Dec
19
HUYFC 2 – Wimborne Town 9 DEC 18th
Weather: Chilly and breezy Coaches: Chris/Alec & Martin
XI: Jordan, Charlie, Max, Callum (C), Harry, Nibs, Will W, Ben T, Thomas, Elyis, Matt
Subs: Really???
After a cancellation last week against Poole Town Wessex through a bug that swept through our depleted team – this was the first game since the adventure at Blandford – where we played well. Could we do it again???
After lots of calls and e-mails and with families making arrangements to travel from Salisbury, Bournemouth and boys leaving Christmas get togethers to make the game by bike and also Elyis coming out of retirement – we managed to scrape 11 together for this game. It has to be put on record that with Joe injured, Nathan with a broken foot, Piers skiing, Louis skiing, Taric unavailable – some key players were missing for this encounter!
I know I sound a bit like Fergie – but it has such an impact for a lowly team like Holt – so this David and Goliath clash was a chance for our `Davids` to take on the mighty Wimborne Town – who are playing on several fronts and are dealing ruthlessly with teams from Hampshire and Dorset – not to mention Bournemouth!!! I have said it before that they have a team of 100% footballers – not cricket, not rugby, not MW3………
Being Christmas time, we are all opening our doors at home to relatives who maybe have faster more impressive cars than us, bigger houses, a better wardrobe, an earlier retirement date – we are aware of what they have and respect it. As long as they still say thank you for their gift of socks. This game was a mis-match from the start – but every player wanted to stand up and be counted – for which I am personally incredibly proud of.
Holt Youth FC is a team of `nice` boys who are happy to improve – we are far from the finished article. Wimborne are the finished article with a bench of players who would walk straight into the Holt team and make a difference.
A star is born…….Jordan warmed up with Alec and the team working on his coming out to take the ball cleanly one-on-one – I knew from watching other games for Wimborne that they are deadly in front of goal and so the space has to be closed. To do this you have to be braver than David Cameron at this year`s Euro Xmas Lunch! In the first attack – Wimborne came through with Charlie and Jordan was out like a bullet from a gun – however – the ball spurted sideways and the shot wasn`t closed quickly enough through the mud – so they got their first. 1-0.
2 Minutes later it happened again – a through ball and Jordan grabbed it cleanly – only to be clattered for his trouble by Charlie. A word by the ref and we move on.
Wimborne did play some good football – making the best of our small pitch by sending the ball out wide left – a cross not stopped and a lovely touch and a shot low and hard past Jordan – great goal. 2-0.
The pitch was getting churned up and was only just holding up – so we had to be quick with passing the ball to feet – sadly we weren`t quick enough and from our centre kick we were robbed in possession by Charlie – who then powered through Max and Captain Callum to score the 3rd – 3-0.
Many teams up against this would have collapsed, or been at each other – but not Holt. We had key players missing, yes, but we also had key players involved and with Will W and Ben T in the middle of the `Som` – we were battling to get the ball and do something with it. Eventually a ball through and Matt was running one-on-one with Elyis alongside – Dan had to come out and had to make it difficult – but took Matt out in the box. I am not a fan of red cards in youth football – so the ref made the right decision and saw the penalty as punishment enough. Matt cooly slotted it home….3-1
I love seeing teams take short corners – I like it when we do it – I think it shows quick thought and good skills – we have nullified this in past games with Ben T watching for them – but sadly he was pulling the mud from his boots when Wimborne struck again and while the cross came in and Charlie landed on Jordan – the ball headed to the back post and was headed into an open goal. 4-1.
We had limited tactics from the start but know from the visit to Wimborne earlier in the season that Charlie is a player who uses his strength and size – and Wimborne now look for a ball to him as quickly as possible – so step forward Nibs! He is 3ft shorter than the striker – a real David & Goliath battle. Nibs stuck to his task well – but was pushed aside and then fought to get back and slid in to win the ball but caught Charlie instead – 5-1
Make no mistake about it – every player on the pitch was trying – with Matt doing some great movement and on the ball touches that are another level; Will W and Ben T were trying to keep up with the pace of the game in the centre up against the very talented George and Dixey. OH FOR THE CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SUB JOE AND TARIC to give these boys a rest! Charlie was playing out of his skin fighting back – winning balls – playing great – just a yard or two away with the thought process (which will come with more coaching for him), Harry too was doing all he could to stop crosses and get to the ball first with a desire that I have not seen before – but again just a yard or two away.
Max and Callum were doing really well in trying to be first to the ball and working together as A & B – but we just made that old mistake of winning the ball well and then giving it straight back to the other team sadly. My thoughts are with them though as they were on the soggy end of the pitch and trying to thwart wave after wave of attacks. Tackles were flying in and they stood up to be counted. Callum could be heard, above the clink of cups of mulled wine that Paul Barlow had brought, encouraging his team mates and keeping the faith!!
Thomas was unfortunate too with some attempted passes and attacks – but we needed to find a way to get him more involved….he made one great header cutting in from the line – but couldn`t latch on to it for a shot at goal.
Half time came and a chance for the boys to kick the mud off their boots and to take a well earned rest from the David & Goliath battle that this Sunday had served up.
The team talk was upbeat as in fairness – with Jordan in goal we were doing far better than when we went to Wimborne! They were all trying their best – in fact – they were being the best that they can be. That is all we ever ask at Holt. We made a small change with Elyis coming into midfield to see if he could hold the ball up and make some telling passes – but Jordan (who is desperate to also play out on pitch again) offered to stay in goal for the team – quality!
The second half was more of the same – but with a bit more needle I felt – late tackles; bad language, questioning of decisions.
Wimborne made some changes, which I respect, with players playing in different positions. However, the players at Wimborne are so talented that they could play anywhere on the pitch and make a difference – I personally think that Charlie would make a great centre back – even with Nibs hanging on his back like a baby monkey!!
More great saves from Jordan – one of which he leapt and tipped over the bar – brilliant!! They scored from the corner superbly though……
The idea for us with the team we had available was to occupy Wimborne`s key players and enable Will W, Ben T and Matt work together to trouble the Wimborne defence. This started to happen with some great triangles and through balls – youth football at its finest with good friends playing together.
One of these moves lead to Will breaking into the box – where the central defenders both put out a leg which Will went over. Matt again calmly slotted away the penalty.
Overall Wimborne were always going to win – it was a question of what Holt could do along the way; and I feel that boys became men during this game. If we play like this in the New Year with injury problems solved – then we should do better than the 1 point we presently have in the league.
Final score was 9-2 – far more respectable against the mighty Wimborne than last time – so the boys should be proud of themselves.
Coaches MOM: Jordan
Parents MOM: ALL OF THEM!!!!