Youth Reports 2016-17
20 November 2016
Northwood Under 9s Blue 8 Whetstone Wanderers Leopards 2
After a well observed one minute silence, the Blues had a lightening start and opened the scoring within the first minute through Rafi. Further goals from Niam and Ethan made it 3-0 before we conceded a goal and at half time the score was 3-1. In the second half the Blues were much stronger than their opponents and further goals from Micaiah, Zak and Ethan (2) and a thunderbolt from Rafi meant the final result was an 8-2 win. The Blues have now won 3 in a row and are on a 7 match unbeaten run. Particularly pleasing to see was that there was lots of passing and movement and some great defensive work from the midfielders.
Hadley Rangers 3 Northwood Reds Under 11s Red 5
After Saturday's deluge of rain we were all delighted with a lovely sunny Sunday morning at the Hive, away to Hadley Rangers. We knew the match would be tight after a narrow win at home earlier this season and after a slow start we feared the worst going one down in the first five minutes.
After that Northwood began to take control of the game with some speedy wing play from Max L and Ollie B and it was no surprise when the goals starting going in. By half time Northwood were 4-1 up with goals from Max L (2), Jack S and Ollie B.
The 2nd half proved to be a lot closer and Hadley pulled a goal back before Ollie A responded with a fine finish. In the end, despite conceding another goal, stout defending and superb goalkeeping from Matthew saw Northwood through to a well deserved 5-3 victory. Max B was man of the match for his solid defending and composure on the ball.
Steve Lousley
Northwood Reds Under 13s 4 Harvesters South 1
On a very cold wet and windy Sunday morning the boys returned to League action with a home game against Harvesters South, who are one of the other teams in the league who like to play good passing football.
The first goal was especially satisfying for me and John as it started from our defence breaking up a Harvesters attack with a great passing between Lewis Ryan and Lewis Reid who put Ashley through to finish well one on one with the Harvesters goalkeeper. Harvesters did react with some good football but the whole team were doing well in pressing the ball and getting in behind the ball as we had been practicing in training from one of these pressing periods of play we moved the ball well down the left side with Dan Jago getting a good cross in for Dan Terry to finish well at the back post: 2-0 Northwood.
We did stay in control for pretty much the rest of the half and could have been further ahead if a Lewis Reid free kick that hit the bar that fell to Ale 6 yards out somehow put the ball over the bar, this will not be mentioned again! Felipe also went close from a well-placed free kick that saw the Harvesters keeper save well again.
The second half started pretty much the same as last week with Harvesters playing some of the football that we know they are capable of and with about 10 minutes into the second half Harvesters got awarded a penalty for a handball that nobody near me saw. But the ref was far closer and in an altogether better position than me so until we get video replays no arguments from me. The Harvesters player stepped up and stroke the ball to Rayyan's left to make it 2-1. The boys the stepped the game tempo up again an one of our 3 subs Dec put in a great pass to put Lewis Reid through who ran at pace to beat the defence and finished well to make it 3-1. Harvesters again reacted well and did press the boys again and again if it were not for some good defending and goal keeping could have got back into the game again. The Northwood boys were also playing some really good football with great one touch passing and great close ball control but the attacks or passages of play seems to break down in the final third of the field ,something for John and me to work on in training. Having said that the boys did go close on several occasions with Dec hitting the post, a free kick from Lewis Reid being well saved again and Ale getting in on the rebound again this time just going wide.
Ashley did eventually wrap things up when after some more excellent defending of more Harvester’s pressure was cleared into his feet on the halfway line, Ash turned and then put in a very strong run holding off a defender with his strength to finish well with the ball going in off the inside of the post 4-1 and it was pretty much game over.
This week’s player of the match George had a great game at left back putting in numerous well timed challenges and well as reading the game well and always being in the right place at the right time.
Line-up : Rayyan, Ale , Lewis Ryan, Arun, George, Ben , Oliver, Zaki, Dan Terry , Lewis Reid, Ashley, Felipe, Dan Jago, Zaki.
Dave Blincko
