Post by redway on Mar 7, 2011 18:20:36 GMT
Match: Olney town U17 V NPTFC U16
Friendly
Goal Scorer: Kevin Feldman
Newport Squad: Jack Allen, Brandon Banda, Steve Blood, Jack Croxford, Matty Cullis, Kevin Feldman, Luke Parker, Dan Shaw, Mitchell Tofts, Eben Darko, Guest squad members, Harry, Jimmy, Nick
.
A cracking little game to fill in what would have been a blank weekend for the Lions, with all our league opponents engaged in league cup games and so the opportunity to have a friendly came up and thanks to Ian Clarke and his Olney team for helping to facilitate on Sunday.
We played at Olney on the first team pitch, which was a "Big Un" the weather at last was great for football, and that strange sensation under the lads feet, was firm ground.
The game kicked off with both teams keen to make the most out of the game, well it didn't take long for the lions to take the game by the scruff as it were and straight from the kick off a loose ball from Olney, saw it picked up in our own half, a quick through ball to Banda, who upped his pace, went by a couple of defenders, and with a killer pass to Kevo who slotted home under the keeper to take us into a very quick lead, very quick indeed, barely 30 seconds had gone from the clock, but we had a long way to go, 89 minutes to be exact!
Noticeable again this week was the way the Lions went about there football, good amount of communication throughout, not least from Luke, there was plenty of encouragement from everyone for the three lads from the Tigers team, who were able to step in and help make up a team, all the lads gave a good account of themselves so well done.
The game was of course a physical competition, but no quarter was given by the Lions with some crunching tackles to win balls. that said the game was played in a great spirit throughout.
The Lions had for the early part of the game, quite a lot of possession with Banda, Eben and Kevo having good games, the team was Band & Kev up front, both played well all game with Kevo bagging a hatrick, the middle was Eben, Matt, Steve B, Nick C on the left, the back four was Luke Crox, Mitch, Jack A.
Olney gradually started to get going, particularly the big no12 upfront man showed how good movement, and a good work rate can cause defenders all sorts of problems, that said our make shift back four coped really well for the most part. It was midway through the first half when Olney finally broke through and grabbed an equalizer, undeterred we carried on with our sense of determination and some really nice phases of play that resulted in more chances but not any more goals at this time.
An Olney free kick outside the box was struck well, it didn't get dealt with in the air, and so the next time a NP player touched the ball was when Dan picked it out of the net. A relatively sloppy goal conceded, skipper Parker wasn't happy, and he let the lads at the back no about it!!
The tackles and challenges continued to fly in and the ref who was trying to let the game flow, and we are all for that, but flowed a little too much, and so caused he brought the wrath of the players upon himself, the half drew to a close, and it had been a good first half to be honest with everyone playing quite well, we didn't deal with one ball and it cost them, still plenty of time, and the Lions had been here before and so there was no undue concern in the camp, this was after all a friendly and we wanted much more out of the game than the result.
A couple of changes that saw Nick going off and Harry HP coming on at left wing, and Steve B going off for Jimmy in midfield, the lads got off to a good start we looked fresh and, well despite all the personnel changes, and new faces, a bit like our old selves, with a really determined look about us, maybe a shuffle about of places freshens things up a little and re focus's the mind.
Eben continued to give the Olney left side a torrid time, and was at the left back all game really, getting to the bye line and squaring it, it was encouraging to see. The lions continued to build pressure and a another good run by Banda who held the front line well all game, saw his shot loop just over the keeper and looked to be going out but in screamed Kevo and slammed the ball (like he does) into the roof of the net to grab the equalizer, it was no more than we deserved and some reward for some excellent work so far.
Again the game settled into a pattern as we went deeper into the half and Steve Blood was back on at left wing this time and had some good periods of play interlinking with the central midfielders, one exchange resulted in the boy Blood, baring down on the goal now vacated by the keeper, who had a rush of blood (not ours, his) and so with goal gapingDrogba I mean Steve B booted it straight over the bar. How much did we just pay for him!!!! Only joking Steve.
That was a get out of jail card played for Olney, who continued to pump diagonal balls over to our left back, they seemed to sense they would get some joy from their, a good cross in from their winger saw a great header fired onto our goal and with Mr Consistency Jack Allen leaping like the proverbial salmon (Tin Of) and cleared from the line, well done Allen who just keeps having a good games for us this year.
It was yet another long ball over the top that had our defenders on their heels and twisting and turning a little at the back, the striker saw that he had his defenders wrong footed and made the most of it, he finally took his shot and the ball went round Dan and in it went to take them back into the lead
So we got going again, continued to keep the ball, some good mature football was played, with patient build up, not rushing or panicking, the lads seem to have enough confidence and experience about them to know how to work there way out of this situation, which they eventually dd with some good build up play that saw Kevin bare down on the keeper with what looked like a goal in the waiting, (now bare with me on this bit) the ball seem to come off the keeper and to all the world looked like it was going out, but Kev stuck to his task, followed up retrieved a lost ball from the bye line, brought it back out to the six yard box, went round a defender and hit it to the right of the keeper and grabbed us the equalizer, a really good individual effort, well done Kevo!
The game clock ran down, and a draw was fair result, it had been a good game, (and that's coming from someone who has seen a few pigs in pokes recently) It was enjoyable to watch and the spirit was great with the Lions well able to up their game and adapt to the changes, well done to everyone today a good game played over the 90 minutes.
A couple were blowing out of their rear ends towards the end, to which I say, there is no substitution for hard graft put in on the training ground!!
Thanks once again to Ian Clarke and his U17's who are a decent side, we all enjoyed the game, and thanks for booking the weather!
Up next, Bedford Town Yth A, in the league quarter finals back at Willen Road.
Friendly
Goal Scorer: Kevin Feldman
Newport Squad: Jack Allen, Brandon Banda, Steve Blood, Jack Croxford, Matty Cullis, Kevin Feldman, Luke Parker, Dan Shaw, Mitchell Tofts, Eben Darko, Guest squad members, Harry, Jimmy, Nick
.
A cracking little game to fill in what would have been a blank weekend for the Lions, with all our league opponents engaged in league cup games and so the opportunity to have a friendly came up and thanks to Ian Clarke and his Olney team for helping to facilitate on Sunday.
We played at Olney on the first team pitch, which was a "Big Un" the weather at last was great for football, and that strange sensation under the lads feet, was firm ground.
The game kicked off with both teams keen to make the most out of the game, well it didn't take long for the lions to take the game by the scruff as it were and straight from the kick off a loose ball from Olney, saw it picked up in our own half, a quick through ball to Banda, who upped his pace, went by a couple of defenders, and with a killer pass to Kevo who slotted home under the keeper to take us into a very quick lead, very quick indeed, barely 30 seconds had gone from the clock, but we had a long way to go, 89 minutes to be exact!
Noticeable again this week was the way the Lions went about there football, good amount of communication throughout, not least from Luke, there was plenty of encouragement from everyone for the three lads from the Tigers team, who were able to step in and help make up a team, all the lads gave a good account of themselves so well done.
The game was of course a physical competition, but no quarter was given by the Lions with some crunching tackles to win balls. that said the game was played in a great spirit throughout.
The Lions had for the early part of the game, quite a lot of possession with Banda, Eben and Kevo having good games, the team was Band & Kev up front, both played well all game with Kevo bagging a hatrick, the middle was Eben, Matt, Steve B, Nick C on the left, the back four was Luke Crox, Mitch, Jack A.
Olney gradually started to get going, particularly the big no12 upfront man showed how good movement, and a good work rate can cause defenders all sorts of problems, that said our make shift back four coped really well for the most part. It was midway through the first half when Olney finally broke through and grabbed an equalizer, undeterred we carried on with our sense of determination and some really nice phases of play that resulted in more chances but not any more goals at this time.
An Olney free kick outside the box was struck well, it didn't get dealt with in the air, and so the next time a NP player touched the ball was when Dan picked it out of the net. A relatively sloppy goal conceded, skipper Parker wasn't happy, and he let the lads at the back no about it!!
The tackles and challenges continued to fly in and the ref who was trying to let the game flow, and we are all for that, but flowed a little too much, and so caused he brought the wrath of the players upon himself, the half drew to a close, and it had been a good first half to be honest with everyone playing quite well, we didn't deal with one ball and it cost them, still plenty of time, and the Lions had been here before and so there was no undue concern in the camp, this was after all a friendly and we wanted much more out of the game than the result.
A couple of changes that saw Nick going off and Harry HP coming on at left wing, and Steve B going off for Jimmy in midfield, the lads got off to a good start we looked fresh and, well despite all the personnel changes, and new faces, a bit like our old selves, with a really determined look about us, maybe a shuffle about of places freshens things up a little and re focus's the mind.
Eben continued to give the Olney left side a torrid time, and was at the left back all game really, getting to the bye line and squaring it, it was encouraging to see. The lions continued to build pressure and a another good run by Banda who held the front line well all game, saw his shot loop just over the keeper and looked to be going out but in screamed Kevo and slammed the ball (like he does) into the roof of the net to grab the equalizer, it was no more than we deserved and some reward for some excellent work so far.
Again the game settled into a pattern as we went deeper into the half and Steve Blood was back on at left wing this time and had some good periods of play interlinking with the central midfielders, one exchange resulted in the boy Blood, baring down on the goal now vacated by the keeper, who had a rush of blood (not ours, his) and so with goal gaping
That was a get out of jail card played for Olney, who continued to pump diagonal balls over to our left back, they seemed to sense they would get some joy from their, a good cross in from their winger saw a great header fired onto our goal and with Mr Consistency Jack Allen leaping like the proverbial salmon (Tin Of) and cleared from the line, well done Allen who just keeps having a good games for us this year.
It was yet another long ball over the top that had our defenders on their heels and twisting and turning a little at the back, the striker saw that he had his defenders wrong footed and made the most of it, he finally took his shot and the ball went round Dan and in it went to take them back into the lead
So we got going again, continued to keep the ball, some good mature football was played, with patient build up, not rushing or panicking, the lads seem to have enough confidence and experience about them to know how to work there way out of this situation, which they eventually dd with some good build up play that saw Kevin bare down on the keeper with what looked like a goal in the waiting, (now bare with me on this bit) the ball seem to come off the keeper and to all the world looked like it was going out, but Kev stuck to his task, followed up retrieved a lost ball from the bye line, brought it back out to the six yard box, went round a defender and hit it to the right of the keeper and grabbed us the equalizer, a really good individual effort, well done Kevo!
The game clock ran down, and a draw was fair result, it had been a good game, (and that's coming from someone who has seen a few pigs in pokes recently) It was enjoyable to watch and the spirit was great with the Lions well able to up their game and adapt to the changes, well done to everyone today a good game played over the 90 minutes.
A couple were blowing out of their rear ends towards the end, to which I say, there is no substitution for hard graft put in on the training ground!!
Thanks once again to Ian Clarke and his U17's who are a decent side, we all enjoyed the game, and thanks for booking the weather!
Up next, Bedford Town Yth A, in the league quarter finals back at Willen Road.