Post by redway on Apr 26, 2010 6:55:21 GMT
Match Report: 25th April 2010:
Bedford Town Youth A 2 v 4 NPTFC Lions
Half – Time: 0 - 1
Scorers: John Harman, Mitch Tofts, Ross Wheeler and Liam Scott
Well after three years of being the perpetual bridesmaid we made it and with this victory and Leighton’s defeat to Dunstable we are Champions of the u15 Chiltern Youth League. Looking about the parents and management at full time I wasn’t sure what the emotion was probably a mixture of relief and elation. It is a fantastic achievement more for the fact we are unbeaten ..ahem disregarding that warm up game against the now defunct GNG Tigers.
A massive congratulations also to John and Michael for at last all their work with the lads on the training ground and in the matches has been rewarded. For John specifically his patience and belief in how he wanted the team to play football have finally got him and the team the silverware they richly deserved. We all probably feel it has been long overdue. One other specific mention has to be made of Mr Administration Ian Cullis. Meticulous as always his behind the scenes work has kept everything in order and planned and enabled those playing the football and managing to concentrate on just that.
On to the game which was played on a vast expanse of a pitch in Bedford. We made a couple of changes from Thursday with Johnny H starting in midfield and Ross at centre back. Again more an adaption of our tactics than a comment on how anyone played in midweek. As it turned out it was a masterstroke as Johnny was outstanding and scored a fine goal after 30 minutes drilling a ball in from the edge of the box....were you watching Brandon! Throughout the game he was everywhere, breaking up attacks and driving our attacks forward. Despite the size of the pitch we didn’t pass the ball very well in the first period with but we did create chances for Liam, Westy, Mitch and Matt but whilst some were easier than others we spurned them all. At the other end Dan was felled by a nasty foul early on and then the Chuckle brothers were too indecisive and let the Bedford skipper have a free shot which he put wide. Other than that we defended okay but without showing real conviction....cue another JT and MB half time pick me up.
It worked a treat as we came out the blocks firing on all cylinders and looking like a football team. We moved the ball earlier and with more purpose. The second goal came within minutes when Jack Allen played the ball to Matty who spread the play across for Liam to roll in Mitch to drill the ball home. Excellent goal and better than anything we had created thus far. 5 minutes later and more Lions pressure saw us win a corner. The ball was swung over and Matt’s header hit the foot of the post and was half cleared to Ross who drilled a shot into the net. An audible sigh of relief around the touchline and a scramble for mobile phones and numbers for Leighton or Dunstable parents.....bit premature? Of course it was because we are Newport Lions and we don’t like doing it the easy way. Bedford committed men to attack now and look a far more difficult proposition when doing this as they have some very talented ball players.
From the side we looked like we stepped of f the gas and invited the attacks. Dan had already made two good stops when a third down our right saw the Bedford striker beat Dan to the ball on the deck and score. We did pick up marginally but not before Dan fisted another attack clear. However we did look dangerous on the break and 8 minutes from time a move involving Eben and Kevin saw the latter challenge the last defender for the ball. As he did the ball broke for Liam and he calmly lobbed over the keeper. Just reward for another good performance, and consolation for some of the bruises.
Three goals up again even we couldn’t throw this away – hold on we are trying - a contested foul outside the box was not cleared and a blue foot pushed the ball past Dan. Fortunately not much after that to everyone’s relief and the final whistle was greeted with whoops of delight from all. Now we wait and we wait and we wait.........Dunstable in front and we have made it.
Great performance all season from the lads and congratulations all round. In the past we have somehow conspired to just miss out but I think we had something more this year, which was possibly our missing ingredient. We now have a really good squad who play as a team, they remain well coached and well managed, but are also well disciplined.
When the going got tough we were much stronger mentally and key players stepped up to the plate. Winning a league isn’t luck as you can’t just win a few games and pick up a trophy as you can with a cup. It is consistency and determination to do it over 16 weeks of the season.
It is my first year writing the reports on these games and all jokes aside the team have developed week on week and the whole Lions squad; the players, managers and supporters have done themselves, the team and the club proud.
Two games to go in the league and a cup semi......lets do it in style
Next game v Leighton Town – Vandyke School, Leighton Buzzard.
Squad: Dan Shaw, Luke Parker, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Kevin Feldman, Mitch Tofts, Brandon Banda, Jack Allen, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Ross Wheeler, Jack Croxford, Dan Booth, and Alex Collard
Bedford Town Youth A 2 v 4 NPTFC Lions
Half – Time: 0 - 1
Scorers: John Harman, Mitch Tofts, Ross Wheeler and Liam Scott
Well after three years of being the perpetual bridesmaid we made it and with this victory and Leighton’s defeat to Dunstable we are Champions of the u15 Chiltern Youth League. Looking about the parents and management at full time I wasn’t sure what the emotion was probably a mixture of relief and elation. It is a fantastic achievement more for the fact we are unbeaten ..ahem disregarding that warm up game against the now defunct GNG Tigers.
A massive congratulations also to John and Michael for at last all their work with the lads on the training ground and in the matches has been rewarded. For John specifically his patience and belief in how he wanted the team to play football have finally got him and the team the silverware they richly deserved. We all probably feel it has been long overdue. One other specific mention has to be made of Mr Administration Ian Cullis. Meticulous as always his behind the scenes work has kept everything in order and planned and enabled those playing the football and managing to concentrate on just that.
On to the game which was played on a vast expanse of a pitch in Bedford. We made a couple of changes from Thursday with Johnny H starting in midfield and Ross at centre back. Again more an adaption of our tactics than a comment on how anyone played in midweek. As it turned out it was a masterstroke as Johnny was outstanding and scored a fine goal after 30 minutes drilling a ball in from the edge of the box....were you watching Brandon! Throughout the game he was everywhere, breaking up attacks and driving our attacks forward. Despite the size of the pitch we didn’t pass the ball very well in the first period with but we did create chances for Liam, Westy, Mitch and Matt but whilst some were easier than others we spurned them all. At the other end Dan was felled by a nasty foul early on and then the Chuckle brothers were too indecisive and let the Bedford skipper have a free shot which he put wide. Other than that we defended okay but without showing real conviction....cue another JT and MB half time pick me up.
It worked a treat as we came out the blocks firing on all cylinders and looking like a football team. We moved the ball earlier and with more purpose. The second goal came within minutes when Jack Allen played the ball to Matty who spread the play across for Liam to roll in Mitch to drill the ball home. Excellent goal and better than anything we had created thus far. 5 minutes later and more Lions pressure saw us win a corner. The ball was swung over and Matt’s header hit the foot of the post and was half cleared to Ross who drilled a shot into the net. An audible sigh of relief around the touchline and a scramble for mobile phones and numbers for Leighton or Dunstable parents.....bit premature? Of course it was because we are Newport Lions and we don’t like doing it the easy way. Bedford committed men to attack now and look a far more difficult proposition when doing this as they have some very talented ball players.
From the side we looked like we stepped of f the gas and invited the attacks. Dan had already made two good stops when a third down our right saw the Bedford striker beat Dan to the ball on the deck and score. We did pick up marginally but not before Dan fisted another attack clear. However we did look dangerous on the break and 8 minutes from time a move involving Eben and Kevin saw the latter challenge the last defender for the ball. As he did the ball broke for Liam and he calmly lobbed over the keeper. Just reward for another good performance, and consolation for some of the bruises.
Three goals up again even we couldn’t throw this away – hold on we are trying - a contested foul outside the box was not cleared and a blue foot pushed the ball past Dan. Fortunately not much after that to everyone’s relief and the final whistle was greeted with whoops of delight from all. Now we wait and we wait and we wait.........Dunstable in front and we have made it.
Great performance all season from the lads and congratulations all round. In the past we have somehow conspired to just miss out but I think we had something more this year, which was possibly our missing ingredient. We now have a really good squad who play as a team, they remain well coached and well managed, but are also well disciplined.
When the going got tough we were much stronger mentally and key players stepped up to the plate. Winning a league isn’t luck as you can’t just win a few games and pick up a trophy as you can with a cup. It is consistency and determination to do it over 16 weeks of the season.
It is my first year writing the reports on these games and all jokes aside the team have developed week on week and the whole Lions squad; the players, managers and supporters have done themselves, the team and the club proud.
Two games to go in the league and a cup semi......lets do it in style
Next game v Leighton Town – Vandyke School, Leighton Buzzard.
Squad: Dan Shaw, Luke Parker, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Kevin Feldman, Mitch Tofts, Brandon Banda, Jack Allen, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Ross Wheeler, Jack Croxford, Dan Booth, and Alex Collard
