TRAINING & MATCHES - SAT 31 OCTOBER

Hi all

Training is on as usual at 5:45pm on Friday at County Offices, pitch 3. Robbie cannot make this Friday so we will work on the same drills as last week.

Match as follows:

SATURDAY 31st October at 09:00 KO (so 08:30 arrival) HOME at Waverton pitches

Rockets v Vicars Cross

Team

Zac (c)
George 
Alex
Bailey
William
Charlie
Harry
Rory

With Hugo and Will B both away we will need volunteers to play 10 mins each in goal. William will start in goal!

Rested

Hugo
Finlay
Will B

If anyone cannot play please let me know me know ASAP.

Thanks

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 24 OCT

UPTON 1 : 4 ROCKETS

Our second win of the campaign after a couple of unlucky results was well deserved.

I think we all knew some good results were coming after another fantastic training session with Robbie Mills where all the lads put in a tremendous effort on a complicated drill which got the boys passing, moving and understanding space. I'm sure everyone will agree that the lads looked really sharp last Friday.

I am still awaiting the final match report from Paul but I'm told we played really well, with a strong defensive base and lots of creativity going forward. Paul commented that every one of the lads played their part and we looked really committed from the start.

We have a tough match versus Vicars Cross this weekend but following that we have some games which could result in us putting together a positive run if we can keep up the momentum.

The boys should be really pleased with our progress.

TRAINING & MATCHES - SAT 24 OCTOBER

Hi all 

Training (again with Robbie Mills helping) is on as usual at 5:45pm on Friday at County Offices, pitch 3. All players please as these are important team sessions.

We have a friendly match as follows:

SATURDAY 24^th October at 09:30am KO (so 09:00 arrival) AWAY at Upton Panthers

Acresfield Primary School

Acres Lane
Upton
CH2 1LJ

Team

Hugo (g)
Alex
Will B
Bailey
William
Charlie
Harry
Finlay
Rory

Rested

Zac (MOTM last week and will captain our match on 31/10^th)
George

If anyone cannot play please let me know me know ASAP.

Thanks

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 17 OCT

Rockets 2 : 3 Blacon Youth

After a good training session with Robbie Mills we could see some signs this morning that we were not chasing the ball as much and we are trusting our team mates more. We will continue to work on this over the coming weeks. 

We started the game very quickly and went two up with goals scored by Zac and Bailey. At two up we looked pretty comfortable but as Blacon settled and started to move the ball we missed a few key tackles and chances to clear the ball to concede a goal which in fairness Blacon deserved. 

The game was very evenly balanced and on many occasions we looked as though we could break through the Blacon defence to get in on their goal. The huge pitch made for lots of space for both teams.

The two goals that put Blacon level and then ahead were simple errors that we can work on and eradicate in training. We know we must tackle and clear our lines from corners and goal kicks and it's fair to say both goals were very, very soft. Enough said! 

At the other end Blacon's goalie saved from Zac who was through on goal, William hit the post and Bailey just slipped as he was about to tap in. We were very unlucky not to equalise and after the errors in the third quarter we defended much better in the final 10 minutes.

The boys fought right until the end as Blacon "got stuck in" desperately breaking up our play with some boisterous tackles. The lads were disappointed but can be proud of a good performance against a team who until this week were playing a league above us. 

Thanks for great support and encouragement from parents and to Antonio for coaching support. 

TRAINING & MATCHES - SAT 17 OCTOBER

Hi all

Training (per email with Robbie Mills) is on as usual at 5:45pm on Friday at County Offices, pitch 3. All players please as these are important sessions.

Match as follows:

SATURDAY 17^th October at 09:00am KO (so 08:30 arrival) AWAY at Blacon Youth

Dee Point Primary School
Blacon Point Road
Blacon
Chester
CH1 5NF

One match V Blacon Youth ‘A’ (recently come down from Blue division)

Team

Hugo (g)
Bailey
William (c)
Charlie
Harry
Finlay
Rory
Zac
George

Rested

Alex
Will B
*Lewis – will continue to play for Jets

If anyone cannot play either game please let me know me know ASAP.

Thanks
Rob

TRAINING WITH ROBBIE MILLS

Hi all

For the next few weeks I’m pleased to let you know that Robbie Mills of Tranmere Rovers will be helping the team and coaches at training.  This will be normal time on Fridays, 17:45 at pitch 3, County offices.

Most of the boys know Robbie from reception and u6s sessions at the Duck Pond. Robbie is a UEFA ‘A’ licence coach who works with Tranmere, local schools and clubs.

I’ve spoken to Robbie to explain we’ve some really talented and keen players and we now need to progress as a team. The focus of Robbie’s sessions will be team play, space and positions, passing and retention of the ball. The drills we learn we can take forward and continue to practise.

To make the most of these sessions we really want all the teams attendance and the boys to be focused and keen to get the most out of them. 

 

Please refer to earlier blog on practise and attitude.

 

Thanks

Rob & Paul

PRACTISE & ATTITUDE

PRACTISE

As we discussed, some of the lads struggled a little on Friday with basic ball control and passing, which makes it hard to progress the training drills to something more complex.  

I'll talk to each player individually about where we feel they can improve and what practise outside of training will help. I know most of the lads are playing football pretty much constantly at home, at school, and after matches at the weekend and this is great practise.

I have heard some great stories of lads practising at home (a good example is Hugo's work on his kicking from hands which is now brilliant).

We'd also encourage the boys to watch football - for example, Match of the Day is repeated Sunday morning or can be recorded.  

ATTITUDE

More important than performance and results is the boys attitude and behaviour at training and matches and unfortunately this fell below what we'd expect last week with a few of the boys. Silly childish behaviour makes life hard for coaches and helpers and is disrespectful to the vast majority of boys who come to training to listen, learn and progress so that we can succeed as a team.

We spoke to the boys after the Elton Youth game, and we collectively agreed that starting this coming weekend one of the main criteria for match selection will be behaviour and attitude in training sessions and at the previous weeks match.

MATCH REPORT - SAT 10 OCT

ROCKETS 1 - 4 ELTON YOUTH

The spirit, enthusiasm and desire shown by most of the lads was really good this week. Again, the score line looks very harsh in what was a very even game for long periods.

Elton came into the game having won all their games so far this season. The first quarter ended 0-0 and we looked very organised and were competitive in all positions. In the second quarter we conceded to a couple of good goals from one of Elton's better players who was allowed to run at us without us tackling him. We managed to score from a great corner kick which Elton couldn't deal with so went in after the second quarter at 1-2.

The final quarters were pretty even. We hit the post and had chances cleared off the line before Elton again scored through one of their two academy lads. Hugo was also in fine form with some good saves and excellent distribution and kicking.  

The Elton coaches felt we were one of the best organised teams they had played and also praised our set pieces from Harry and George which they struggled to deal with. With a few more shots on target from the good positions we got into then maybe we could have taken more from the game.

William was named MOTM for his attitude, tough tackling and passing from the back.

All in all this was a decent performance against a strong and competitive team. If we continue to play like this, and how we did against Blacon, then results will start to come to us.

TRAINING & MATCH - SAT 10 OCT

Hi all

Training is on as usual at 5:45pm on Friday at County Offices, Pitch 3.

Match as follows:

SATURDAY 10^th October at 09:00am (so 08:30 arrival) at HOME, Waverton Pitches

Rockets V Elton Youth

Team

Hugo (g)
Charlie
Harry (c)
Finlay
Will B
Alex
Rory
Zac
George

Rested

Bailey
William
* Lewis – will continue to play for Jets

If anyone cannot play or train please let me know ASAP.

Thanks

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 3 OCT

ROCKETS 4 : 2 BLACON YOUTH

Our first win of the season was richly deserved, coming after two training ground wins the night before which set us up for a great victory in the game that counts. 

The coaches and parents all agreed this was the best we have ever played. Our tackling was fair but aggressive, our passing and movement was brilliant. For the first time we had one player going to the ball and others trying to find space, calling for the ball or holding a good position. 

The goals came from Harry (2) and George (2) and really it could have been a lot more. The best goal came from a passing move from defence which released Harry down the right wing who then played a square cross to George who coolly finished.

All our players could have been MOTM but this week it went to Harry who was a constant threat playing both up front and then into midfield.

With some good players rested and ready to come back next week, this result and the style of the play really bodes well going forward. Hopefully (!!!) something has clicked regarding the positions and space.

Thanks to parents for great support again.