Longniddry Villa 0 - 9 MYS Blue Stripes (8Nov08)
We were without Cameron (ill) as we resumed our league fixtures against Longniddry Villa, however we were not as badly affected as our opponents who had lost a number of players to a sickness bug. However to their credit they were happy to fulfil the fixture and in the first period, their determination and some inspired goalkeeping restricted us to only having a one goal lead after 15 minutes.
We certainly had the upper hand in the first period, however for all our pressure it was only a flowing move between Ben and Owain that created the chance for Jason to finish. The other highlight of the first period was a good passing move between Jason and Ben, which led to a chance for Owain whose shot struck the outside of the post.
In the second period we made our customary changes, however we simply picked up where we left off at the end of the first period. Owain was now playing left midfield and Longniddry were finding it difficult to contain his lung bursting runs, one of which led to Brendan firing a shot just wide. At the other end, Jason made a great save on one of Longniddry’s rare forays into our half. However we knew that we had to capitalise on all the possession we were enjoying and it wasn’t long before Ben was able to double our lead by poking the ball home after good work from Keiron who was now playing in the middle of midfield. It was his determination to win the ball back which created Ben’s goal. Shortly afterwards Ben moved into centre midfield with Keiron now playing wide right, and Ben was able to cut out a clearance from the keeper and fire home an unstoppable shot to enable us to finish the second period 3-0.
In the third and fourth periods we seemed to relax, enjoy ourselves more and consequently we found it a bit easier to score. Our fourth from Ben was the result of a good move down the left involving Jason and Lennon, with Ben converting the cross from Lennon to complete his hat-trick. It was good to see Ben back amongst the goals. It was another sweeping move down the left involving Ethan and Lennon which saw Jason take the cross in his stride, beat two players and literally walk the ball into the net. Amidst the goals in the third period Lennon hit the post and Keiron hit a shot just wide after good link up play with Lennon. Just before the end of the end of the third period, Jason completed his hat-trick following good play from Ethan and Lennon.
In the last period, Ben went in goal, Brendan and Jamie were in defence and Scott assumed responsibility for controlling the game in centre midfield.
With Keiron now playing as striker he poked home his first and our seventh from a shot by Lennon which the keeper saved but couldn’t hold. Lennon showed some individual skill in side-stepping the defender to create room for the shot. Shortly afterwards, a great pass from Jamie deep inside his own half picked out Keiron who ran on to score his second and our eighth. This gave Keiron the confidence he sometimes needs to intercept a cross from Lennon on the run, control the ball and finish in one flowing movement. An excellent individual goal which gave Keiron his hat-trick and allowed us to finish the game 9-0.
It was another good team performance in which everyone played a major part in achieving the result. Whilst it may be natural to only look at the goalscorers, it wouldn’t explain the contribution made by Scott, Ethan, Brendan, Jamie, Lennon and Owain. We are becoming a very adaptable team and defensively we are benefiting from the partnerships formed by Scott & Jamie and Brendan & Ethan and whilst they don’t possibly grab the headlines by the goals they score, all their team-mates know it is their efforts that lay the foundations for our convincing victories. In addition you have Owain who can play in any one of 4 or 5 positions and who displays a fantastic attitude to wherever he is asked to play and Lennon who is beginning to understand when to make the pass to capitalise on his undoubted individual talent. Finally in relation to Jason, Ben and Keiron, they continue to demonstrate that given the opportunity, they will take their chances and it is pleasing that we have so many players in the team who can score goals. I n addition to the goals, they are all good team players who are equally happy creating chances for others.
Teamsheet: Owain, Scott, Jamie, Brendan, Ethan, Ben, Jason, Keiron, & Lennon
Goal scorers: Ben (3), Jason (3) & Keiron (3)
Monday, November 17, 2008
NORTH BERWICK FIELD TOP SQUAD
North Berwick 8 - 2 MYS Blue Stripes (1Nov08)
On one of the rare days when we had a full squad to choose from, we travelled to North Berwick supposedly to fulfil our rearranged game against their Colts team. However on arrival, it was evident that our reputation as a football team had preceded us as I was informed that we wouldn’t be playing the Colts, but the team which this season entered the top division of the Edinburgh league.
Not wanting to back down from a challenge, we started brightly enough, however on a very heavy pitch we didn’t deal with one of their initial attacks very well and soon found ourselves behind from quite a soft goal. However we soon drew level as Cameron pressurised one of their defenders from a kick out, robbed him of the ball and dispatched a good shot past their keeper. When playing a very capable team, we had to do the basic things well and it was disappointing to concede another very soft goal, which came from a throw in (playing Edinburgh league rules), we simply didn’t clear.
At the beginning of the second period, North Berwick showed their ability by passing the ball through us to increase their lead to 3-1. If the game was judged solely on chances created, we would have been level by now as we more than matched them in most areas of the pitch, yet we failed to take our chances. We did restore some hope by Keiron following up a shot from Ben which he turned in. However North Berwick seemed to step up a gear and for their fourth goal, they simply cut threw us and finished well.
I think the combination of them taking the chances they created and us finding it difficult to get our passing game going, I sensed that our heads went down a little and North Berwick eventually added four more goals to run out comfortable winners. We are clearly a much better team than our performance and the result showed and it was disappointing that North Berwick caught us on an off day. However whilst it is unlikely that we would ever be able to compete in their division of the Edinburgh league, the game was a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go as a team to be able to replicate their clinical movement and finishing.
I reminded the boys at the end that as much as it hurts to be beaten, games like this are a good barometer as to what we are striving to achieve and on another day when we were able to play closer to our potential, we could give them a much sterner test.
Teamsheet: Owain, Scott, Jamie, Ethan, Cameron, Jason, Keiron, Ben, Brendan, & Lennon
Goal scorers: Cameron & Keiron
On one of the rare days when we had a full squad to choose from, we travelled to North Berwick supposedly to fulfil our rearranged game against their Colts team. However on arrival, it was evident that our reputation as a football team had preceded us as I was informed that we wouldn’t be playing the Colts, but the team which this season entered the top division of the Edinburgh league.
Not wanting to back down from a challenge, we started brightly enough, however on a very heavy pitch we didn’t deal with one of their initial attacks very well and soon found ourselves behind from quite a soft goal. However we soon drew level as Cameron pressurised one of their defenders from a kick out, robbed him of the ball and dispatched a good shot past their keeper. When playing a very capable team, we had to do the basic things well and it was disappointing to concede another very soft goal, which came from a throw in (playing Edinburgh league rules), we simply didn’t clear.
At the beginning of the second period, North Berwick showed their ability by passing the ball through us to increase their lead to 3-1. If the game was judged solely on chances created, we would have been level by now as we more than matched them in most areas of the pitch, yet we failed to take our chances. We did restore some hope by Keiron following up a shot from Ben which he turned in. However North Berwick seemed to step up a gear and for their fourth goal, they simply cut threw us and finished well.
I think the combination of them taking the chances they created and us finding it difficult to get our passing game going, I sensed that our heads went down a little and North Berwick eventually added four more goals to run out comfortable winners. We are clearly a much better team than our performance and the result showed and it was disappointing that North Berwick caught us on an off day. However whilst it is unlikely that we would ever be able to compete in their division of the Edinburgh league, the game was a stark reminder that we still have a long way to go as a team to be able to replicate their clinical movement and finishing.
I reminded the boys at the end that as much as it hurts to be beaten, games like this are a good barometer as to what we are striving to achieve and on another day when we were able to play closer to our potential, we could give them a much sterner test.
Teamsheet: Owain, Scott, Jamie, Ethan, Cameron, Jason, Keiron, Ben, Brendan, & Lennon
Goal scorers: Cameron & Keiron
OWAIN NETS A HAT-TRICK
Haddington Athletic Clarets 6 - 8 MYS Blue Stripes (25Oct08)
With Ben and Keiron on holiday, we arrived at Haddington with 8 players to discover another wet and extremely windy day which bore absolutely no resemblance to the concept of summer football.
However with the wind at our back, we soon took the lead following good link up play between Jason and Cameron and when the ball was played through to Lennon, he dispatched a great shot past the keeper. Lennon was soon able to reciprocate as it was his shot which the keeper failed to clear that Cameron was able to slide home. With Brendan and Ethan at the back, we looked quite secure, however on one of Haddington’s rare attacks into the wind, we simply failed to take the opportunity to clear the ball and we allowed them back into the game with a good shot which beat Owain. However we bounced back and shortly before the end of the first period, Cameron and Jason played a serious of 1-2's from a short corner and after they had worked the ball into the box, Jamie was able to poke home Jason’s cross to extend our lead to 3-1.
The second period into the wind was ultimately our best and it is where all our good work allowed us to win the game. With Ethan now playing right midfield, he was on hand to benefit from good link up play by Lennon and Jamie down the left and he converted Jamie’s cross to make the score 4-1. Ethan was instrumental in our next goal by winning the ball in midfield and drilling an excellent long pass into Owain’s path and he made it 5-1. It was Owain’s turn to benefit from the good understanding being developed by Lennon and Jamie as he accepted Lennon’s cross and although his first shot hit the post, he showed great determination to make sure he turned in the rebound. Haddington only had a couple of chances in this period even although they had the wind at their backs, however on one such occasion they scored a dubious goal from a corner which looked from the sidelines as if the Haddington player kicked the ball from Cameron’s hands. However we accepted the ref’s decision and the score was now 6-2. This gave Haddington some renewed hope and it wasn’t long before they pulled another goal back after a long wind assisted clearance was converted with a great shot past Cameron. Just before the end of the second period, Ethan’s determination came to the fore again as he won the ball in midfield and played a great pass to Jason whose shot was turned in off Owain’s knee. An unusual way to record his hat-trick, but most welcome nevertheless.
The third period with the wind at our back was very frustrating as we had various chances through Cameron, Ethan, Brendan and Jamie, but we were denied by either good saves from the keeper or the ball just going past the posts.
Therefore we entered the final period into a wind which seemed to be strengthening as the game went on. However as with the second period we seemed to be coping really well and there was great passing between Scott, Cameron and Lennon which resulted in Jason’s shot being saved. Shortly afterwards we put together our best move of the game which saw Scott accept the ball from Jamie who was our keeper in the last period. Scott's raking pass to Cameron was controlled and passed onto to Owain who as striker cushioned the ball into Jason’s path for him to run on and score at the second attempt past the oncoming keeper. It was a fantastic flowing move into a very stiff breeze and all the participants are to be congratulated on the weight of the passes and playing the ball into space or to feet as required. Towards the end of the last period Haddington clawed a couple of goals back, both of which came about as a result of our defence being caught too far forward and on both occasions, it was unstoppable wind assisted shots past Jamie which made the score more respectable.
All in all, it was another gutsy performance in less than perfect conditions with our final goal illustrating how much we have developed as a passing team. It was also really pleasing to see the goals being spread around so many different players.
Teamsheet: Owain, Scott, Ethan, Cameron, Jason, Brendan, Jamie, & Lennon
Goal scorers: Owain (3), Lennon, Cameron, Jamie, Ethan & Jason
With Ben and Keiron on holiday, we arrived at Haddington with 8 players to discover another wet and extremely windy day which bore absolutely no resemblance to the concept of summer football.
However with the wind at our back, we soon took the lead following good link up play between Jason and Cameron and when the ball was played through to Lennon, he dispatched a great shot past the keeper. Lennon was soon able to reciprocate as it was his shot which the keeper failed to clear that Cameron was able to slide home. With Brendan and Ethan at the back, we looked quite secure, however on one of Haddington’s rare attacks into the wind, we simply failed to take the opportunity to clear the ball and we allowed them back into the game with a good shot which beat Owain. However we bounced back and shortly before the end of the first period, Cameron and Jason played a serious of 1-2's from a short corner and after they had worked the ball into the box, Jamie was able to poke home Jason’s cross to extend our lead to 3-1.
The second period into the wind was ultimately our best and it is where all our good work allowed us to win the game. With Ethan now playing right midfield, he was on hand to benefit from good link up play by Lennon and Jamie down the left and he converted Jamie’s cross to make the score 4-1. Ethan was instrumental in our next goal by winning the ball in midfield and drilling an excellent long pass into Owain’s path and he made it 5-1. It was Owain’s turn to benefit from the good understanding being developed by Lennon and Jamie as he accepted Lennon’s cross and although his first shot hit the post, he showed great determination to make sure he turned in the rebound. Haddington only had a couple of chances in this period even although they had the wind at their backs, however on one such occasion they scored a dubious goal from a corner which looked from the sidelines as if the Haddington player kicked the ball from Cameron’s hands. However we accepted the ref’s decision and the score was now 6-2. This gave Haddington some renewed hope and it wasn’t long before they pulled another goal back after a long wind assisted clearance was converted with a great shot past Cameron. Just before the end of the second period, Ethan’s determination came to the fore again as he won the ball in midfield and played a great pass to Jason whose shot was turned in off Owain’s knee. An unusual way to record his hat-trick, but most welcome nevertheless.
The third period with the wind at our back was very frustrating as we had various chances through Cameron, Ethan, Brendan and Jamie, but we were denied by either good saves from the keeper or the ball just going past the posts.
Therefore we entered the final period into a wind which seemed to be strengthening as the game went on. However as with the second period we seemed to be coping really well and there was great passing between Scott, Cameron and Lennon which resulted in Jason’s shot being saved. Shortly afterwards we put together our best move of the game which saw Scott accept the ball from Jamie who was our keeper in the last period. Scott's raking pass to Cameron was controlled and passed onto to Owain who as striker cushioned the ball into Jason’s path for him to run on and score at the second attempt past the oncoming keeper. It was a fantastic flowing move into a very stiff breeze and all the participants are to be congratulated on the weight of the passes and playing the ball into space or to feet as required. Towards the end of the last period Haddington clawed a couple of goals back, both of which came about as a result of our defence being caught too far forward and on both occasions, it was unstoppable wind assisted shots past Jamie which made the score more respectable.
All in all, it was another gutsy performance in less than perfect conditions with our final goal illustrating how much we have developed as a passing team. It was also really pleasing to see the goals being spread around so many different players.
Teamsheet: Owain, Scott, Ethan, Cameron, Jason, Brendan, Jamie, & Lennon
Goal scorers: Owain (3), Lennon, Cameron, Jamie, Ethan & Jason
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)