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| Football Colts A Team 'Blog' |
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Played: 4 Won: 2 Drawn: 0 Lost: 2 Goals for: 15 Goals against: 10 Wednesday 28th November v Daneshill @ 2.30pm Home Eagle House 2 Daneshill 6 It is always great to watch a team who move the ball around the field and compete for every ball - unfortunately that was not us today! We were up against some very good opposition who were skilful, thoughtful and precise. We were bystanders in the first half and just watched as our midfield and defence were taken apart. After our two good wins this was a reality that we could not deal with and ball after ball was given away and not won back. There was some stunning play from Daneshill and their goals were clinically taken. Our defenders were not working too well together and goal number two for Daneshill was unfortunately put into the net by Elliott Hunt, making a brave stab at defending a dangerous ball. Elliott should not blame himself as he was committed for most of the game and played some great defensive lunges. Daneshill's fourth goal was a lovely lob that beat both defender and goal keeper. 4 - 0 down is not great for team morale and one or two heads went down. The second half was a more entertaining affair and we competed for the ball and got stuck in, playing some hard tackles. We were losing a lot of ball in the midfield and Daneshill just launched attack after attack in our box. Thor Winkler played well, although he was left stranded a couple of times and could do nothing with the powerful shots that swept past him. In some ways this was a disappointing way to end our very brief season, but I was also pleased with the way certain players stuck at the task. Will Kirk shouted encouragement to the team time throughout and never gave up, and George Wilks stepped up to the plate and gave a strong performance. As the second half wore on we were 6 - 0 down and it was a shame to see the confident side from Saturday look down and beaten. But all was not lost, as the last five mintues were to prove. We were able to build the ball from the half way line and found Adam Dewes who played the ball through the keeper's legs and into the net. Some pride was restored and heads went up. Play shifted to the other end and they struck, only to shoot wide of the goal and force a goal kick. The play went our way and a corner was given against Daneshill in the last few minutes. Will Kirk kicked the best corner he's taken all season and the keeper could only tip the ball into the net. 6 - 2 and we were left with some some consolation. Daneshill were a tremendous side and we could learn a lot from their style of play. So the short season draws to an end and I am delighted to have watched some entertaining football from a talented yet inexperienced side. Some colours will follow once they have been announced in school. It has been a pleasure to coach the side and I hope they have enjoyed their football. Thank you boys. Man of the Match: Will 'Captain' Kirk Special mention to: George Wilks who worked hard in the second half, Elliott Hunt for brave defending. Sweet GOAAAALLLL!: Will Kirk - the best corner kick this season! Team: Thor Winkler, Elliott Hunt, Richard Morgan, Zeus Sekwalor, Julius Manton-Jones, Toby Barnard, Karl Akunwa, Tom Cracknell, Will Kirk©, Adam Dewes, George Wilks.
Saturday 24th November v Sunningdale @ 2.30pm Home Eagle House 6 Sunningdale 0 Following on from Wednesday's success we recorded another great victory. With some games and practices behind us we have really started to gel as a team and played some excellent football. Calling to each other and using the space that our pitch affords us, we are enjoying the game and displaying real talent on the ball. After a fairly even start Adam Dewes opened the scoring with a well taken goal in the 13th minute. This was to be Adam's afternoon and he played with some great skill and sweet touches. Five minutes later Adam broke away from the Sunningdale defence and scored another beauty that gave us the confidence to move the ball around and try out some of the ideas that we have discussed in practice. Within a few minutes goal number three was chalked up - a superb header from Adam and his hattrick. The half, in its dying moments, saw George Wilks play in a lovely ball to make the score 4 - 0 at half time. We were on a role and I thought the commitment from all the players was excellent. At half time the talk was all about keeping up the pressure and moving the ball around in order to create more chances. The second half saw a good start from Sunningdale and they defended well, using their off side trap to good effect. Our defenders were on form today as well and credit must go to Elliott Hunt, Julius Manton-Jones, Richard Morgan and Zeus Sekwalor. Elliott played some great balls up to the attacking players and has shaken off the jitters from earlier in the season. We played good football as the second half progressed but could not find a way through. Sunningdale defenders dispatched two of the Nike balls into the pond and looked to have secured their goal. But some intense pressure from the Eagle House attack saw Adam Dewes take another great shot and score his fourth goal. As the minutes ticked away Zeus Sekwalor thumped in a super ball from just outside the area and with a slight touch from Karl Akunwa we ended the game six goals up. It would be remiss not to mention the fine efforts of the midfield and as usual the captain, Will Kirk, led by example. Tom Cracknell played solidly and helped provide our attackers with good balls and Toby Barnard was tireless on the field. Thor Winkler, on his birthday, kept a clean sheet and was relatively untroubled, although when called upon dealt superbly with the threats. A great effort boys - let's do it again on Wednesday. Man of the Match: Adam GOAL!!!! Dewes Special mention to: Elliott Hunt for great defending, Toby Barnard for total commitment. Sweet GOAAAALLLL! : Adam Dewes (goal number 3 - The Header) and Zeus Sekwalor's thumping shot from out of the box. Team: Thor Winkler, Elliott Hunt, Richard Morgan, Zeus Sekwalor, Julius Manton-Jones, Toby Barnard, Karl Akunwa, Tom Cracknell, Will Kirk©, Adam Dewes, George Wilks.
The Mighty Colts A after their victory at Cranleigh Wednesday 21st November v Cranleigh @ 2.30pm Away Cranleigh 2 Eagle House 6 What a difference a week makes (along with a few practices!). We played some great football today and most importantly we played as a team. On what would be described as a boggy pitch we began a little hesitantly and were guilty of giving some early ball away. Once we began to think a little we settled down and played some good moving ball. Our first goal came from George Wilks and was the result of getting the ball into the area through good build-up play. We were by no means in control of the game though and we were missing out on those central midfield challenges. A break by Cranleigh led to one of their players being brought down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Thor made a valiant effort but the ball deflected off his hands and rolled into the net. At 1-1 anything is possible and the best response is to come back quickly. We did just that and Will Kirk put us ahead with a good strike. The half time whistle saw us in a good position and we were ready to get back into the game. It is strange how a few minutes can change the play and we were second best in the first five minutes of the second half. Giving ball away and not making the tackles with enough commitment. One of the lessons of this game is that you only get results by giving your all for the whole game, something we found hard last week. Once we had taken control of the ball and found ourselves in Cranleigh's area Adam Dewes put the third goal in and our game changed completely. We were a team worth watching, moving the ball out wide, competing for every ball and using our skill to keep possession. Even when we lost ball and we did - Cranleigh were not taking any of this lying down - we worked hard to get it back and this led to a fourth goal by Toby Barnard. In any game confidence is a wonderful thing and we were playing with a confidence that we would do well to remember. Karl Akumwa showed off more of his skill in this game and he played a superb ball down the left wing, winning the one-on-ones and finishing with a superb shot that finished in the top corner of the Cranleigh net. This would be a contender for Match of the Day's Goal of the Month. At this stage the game was in our hands and we were to secure another goal from George Wilks. Cranleigh showed they were not beaten and scored a second goal running through our defence who need to remember to stay focused at all times. This was a very pleasing performance from the side and everyone had something to be proud of. Tom Cracknell had a superb game and worked hard throughout, delivering ball into the area with great skill. Will Kirk played with his usual commitment and controlled the right wing. Zeus Sekwalor was hard working in defence and I was pleased with Toby Barnard who as soon as he lost out in the tackle was straight back in, often winning it and feeding our other attacking players. Well done to all the team. Let's show progress by performing well on Saturday. Man of the Match: Tom Cracknell Special mention to Elliott Hunt who worked hard in defence along with Julius M-J. Richard Morgan had a quieter game today, obviously saving himself for Saturday's contest! Sweet GOAAAALLLL!: Karl Akunwa Team: Thor Winkler, Elliott Hunt, Richard Morgan, Zeus Sekwalor, Julius Manton-Jones, Toby Barnard, Karl Akunwa, Tom Cracknell, Will Kirk©, Adam Dewes, George Wilks.
Wednesday 14th November v Pilgrims School @ 2.30pm Home Eagle House 1 Pilgrims 2 Well, we looked like a team of players who had had just one practice, although this to take nothing away from the opposition who were skilful opponents. The main problem was that we were so anxious to off-load the ball that we ended up giving it away. The first half showed that it is vital to take control of the midfield and deliver ball to the forwards who can then work their magic. Unfortunately the magic was not allowed to even take out its wand as ball after ball went straight onto Pilgrims' feet. We have to take control of the game and hold up the ball long enough to be able to make an effective pass. We did get one or two breaks into their area and ended up scoring with a clever shot from George Wilks. This meant that we were 1 - 0 up and we should have taken more control of the game and closed down their free moving players. Their reply was to create a lovely move that ended in a great goal being scored. Richard Morgan was the mainstay of our side and defended ball after ball - some lifesavers - well done. The second half allowed our subs to come on and for the first five minutes we looked to have listened to the advice given at half time. Very quickly we went back to giving ball after ball away and our defensive play was pretty headless at times. The midfield could not get the ball up to Adam and the team seemed to stand by, rather compete for those 50/50 balls. So much of this was because of a lack of practice but there needed to be more thinking and more team communication. Pilgrims came at us and scored a good goal to make the match 2 - 1. We should have taken the game to them and tried to get that equaliser but we seemed to have gone to sleep. We are a talented group of players but we have to play as a team and use each other. Plenty to work on in practice and a tougher resolve to put things right. . . .The trials of football management! Come on boys! Man of the Match: Richard the wall Morgan Special mention to Will Kirk - great effort / Thor Winkler - strength in goal Team: Thor Winkler, Elliott Hunt, Richard Morgan, Hamza Rubbani, Toby Barnard, Karl Akunwa, Tom Cracknell, Isaac Herring, Will Kirk©, Adam Dewes, George Wilks. Subs: Julius Manton-Jones, Zeus Sekwalor, Oliver Cook
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