TOURNAMENT REPORT - FRODSHAM FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

ROCKETS - GROUP WINNERS !

What a fantastic end to the season. The boys were pitched in Group 4 against teams from Liverpool, Warrington and Winsford.

Undeterred we started with a 0-0 draw against Mags Dynamos from Huyton and then went on a run of 5 victories, scoring 10 goals and conceding none!

Results and goal scorers as follows:

Rockets 0 - 0 Mags Dynamos
Rockets 2 - 0 Appleton             (Bailey, Zac)
Rockets 2 - 0 Tytherington       (Bailey, Xander)
Rockets 1 - 0 Frodsham Park    (Bailey)
Rockets 1 - 0 Grappenhall        (Xander)
Rockets 4 - 0 Buckley Town      (Will B, Xander, William, George)
Rockets 2 - 2 Winsford             (George, Bailey)

Our final game was a cup final as Winsford had not been beaten but had drawn one more game so needed to beat the Rockets to top the group. Anything other than a defeat would mean the day belonged to the Rockets.

Winsford were extremely physical and had a very vocal backing from their parents but in the early stages we stood up to their tactics and then began to play our football.

Rockets then scored a goal which is one of the best we've scored and is a contender for goal of the season. Charlie picked the ball up on the right, played in Bailey who switched the ball left, through Zac and onto to Xander who beat a player and crossed to George for a tap-in to complete a 5 player move!

Winsford rallied as the Rockets sat back a little and their no.11 took a blatant dive in the box from a William tackle (along with 3 high pitch squeals and couple of rolls) and unbelievably the referee pointed to the spot. There was nothing Hugo could do as they found the top corner. Game on.

With 5 minutes to go it was end to end and Winsford stunned the Rockets with a break away goal which was nicely finished. 1-2 down!

With a couple of minutes left the Rockets piled on the pressure and Winsford resorted to WWF tackling to try and keep us out. However, the pressure finally told as from a penalty area scramble Bailey scored to break Winsford hearts and ensure the Rockets won the group.

5 wins and 2 draws. 12 goals scored and only 2 conceded with 6 clean sheets. So a tremendous end to the season! This was an even better performance than at Prees, so well done to the boys.

Have a fantastic summer break. Our official first training session will be Friday 2 September at County Offices 17:45 (so same as last year).

All the best
Rob & Paul

END OF SEASON AWARDS - PARENTS V PLAYER MATCH

Hi all

Thanks to all the parents and siblings who turned out for the epic Parents V Players match. The match ended 8 - 8 so we went to penalties with the first to 7 being the winner. The Rockets managed to get to 7 goals in just 8 penalties and even Jonny Winter's 'rabona' penalty kick to the top corner couldn't change the result.

The awards were held at the Ring O Bells where all the boys deservedly got their season awards with Charlie Evans picking up Coaches Player of the Year and Xander Veal picking up Players Player of the Year.

Here are some photos courtesy of Sam and Hayden...

THIS WEEKEND - SAT 18 JUNE

Hi all

Training is ON this week at the Waverton Pitches, 5:45pm start.

This Saturday is our Awards day and Parents v Players match so I hope everyone is prepared and has been hitting the gym?

 

Rockets to wear their Waverton Kit for a team photo please.

Format will be 9 v 9 with rolling subs which each team manages themselves – I will keep an eye on the Rockets! 4 x 10m quarters. It will be non-contact parent versus player. Siblings can play for the parents team.

Match KO is 11am so arrival at 10:40 to set up the posts would be appreciated.

At 12:30-12:40pm pizza, chips and drinks will be served for the players at the Ring O Bells in Christleton (we have the side bar area reserved). I’ve ordered enough for 12 boys but we can increase on the day for siblings. The costs will be taken out of the left over subs.

Players Awards will be made about 1pm and we need to vacate the room by 2pm as they are showing the Ireland game.

MAY SUBS to pay please:

Alex B
Charlie E
Hugo STW
Bailey G
Fin P

Thanks

Rob

TOURNAMENT REPORT - SUN 12 JUNE

ROCKETS - QUARTER FINALISTS

Thanks to all the lads and parents who turned out in wet conditions for the Shropshire tournament at Prees FC yesterday.

The Rockets were drawn in Group A, pitching us against Market Drayton and Saha Raptors in the first two group games, both of whom had got to the finals last year. The boys did brilliantly against talented opposition and only conceded one goal from a very dodgy free-kick resulting in one defeat and one draw after two matches.

The highlight of my season, in fact my year, was when the referee produced a can of what must have been shaving foam and sprayed it across the turf to keep our wall back!! I'm not sure he appreciated us laughing at him but it was funny.

The next two games against Worthan and West Hagley FC we scored 9 goals and conceded zero to put the Rockets top of the group after 4 games! We played some of the best football of the season, right up there with the Blacon and Vicars Cross performances.

Needing just one point to be certain of qualification we tensed up in the next two games, getting beat 0-2 by Prees A team and then managing to get a draw against Shawbury FC 1-1 to make for a tense wait while other results came in.

With 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats we had punched above our weight in our first competitive tournament and we had done enough to qualify 3rd in the group to set up a quarter final match with the second placed team in Group B - Randley Colts.

We had seen Randley play a few games and their no.8 from Wolves academy had ran every game. However, we needn't of worried as our boys shot out of the blocks piling pressure and shots on the opposition. Their keeper made some fine saves, we hit the post twice and on a couple of occasions we could have shot earlier. To say we were battering them is an understatement.

Randley though scored first with a really lucky goal from a long goal kick which bounced over our defence and Hugo and was flicked over the line.

We again pressed and the Randley no.8 who had been so dominant in early games found himself getting out fought.

Following a great run into space from William he was assaulted by one the Randley midfielders. Even if the player did get any of the ball, and we don't think he did, the tackle was over the top and over aggressive. Remarkably the ref played on with our player injured and crying and Randley broke through a defenceless Rockets to score. Even though the Randley player admitted the foul the ref allowed the goal. Very poor all round. 

Bailey got us back into the game in the dying minutes from a nicely worked free kick but we went out of the competition 1-2 and were obviously all very disappointed.

We have to take massive positives from the day. We took a squad of nine Rockets to a tournament full of so called 'A' teams, full of academy players. I thought we matched everyone as a team and individually all our nine were as good as the opposition. Its easy to say, but we didn't get 'the rub of the green' and on another day I'm certain we could have gone further.

Our parent support was excellent and its nice for the boys to be clapped off the field when we make substitutions or at half time. I think this adds to the team spirit and togetherness of the group.   

Well done to the boys.

THIS WEEKEND

Hi all

A busy weekend of football coming up…only a few to go!!

TRAINING – due to the schedule training is CANCELLED this Friday night.

SATURDAY – we have an Waverton u8s European Finals ‘mash-up’ kicking off at 10am, lasting until 12pm, at the Waverton Pitches. Our boys will get the chance to play alongside friends from the other teams as the coaches have picked England, Spain, France and Germany squads made up of mixed players from the three Waverton squads. The format will be 3 x 20min Group matches followed by a final and play-off, so total playing time of 1 hour.

SUNDAY – some of the boys have the Prees Tournament – please refer to your earlier email and timings.

See you all Saturday.

Best regards

Rob

MATCH REPORT - SAT 4 JUNE

VICARS CROSS 2 - 12 ROCKETS

Between the coaches and parents I dare say we have seen a lot of football over the years. In junior football, since I played and now coaching, this was one of the most complete performances I've seen. Every player did exactly what we had talked about and our level of play today was incredible. It was "that day" when everything we've worked on in training came together, everything just clicked, and this resulted in a level of play and talent that Vicar's Cross could not live with.

Vicar's Cross came into the match on the back of a 20 match unbeaten run and we had lost 3-7 to them last time. That statistic alone shows how far this group have come in the last 18 months.

Unbelievably we went 1-0 down! But from there Harry got us back into the game with a brilliant finish and then Xander hit a free kick to the top corner to start the rout...

To list every goal would be impossible...but our scorers were Xander (4), Harry (3), Zac (2), George (2), Bailey (1). We also hit the post or cross bar 4 times!

We knew that Vicar's Cross were a robust side who like to put in a tackle. However, they soon found out that despite our size we can also fight for the ball and we tackle fairly and stay on our feet. Our opposition grew frustrated by this and every time we got a free- kick we punished them. Harry and Xander both found the top corners from range!

At the back William, Alex, Fin and Hugo did not put a foot wrong against a very talented forward. Hugo made some great saves to keep the oppositions heads down and the distribution from Hugo's hands or from William's feet was excellent.

Our midfield ran the show. Bailey and Zac had there usual energetic games and Harry and Xander's running was just too much for the opposition. A special mention goes to Rory who had a fantastic game, not only threatening going forward but doing the hard work as well to get back and cover.

George up front was patient and took his chances clinically. Some of his movement, drifting off the shoulder of the defence was so clever and is beyond his years. If we had one small criticism of our midfield it is that we need to find George a little more, and sometimes earlier, as he is always in space.

Finally, our set pieces were just out of this world. Every corner or free kick was on the mark and we looked like we would score every time from dead ball situations. This played into our hands as Vicar's Cross lost their heads a little and kept giving free kicks away in dangerous places. We should also mention that the game was refereed extremely well and very fairly.  

MOTM went to everyone today. William will Captain the Prees Tournament and I think we will carry on with the 'Harry huddle' and Captain's team talk!

This was a fine way to end the league season. Let the tournaments begin!

Rob & Paul   

PREES TOURNAMENT- SUN 12TH JUNE

Hello all

We now have full details of the tournament at Prees JFC on Sunday 12^th June – see attached document.

It’s an early start as we need to be there for 8:30am as we have 9am KO’s (and will forfeit games if we are late). That said it looks like we will be finished by lunch time which is good.

The address is below and parking is £2.50 per car. Tournament subs are £3 per player.

Brades Road
Prees
Shropshire,  SY13 2DX

www.preesrecclub.co.uk or www.preesjuniorfc.co.uk

The journey is about 40 minutes (25 miles on country roads) from Waverton. If anyone wants to share cars then please organise between yourselves at training. I have space for 3 in my car and I can collect from Christleton at 7:40am.

Squad is as follows – format is 5-side with rolling subs.

Hugo (g)
William
Charlie
Xander
Fin
Harry
Bailey
Zac
Rory

It could be very hot and there is not much shade so if we could bring a couple of gazebo’s (if we have any?) that’d be great and we can set up Camp Rockets. The boys will need plenty of water, snacks and depending on allergies and skin the boys may need piriton and suncream!

The competition will be tough but it should be a great experience! We will practise some 5v5 games at training.

Cheers

Rob