Weather: COLD! Coaches: Chris, Alec & Martin

XI: Jordan, Marcus, Nathan, Callum, Harry, Matthew, Thomas, TJ, Ben T, Ben W, Joe

Sub: Max

After having our game called off for yesterday with Poole Town Wessex, but making the most of that by having a friendly kick about with them at Ashdown on the astro – the players at Holt were desperate for the game to go ahead for Sunday against Merley.  We are now officially on our way to Div 2 next season – and the only question is who will be coming down with us?

Merley are in the relegation dog fight too – and so we knew that they would give this game everything they had.

We had a last minute pitch inspection at 1.20 to see if the pitch was playable – it passed the ref`s key test – so game on!  what we hadn`t realised is that it would be like dancing on ice in parts after such a deep frost – so quick turns with the ball were hard to pull off without doing the splits.

We had a few missing again for this game – but in fairness a team with Matt, Ben T, Joe, Nathan, Thomas, Jordan and the new signings should still be able to give Merley a good game.

A deflection early in the game led to Merley scoring past Jordan efficiently to go 1-0 up – pity.

Some passages of really good play with Ben T, TJ and Marcus getting the ball to feet – but we just couldn`t get the ball into the danger area effectively enough.  I can`t remember us troubling the Merley keeper – though he was protected superbly by Luke and Tom in their defence and also the engine Alex in the centre – quality players who seemed to do the right thing with the ball every time.

We tried and never gave up – but sadly we just couldn`t make the pass to our player again; something that has cost us all season.  We do all the hard work – win the ball back – but then gift possession.  All too often, we would be in possession and then the triangle attempted would break down.  So frustrating for all involved – but further evidence that we are not a Division One team any more and the sooner we can re-group with a team in Division Two; the better.

I cannot fault the effort of the players – they honestly were the best they can be; which is all we have ever asked of them as coaches.

Special mention to Matt – who started right wing – and then went upfront alongside Joe – but TJ and Thomas in the centre were just unable to play the ball into a dangerous area for us to capitalise on.  Not easy when up against Alex and his team.

Jordan made some great saves – coming out to meet their striker and make it hard for them – but he just couldn`t do it all and the gaps were there in front of him, again despite Nathan and Callum working hard.  Harry had a great game and is getting better all the time – but again just couldn`t find that composure for a pass that would have retained possession.  Marcus worked hard from start to finish, as did Ben T and Thomas; but it just wouldn`t happen.  Ben W tried to link up play from mid-field to upfront; but again the speed and physical side isn`t there just yet.

A good team performance that Merley coaches and parents should be proud of – and certainly on that effort they deserve to remain in the top flight of the Dorset Youth Football league.

Coaches MOM: Marcus

Parents MOM: Harry

Weather: Nice but chilly Coaches: Chris, Alec & Martin

XI: Elyis, Charlie, Callum, Nathan, Harry, Max, Taric, Nibs, Thomas, Jordan, Joe

Subs: Jamie & Ben W

After a few hundred phone calls and pulling Elyis out of bed we managed to get a team together to get this game played – with understanding from Adi at Stur Newton by playing our home game away.  This season has been a steep learning curve and game after game we keep looking at who isn`t there – but this game it was more about who was there!

We had the rock, Nathan, back from a long lay off with a Rooney like broken metatarsal; we had Taric back in a red shirt – and step forward Sir Nibs of Verwood!

We were well organised this time with the mini-bus ready to leave Holt with a team cobbled together – but with one common aim – to be the best they can be!  We have learned the strengths of other teams in this league and have worked hard on our weaknesses to give us a chance of completing – the back four was back together – and started with a focus session with Alec to get them moving in one supple, confident unit!

The pitch was a bit like a Thorntons truffle – hard on the outsides and soft in the middle – so the plan was to use the width – with Thomas wide right and Max wide left.  Jordan has been a revelation this season and we feel is quite possibly the best keeper in the league – but we had also promised he could have some fun out-field too – and so with Elyis kindly rushing in from Handley – this was Jordan`s chance.

We played some good football from the start – with Elyis looking solid in goal and Charlie and Harry continuing their development with a view to overlapping runs and creating triangles.  Callum had the job of coming to the ball first from the back and Nathan using his football intelligence and size 14 boots to fill the gaps.  It was working a treat – considering we were up against some of the most talented wing players of Stur with Crabbie one side (ex-Gillingham) and Jamie the other (ex-Okeford).

With the flow of the game we broke time and time again – but couldn`t put any power into the shots sadly – and we could have been 4 to the good on another day!  Eventually, we got our reward for the possession by Taric playing a ball through for Jordan to pounce on and slide a shot home past the keeper – his first Holt goal and a well celebrated one at that!

There was quiet on the touchline with `ay-up` AWOL for this game – as a result it would seem that Thomas came of age and expressed himself brilliantly from the start – feeding balls into Joe and making runs like he does in training – some great effort and desire!

We kept working as a team – but sadly a clearance that should have headed towards Sherborne sadly was scuffed and they made the most of the situation and slotted home the equaliser.

It is always hard to write up these games without a twinge of  restrospective thought about `what could have been` and it was fair to say that some decisions weren`t going our way – with corners and throw ins being questioned.  However, we didn`t once let it spoil our play.

The good news is that the local restaurants will be inundated with parents of players getting a Sunday off – and therefore a well earned carvery!

1-1 At half time was scant reward for the efforts of Nibs and his team – but if we could just keep it going then who knows or dared to dream.  The talk at half time was to keep doing what we were doing – for all to keep challenging possession and play it simple.

Stur Newton have some really good players and very few signs of weakness – the majority look like they were old enough to have driven to the ground themselves and maybe have a pint afterwards!

We kept the `through ball` happening in the hope that we could break down the Stur rear guard – and sure enough, arise Sir Nibs!  It was incredible, he went through and used his body to shield the ball – then slid one into the back of the net – again, one of the most celebrated moments of the season as everyone at Holt knows that Nibs puts in everything he has at every opportunity.  So proud – though I probably regret running onto the pitch like a kid to join in the fun!! 2-1

They say lightening doesn`t strike twice – but today had a really good feel to it – with Joe off the pitch clutching his knee again and so Ben on upfront alongside Nibs – we had a size ratio of two strikers to one defender – so Ben had to work hard to be more pyhsical to hold up the ball or to get it out wide to the ever willing Thomas – and that is what happened! Some great play fed the ball wide and then a cross was fired low and hard into the box – and there he was! Nibs banging it first time into the back of the net! 3-1

I think that everyone watching would agree that Holt deserved this lead – but the truth is that we just aren`t used to it – other teams would know how to lock out a game; but these are (were!) dizzy heights for lowly Holt.

Thomas was struggling with his legs – so we made a change again to give him a well deserved rest.

The ball went out for a corner (??) and their dead ball specialist put in yet another quality ball that even I could have scored from – and up stepped Captain Quality to head home like a pro.  Great goal and nothing Elyis could do. 3-2

We had more chances with Charlie pushing into left wing and Jordan settling back into the position he started at Holt as left back – some great challenges from him kept us in the game – and some brilliant defending by Nathan too.

However, our old problem of loosing shape and not challenging the ball meant that the ball rolled out to their player who stuck it sweetly into the far top corner – uh-oh – 3-3 – but a great goal and worthy of winning any game of youth football.

We put Joe back on upfront and put Thomas back on – upfront!!!! 4 Minutes left……

Sturminster Newton had some good play and the centre of the pitch was a battle we were starting to loose for the first time in the game – and they were in the ascendency.  There was deemed to be a foul on one of their players – and so a free kick was taken – the ball broke out and rather than us clearing it into the club house – they got the ball and their player showed composure to carry the ball right infront of our defence and then BOOM! Goal….4-3…..

What a pity – then the whistle went and it was all over – a game whereby we played out of our skins and players stepped up to the plate slipped through our fingers.

Another lesson learned – but at least we had played this weekend – it wasn`t looking likely during the week.

We can take so many positives from the game – and to be fair – going back on the bus you would have thought we had won with the team spirit and laughter; so not all bad I suppose.  At Holt, we are now resigned to being demoted to Div 2 – which will suit many of the players in their continued development and maybe that errors made won`t be as punished as they are in this division.

The expectations we have are for the boys to have fun; to learn and to develop to be the best they can be – I think today many watching will agree that we did that.

Parents MOM: Nibs

Coaches MOM: Thomas