ROCKETS 0 - 2 CHRISTLETON NEWSCENE
A tough morning for the lads against very much Newscene's best 7 - who were looking for revenge after the earlier Cup fixture. Newscene paid our lads a great deal of respect in keeping their top players on until the last 8 minutes, whereas we rotated as usual each quarter.
After starting well with George finding some space up top and on the left we began to get bogged down in our half and we couldn't clear our lines effectively either through long balls which fell short into the Newscene midfield or by passing out as time-after-time we found opposition players. That said, we were tackling for our lives and Hugo made good saves and was very quick off his line.
We succumbed to a set-piece where we didn't attack either the first ball or the second ball which was headed home at the back post. At 0-1 down we got the boys in for a chat but with changes to make it was hard to get a clear message over about how best to play the ball through the thirds - something we had done brilliantly the night before in training!
In the second quarter it was more of the same with Hugo again making key interceptions with his efforts matched by our defending desire. We switched off for just a couple of seconds in midfield which allowed Newscene's best player to calmly take the ball down, advance and shoot to the top corner. A good hit but we needed to get to the ball much quicker to close down.
The last 20 minutes was far more even as the boys started to play and the pressing of Newscene slowed. We created a few good moments in the 3rd quarter before dominating the final 10 minutes and being really unlucky not to grab a goal after hitting the post twice in a 30 second spell which would have set up a grandstand finish.
Newscene are probably the best team we've played and are top of the group so to only concede 2 goals across two matches shows that defensively and in Hugo we have improved - we just need to be calmer in moving the ball from the defensive third into the midfield and beyond. Our midfielders have got to show more for the defenders and on occasions we are trying to make long runs in behind in anticipation of a 'Steven Gerrard' type ball that isn't quite where we are at just yet! This results in the ball landing in the lap of the opposition midfield and we are the wrong side of the game...and a panic to get back in goal side.
In the post match debrief the boys knew where we struggled and at training this Friday we will work solidly on this aspect of moving the ball through the thirds.
Well done boys - 10 out of 10 for effort.
MOTM went to Hugo who had a faultless game and who is commanding his area and taking responsibility for making the decisions in his area. Well done.
Monday 26 February 2018
Monday 5 February 2018
MATCH REPORT - CUP GAME 6 - SAT 3 FEBRUARY
ROCKETS 1 - 1 JETS
As we started the second round of cup fixtures it was time to see if we had learnt anything from the first 5 games. The boys showed a good shape, kept positions, won individual battles and didn't dive into tackles unless they were last ditch (Austin!!). So the report is a 10/10 for improvement!
The coaches had also leant 'a little' as we employed Fin and Xander to stay close to James who had brilliantly taken the game away from us in the first fixture. A sign of how good a job Fin and Xander did was the fact that James was restricted to only two chances in 48 minutes of play - so well done boys for a really disciplined display against the best player in the league.
Overall the match should remembered for the defensive Union of Hugo (with 3 or 4 brilliant saves), Alex, Charlie and William - ably helped by Fin and Xander. Our positional play and decision making was excellent and we were able to stop through balls, anticipate and get in front of the Jets forward line which forced them to over hit balls or shoot from distance.
Jets are a great passing team and we can learn how they often go back to go forward; which we are learning at training.
The scoring was opened by a soft goal from our point of view with the Jets player too easily beating our defenders before poking the ball at a 2mph trickle past the on rushing Hugo. The lesson here is really clear - someone needs to make a decision - either the defender puts the ball out or the goalie rushes out to do the same. There can't be any indecision. We will do some work on this in training.
The boys didn't let their heads drop and if anything over the final 15 minutes the game was very even with us creating good chances. This led to a move where Rory was in shooting range inside the box with the Jets defender having gone very early to ground to block; which unfortunately he did with both hands to give away a penalty. Austin stood up to the pressure and scored to the bottom left.
The boys stood firm in the final moments with Jets hitting the post and winning a free-kick from 15 yards which was the last play of pulsating match.
MOTM was a unanimous shout from the coaches and went to William who was at the centre of a brilliant defensive display from our back 3 or 4! Big shout also to Hugo and Fin today.
Well done boys - everyone can be proud of their individual performances today.
As we started the second round of cup fixtures it was time to see if we had learnt anything from the first 5 games. The boys showed a good shape, kept positions, won individual battles and didn't dive into tackles unless they were last ditch (Austin!!). So the report is a 10/10 for improvement!
The coaches had also leant 'a little' as we employed Fin and Xander to stay close to James who had brilliantly taken the game away from us in the first fixture. A sign of how good a job Fin and Xander did was the fact that James was restricted to only two chances in 48 minutes of play - so well done boys for a really disciplined display against the best player in the league.
Overall the match should remembered for the defensive Union of Hugo (with 3 or 4 brilliant saves), Alex, Charlie and William - ably helped by Fin and Xander. Our positional play and decision making was excellent and we were able to stop through balls, anticipate and get in front of the Jets forward line which forced them to over hit balls or shoot from distance.
Jets are a great passing team and we can learn how they often go back to go forward; which we are learning at training.
The scoring was opened by a soft goal from our point of view with the Jets player too easily beating our defenders before poking the ball at a 2mph trickle past the on rushing Hugo. The lesson here is really clear - someone needs to make a decision - either the defender puts the ball out or the goalie rushes out to do the same. There can't be any indecision. We will do some work on this in training.
The boys didn't let their heads drop and if anything over the final 15 minutes the game was very even with us creating good chances. This led to a move where Rory was in shooting range inside the box with the Jets defender having gone very early to ground to block; which unfortunately he did with both hands to give away a penalty. Austin stood up to the pressure and scored to the bottom left.
The boys stood firm in the final moments with Jets hitting the post and winning a free-kick from 15 yards which was the last play of pulsating match.
MOTM was a unanimous shout from the coaches and went to William who was at the centre of a brilliant defensive display from our back 3 or 4! Big shout also to Hugo and Fin today.
Well done boys - everyone can be proud of their individual performances today.
MATCH REPORT - CUP GAME 5 - SAT 27 JANUARY
UPTON 5 - 1 ROCKETS
Following a good training match performance against Malpas the boys started the Upton match solidly and it was very even for the first 10 minutes with most of the play in the midfield.
Just at the end of the first quarter we conceded a good goal from Upton's point of view but a soft one from ours, as their left midfielder ran from his own half without being challenged and shot hard and low across Hugo.
The boys then went 2-0 down early in the second quarter with a low shot and at this point the boys heads dropped for 10 minutes and Upton moved the ball better than us and fairly clinically went 5-0 up!
Coming off from the third quarter the boys were despondent and blaming things like Upton having an older player (which we have since dismissed) and the ref! We had a chat about getting something out the final 12 minutes and clearing our heads. To their great credit we won the final quarter 0-1 with Wills grabbing a decent goal which hopefully is a good sign for the replay back at Waverton.
The score flattered Upton as it was only really a 12 minute period where we looked defeated and Upton raised their game. We should look forward to the replay as this is a match we can get something from for sure. We have played better teams than Upton in this cup and done well.
Good effort boys, we learnt a valuable lesson which is to keep our heads together and keep going.
Following a good training match performance against Malpas the boys started the Upton match solidly and it was very even for the first 10 minutes with most of the play in the midfield.
Just at the end of the first quarter we conceded a good goal from Upton's point of view but a soft one from ours, as their left midfielder ran from his own half without being challenged and shot hard and low across Hugo.
The boys then went 2-0 down early in the second quarter with a low shot and at this point the boys heads dropped for 10 minutes and Upton moved the ball better than us and fairly clinically went 5-0 up!
Coming off from the third quarter the boys were despondent and blaming things like Upton having an older player (which we have since dismissed) and the ref! We had a chat about getting something out the final 12 minutes and clearing our heads. To their great credit we won the final quarter 0-1 with Wills grabbing a decent goal which hopefully is a good sign for the replay back at Waverton.
The score flattered Upton as it was only really a 12 minute period where we looked defeated and Upton raised their game. We should look forward to the replay as this is a match we can get something from for sure. We have played better teams than Upton in this cup and done well.
Good effort boys, we learnt a valuable lesson which is to keep our heads together and keep going.
Saturday 3 February 2018
MATCH REPORT - CUP GAME 4 - SAT 20 JANUARY
ROCKETS 3 - 5 MALPAS
Another close game in the Cup to prove to the boys that we can compete at this level.
After starting really well the boys got caught out at the back, firstly letting the player run too far without a challenge and then our characteristic 'once a match' mix-up which left us 0-2 down going into the second half of the game.
Having got ourselves settled again Rory brought us back into the match with a trade mark turn and shot for 1-2.
Malpas always looked threatening and having worked the ball into our box their striker was brought down by Hugo for penalty. The Malpas player made a stuttering run up and shanked it wide - good lesson there for him - just hit it!
The game then went end to end with both sides playing decent stuff and the Rockets able to get forward more quickly. The game went 1-4 before we grabbed two brilliant goals from George who first fired home bottom left and then passed the ball into an empty net from 20 yards for 3-4 and GAME ON!
At 3-4 we struck the cross-bar from Austin before we got hit on the break for Malpas to seal the game as we played advantage from a free-kick.
Overall, Malpas probably deserved the 3 points but the Rockets can be proud of their performance.
Well done boys.
Another close game in the Cup to prove to the boys that we can compete at this level.
After starting really well the boys got caught out at the back, firstly letting the player run too far without a challenge and then our characteristic 'once a match' mix-up which left us 0-2 down going into the second half of the game.
Having got ourselves settled again Rory brought us back into the match with a trade mark turn and shot for 1-2.
Malpas always looked threatening and having worked the ball into our box their striker was brought down by Hugo for penalty. The Malpas player made a stuttering run up and shanked it wide - good lesson there for him - just hit it!
The game then went end to end with both sides playing decent stuff and the Rockets able to get forward more quickly. The game went 1-4 before we grabbed two brilliant goals from George who first fired home bottom left and then passed the ball into an empty net from 20 yards for 3-4 and GAME ON!
At 3-4 we struck the cross-bar from Austin before we got hit on the break for Malpas to seal the game as we played advantage from a free-kick.
Overall, Malpas probably deserved the 3 points but the Rockets can be proud of their performance.
Well done boys.
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