BLACON TOURNAMENT - SEMI-FINALISTS
Great effort to reach the semi-final playing some high calibre teams from North Wales including a very good Conahs Quay outfit.
The boys made it to the semi-final where although they played the better football we went out to an organised Flint team.
PREES TOURNAMENT - QUARTER FINALISTS
The boys played brilliantly and stormed the group stage with 4 wins and 1 draw to win their group and go into the quarters. The style of play, aggression to win the ball, lots of early goals and plenty of clean sheets showed we had learnt how to play tournament football after the experiences at Vauxhall and Blacon.
We scored first in the quarter final from a great Xander break and cross to Rory to side foot home and we were winning 1-0 with the ref indicating 30 seconds to go. We gave a really unfortunate free-kick away (after one of the lads picked up the ball thinking it had gone out!) and we conceded with the last kick of the match to take us to extra time!
After an end to end extra 5 minutes we were making our last sub to get our penalty takers on the pitch when we conceded from an unstoppable shot with 10 seconds remaining.
To say we were unlucky is an understatement. Talking to other coaches it was felt we were the team to beat so its a shame we couldn't progress.
The boys were understandably very frustrated and upset but we will learn from this experience and get stronger. Probably our game management (passing and playing out the game) could have been better as the opposition threw everything at us to try to get something. Fair play to them as well for an unbelievable comeback...
But WELL DONE lads. We played great football all day. We will return to all competitions next season and possible a mini-tour.
Wednesday 28 June 2017
Tuesday 13 June 2017
TOURNAMENT REPORT - SAT 10 JUNE
JOINT 3rd in Group - VAUXHALL TOURNAMENT
After stepping up a level in recent weeks, playing and beating Nomads and Tarvin A we arrived in fine form and spirits.
Drawn in Group B against two TNS sides, Vauxhall, Elton, Victoria Colts and Whitby we realised our task was somewhat daunting with more than a sprinkling of academy players in our group.
We started uncharacteristically slowly and after missing tackles and defensive mistakes we lost the first game 2-0 to Victoria Colts which was then followed by a really unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Vauxhall after we dominated and hit the post twice before conceding an unlucky goal at the death.
The boys began to realise that silly lapses in concentration get punished in tournament football as there is no time to get back into the match. For the first time since last October the coaches needed to be honest with the boys about their effort levels and tackling aggression.
The lads really stepped up over the next three games taking 7 from 9 points and putting us in touching distance of the semi-final. We beat Whitby 1-0 with a fine move and goal involving Rory who crossed to Austin for the winner. We then drew 0-0 with Elton in a tight game.
Our best moment came against TNS, who had some really talented players. Most of the TNS lads played on the emotional edge but one lad in particular had spent most of the previous 4 games moaning at the ref, throwing himself to the ground, crying and generally being unmanageable - HE WAS OUR TARGET!
We went 1-0 down from a unfortunate goalkeeping moment but the boys worked really hard as we switched from 3 defenders to a 2-2-2 system with Xander joining Rory. Xander equalised with his first kick and then Rory got us the winner for one of the more memorable victories and to claim a good scalp! There was just time for Will B to completely take out the TNS defender with a X-rated assault and for Hugo to make up for his error with a fine save from the resulting free-kick.
In the final game we probably went too attacking but we needed 3 points to progress. Unfortunately our concentration seemed spent as on two occasions the TNS forward got in behind us to score. The game finished 4-0 but we were beaten by a very good team.
Overall the boys can be proud, especially in 4 of the 6 games. We can take the positives that in other than the last game we competed at a high level and were 'in' all the matches. We must though start with more intent in short games and we absolutely have to concentrate on the players around us defensively against talented sides.
Bring on Blacon and Prees!
After stepping up a level in recent weeks, playing and beating Nomads and Tarvin A we arrived in fine form and spirits.
Drawn in Group B against two TNS sides, Vauxhall, Elton, Victoria Colts and Whitby we realised our task was somewhat daunting with more than a sprinkling of academy players in our group.
We started uncharacteristically slowly and after missing tackles and defensive mistakes we lost the first game 2-0 to Victoria Colts which was then followed by a really unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Vauxhall after we dominated and hit the post twice before conceding an unlucky goal at the death.
The boys began to realise that silly lapses in concentration get punished in tournament football as there is no time to get back into the match. For the first time since last October the coaches needed to be honest with the boys about their effort levels and tackling aggression.
The lads really stepped up over the next three games taking 7 from 9 points and putting us in touching distance of the semi-final. We beat Whitby 1-0 with a fine move and goal involving Rory who crossed to Austin for the winner. We then drew 0-0 with Elton in a tight game.
Our best moment came against TNS, who had some really talented players. Most of the TNS lads played on the emotional edge but one lad in particular had spent most of the previous 4 games moaning at the ref, throwing himself to the ground, crying and generally being unmanageable - HE WAS OUR TARGET!
We went 1-0 down from a unfortunate goalkeeping moment but the boys worked really hard as we switched from 3 defenders to a 2-2-2 system with Xander joining Rory. Xander equalised with his first kick and then Rory got us the winner for one of the more memorable victories and to claim a good scalp! There was just time for Will B to completely take out the TNS defender with a X-rated assault and for Hugo to make up for his error with a fine save from the resulting free-kick.
In the final game we probably went too attacking but we needed 3 points to progress. Unfortunately our concentration seemed spent as on two occasions the TNS forward got in behind us to score. The game finished 4-0 but we were beaten by a very good team.
Overall the boys can be proud, especially in 4 of the 6 games. We can take the positives that in other than the last game we competed at a high level and were 'in' all the matches. We must though start with more intent in short games and we absolutely have to concentrate on the players around us defensively against talented sides.
Bring on Blacon and Prees!
Monday 5 June 2017
MATCH REPORT - SAT 3 JUNE
ROCKETS 7 - 4 TARVIN A
The boys claimed another A team scalp as they extended an impressive run ahead of us joining the Blue A league and Cup next season.
Tarvin arrived in confident mood, with some talented players, after doing well in the Cheshire West league. The Rockets intensity though appeared to shock Tarvin who struggled early on with our pace, pressure and speed of play.
The boys went 2-0 through Rory and Xander and were dominating play. As it looked as though it could be a very high score line Tarvin's no.7 woke up and started to trouble us down our right before they got one back to make the score line 2-1.
The boys continued to play their football and a number of brilliant goals followed including a headed goal and the sweetest of strikes from Austin (2) and then Rory extending his goal scoring run to 35 for the season with goals 2, 3 and 4. The 4th was a mazy run past three defenders and cool finish.
Tarvin's no.7 kept them in the game with 3 excellent individual goals but we continued to create chance after chance and we looked a threat every time we went forward. Some good goalkeeping kept the score line down.
The game ended 7-4, and we move onto tournament football for the next three weeks. If we play with the same intensity and desire we can do well.
MOTM went to Austin as he was absolutely everywhere, tackling and tracking and then with head up he played some super football. 12 goals for Austin in only half a season from midfield is a testimony to how well he has done bearing in mind he always tracks back and covers.
Well done boys. A great league and Shield season!
The boys claimed another A team scalp as they extended an impressive run ahead of us joining the Blue A league and Cup next season.
Tarvin arrived in confident mood, with some talented players, after doing well in the Cheshire West league. The Rockets intensity though appeared to shock Tarvin who struggled early on with our pace, pressure and speed of play.
The boys went 2-0 through Rory and Xander and were dominating play. As it looked as though it could be a very high score line Tarvin's no.7 woke up and started to trouble us down our right before they got one back to make the score line 2-1.
The boys continued to play their football and a number of brilliant goals followed including a headed goal and the sweetest of strikes from Austin (2) and then Rory extending his goal scoring run to 35 for the season with goals 2, 3 and 4. The 4th was a mazy run past three defenders and cool finish.
Tarvin's no.7 kept them in the game with 3 excellent individual goals but we continued to create chance after chance and we looked a threat every time we went forward. Some good goalkeeping kept the score line down.
The game ended 7-4, and we move onto tournament football for the next three weeks. If we play with the same intensity and desire we can do well.
MOTM went to Austin as he was absolutely everywhere, tackling and tracking and then with head up he played some super football. 12 goals for Austin in only half a season from midfield is a testimony to how well he has done bearing in mind he always tracks back and covers.
Well done boys. A great league and Shield season!
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