Weather: Nice Coaches: Chris, Alec & Martin

XI: Jordan, Charlie, Callum, Nathan, Harry, Marcus, TJ, Ben T, Nibs, Joe, Ben W

Sub: Thomas ?

Mini bus job again with a last minute change to 12.30 kick off – nice.  I wonder if Alec had worked this behind the scenes to grab a better slice of the Spurs vs Arsenal action – mmmmmm (either way he missed the first 20 mins when Spurs were decent!)

As has been the story of the season – we have been fighting to get players that can play – but we managed to get a bunch of lads together for this one including the cross-signed TJ and Marcus – phew!  Just imagine the £30 Dorset FA fines if we hadn`t done that weeks back – a BIG thank you to those guys for helping Holt limp through the finish to the season.

We were quite excited by this game as we have `okay` memories of previous trips to Redlands – and recall that the goals are smaller than ours – so having practised shooting accuracy on Saturday – then perfect! Pity it was only 4 of the team there. Doh!

The first 15 minutes were decent – we did what we asked for; pass & move and look after the ball – I sound like a stuck record – but it was happening.  Charlie was instantly stamping authority on the gold star from kick off – quick as lightening and firming up the challenge every time!  He was also encouraged by the pre-match talk to push even further forward and influence attacking play as much as covering ground on the retreat.  In my opinion, Charlie is the player who has made the biggest steps forward this season – well done Charlie! (And Leif in the parks!)

We had a few chances – with Joe running onto long balls from Jordan`s monster kicks and also TJ passing it over the top – but the shots were high, wide and not handsome – but considering Joe is still limping when he walks – he tried….

Nibs had a new position to try out on the right wing – but positionally, we can`t expect him to have been able to grasp it there and then – but he tried…

Callum, in the centre of defence, was aware of him being the player that had to come forward and win the ball with Nathan covering his rear – they both did well and were conscious of not giving possession away after all their hard work.  Still too many headers in the middle of the pitch that weren`t made sadly by TJ and Ben T – and so this made the task that bit harder for all at the back.

We had worked a few sessions back, at the short throw in to retain possession – and Harry tried – but sadly it didn`t quite come off – and that was how Weymouth pounced on the first goal.

It was up until half time that again individual errors were punished by the marauding troops of Weymouth – with one of their stars Milo – taking control and playing the ball out wide.  The next goal came when Joe sheparded the ball back towards Jordan – but the comms weren`t there and so their striker snuck in and scored.

A couple more attacks came and we just kept creating our own downfall – even when we tried to take control of the ball and retain possession – the final ball wasn`t to our player – and then too many players were caught up-field and out of position – but we tried.

Ben W tried to get the ball under and create play, as was asked of him, but again the physical difference made it just too hard for this to be effective.

5-0 By half time – but when asked if they were having fun – the majority said `yes` – so it can`t be all bad.

The old addage of `game of two halves` came flooding back – so that was the team talk – keep up the fun – but let`s do what was on the white-board; keep our heads and see what we can do!

The boys came out like a different team the 2nd half – with composure, and a desire that frankly I admire.  It is clear that without having a team that all come to training every week – then when match day arrives, our expectation can only be realistic.  We know we don`t have the most gifted players, we know that we have had to get boys in from elsewhere just to honour the fixtures, we know that players are carrying injury – but what we do know is that every player TRIES!

If there was a reward in the league for a team that with statistics like ours – to keep putting on their boots and the Holt shirt and to keep doing their best; though that may not be anywhere good enough to get points – then HOLT YOUTH FC should be picking up the medals for it.

Being honest, I don`t know what will happen next for us – there are a lot that are bumped and bruised having gone through what we have loosing not only the players from last season; but also the other players that came with so much promise but couldn`t commit – almost a double body blow to the very core of Holt.

Youth football is made up of so many components – but the one that bonds and binds a team is having fun – maybe we had that this season – but loosing every week is no longer fun.

The heart beat of Holt has been the fact that so many have tried and I am sure that the heart of Holt will continue to beat – albeit maybe without the weekly beatings…..watch this space…..

Coaches Gold Star: Charlie

Parents MOM: Nathan

Weather: Windy and bit wet   Coaches: Chris & Alec

XI: Jordan, Charlie, Nathan, Callum, Harry, Thomas, TJ, Taric, Marcus, Nibs, Joe

Subs: Louis & Ben W

A mid-week game!!  Reminds me that Holt isn`t so far away from the big 4 of Chelsea, Man Utd, Arsenal & some other team with mid-week football!

Christian at Poole had moved mountains to secure the use of the home of Poole Town FC, so we could play under the floodlights on a surface that would suit our passing game.  A guest appearance from Lord Chris Reeves, Chairman of Poole Town, made the evening even more special – though I did pre-warn him that I am not available for the Managers job if it comes up at the end of the season for them!

Another guest to proceedings was the Dorset League Secretary, Trev Selby – this was the first game he has managed to see for Holt this season and he took shelter in the away dug-out with us – which was nice; however, seeing him remove the cotton-wool at the end of the game did worry me that maybe Alec had re-verberated somewhat around the concave structure he sat in!  (at least he will now know how to `back and face!`)

This was Holt`s penultimate league game of the season – and parents and players had sacrificed all sorts to be a part of this under the lights.  The team sheet was quite strong with a mid-field of Marcus, TJ, Taric & Thomas – power, pace, cunning – and fluorescent gloves!!?!?!

The team talk was about showing how far we had come and that a large pitch should not worry us – but instead to use the space and make the ball do the hard work.  Let`s put into practice what we have done in training with triangles and `looking after the ball` – anything else against this ever improving Poole Town Wessex team would be dangerous.  Of course, Alec and I then noticed that only 6 of the team had been at training – doh.

We started quite well – but it was clear that Harry was getting out of position without the pace to recover and Poole Town took advantage down their left flank – a few near misses and then they scored with composure.  Harry is a player that has improved over the season and is at EVERY training session we have – but there is a gap between Holt and 2nd place Poole Town Wessex of almost a whole division.  It was clear that with a team including Ben, Sam, George, Connor, Brad, Dylan etc. that they would keep the ball and look to pass to their own players and spread it wide – which on a pitch like this was hard for us to battle against – oh, that and the WIND! ;0)

Taric and TJ were doing everything possible in the centre of the park – but the passing just wasn`t quite there to build a meaningful attack – credit to Nibs though, who`s blistered feet were taking a pounding in closing down the ball time and time again!  We would have loved for him to repeat his performance he had when he scored 2 against Sturmonster Newton.  Marcus was battling hard too – but couldn`t find the right pass to unleash the taped-up Joe.

It is symptomatic of our season that when under pressure – the composure we seek goes out of the window and passes are panicked rather than crafted and so we just couldn`t get a foothold.  Again, Nathan and Callum were working well together and doing their level best to snuff out chances in front of goal – but a little shift to one side by the oncoming player would see us exposed.

The whole game was played in good spirits with the Poole Town Wessex parents cheering as much for our attempts as for their own – quality, lovely bunch of parents.

We made a change with Thomas going back to his old stomping ground of right back and Louis on right wing duty – with his strapped knee.  To be effective we needed to be quicker with moving the ball – as PTW were doing – as trying to take the ball past Ben N, or Sam was hard enough for the adults when we had that kick-about at Ashdown the week before!

Ben W came on for Joe to see if he could link play – his forte!  He tried so hard at every opportunity – getting the ball down and even turning back towards his own team to `look after the ball` – great!

Half time came and I think it was 3-0, despite Jordan`s quality efforts – big goals and a struggling defence – this was a fair reflection of the possession and attempts PTW had.

We trotted back into the changing rooms and got our thoughts together – can we do better??  I didn`t give the hairdryer treatment, more a pair of straighteners – but instead made it clear that I believe in the team that they can put some passes together and enjoy the game if they do – if we get some chances then we will finish them with Joe and others hungry for £2 a goal!  (I hear some are paying £5!! Inflation eh!?)

Alec and I know what we have and one thing is for sure – they are all good kids who will keep trying; I don`t want to say others would give in – but how would Stags, Wimborne Town, Weymouth react??  We are almost accustomed at being the under-dog – and so they came out fighting from the start!

We made a few more changes – with Joe back on and dropping into a role whereby he could come deep for the ball and play it around – Taric was still battling away and TJ and Marcus were trying to get the triangles working – but sadly all to no avail.

Special mention to Charlie who in the first half was working so hard to get tackles in, stop crosses, build play from the back – everything possible.  I honestly believe that with more training and coaching he could be outstanding – he is a credit to Holt as from start to finish he doesn`t stop trying; everything the Holt badge is all about (even if it is a little frayed around the edges).

The wind had an effect in the 2nd half; which I honestly didn`t realise in the first half as we were protected by it – but sure enough we were in PTW half – a move from Thomas, a cross – and an attempted Rooney style overhead kick from Joe; got the crowd on their cold feet!  But alas – he missed the ball and landed on his coccyx!

Ben 10 was back on the pitch and loving it – he is quality – there are certain players that I have seen in youth football like Ben C at Greenfield, Yanis when at Corfe Mullen – who have an influence in youth football that is frankly another level.  He took it upon himself to bring the ball through the left hand side of the pitch, cut in and run and Nathan at pace and under control – to then slot past diving Jordan; quality solo effort and nothing that the upset Nathan could do.

That did seem to spell the end of the fight-back – so to see Jordan heading up past half way line and grinning at me as we had a corner – with 10 minutes left????! Whatever……he ran back and made a one-on-one save anyway.

There was another opportunity created by PTW – which their striker cleared off the line – that`s just what we needed!

Overall, a great opportunity for the youth of Holt to play in the big arena under flood-lights – not something that happens every day and against a team that is made up of nice lads who live, breath and love their football – led by one of the best coaches in this league, Christian.

Veni, vidi, vici – we came, we saw, but were conquered – however – I honestly feel that our boys had fun – and that is our `giant steps` this season – fun in the face of adversity!

MOM: Taric

No parents MOM as they were too far away on the other side of this monster pitch!!