Kingswood v Christchurch

BYFL Cup Final

Match Result: 4 - 2

Goal Scorers: Ollie G, Oliver D

This was one of those that I think the occasion got to the players. We
still had no Max and this would be Ollie G's final game as he has now
been signed by Bournemouth. We started so well; we kicked off, passed
the ball and kept possession and looked very good. Inside the first 5
minutes a goal bound shot from Olly B crashed against the bar - if
only that had gone in it might have all been so different. Despite how
well we played Josh was a constant threat for them. His pace is
frightening and he has an awesome shot. He too had an effort that
clipped the bar and a shot that looked a certain goal but somehow Dec
dived to his right and pushed it over one-handed.

Midway through the first half Kingswood were awarded a free kick which
Josh hit; Tom tried to head it out but unfortunately it glanced off his
head into the goal. And that was that for the first half. It seemed to
knock the stuffing out of us and to be honest we were grateful not to be
further behind at half time.

We are quite used to playing poorly first half and then far better
second but today it just didn't happen. Passing moves broke down; we
struggled to get the ball out wide to Harry and Oliver and the front two
just seemed to get isolated. Again midway through the half they added a
second. To our credit we always show impressive resilience and 5
minutes later Oliver got his first real run, he nutmegged the full back
and hit a cracking shot from the edge of the box; 2 - 1 and we thought
this was it. But two minutes later they scored a third.

With 6 minutes left Ollie G showed real determination in the box and
scored our second. 5 minutes left and we were finally on top again.
Josh missed (for him) a sitter and we thought the luck was finally
turning. Olly B was put through to make it 3 all but he slipped as
he went to hit it. A minute later we were awarded a free kick - up
steps Harry - he always scores these - but he too slipped as he went to
hit it - what had we said about luck changing.

Last minute and they were awarded a free kick and Josh did his business.

We should be encouraged - we played poorly and Kingswood's parents said
it was their best game all season. Josh was the difference; three out
of four of their goals were long range free kicks from him. It almost
makes you wonder why Bournemouth haven't already signed him - but no
sour grapes here. Well done Kingswood - on the day they were by far the
better team - but we will have our day again.

Well done to Ollie G - a short but very distinguished career at
Christchurch. Thanks too to Mannie and Lisa for everything (especially
the cakes) - we will miss all three of you.

And congratulations to Oliver D. Bournemouth would like to take him
on a six week trial and he thoroughly deserves that chance.

Michael

Christchurch v Branksome

Match Result: 6 - 1

Goal Scorers: Bubba (4), Olly B, Ethan

The reversal of the game two weeks ago and very nearly an identical score line; we won the first 7 1. It was a fairly uneventful first quarter of an hour or so, we dominated possession and territory but didn't really create many chances, Branksome only ventured into our final third a couple of times. After about 20 minutes a ball broke to the edge of the box and Ethan did really well to drive a hard, low shot into the corner of the goal; one nil. 5 minutes later Bubba was first to react to a scramble and added a second. An unfortunate miss kick from Dec led to them getting one back before half time.

In the second half we started much more direct and should have scored three early on; in one attack we hit both posts! Finally we broke through and Bubba added two more; completing his hat trick. We seemed to go from strength to strength and Olly B and Bubba brought the score line up to six.

Well done to everyone; Branksome are a strong, competitive team and hard to play against. In addition we were without Max who sustained the injury last week and this meant Brandon playing the whole game as centre half alongside Tom.

Bournemouth Cup Final next week against Kingswood.

Christchurch v Ringwood Rangers

Match Result: 5 - 0

Goal Scorers: Oliver D, Olly B (3), Harry

This was an unusual game for us because we normally start poorly and
then improve in the second half but we were the other way round today.
We had no Bubba (injured still) nor Ollie G (Bournemouth) and so started
with Scott (making his debut) in midfield next to Ethan. We dominated
play right from the beginning and inside the first five minutes a cross
from Oliver D was headed in by Olly B. Olly had completed his
hat trick inside 15 minutes.

Ringwood had a very tall, fast number 9 who was a constant threat and a
tussle with Max led to Max pulling up and having to miss the last ten
minutes of the first half and the whole second half. We scored two more
before half time, Harry and then a cracking free kick from Oliver D.

Ringwood reorganised in the second half and put their striker in
midfield which made them more solid. We too reorganised because of
Max's injury; Brandon had an excellent half as centre back next to Tom.

We seemed to lose our way second half. Very little passing; lots of
long balls and panicky first touches when people easily had more time
than they realised (and not being told by their team mates.)

So overall a bit disappointed but on looking on the website this was
actually Ringwood's heaviest defeat of the season so we should have been
more pleased; also Kingswood lost 3 nil at home to Cannon Colts so the
league is wide open again.

Branksome v Christchurch

Match Result: 1 - 7

Goal Scorers: Olly B (3), Oliver D (2), Harry C (2)

Branksome always give us a tough game and had done the double on us last season. This season we are playing them today and then have the reverse fixture in two weeks. To add a bit of spice to the game they had taken a few players from Heathlands in the summer and originally Ollie G and Oliver D had signed for them before changing their minds and transferring to us.

Anyway we started well but always struggled with their pace. We were caught out two or three times by a ball over the top which beat our back four and Dec had to come out for and also their right midfield player was very quick. On about the fourth time he'd come out Dec apparently made contact with Callum and the ref gave a penalty. Lee took it but Dec saved.

Almost immediately we won a free kick and Harry scored straight from it. We were never comfortable though and Branksome seemed more up for it than us. Just before half time a fantastic run to the touch line from Oliver D and ball in led to Olly B scoring our second.

The second half started much the same. Dave flagged offside against two of their strikers and one scored. Eventually the ref saw Dave's flag and so ruled it out. When we started moving the ball better with one-twos or simple passing we looked much better and started taking our chances. The goals kept ticking over up to 4 before they scored from a free kick with about ten minutes left. This could have led to an edgy period but we carried on as we had been playing and added three more goals including Olly Balmer completing his hat trick.

Christchurch v Corfe Mullen

Match Result: 7 - 0

Goal Scorers: Oliver D (2), Nathaniel, Jordi, Harry C, Ethan, OG

This was our 9th league game and Corfe Mullen's (who were lying 3rd in the league) 17th which goes some way to demonstrate how our cup runs have affected our season. This was also our first game with a squad of 13 since Philip left.

Unusually for us we started off really well; passed and moved well and were deservedly 5 nil up in the first 20 minutes. I think a combination of squad rotation and also a very heavy pitch inevitably impacted on our performance and we didn't score again until the last when we added 2.

Overall we were very pleased; Corfe Mullen are not a bad team and its good to keep a clean sheet.