SUNDAY NOVEMBER 3RD - ROUND UP

SUNDAY ROUND UP

BY SARAI

AFC Stoneham Owls U8 V Littleton Juniors Youth U8 Lions

An early kick off for the Owls but all were raring to go, injured midfielder Lucas took on the role as coach and cheered from the sidelines. The first half saw loads of chances and some great saves from both sides.

Those shooting boots were well and truly on in the final two quarters and there were goals galore from both sides with a combined goal count of 6.

Well done to Archie, Luca, Charlie, Ted, Tommy, Finley & Archie for their effort throughout.

MOTM - went to Archie for his solid performance in defence & show stopping saves as GK

Match Report

Wolves U9 vs Colden Common Royals

The Wolves have been a frightening prospect for any team this season, but with Halloween over it was back to business with a second consecutive game against a Colden Common side. This week it was the Royals, a side we encountered in the summer friendlies.

We started the brighter and settled into a nice rhythm early with Shay pulling the strings in front of a Cohen and Teddy defence. Vinnie whipped in a low cross which evaded everyone except Mason at the far post who showed great control to make room for a shot and open the scoring. Colden Common were a threat down their left and Cohen managed his position expertly and timed his tackles. Louie always looked lively up front and when Shay played him in his strike oozed confidence.

Jacob, Fozzy and Fyfe switched in and we faced a rejuvenated Colden Common who hit back twice to level. The early passing rhythm wasn't quite there but the boys rallied and in spite of chances for Louie and Fozzy and some determined defending from Jacob and Cohen the teams went in all square.

Into the second half game was very open with some great skills on display. Jacob saw off another attack and released Fyfe who in turn weighted his pass perfectly for Fozzy to finish off a brilliant counter attack. Colden Common pressurised and looked certain to score but a goal line clearance from Jacob, a super tip over from Jasper kept them out before the best bit of combined goalkeeping and defending all season; a double save from Jasper and last ditch tackles from both Teddy and Jacob to keep the advantage.

I commented last week about him dealing in the spectacular and Fyfe pulled out an outrageous effort, dinking his touch over a defender and then fully sending it from 30 yards. With the opposition pushing men forward we exposed their defence twice more, firstly Louie completing a brace with a ball from Teddy, the Louie turning provider for Fozzy for his second of the day. Colden Common got another back towards the end but by then we'd done the damage.

An action packed game with some terrific goals from both sides, great credit to Colden Common, we hadn't noticed they only had 6 players until a good way in and at times they played through us. We've played better football and not taken chances as well as today so we'll take it but we need to make sure we keep working as a team and sticking to the passing style that's worked so well. Several great candidates for MotM today but with two great goals and an assist (plus a birthday wish from Tyler Dibling), Louie takes this weeks honour.

The AFC Stoneham Spitfires U13s beat AFC Totton 4-1 in a league match this morning. The Spitfires struggled to get out of first gear for much of the game, however they continued to create chances throughout. Stoneham went 1 goal down early on and got back into the match when Freddie was pushed in the back in the penalty area. James slotted the penalty away calmly into the corner of the net. Freddie then put the Spitfires in front and then scored his second after a run and shot from Eli came back to Freddie to hit into the bottom corner.

A sluggish second half performance saw one goal for Stoneham after a short corner was played to Eli who crossed into the danger area. The Totton defence failed to clear and Sam was in the right place to smash the ball into the net.

Man of the match went to Forbes for his good defensive and attacking display as left back. The boys will be disappointed with the performance and look to improve in the next match.

Tyro div 6: Stoneham U13 Wolves 0 Winsor U13 Red 1

A first league defeat for the Wolves today, but a very good performance in another entertaining match full of high quality from both teams.

Dominik was called into action early to rush out and make a key block, before scoring opportunities fell to Mamadou, Bobby and then Muhammed. The end-to-end play continued with Dominik making a second great block, but this time the ball fell unkindly for the Wolves and it was 0-1 against the run of play.

Bobby then showed great technique by making a superb tackle after tracking an advancing defender back into midfield, before four more chances to score for the Wolves were followed by a goal line clearance from Jacob. This was the first of 4 key blocks inside our 6-yard box by Jacob who overall had an excellent first game at centre back and deserves his first Wolf of the Week award.

Wolves continued to get closer, the first half ending with Talal then Mamadou both hitting the bar.

Our chances were being created mostly by great passing moves within our midfield where Talal, Muhammed and Ahmed were working well together. In particular, this was Ahmed’s best performance this season, continually showing great skill on the ball to beat players in a congested midfield and then lay off a pass that would usually lead to a chance being created. Muhammed also provided some attacking width down the right in the second half and almost created a goal from a high quality cross. Talal had to play all over the pitch to restrict Winsor on the break, including in the second half making a full stretch tackle to save a certain goal from inside our 6-yard area.

Width was also provided today by the hard-working Dylan, Frankie and Misha. Dylan showed great energy and commitment today, reaching the bye-line on a couple of occasions, while Frankie took up some excellent advanced positions, and Misha was particularly brave in supporting the forwards from his unfamiliar more defensive starting position.

Centre-backs Jacob, Charlie and Harry had to maintain full concentration in containing our attack minded opponents to just the one goal, especially considering it was a first start this season in that position for both Jacob and Harry. Charlie showed his usual amazing energy and work rate while Harry made the transition with another faultless display.

Wolves finished the game on top, pushing for a goal that so nearly came. We created 15 scoring opportunities today with at times some very bad fortune preventing the equaliser, and special praise must go to our forwards Mamadou and Bobby for their perseverance and for never giving up on that chance of a goal.

Kings Copse U14 1-2 AFC Stoneham Jaguars U14

On a boggy pitch, and against a big, physical, quick opponent, the Jaguars continued their fine run of form to come from behind and grind out a huge victory to take them top of the league.

It was a first half of few chances where Kings Copse dominated territory and possession for long spells. The midfield was a battle, and Taylor, Harry W, Josh, then Charlie, had to work exceedingly hard without the ball, and show nimble feet with the ball to find the forwards. The front three of Tiago, Freddie and Jamie worked manfully to shut down the defenders, whose chief tactics were long balls to the dangerous Kings Copse number 7, who Dyllon managed well. Alongside him, led by Isaac, Daniel and Harry D worked terrifically hard as a defensive unit to limit Kings Copse to shots from distance. Fin dealt comfortably with the ball all half until the last play, where a seemingly innocuous shot managed to squirm under him and into the net.

At half time the management team tweaked the tactics to focus on turning the Kings Copse defenders, and moving the game out of the centre of the pitch; and from the first whistle of the second half, the pattern of the game changed. Time and time again the Jaguars pinned their opponents back with dinked balls into the channels, and the Jaguars began to enjoy more territory. Suddenly, it was the home team’s goalkeeper being called into action, albeit from well manufactured long shots from Harry W, Taylor and Tiago. Freddie played a slightly higher line and began linking much better with the wide players, and with Isaac and Daniel rock solid at the back, Kings Copse began to sit deeper. It was going to take something special to break a well organised home defence, and that’s exactly what Taylor delivered, finding the corner from thirty yards out.

Suddenly, what was a compact game opened up and became more end to end. Fin more than made up for the first goal with two outstanding saves, whilst Harry D showed huge desire to continually shut down the Kings Copse right winger. At the other end, Charlie played some really intelligent poked passes between the lines and Josh, in a wide left position, created havoc with some silky skills. In the middle of the pitch, Harry W provided a terrific example of box to box midfield play to provide support to the defence and the attack.

With the game in the balance, it was the visitors who took the points with a decisive strike. The ball was fed into Freddie on the half way line, who rolled his man, drove forwards and then found Tiago with a perfectly weighted ball. Tiago took the ball in his stride, and from the angle produced a deft dink over the goalkeeper.

Kings Copse weren’t finished, however. With only one substitute to the home team’s four, the Jaguars were running on fumes for the last ten minutes, but threw their bodies on the line to make tackle after tackle, typified by virtually the last attack of the game where Isaac launched himself to block a shot that looked destined to nestle in the goal.

Today was a wonderful example of the old saying that it isn’t the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Or in this case, the Jaguar. Up the Jags!

ST FRANCIS 3-4 SHARKS

Naderi (2)

Enninful

Dube

PPotM – Okwin

PotM – Dube

A hard-earned result today with credit going to all players as that was a fantastic team effort. Whilst, for the most part, we dominated possession and territory we missed a lot of chances resulting in this being a much closer game than it should have been. All credit to St Francis though who always looked dangerous on the break.

We started the game brightly and nearly scored in the first minute. We continued to dominate looking likely to score until the sixth minute when St Francis broke clear and scored with their first visit to our box. After the goal conceded we continued to apply pressure albeit with our opponents always looking dangerous on the break. On 20 minutes, we turned the tables with Naderi breaking free and slotting the ball calmly past the keeper. Unfortunately we then switched off and St Francis immediately worked their way down the right wing and a good cross found an unmarked player in the box to restore the lead. Three minutes later we were again found wanting in defence as St Francis doubled their lead on the break.

I’m proud to say that we didn’t let our heads drop and the players dug in and some sustained pressure told when Dube latched onto a brilliant cross from Naderi to bring the score back to 3-2 seconds before the half-time whistle.

The second-half saw a much improved performance with our midfield and attack dominating and our defence looking calmer and more assured (until the final few minutes). One of Crofton’s long throws found Enninful in the middle of the box where he pivoted brilliantly and a powerful shot gave the keeper no chance and brought the scores level. At this point it was clear that we were brimming with confidence. On the 51st minute we saw a fantastic piece of play with Naderi winning the ball just outside our area and calmly playing a diagonal ball to Okwin who drove into space – somehow, Naderi sprinted the length of the pitch and latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Okwin. Once Naderi was one on one with he keeper, there was only going to be one result as Naderi put us in the lead for the first time in the match.

What followed was a nervy 19 minutes with us mostly dominating and their keeper brilliantly keeping them in the game but ultimately we were able to see the game out for a deserved win.

Parents felt that the PotM should go to Okwin for his work rate and a great mix of dribbling skill to beat defenders but also some great passes to his team mates, one of which was awarded an assist. He was also unlucky not to score in the dying seconds of the game.

Managers PotM went to Dube who was playing out of position as a striker. Not only did he score a well deserved goal, he created several opportunities as well as managing to press the St Francis defence into mistakes on several occasions. It was great to see Dube show his full range of skills today.

In truth, this was a true team effort and the awards could have gone to any of the team as they all, without exception, played their part.

Thank you to St Francis for a great and close game today. We wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season and look forward to the return leg.

U18 Knights were home to Poole Town (currently top and unbeaten in Combination West) in the Hampshire Combination cup. We made a great start and looked dangerous going forward creating several good chances. From a Ewan corner, Jack headed home to go 1 up.

Poole had their chances but Joe made save after save. HT 1-0.

We changed our shape in the 2nd half to try and get Brandon and Ewan higher up the pitch which worked and then felt more comfortable in possession.

Our defence today were outstanding and Joe made more great saves for anything that did get through. Waseem was unlucky not to make it 2 nil after smashing the crossbar. FT 1-0.

MOTM goes to Joe. Outstanding with his shot stopping and didn't put a foot wrong.

Great result and back in the hat.

Well done everyone!!