Youth Reports 2016-17
12 March 2017
Northwood Reds Under 13s 2 Hadleywood & Wingate Foxes 4
This week John and I cannot fault the boys' attitude and performance, as they really did deserve more out of this game against third in the league H&W but as we are finding this season we are not getting the results the performance deserves.
All 4 H&W goals were down to our mistakes or not managing situations as they happened on the pitch. We found ourselves 1-0 down after only 5 minutes as H&W put a long ball over the top of our defence and their tall pacey striker went clear to finish well. The boys had started well despite ths early set back and were very much in the game making early chances but the finish was never quite on target on straight at the H&W keeper. H&W were also making a few chances of our own as we were not coping well with their direct approach of playing the ball in behind our back 4 for the striker to run on to and a mixture of great tackles blocks and saves from Rayyan kept us in the game until the 27th minute when again an error in the middle of the pitch saw H&W get the ball forward quickly and score their second of the game.
Both John and I were now beginning to fear that the boys could lose their confidence and we could have been looking at a big loss, even though H&W like most teams in the league were not out playing the boys but were very clinical when we made mistakes. But a quick fire double from player of the Match Ashley saw us come in at half time to make it 2-2.
The boys started the second half well, putting H&W under pressure and making a few chances again we on other days would have gone in. We had chances from free kicks corners and open play but despite all the boys efforts we again could not nick the lead in the game which I think if we had we could have gone on and won. H&W were also upping their play and we were defending for our lives as well at times but then counter attacking well.
As the game went into the last 10 minutes the boys were still very much in the game and were looking the more likely to win it, but again a poor decision lead to a mistake and again we were punished: 2-3 H&W. The boys did try to pick themselves up but again H&W capitalise with another what was becoming a trade mark pass over the back of our defence to score: 2-4. The ref then did play a lot of added time, when we did look like scoring, showing that the boys were showing the sort of passion and commitment that we seeing a lot of the time.
Lineup: Rayyan, Dan Terry Lewis Ryan Arun, George, Felipe , Dan Jago, Sam, Oliver, Lewis Reid Ashley, Ben, Ale, Dec, Zaki.
Well done to all the boys, keep believing .
Dave Blincko
