Jan
15
HUYFC 1 – Weymouth Cougars 7 Jan 15th Home
Weather: Fresh and cold Coaches: Chris & Alec
XI: Jordan (ill), Charlie, Callum, Max, Harry, Nibs, Piers, Ben T, Thomas, Will, Joe
Sub: Ben W
This was the return fixture from the game that Nathan came back into last time when we played on their giant pitch – but Nathan was still mending his foot – so he wasn`t there on our small pitch. Even so, Steve and Helen (&Nath) had all spent time rolling the pitch and marking it out to plug the holes created by the first team training – THANK YOU!
So – we had a few faces missing with Matthew, Taric, Louis, Jamie, Nathan, - but we did have some strong players back in the mix – so time to show how we have improved since the last game we had way back before Xmas against Wimborne!
Sadly, Jordan had been sick all morning – but still made the journey from Salisbury to see if he could cope. It was clear in the warm up between him and Joe that he wasn`t feeling at all well – but would do it for the team to give us a chance.
We set off putting into practice what we have worked so hard on in terms of defending as a unit – with the back four of Callum, Max and Harry – who have been at all sessions welcoming Charlie back into the fold – he seems to have grown a few more inches over Xmas!! The idea from the start was – clear our lines – one challenges and the other clears up – win the ball first – pass to one of our players, stop any crosses before they happen, be vocal at corners, pass back to Jordan if you are facing the goal and under pressure, don`t take a risk when not necessary, be composed and be powerful, use your body to its best advantage…….quite a bit to think about. From the start we did really well in every way from the back – even though Jordan was clearly struggling.
In the centre of the pitch we had the blond assassins side by side in Piers and Ben T – a frightening amount of energy and both charged with the responsibility of protecting Max and Callum and then feeding the ball through into the channel or up to Joe and Will.
With Joe`s knee still not any where near right it was the first game in months where we could give him a run out – but playing him upfront to avoid the chance of a bad clash in a more defensive position – having him and Will W upfront was sure to bear fruit as they enjoy playing together and are both intelligent footballers who can make something happen.
They did – with Nibs battling to win the ball wide left and Thomas doing the same wide right – we had a decent set up.
There was lots of opportunity for both teams but nothing came until Joe received a pass and turned then did what was asked and use his close skills to get one on one with the keeper – taking on the 3 or 4 players around him – only for the blond assassin Piers to sneak in and push him out of the way to slot home the first – funny as…..
So – what reward for constant work and graft – 1-0 at half time.
The half time team talk was keep doing what you are doing – keep the work ethic up – keep Ben T and Piers protecting the back 4 and keep protecting Jordan.
I have never seen such a game of two halves – we must have got rid of the team we had in the first half as in the second we did none of the basics – we challenged by jumping in, we let things happen that we didn`t in the first half – the gap got bigger inbetween the centre mid and the centre backs.
Charlie continued to work hard and was trying hard to support the front play with Ben W on for Nibs and Will pushing out wide to exploit the space – however – the passing was just not there!
Alec and I are so disappointed for the boys – a game that was there to win was lost and by a margin that dumbfounded us.
Is it fitness, is it desire, is it a lack of preparation – or is it just a lack of ability?
Who knows – but the positives in the first half should be what we try and remember. Some good headers, some quality left back play by Charlie, some good saves from Jordan, some good runs from Joe, some mighty challenges from Ben T, some good effort from all – in the first half.
MOM – Charlie