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| Football U10A Team 'Blog' |
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Eagle House U10A Squad 2010
Harry Howard, James Erridge, Jack Carling, Charlie Perry, Toby Robinson, Jamie Lunnon ©, Jack Rees
Record P 6 W2 D2 L2 Wednesday 13th October v Lambrook (Home) Lost 0 - 6 The 0 - 6 scorline to be fair reflected the difference between the 2 sides. Lambrook were the best side we have faced this season playing with a high level of skill, organisation and teamwork. That said we battled hard and James in goal made a string of excellent saves. We need to applaud the other team's talent and aspire to work hard and raech new levels next season. Lambrook also had the advantage of having many players who regularly play outside school and this was very evident in their experiance and play. Lambrook scored 6 good goals. 4 through neat passing, working the ball to a free player to shoot and score. We have practiced this in training but clearly not often enough. The other 2 came from a long range shot which went over the keepers head and one when the keeper punched the ball clear from a corner only for it to be returned into the net. We did not create many opportunities of our own as we tended to panic in possession too often resorting to the kick and hope of earlier in the season. Nevertheless as the record shows we have had a fair season with many highs and lows. Well done to Jamie Lunnon who captained the team and to all those who played a part in the 'A' team this season. I hope you have all learned something to take forward into your other sports. Thank you to all the parents who came to support us. Saturday 9th October v Papplewick (Away) Drew 2 -2 A good game in which we, for the most, part played our best football of the season so far. However, after leading 2 - 0 at half time we need to ask why we were not able to get that needed third goal and why knowing there was less than one minute of the game remaining we switched off, got careless and allowed Papplewick to equalise with only seconds remaining. We did play some neat football especially on the counter attack. Players passing the ball wide to Toby and Harry, who looked particulary threatening on the right wing, which gave Jamie and Jack R more space in the middle. It was from these breaks that Jack R put us in front and then an excellent move left Toby unmarked to put us 2 - 0 up at half-time. The second half followed a similar pattern but with Papplewick working harder. We had looked comfortable in defence with James making a string of good saves and Jack C in particular looking strong, clearing any danger quickly and linking up with the mid-field. Papplewick got a goal back when James mis-punched a shot from long range and it finished in the back of our net. We did not let our heads drop and again pushed forward but with no luck. We need to talk more and be quicker, sharper and more accurate with our final touches. Jack C came closest with a thunderous shot from 20m which rattled the cross bar. In the last few minutes Papplewick pressed hard and we defended stoutly but just as we looked to clear the danger the ball came harmlessly back into our penalty area deflected off one our players which wrong footed Jamie and the ball trickled over the line. Final score 2-2. This was a draw that felt like a loss. Knowing we were winning and less than a minute remaining there should have been more passion, fight, determination everyone giving 150% to make sure we won the game. We need to feel disappointed at the final score but should be encouraged that the quality of our football is improving quickly. It will need to improve again with our toughest match against Lambrook still to come. Thanks to all our parents for their continued support.
Saturday 2nd October v St Piran's (Away) Won 5-2 A well desreved win and well done to Will and Josh who stepped in to grab their opportunity to stake a claim for a regular place in the 'A' Team. We had to make changes after the defeat against Hall Grove, Harry and Charlie moved back to defence which allowed our best player Jamie to push up into mid-field with Will taking over on the right wing. The game was evenly balanced to begin with and it took a brilliant shot from Toby to break the deadlock. Sadly for us it was into his own net giving the surprised Josh no chance. Toby was not having a good day, but for once he listened to instructions took his man on, on the outside before hitting another great shot this time in the right net to level the score. We then started to get on top with our confidence and work rate boosted by the equaliser. We pressed hard and after some scrappy defending it was Will who pushed the ball over the line and we took the lead. 'Great celebration Will!' 2 - 1 at half-time. At the half-time talk we decided this was a game we should win and for the first time I saw a little passion and desire in their eyes. We dominated the second half and with Jamie looking to pass the ball wide the quality of football stepped up from some of the kick and hope we have seen so far this season. Hopefully we can build on this before the next match. Jamie dominated the middle of the field and hit a brilliant hat-trick with some good shooting to put the game beyond doubt at 5 - 1. We let in a goal towards the end as a result of bad marking and loss of concentration and communication. But in the end it was a well earned and needed win. Toby had a tough day!! He turned up 15 minutes late for the bus with no kit ( Mr Taylor was not happy) He said the kit was in his Dad's car but when we eventually arrived at St. Piran's it wasn't!! ( Mr Taylor's hair-dryer was already out!) He managed to borrow some kit and to get onto the pitch. 5 minutes into the game he scores a brilliant own goal ( This was not going to be a good day!) Then for a while his luck changed and he scored the equaliser ( Great relief!) When we took control we witnessed some disgraceful behaviour from a St Piran's player when he deliberately and maliciously fouled Toby. ( A red card for sure in the Premier League). Toby picked himself up only to be hacked down again moments later. The boy then walked off like a petulent child and in the interest of the players and spectators should not have returned. At the final whistle I asked Toby to show his sportsmanship and shake hands with the boy who then proceeded to crush his fingers. We got through match tea and Toby left with his dad just about in one piece. On arriving back at Eagle House we found his book bag in the mini-bus!!! We can all ( especially Toby ) learn a lot from the events of saturday afternoon. Wednesday 29th September v Hall Grove (Home) Lost 1 - 6 Overall a fair result with Hall Grove playing with greater skill, power, desire and determination. What the score does not show is that 10 minutes into the first half, thanks to some determined defending and great saves by James, we were leading 1 - 0 and the score was 1 - 1 at half -time. Hall Grove started well as we were too timid but we seemed to weather the storm and as we pushed forward we looked threating with Toby hitting the post before Harry found space to score with a good shot across the keeper. Poor marking in defence left 3 players unmarked and James in goal had no chance with the equaliser. At half-time I thought that if we kept our concentration in defence and we could put pressure on their defender we had a chace but we needed to compete more for the 50/50 balls, be more physical in the challenges and not give the ball away. We could not have got off to a worse start as we gave the ball away for Hall Grove to score twice inside 2 minutes. As our heads dropped Hall Grove's appetite for the game increased and the gulf between the 2 teams became more obvious. We did not give in but looked lost and defeated and the when the final whistle came we looked relieved. We have to improve our physicality, teams will not stand back and let us win, improve our control and passing skills and look to do things with greater pace and intensity. This begins again at practise on Friday. We also need to think about how prepare for the game in the changing rooms and how we behave and entertain our guests at match tea.
Wednesday 22nd September v Yateley Manor (Home) Won 3 - 1 A great result which demonstrated that with hard work and enthusiasm we can overcome and beat good teams. The game overall was evenly balanced with Yateley looking to pass and move the ball around with greater skill but Eagle House tackling determinedly and frustrating the opposition and in particular goalkeeper James Erridge making a string of good saves and challenges. Pressure eventually told and 5 minutes before half-time James was beaten and Yateley Manor took the lead. We responded almost immediately keeping our heads up and Jamie Lunnon equalised with a fabulous shot from well outside the penalty area giving the goalkeeper no chance. 1 - 1 at half-time. The talk at half-time was about being more aware in defence and not leaving players unmarked and about putting more pressure on the Yateley defenders, working and running even harder. This we did in the second half and in the last 5 minutes Yateley started to look tired and we had a little more possession. Yateley half cleared only for Jack Rees to hit a brilliant volley straight back and past the keeper. 2 - 1 to Eagle House. We sensed victory and our work rate increased, Yateley had chances but it was Toby Robinson who had the last word scoring from a difficult angle. A well earned 3 -1 victory at the final whistle. We can and need to improve particularly at passing and maintaining possession, working the ball to create a shooting chance. But for now let's enjoy the win. Well done boys and thanks to the parents for the great support.
Saturday 18th September v Cranleigh (Away) Drew 2-2 The first match of any new season is always a nervous time as coaches are never 100% sure how their team would react when faced with unknown opposition and if the preparations and skills taught are enough to give a good first performance. Mr Taylor has done a very good job in preparing this team and the spectators were given a committed and entreating match form both sides. Although Cranleigh were quicker at settling into their game, the early pressure was absorbed well by Eagle House who became to dominant the first half. Most of the first half was spent in the Cranleigh as time and time again Eagle House pressed for the opening goal. Many corners were conceded and it was long before the well deserved goal was scored. Eagle House finished the first half very strongly. The second half saw a revitalised Cranleigh take the field who wrestled dominance of the game away from Eagle House. With the same type of constant pressure that Eagle House had applied in the first half, it was not long before Cranleigh were able to equalise. Nevertheless The Eagle House heads did not drop and time and time again they looked for a way through to take the lead again. In their own eagerness to take the lead, Cranleigh left Jack Rees unmarked on his own in their half. With a quick break on the left hand side and some neat passing Jack was able to score again thereby giving Eagle House the lead. The final section of the game saw a to and fro game as each side desperately wanted to score again. The determination of Cranleigh finally won through as the Eagle house players tired as constant pressure on the defence led to the conceding of a soft goal. Overall this was a great game to watch and thoroughly entertaining. The skill level was good and the determination and commitment demonstrated by both sides noticeable. James did a fantastic job in goal saving quite a few strong shots which a poorer keeper would have let in. Jamie and James were strong at the back and at times had their work cut out for them. The mid field players, Toby, Harry and Charlie, had a very busy and tiring afternoon helping the defence and supporting Jack up front. Perhaps with more match practise and confidence this was actually a match that Eagle House could have won. Nevertheless a draw is a fair reflection of this brilliant game.
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