Post by redway on May 13, 2011 9:12:54 GMT
CYFL League Match
Sunday the 8th May
Squad: Dan Shaw, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Luke Parker, Brandon Banda, Kev Feldman, Jack Croxford, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Steve Blood.
Goal Scorers: Liam Scott & Matty Cullis
Our penultimate game of the season saw us somewhat reduced in the ranks to just 10 men, due to injury, suspension, and a clash with a County Cup final that saw Westy, Alex and Blakey playing in that game. That's said, the lads acquitted themselves really well, to say we hadn't played together much over the last 2 weeks or so. The game itself was something of a dead rubber with neither side able to now win anything other than the game in front of them.
On a deceptively hot day with a strengthening wind, we kicked off on the slightly down hill half of the pitch, we played the elements to our advantage as we knew we could well run out of energy trying to play our normal game, and so we had to go a little more direct at times that we normally would, but sometimes you just have to adjust.
Dan's excellent kicking was a big help, his distribution was good, and right on target, we played a 4, 4, 1 with Liam up top on his own, and the plan was for Steve B to push up and join quickly when we attacked, after about 10 Min's or so this just wasn't working, so some good decisions from the pitch changed that around and Matt then pushed and Steve sat, Dan launched another huge kick and with two lads now sitting on the defenders shoulder it was all about who could deal with the bomb first that was falling out of stratosphere. the fatal error of letting the ball bounce played to our advantage, Matt was off to the left of the penalty box, watched it come over his left shoulder then volleyed into the net to beat the keeper and put us one up, it was a good goal, and the change worked.
We then had the good sense to just sit and hold the ball for a while until our energy and composure returned, Bedford were by now pulling themselves together after that set back. Dan had very few saves to make and we quickly dropped back into two banks of four when defending, our makeshift defense comprised of the ever present Luke at left back, Crox and jumping Johnny Harman in the middle and Banda at right back, Eben was just in front on the right flank and Kevo out on the left.
It was clear that some had not played for a bit,but we kept trying to play the way we can, and built up some momentum with some good link play, that saw us draw a foul just outside the penalty box and to the left. Another chance to test the keeper, Liam this time stepped up for this one, he struck it really well, and bang on target, it just clipped the fingertips of the keeper and into the roof of the net it went, a really well executed goal. 2 nil up before halftime was probably more that we anticipated, but we were well worth the value.
Bedford continued to probe and a mazzy little run from their left winger saw him clipped in our penalty box and the ref had to blow for a peno, that was then dispatched to claw one back for the home side.
The halftime break came shortly after, and a big pat on the back for the lads who had worked hard, three of whom had played for the resreves the day before.
So the second half was a continued consolidation of what we had, and if the opportunity came to break out and go for a winner then we would. A one on one situation with there striker V Dan, and Dan pulled off an excellent save to keep the scoreline in our favour.
In the end we had numerous opportunities to do just that with Liam having several good chances, but the old shooting boots deserted him at the vital moment, arh well it didn't really matter today.
The game petered out with Newport continuing to enjoy most of the possession, we had done well here considering we were playing a squad of 15, we had some tired legs and blisters for some but we won at the end, and the lads had put a good shift. Always good to win football matches I think!
Next Sunday sees our final game of the season, and for all the lads there final game at youth level after 10 years, lets hope its a good finale for them.
Well done lads, see you all next Sunday.
Onwards & Upwards!!
Sunday the 8th May
Squad: Dan Shaw, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Luke Parker, Brandon Banda, Kev Feldman, Jack Croxford, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Steve Blood.
Goal Scorers: Liam Scott & Matty Cullis
Our penultimate game of the season saw us somewhat reduced in the ranks to just 10 men, due to injury, suspension, and a clash with a County Cup final that saw Westy, Alex and Blakey playing in that game. That's said, the lads acquitted themselves really well, to say we hadn't played together much over the last 2 weeks or so. The game itself was something of a dead rubber with neither side able to now win anything other than the game in front of them.
On a deceptively hot day with a strengthening wind, we kicked off on the slightly down hill half of the pitch, we played the elements to our advantage as we knew we could well run out of energy trying to play our normal game, and so we had to go a little more direct at times that we normally would, but sometimes you just have to adjust.
Dan's excellent kicking was a big help, his distribution was good, and right on target, we played a 4, 4, 1 with Liam up top on his own, and the plan was for Steve B to push up and join quickly when we attacked, after about 10 Min's or so this just wasn't working, so some good decisions from the pitch changed that around and Matt then pushed and Steve sat, Dan launched another huge kick and with two lads now sitting on the defenders shoulder it was all about who could deal with the bomb first that was falling out of stratosphere. the fatal error of letting the ball bounce played to our advantage, Matt was off to the left of the penalty box, watched it come over his left shoulder then volleyed into the net to beat the keeper and put us one up, it was a good goal, and the change worked.
We then had the good sense to just sit and hold the ball for a while until our energy and composure returned, Bedford were by now pulling themselves together after that set back. Dan had very few saves to make and we quickly dropped back into two banks of four when defending, our makeshift defense comprised of the ever present Luke at left back, Crox and jumping Johnny Harman in the middle and Banda at right back, Eben was just in front on the right flank and Kevo out on the left.
It was clear that some had not played for a bit,but we kept trying to play the way we can, and built up some momentum with some good link play, that saw us draw a foul just outside the penalty box and to the left. Another chance to test the keeper, Liam this time stepped up for this one, he struck it really well, and bang on target, it just clipped the fingertips of the keeper and into the roof of the net it went, a really well executed goal. 2 nil up before halftime was probably more that we anticipated, but we were well worth the value.
Bedford continued to probe and a mazzy little run from their left winger saw him clipped in our penalty box and the ref had to blow for a peno, that was then dispatched to claw one back for the home side.
The halftime break came shortly after, and a big pat on the back for the lads who had worked hard, three of whom had played for the resreves the day before.
So the second half was a continued consolidation of what we had, and if the opportunity came to break out and go for a winner then we would. A one on one situation with there striker V Dan, and Dan pulled off an excellent save to keep the scoreline in our favour.
In the end we had numerous opportunities to do just that with Liam having several good chances, but the old shooting boots deserted him at the vital moment, arh well it didn't really matter today.
The game petered out with Newport continuing to enjoy most of the possession, we had done well here considering we were playing a squad of 15, we had some tired legs and blisters for some but we won at the end, and the lads had put a good shift. Always good to win football matches I think!
Next Sunday sees our final game of the season, and for all the lads there final game at youth level after 10 years, lets hope its a good finale for them.
Well done lads, see you all next Sunday.
Onwards & Upwards!!