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Written by Sandra Ferns
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Both teams started well and both were playing some decent football throughout the first half. Colts were the first to get their name on the score card after being awarded a penalty in the 15th minute. This decision by the ref was allegedly for some pushing and shoving in the Brook box. Fortunately for Brook, Jack Keightley followed 8 minutes later with a fantastic equalizer from a right footed bomb blaster. The Colts keeper had no chance.Both sides created a few more chances before the half time whistle. Colts had their nearest chance saved off the line by Brook's young right back Michael Heffernan. Coincidently it was young Heffer who very nearly scored for Brook from a long range shot in the centre of the park. Unfortunately it went over the bar.It became apparent during the second half, that a couple of Brook's key players were not really on form today. This could have been due to having key players missing from the game again. In the 50th minute Colts scored their second to put them ahead once again. This goal was followed five minutes later by a third and nearly a fourth, but this one was saved off the line by Craig Mckay. Brook tried hard to fight back but it just wasn't happening for them. The final whistle blew with the scores at 3 v 1.The lesson that you should have been learned from today's game boys! Is, that if you give teams like this an inch they will certainly make a meal out of taking a mile. You cannot afford to allow other teams in this division to walk all over you then decide to only fight back when it's too late. MOTM today goes to little Heffer and Craig for battling hard throughout and preventing us being beat by what could have been an embarrassing score. Well done!
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Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )
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Written by Steve Moth
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`BACK TO BASICS`
Match day 6 saw us away to an improving Pro Sport Strikers team, and as the title suggests it was a match where we had to re-asses our approach to the game. Last weeks game we was guilty of taking the opposition for granted, and boy did we get our just deserves. In defence of the boys last weeks performance, they did play really well without achieving much. We tried to put too much emphasis on our passing, without considering the objective of the passing, which was to create a scoring possibility. This week we tried to get across to the boys that the passing game is the right way to play, we need to pick the right times to pass the ball, i.e.; when we see a team mate in a better space than our own, and if it would be a more beneficial for him to receive the pass then we should pass it. If we have a chance to run at a defender, to make a better passing/shooting opportunity then we should always be looking to use this option. In both instances, our objective should be to create a scoring opportunity. A well educated conversation I had at half time, with Ethan Bradshaw might explain the reasoning in this. Ethan-….` Steve, do you want me to beat 2 or 3 men before I pass it?`…..Steve-…..` I don’t want you count how many men you beat mate, I just want you to get your head up and see if anyone is in a better space than you, if not then try and make a better space for yourself``…Now if anyone has seen Ethan play you know he does not ask this question tongue in cheek, he truly does mean it, because he has wonderful feet, and he also has a wonderful brain to match. It is about us trying to utilise that brain for the benefit of the team.
So with our new focus on the game plan, we started the match with a relatively new starting line up. An unfortunate illness to Oliver Holt saw Ben Shepherd step up and take his place in defence alongside Taylor Bowles for his first start of the season. Also Making his first start of the season was Craig John, on the right side of midfield. This was not tactical, just a reward for the progress they have been showing of late, still a few concentration levels need to be looked at, but now they have had more minutes on the pitch I am sure they will be better for it, and be looking to improve on this in training.
The boys really did take the game plan on board, from the first minute there passing was both creative and objective, wave after wave of attacking situations were being created. We found ourselves camped in their half for most of the first half, with every player looking to show for the ball. Ethan was in inspired form with his mazy runs and quick feet, he reminds me of the pied piper when his on form with every kid playing to his tune. Taylor also is a player of note on his day, when he really concentrates there is no better player on the pitch, he is strong, fast, skilful, and can pick a pass as good as anyone, and today was one of those days. Ben and Craig did not play a bit part either, good tackling, passing was a feature of there game. To boost his confidence, Ben was made captain for the day, and I hope this may have done the trick. Jaden Lamb, the artful dodger upfront was always moving in to space, showing up in different positions for the ball, a feature he is working really hard to improve and I am pleased to say is showing up in his game. The boys play was rewarded with a well deserved goal from Ethan, a passing move down the middle which left him one on one with the goalie to beat which he did with his usual swagger and confidence, is there no end to this boys talents?. A couple of substitutions saw reliable Kieron Morley come on for Craig John, and our very own dependable defender Cole Turner-Shiel, replace Ben Shepherd in what was becoming a comfortable game. If only we could have scored more to make it more comfortable. It wasn’t long before we had that luxury by way of an interception and great block by the referee…(sorry ref) a little fortunate, but Ethan still had a lot to do to make it 2-0 and you guessed it, he finished it superbly. Half Time.
Now you maybe forgiven for thinking we started this game without a goalie, as I have not mentioned him once through the first half. This being the reason of he had little to do during it, but make no mistake he gets to play a big part in the second. As coaches, myself and Gary were quite confident we was going to win this one, so we decided that again we would utilise the squad to give everyone a run out, and also give some confidence to the few that need it. We was always mindful that Desean Hickey only got a minute or so last week and was looking for the opportunity to get him on the pitch, which we did at half time. Now let me just say a few words about Desean, he is a very infectious character who gives he’s all every time he gets his chance, and although lacking in a little technique hes enthusiasm is second to none. We hope in training, we can loosen him up a bit more so he can feel that bit more comfortable on the ball, to go with his obvious energy. Second half saw much of the same with Brook attacking at every opportunity, and it looked like more goals would be inevitable. Only we fell into our second half habit of rotational changes, which I am starting to question myself as to whether this is a good or bad thing. Momentum is always going to be affected when so many changes are taking place, and I think quality should prevail over quantity. This being just my opinion, but nevertheless something myself and Gary need to look at. Two players really stood out for me in the second half, and it was no small feat, as everyone on the pitch was having a great game. First a big mention to Taylor Bowles, who deservedly got the man of the match. Taylor is the man we trust to communicate with his partner at the back, and week after week he takes this responsibility on superbly. Today in particular we saw everything that is good about him, he won every tackle, he was very composed on the ball, he played with his head up, he picked the right time to pass, the right time when to run the ball but above all he played with a smile….Brilliant Taylor! Secondly as I mentioned earlier, our goalie had nothing to do in the first half, but with all the changes we got a little bit disorientated ,which gave Sam Mills a chance to once again prove his importance to the team, standing tall, diving at feet, getting down low, intimidating forwards, just a few qualities he has in his locker. Sam made some remarkable saves, and if our play was not so good attacking, he may well have had the chance challenge for the man of the match….Well done Sam!
In fact it has took some special goals to beat Sam this season and today’s was probably one of the most special . A well placed free kick flew into the top corner on Sam’s blind side to give our boys something to think about for the last couple of minutes. Final whistle and a 2-1 victory was very welcome and it seems we are over our hiccup of last weeks result…..Well done boys!
A big thank you to all the parents as per usual and I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday, and also at the race night on Friday.
SM…..GL
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Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )
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Written by Paul Smith
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The seconds travelled to Stoconians looking to improve on the previous two weeks defeats. More changes again as Chris Ferns dropped into the back four, Chirs Barrow returning wide and Mark Crump coming into the centre of midfield. Moston, as has been the case in the last couple of weeks, started slowly and for the first forty minutes, our hosts looked like running away with the game. They went into a two-nil lead within the first twenty minutes, the second of which was an absolute screamer from outside of the area. Moston got a goal back after a corner was cleared, the ball was returned back into danger area, which Terris controlled, mishit his shot but the ball fell to Chay Edwards at the back post and he tapped in. We hoped this would be a spur for a comeback but things quickly got worse as Paul McLoughlin misjudged a back header to Jordan and the Stoconians forward nicked in to score. Things got worse as firstly Paul McLoughlin stupidly saw red for swearing at the referee and then Stoconians got a fourth, Jordan coming off his line to collect a through ball but dropping it at the centre forwards feet to gift our hosts another. Things did not look good with five minutes to go of the first half but the sending off seemed to galvanize Moston into action and we pretty much dominated the rest of the match and for most of this time you wouldn't have known we had only ten.men. With only couple of minutes to go in the half, Moston got a goal back, Nick Murphy's fine inswinging left wing free-kick beating everyone and finding the far corner of the net.
A few changes at half-time with Chris Yarwood coming on at left back, with Wayne Moran going to right-back and myself joining Mike Murphy at centre-back We basically just went with a totally attacking mentality in the second half, with both full-backs pushing forward all the time and while it left myself and Mike a little exposed at the back, it seemed to work as we totally controlled the second half. Nick Murphy and Mark Crump took control in midfield and we began to get joy down the flanks as our two full-backs pushed forward. Moston quickly got it back to 4-3 as Nick Murphy's fine cross field pass found Chris Barrow on the right wing and his excellent cross on the half volley was headed in at the back post by Mark Terris. Moston got themselves level as Chirs Yarwood made a run from left back towards the penalty area and his ball in, eventually fell to Nick Murphy in the area and he finished. Moston continued to push forward and created a few decent chance but unfortunately we couldn't quite find a winner. All our hard work was nearly undone late on though as I mis-judged a header, putting the Stoconians forward through but thankfully a mixture of Jordan, myself and Mike Murphy managed to scramble the ball away.
A bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance from the second team, with a really poor first 40 minutes, being followed by an excellent last 50. It's kind of been the story of our last three games, with spells of some excellent play being mixed in with poor spells in games which seems to be costing us at the moment. We need to try and find our level of performance in the last 50 minutes of this match for the full ninety minutes and I'm sure there will be plenty more victories to come. We return to Nicholls next week, with a home match against Bedians, the side that knocked us out of the cup last season on penalties.
Last weeks team: J Mearman, C Ferns, P Smith, M Murphy, P McLoughlin, C Barrow, N Murphy (2), M Crump Jnr, M Terris (1), C Edwards (1), W Moran. Subs. C Yarwood
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Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )
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Written by Phil Barton
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Brook turned on the style today as they notched up there third win in three games with a disjointed display against Phoenix Athletic for the second time this season.
Brook had the majority of the game but it was deep into the first half before they could make there possession count, with Jackson hammering in from a defensive mix up.
Brook dominated but forgot about the passing and team play what we are working so hard on this season.
Half time came without Field touching the ball in the Brook net but Brooks finishing was going a stray.
The second half saw Brook go two up, this time Egan hammered home from outside the area after some great approach play. Straight from the restart Hammet was put through to sew up the points with a great strike low into the bottom corner.
In the dying embers of the game Salt found himself in space and finished well into the top corner.
Final score 4-0 but though it was a good win it wasn't a great performance we need to get back to training and work hard on our team play.
Man of the match went to Thomas for a great midfield display.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 21 August 2009 )
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