a fine header into our net. Still we battled and there was some good play from Will Kirk and Isaac Herring. Jonny Baldry had a good game and gave little away. If we could have been stronger in the midfield then we might have taken something from the game but it was not to be. We go into our last game against Aldro on Wednesday looking for a good result to end this short season. These boys have given their all today and it is sad to see them walk away without anything but Highfield were the better side on the day. Team: Harry Gaff, Will Fletcher (C), Thor Winkler, Jonny Baldry, Will Kirk, Isaac Herring, Michael Wright, Saxon Coop, Joab Phillips Sub. Toby Barnard Man of the Match: Saxon Coop Game 2: Waverley 2 Eagle House 4 (7-a-side) Wednesday 29.11.06
What a great game both sides had today at Waverley School. 7-a-side is a different type of game and although the pitch was slightly smaller we had to work hard to create space and get our shots on target. Waverley were a skilful side who were often able to leave our players standing with their nimble footwork. I told our team to keep it simple and move the ball around, using the space. Undoubtedly we made things a little harder for ourselves in the first half by not always competing for the ball and delivering some sloppy passes. Adam Dewes opened the scoring for us and fairly soon afterwards Waverley hit back when our defenders were left standing as an attack skipped through them. We created some lovely build-up play that allowed some tremendous efforts on goal but their keeper was very good and defended superbly; it was obvious that we were going to have to work harder in the second half if we were to see more goals. The players stepped-up their efforts in the second half and we went ahead with a lovely bit of play that allowed Adam to plant the ball in the net. Saxon Coop, out of the goal today, began to command the left side of the midfield and he and Adam played some good, thoughtful football. Will Kirk was, as ever, the live-wire down the right and he ensured the ball was delivered with class into the area. He managed to get on the score sheet for goal number four - great finish! Will Fletcher was a little out-manoeuvred in the first half and a few balls leaked through our defence, but as all good captains he led from the front in the second half and played with real determination. Jonny Baldry found form today and was solid at left back while Will Rasmussen grew in strength, winning most of his tackles in the latter stages of the game. Harry Gaff, drafted in as goalie, was excellent and made some crucial saves when it mattered, particularly after Waverley had responded to our early goal in the second half making it 2 - 2. Adam was tremendous in responding down the other end, bringing the score to 2 - 3 and from that moment we were more in control. It was a great game to watch and I was very pleased with the boys and their efforts. We're off to Highfield on Saturday with a squad of 11 and already a few changes will be made. But for today - well done boys! Man of the match: Adam Dewes Team: Harry Gaff, Will Rasmussen, Will Fletcher (C), Jonny Baldry, Will Kirk, Saxon Coop, Adam Dewes
*******CANCELLED******** Waterlogged pitch Saturday 25.11.06 v Sunningdale (Home) 2.30 pm I am sitting writing this in brilliant sunshine and wondering why we are not out on Main Field playing our game. It is a huge disappointment that the game was called off. My team was ready for the match and we were itching to get some goals. In a short season it always very disappointing to have games cancelled. We have some great talent that is coming together as a team and I hope we get to play our remaining fixtures. Apologies to all the fans who had planned to travel to our ground today. Will Fletcher, newly appointed captain, was said to be 'gutted' that he would not be leading his team out. We must now look to next Saturday and our game against Highfield. We have a midweek match but this is a 7-a-side game against Waverley School. Team: Saxon Coop, Will Rasmussen, Patrick Dow, Will Fletcher (C), Jonny Baldry, Will Kirk, Isaac Herring, Michael Wright, Toby Barnard, Tom Cracknell, Adam Dewes SUBS: Julius Manton-Jones, Harry Gaff.
Some of the Colts after a soaking practice
Game 1: Eagle House 1 Cranleigh 5 - Wednesday 22.11.06 Whatever you do don't look at the score and think that we were well beaten. Yes, several things need looking at but our young team played some excellent football at times. Two of their goals were from poor defending errors on our part and another two were good goals well taken, and the other a deflection off Jonny Baldry that Saxon could do nothing about. The positives from our first game were that we passed the ball well and played some clever, thoughtful football. Will Fletcher was my man of the match as he defended like a trooper and worked non-stop throughout the game. Will Kirk (Captain for the day) was great on the right wing and he was up against one of the best players the opposition had. Adam Dewes worked hard, playing more of midfield role today but unfortunately did not get to use his left foot in the area as often as he'd have liked. Cranleigh were a good side with some bigger, older players and they dominated the midfield. We have to be stronger in the centre of the park and put the ball out to our wingers. Too often we gave the ball away too cheaply. This is something we have to get right for Saturday's game against Sunningdale. Defensively we have some work to do. Apart from Will Fletcher we did not quite have the killer instinct and at times gifted the ball to the opposition. We have to be solid at the back and work as a line that instinctively knows what each other is doing. Some changes may have to be made. Saxon Coop (Vice-Captain for the day) was good in goal and should not be held to account for the goals scored. He grew in confidence as the game went on and he will become more secure as the season wears on. Plenty to do before Saturday, but we are not down-hearted. This young Colts side plays some of the nicest football I've seen in a long while we just have to ensure we don't get muscled out of the game. Well done boys - time to move up and on. MWPE
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