Burton v Christchurch

Match Result: 1 - 8

Goal Scorers: Jonathan C (2), Stuart, Miles, Lewis C (2), Sam, Callum

Burton are renowned for making a strong start to their matches and although we beat them convincingly at home, we knew they were still a threat and had a few strong players which we needed to isolate. They had only lost 4-1 to League leaders Redhill a few weeks before. We hoped if we could gain the upper hand with an early lead, then the flood gates would open. As expected both teams battled hard for possession, Burton pressing us back in the first few minutes, as Christchurch looked a bit un-composed, with poor first touches, sloppy tackling and stray passes. Burton mounted the first few attacks, catching our backline out a few times, as we looked sluggish. After 10 mins, we won a throw on the left, at the halfway line, Jack J threw to Sam, who controlled, turned & played in Lewis up the left wing. Lewis used his pace to loose his marker and calmly placed his shot past the Burton Keeper. Shortly after Jack C had a similar opportunity, attacking from the right, but put the ball wide at the far post. After 15 mins, I tried pushing Callum upfront with Lewis, Stu into central-mid with Brad and Jonathan into central defence with Paul. We still weren’t playing well and the match was even. Both Brad & Stu had very good long range efforts on goal but both just going over the crossbar. Jonathan played well out of position at the back.

Half-time: 0 - 1

Our lead was slender and we knew we had increase our lead before Burton equalised. The small pitch size didn’t suit us, as we were too compressed, so a few more changes saw Jonathan push upfront with Lewis, Callum back into central mid with Stu, Brad out to the left wing, & Sam back into central defence with Paul. Thankfully these changes worked in our favour, as the formation clicked immediately and the boys started the second half on fire. From our centre, the ball was played up through middle to Lewis, who again broke through and beat the Keeper. A few minutes later, Burton broke through our back line and netted a goal, beating Finn at the far post, to put the pressure back on, 1-2. Callum soon restored our 2 goal lead, as he broke through from midfield and hammered a shot in. Moments later a through ball to Jonathan was just too heavy and as he chased it down the Keeper came out to clear, but fortunately miss-kicked the clearance and Jonathan seized the chance to net his long awaited first goal of the season, putting us 1-4 up. Christchurch were now controlling the game, the defence now looking steady with Dan, Paul Sam & Jack C & Jack J winning balls confidently and passing up Stu & Callum in central mid who were spreading quality balls to Lewis & Jonathan upfront and supplying Brad & Miles on the wings, who were then using a good combination of speed and skills to gain ground and feed cross after cross into the box. A run from Miles down the right wing and then along the backline, saw him fire a ball low across the six yard box, which Jonathan connected with at the far post, to bag his second. This gave Jonathan a good confidence booster, as he started to chase down ball after ball, eager for a hatrick. Although Burton had now conceded 5 goals, they were still mounting attacks, with Finn making some good saves, one of which was an excellent diving save to his top left corner. From another Burton attack, Paul cleaned up and dribbled into midfield before playing in Miles up the middle, who went on to bury the ball in the back of the net. Brad was having a very good second half out on the left wing, winning tackles and running rings around players, making light work of turning his markers and crossing and switching balls. One of these crosses found Sam, who shot from just outside the box and netted well to join the score sheet. Just before full-time, Stuart got a slice of the pie, finding the back of the net to finish the game 1-8. A sluggish 1st half, followed by an excellent 2nd half, with a good display of both individual skills & team play.

Full-time: 1 - 8

Man of the Match – Bradley

Christchurch v Redhill Rangers

Match Result: 2 - 1

Goal Scorers: Stuart, Calum

There was much debate before the match on whether the pitch was playable. The ground was softer in the central areas and around the goal mouth, the flanks and especially the corners were harder with frost. With the approval of the opposing manager, parents and the referee it was decided to go ahead with the match.

Redhill have always been a top team in this age group and are current league champions. Christchurch Youth FC U12 had not beaten them in a full 11 a side competitive match although we had come close on several occasions. So this was a tough match and a win would consolidate our 3rd position in the league.

This was to be a close hard fought match and a game of few clear cut chances. Christchurch started well passing the ball accurately especially in the midfield. Calum was used as a target man and held the ball to good effect and then passed it out to the midfield with Miles, Stu, Bradley, Philip and Marley in support. Jack C was put through mid way through the half his shot beat the goalkeeper but drifted just beyond the far post. While Christchurch had the best of the first half Redhill also threatened with efforts on goal that Finn saved well. Our first goal came from a corner on the left that was not cleared, in the resulting goal line scramble Calum managed to poke the ball in on the near post 1-0. It was good defending that formed the platform for our passing game, with Charlie, Dan, Paul and especially Sam coping admirably cutting out the Redhill attacks.

Half Time 1-0

The second half started with Redhill having their best period, although the game was still fairly even, they were creating the chances. Finn made two top drawer saves to keep us in the match, before the pressure told and Redhill were awarded a penalty after Sam was adjudged to have brought down an attacker who was charging through for an attempt on goal. The penalty was converted despite a valiant effort from Finn in goal to save it. Christchurch battled, with Philip, Sam and Miles playing well we managed to gain belief and looked the team more likely to win. All players contributed to some good passing moves, although clear chances were limited. The game appeared to be heading towards a draw, when with two minutes to go Stu found space on the left and was put through on goal after some neat passing in midfield, and from just inside the penalty area he shot low and hard beating the goalkeeper at the near post 2-1. We held on for the final few minutes to earn a well deserved and long awaited victory; how good does that feel!!!!!!!

MoM - Sam

Christchurch v Kings Park Dynamos

Match Result: 2 - 2

Goal Scorers: Callum, Miles

Squad/Formation: Only basic 11 available today, Jack J in goal and a back line of Dan, Jack C, Marley and Charlie, in midfield Miles, Phil, Brad and Sam, with Callum and Jonathan upfront. Having seen Callum play upfront for his school team, I decided to take the gamble and push him up, using Phil and Brad in central mid, with Jack C and Marley as centre backs for speed and strength.

This was our second match of the season against Kings Park Dynamos and our first meeting was a tight match, though Dynamos managed to take the win. The game started very evenly, with both teams battling well for position. After about 10 minutes of vigorous battling, we looked as if we were going to break the deadlock, as Callum crossed a ball in from the right, across the face of goal, for Sam to meet with a header, but unfortunately found the side netting. Moments later, Jack J was tested with a close range, scrambled shot, but blocked well. A few minutes later, we got caught out as Dynamos fired a shot from the right corner of the box, beating Jack at the far post. We had an unsettled period around our box for around 5 minutes, where we were struggling to regain composure and not to concede a second, but then re-grouped and battled hard to try & find an equaliser.

Half-time: 0 – 1.

With no formation changes, we battled through the second half, with lots of long balls to Callum upfront, who was playing the ‘Crouch’ role, battling hard to receive balls on his chest or head. Our equalizer came as a counter down the left wing which was then switched into midfield just outside the 18yrd box, & then played into Callum who calmly tucked it past the Keeper. The battle continued & we took the lead, as Miles miss-hit a cross from the right, but thankfully the cross lobbed the keeper instead. Dynamos replied quickly with an equaliser 2-2. Both teams were now battling for the winner, with attempts at both ends. Jack J pulled off a first class save during a one-on-one with a striker, as he came out to close him down, his outstretched foot steered the goal bound shot, wide of the far post, keeping us in the game.

Final score: 2 - 2.

An excellent all-round performance from defence, midfield and forwards.

Man of the Match – Jack J.