Sunday Round Up

By Sarai

AFC Stoneham Owls U8 v Hedge End Rangers Hawks U8

The minute’s silence was impeccably observed by both sides, but as soon as the whistle went for kick off, the boys were raring to go.

The Owls only had 5 players today giving them all the full 40 minutes on pitch. Players swapped up their normal positions to cover those missing, usual GK/defender Archie played as striker and bagged himself a goal, and striker Ted went in goal and pulled off some great saves. No rest for Charlie, who played as striker and defender and didn’t stop running.

The Owls scored 6 in total, but the 4th goal was pure quality... a superb flowing move from back to front with an excellent, teasing cross from Luca to the back post which Tommy dispatched clinically.

MOMT: Went to Luca, for reading the game superbly and outstanding work rate.

Wolves U9 vs AFC Stoneham Jaguars

Showing respect is important every weekend, but none more so than on Remembrance Sunday.

The Wolves were joined by the AFC Stoneham Jaguars on derby day and the two sides observed the minute silence impeccably.

The boys got underway and asserted themselves early with Fozzy showing great instinct to chest in a Fyfe corner.

Jaguars responded with a terrific passing move down their right and an excellent finish to level up. Teddy and Shay showed great strength and aggression to win key tackles at the back and release Vinnie down the right, who's skill and creativity caused no

end of trouble. When Fyfe broke free his shot was well saved but Louie was on hand to guide his finish into the corner.

Vinnie put another great ball into the box and after a goal mouth scramble Fozzy got the decisive toe in to increase

the advantage.

Jacob and Cohen switched into defence with Jack out wide for Q2. Vinnie and Fozzy repeated their last trick with

another poachers strike from a wicked cross.

Jack whipped in another great corner for our Foz in the Box to help himself to a fourth of the day. We were keen to not let complacency slip in and the Jags were keen to fightback; a superb freekick was palmed away

brilliantly by Jasper and Jacob got back to clear away off the line. Cohen's positional play is getting better and better and enabled him to make some vital clearances. Jasper was lucky enough to get Jordan Pickford's water bottle yesterday and there must

be something in that water as his next stop was even better.

We continued to press from the front and Louie snaffled up a risky pass and made no mistake. Teddy and Shay ran the

game from midfield with their physical presence. Louie turned provider with a measured ball to Jack who initially hit the post but knocked in the rebound. With the team turned upside and minutes on the clock there was room for one more highlight. Jacob is

known for his combative defending and never say die attitude, but goals are not his normal currency. Fozzy's cross come shot fell at his feet and he tapped in for the biggest cheer of the afternoon.

Another outstanding team performance, with some really effective football. We're a team that trusts eachother and

it's a joy to watch. Fozzy's potency in front of goal got him the match ball but it was Jacob's solid defending topped by a collectors item of a goal that earned today's MotM.

U13 Spitfires

The AFC Stoneham Spitfires U13s produced their best performance of the season in their Hampshire cup fixture against Moneyfields Youth this morning.

The Spitfires started well and went one goal up early on when Alfie L’s cross was met by Freddie who slid in to knock the ball into the bottom corner. Soon after, a through ball from Adam was calmly slotted away by Freddie for his second. The Spitfires went into half time with a comfortable three goal lead when a short corner taken by George F was met by Ashley who lofted it over the keeper from the edge of the area.

Stoneham maintained the intensity in the second half being patient in the build up and switching play well. The fourth goal of the match came when Charlie took a quick throw in down the line for Ashley to use his pace to get behind the defence and cross the ball across the face of the goal for Matt to dispatch. Captain James then scored a great long range shot from the edge of the area which went high into the corner of the net with the Moneyfield keeper having no chance. Stoneham scored two late goals from near post shots.The first from Ashley for his brace and the second from Freddie for his hat-trick. The match finished 0-7.

Man of the match went to Adam for his role in a strong performance from the Spitfires’ defence who quickly turned defence into attack. Well done lads for putting all the hard work and passing play from training into a 70 minute performance.

AFC Stoneham Jaguars U14 4-1 Littleton Galaxy U14

The Jaguars overcame a lacklustre first half and an obdurate opponent to run out comfortable winners in the end.

Unusually for the home team, they started off in flat-footed fashion. The visitors employed a 4-5-1 formation, utilising long long balls to their influential centre forward and sending runners from deep. The Jaguars gave the visitors far too much time and space to play their raking passes, and the midfield failed to keep pace with the Littleton runners. By and large the defence kept Littleton at bay initially, and with Ibs largely crowded out by physical centre backs, it was left to the in-form Tiago to provide guile and threat by latching onto channel balls from Jamie.

With Littleton playing an excellent pressing game and the Jaguars off the pace, it was no surprise when the visitors went ahead, and even less of a surprise to see the ever dangerous Littleton 16 score the goal, pushing the ball into the top corner past Fin’s despairing dive.

The Jaguars continued to be stretched, but with the introduction of Daniel at centre back, and Matteo and Harry D into midfield, looked a more solid outfit. At times, the Jaguars looked good on the counter attack: Freddie poking wide from Ibs’ slide rule pass and Ibs then heading over from an inviting Tiago cross. Littleton continued to create half chances at the other end, their shots from distance either rolling wide or nestling into Fin’s grateful arms.

On the stroke of half time, and against the run of play, the Jaguars found an equaliser. Archie burst down the left and clipped a cross to the back post. Tiago saw his effort cannon off the bar from close range only for the ball to fall to Ibs who calmly slotted home.

The Jaguars took the field for the second half a completely different team; one prepared to fight for every ball and work for the right to play. Littleton were as lost as the balls that ended up in the deep brambles behind the goal as the Jaguars poured over them. Archie and Jamie continually made threatening overlapping runs, Harry W made penetrating runs from deep to fashion shots for himself, and Charlie, Harry D and Matteo prised open the Littleton defence with clever passes. All the while, Isaac and Daniel snuffed out the danger posed by the Littleton counter, dominating in the air and on the ground.

Within minutes, the Jaguars took the lead. Some intricate play involving Charlie in the middle saw Harry W take the ball from the angle and drive the ball into the corner. Two goals quickly became three when Archie scored an outrageous free kick from the half way line. And it began to rain chances. Taylor saw multiple efforts from range saved, and a header from a corner hit the post. Matteo found Josh with a cute pass who slammed the ball just wide. Archie crashed a drive narrowly the wrong side of the post. Ibs saw a point blank shot somehow clawed out by the Littleton goalkeeper.

A fourth goal seemed an inevitability and so it proved. Harry W won the ball and drove forward from deep before unleashing a shot into the top corner.

More chances came and went as the Jaguars never loosened their stranglehold on the half. In the end, despite the anaemic first half display, the Jaguars deserved their victory. At the half way point they sit on top of the league. Up the Jags!

U14 Royals v Totton Yellow

The Royals started the match minus a goal keeper and two strikers. Not to be deterred they battled hard after two goals from an attacking opposition.

Jack scored a great goal followed by Totton giving Maisy an early Christmas present, she popped one in with ease.

Despite great play from the Royals Totton managed to steam ahead, with the final score resting at 5-2.

Alfie and Arthur were stand out players today with some great defence and attacking.

Shout out to Joe and Olly for stepping up in goal again today.

A good competitive game all round.

Well done to Totton.

Well done to everyone on Remembrance Sunday .

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