MATCH REPORT 2 - SAT 17 DECEMBER

WAVERTON BEES 3 - 5 TARVIN WHITES

Further evidence of the real progress the team are making against a team that have beaten us 10-1 and 7-0 previously this season. Especially apparent in the first 2 periods which were won 3-2. The Tarvin coach commenting on the change he has seen in our team – greater awareness of each other and the space on the field.  

Waverton’s first goal was expertly despatched by Ellis, sliding in at the back post to covert a cross from Eric after Christopher took a fast throw in down the line. This really summed up the change in the team’s performance, quick thinking from Christopher to take a thrown before Tarvin had set themselves. A strong cross from Eric across the face of the danger area and great anticipation from Ellis to slide in and get onto the end of a pacey cross.

 

The first period could have seen more goals with Ellis and Christopher coming close. Guy kept the Tarvin White’s at bay in between the sticks and passed out accurately (as did all the keepers – just like last week, well done). The highlight of the period though was the speed with which Waverton won back the ball once possession was lost with good quality tackling across the pitch. After 10 mins the Bees were 1 up and looking good. 

In the second period the intensity in the tackling dropped and on 2 occasions the Bee’s suffered from this at the back and conceded 2 goals from close range, when they were too polite in the tackle. Christopher cancelled out the 2 Tarvin goals towards the end of the period with a wonderful brace that he made all on his own. Coby also came close with a volley that surprised everyone apart from a single Tarvin defender that stopped it from hitting the target.

After the break some of the Bee’s shape was lost and big gaps started to open up. Tarvin capitalised on this on several occasions scoring twice. That could have been more were it not for some great last ditch defending from George, Ellis and Freddie.

In the last quarter the Bee’s strived hard to turn the 4-3 score line around and came really close again – Rafa hitting the post and Ellis shooting narrowly wide. Tarvin scored once after Christopher had made a great save, but could not gather in the rebound.

MATCH REPORT 1 - SAT 17 DECEMBER

SAUGHALL BLUES 1 - 1 WAVERTON BEES

This was a fantastic effort against a side who have beaten us twice this season and from the names on their shirts (Rocco!) we knew Saughall were playing lots of boys from our 13-5 defeat.

Undeterred the boys seemed well up for the game this morning and we welcomed Joshua from the Wasps to cover for Yazan and George.

We had talked before the game and set out on the board how we needed to get the ball forward quickly from defence (out of our danger area) and into the big open areas of the huge pitch, so that our runners could get onto something.
In the first quarter we started a little bit tentatively but were able to keep Saughall at bay. Ben made a couple of good saves and the quarter ended scoreless.

In the second quarter the game really improved with both sides going from defence to attack. We looked really solid at the back with Oliver and Joshua able to clear our lines and Isaac giving us running and tackling across the pitch.

The Bees made their breakthrough at the start of the third quarter after Samuel broke the play, passed inside to Oliver who got the ball forward and into the Saughall quarter. Henry then followed up a defensive clearance to finish to the bottom quarter and make it 3 goals in 3 matches! He's unstoppable now!

Over the next 15 minutes the boys showed great desire and it was pleasing to see Samuel and Thomas come right into the game with tackles and running. Ben was keeping the Saughall defence busy with some great runs and was unlucky not to double our lead but for a last ditch tackle.

Saughall managed an equaliser from a goal line scramble but in the dying minutes Waverton were the better side and on occasions we were one pass or tackle away from being in on goal.

Joseph was named MOTM for his steady defending and a great partnership with Oliver, as both lads were able to clear our lines with strong passes or clearances.

The effort levels today were exceptional and every player made a superb contribution. The lads on both teams looked like they had great fun in a very equally sided game.  

In terms of us learning and improving we could be more aggressive in closing down, tackling and breaking forward - as sometimes rather than pressure and tackle we 'shadow' the opposition or pull out of the tackle when we get to them. With our speed merchants such as Ben and Henry we can really hit teams on the break but we've got to win the ball higher up the pitch. Let's all watch Liverpool's front four as an example...

Well done everyone!

THIS WEEKEND - SAT 17 DEC

Hi all

Upton Panthers have cried off from our league fixture this weekend but we've two other matches sorted as follows; 

GAME 1 – AWAY AT SAUGHALL – 10:30KO (10AM  arrival) at Seahill Road, Saughall, CH1 6BJ.  ** go through Saughall Village off the Parkgate Road and continue down the hill onto Seahill Road. The pitches are on the right hand side before the railway bridge**

Oliver Beverley

Benjamin Loxton

Henry Stewart

Isaac Franklin

Yazan Hameed

Thomas Gabriel

George Trevor-Barnston

Samuel Stewart

GAME 2 – HOME V  TARVIN - at 9:00KO (8:40am arrival) at Christleton High School 3G pitches. 

Oliver Phillips

Christopher Huxley

Eric Hughes

George Davis

Guy St John Williams

Ellis Williams

Raphael Da Cunha

Coby Jarvis

Freddie O Flynn 

I have only Frankie down as being away but if anyone cannot play please let us know.

Thanks

Coaches

MATCH REPORT - SAT 10 DECEMBER - MATCH 2

BEES 7 - 2 UPTON JAGUARS

A big difference this week with returning players from illness or injury (just George still out) plus Frankie and Christopher coming in. Unfortunately Thomas was out ill this week.

The boys started 'on fire' with Upton not really at the races. We dominated in all areas with some great tackling, controlled aggression and intent - which from a coaching point of view was great as we know this group has some fast and skilful players! Having Oliver back and fired up and with Frankie and Isaac starting in defence meant we had three tough lads giving us a solid base.

The first half we won 2-0, firstly with Yazan picking up a loose ball on the left and firing in hard and low from 12 yards. Ben then doubled our lead with a great run and finish.

In the second quarter Upton improved but we were able to extend our lead with Frankie following up through a crowded area to score and celebrate with 'the dab'! Ben followed up to take us 4-0 up with another thumping finish for his second. 

In the final two quarters, we gave away a couple of silly goals from goal-kicks which is easy to resolve in training but isn't helped by the fact we don't have a full-time goalie so all the lads are brave to step up and volunteer.

In outfield play though we dominated. After Coach Rob missed Henry's first goal last week it was excellent to see him smash one in off the cross bar!

Samuel, after a few weeks off colour, grew in confidence and his tackling and running came back to where it can be. Christopher was composed and tried to pass and get the ball forward. Isaac and Yazan played every position showing how versatile they are and their tracking back to cover was brilliant. Oliver was back to his best and was unlucky not to score with one screamer. Frankie, alongside Oliver, was solid and never shirked a tackle.

Ben and Henry have been our two most consistent players, playing every game since September, and we can now see this really showing in their play and reading of the game.  

Ben followed up with two more great strikes and even had one ruled out for being in the opposition half from a goal-kick. His fourth was the most pleasing as it shows - along with similar hits from Oliver and Henry - that we too have players who can find the roof of the net (like most of the Tarvin lads!!!).

MOTM went to Ben with four goals but there were multiple contenders. The most pleasing thing for the coaches was our intent and hunger to win the ball and turn this in attack - something echoed in the other game as well. In addition when we lost the ball our desire to track back was fantastic.

Well done lads and thanks to parents and grandparents for huge support. I think it was the biggest crowd we've played in front of!

 

MATCH REPORT - SAT 10 DECEMBER - MATCH 1

BEES 10 - 2 UPTON TIGERS

A fabulous 10-2 win for the lads this week against Upton Tigers. The team continuing their improvement as a unit – and this week showing that they have plenty of running in them and can turn defence into attack quickly, with confidence on the ball.

 

The coaches were really pleased to see all of the goals scored were from close range – meaning the boys had really listened to the coaching – not shooting from distance as soon as they got the ball, but showing composure and confidence in their own dribbling ability, taking the ball forward to  increase their chances of hitting the target.

Rafa managed to bag 5 goals, the first 2 coming in the first period – which was won 2-1. Upton taking advantage of some ‘polite’ defending by the Bees, one thing to work on in training is clearing the ball from danger when in their own 1/3.

In the second period Upton were undone firstly by a corner, fired in by Rafa and converted on the volley and into the top corner – by Ellis. After doing everything but score last week it was great to see Ellis get this goal. After that Eric went close with a 10 yard volley that the Upton keeper did well to save. Rafa bagged two more – the first completing his hat-trick - and the half-time score was 5-1.

 

It was great to see Guy, George and Eric so keen to get on the ball, finding space and calling to their team mates for a pass. Oliver, in goal for the first half, has started to show real composure with his goal kicks and all of them found their mark this week.

 
In the third period things really fired up, Ellis converted twice more to get his hat-trick and could have had more with real commitment shown to get onto the end of some great passes. Ellis hit the post twice and George once. Eric also expertly converted two chances – and again could have had more - and the team completed the quarter 9-1 up.

The final quarter was closer with the result 1-1. Rafa scoring his 5^th and Coby twice coming close. Freddie defended well throughout the game but especially in the 2^nd half and helped the team keep clean sheets in the 2^nd and 3^rd periods.

 

Whilst there were many scorers this week (not enough balls for the hat-trick hero’s to take home). It was Coby who was man of the match, the coach was really pleased to see his movement on the ball and especially off the ball – he narrowly missed 2 great chances in the game after taking up excellent positions in the box during the teams attacks.

THIS WEEKEND - SAT 10 DECEMBER

Hi all

2 games again this Saturday both against Upton Jaguars, same squads as last week although I know we may have some injuries, sickness bugs and boys away.

Please let us know if anyone cannot play. 

Both 9am KOs (so 08:30 arrival) at Christleton High School 3G, Pitch 2.

The games will be played side by side:

GAME 1
Oliver Phillips
Christopher Huxley
Eric Hughes
George Davis
Guy St John Williams
Ellis Williams
Raphael Da Cunha
Coby Jarvis
Frankie Ferguson
Freddie O Flynn

GAME 2
Oliver Beverley
Benjamin Loxton
Henry Stewart
Isaac Franklin
Yazan Hameed
Thomas Gabriel
George Trevor-Barnston
Samuel Stewart

If anyone cannot play please let us know

Thanks
Coaches

MATCH REPORT - SAT 3 DECEMBER - MATCH 2

WAVERTON BEES 1 - 10 UPTON WHITES

With George's injured ankle and Oliver having to pull out at the last minute, we were lucky we had Samuel and Yazan back fit and in the squad.

Waverton started well and were applying a lot of early pressure and almost took the lead.  Unfortunately, we could not find the back of the net and Tarvin hit us on the break and converted their first chance of the game.

This was to be a rather telling moment, as Tarvin's two strongest players (number 9 & 11) began to assert themselves onto the game and it was not long before Tarvin doubled their lead and then the floodgates opened.  In fairness, we have not seen U7s 'thump' the ball quite so accurately as these Tarvin lads demonstrated.

There were some encouraging moments from the Bees as they looked to pass the ball about the park and get into forward positions, albeit exposing us at the back to the counter! The boys continued efforts resulted in a really well worked consolation goal.  Having taken the ball into the corner, it was drilled across the goal mouth where it found Henry on the back post for a tap-in and a deserved first goal of the campaign!

 

Waverton were unlucky not score more, and were only denied by goal-line defending and the uprights on at least 3 occasions.

Some tackling work to be done in training, but a spirited effort by all. Well done to Yazan, Thomas, Isaac and Ben in goal for preventing further onslaught from a very big and physical Tarvin side.  Their outfield performances were equally good and complimented by good positional play and passing by Henry and Samuel.

Man of the match goes to Yazan, for his tiresome running up and down, strong tackling and dogged determination to carry-on following a couple of hard knocks.

A big thank you to all the parents for their support as always and Will (Duke of Edinburgh Volunteer) for helping us out and doing a great job refereeing.

MATCH REPORT - SAT 3 DECEMBER - MATCH 1

WAVERTON BEES 0 - 7 TARVIN WHITES

Another really noticeable step change in performance in today’s game, highlighted in 2 of the 4 x 10 minute periods where the lads held a really well drilled - and much bigger/stronger - Tarvin team to a single goal against. The pattern of results was 1-0; 2-0; 1-0; 3-0 (7-0 overall).

What stood out this week for the coaches was the tackling from all players, which was much better with loads of bravery shown and no pulling out of tackles against much bigger players. We rotated 4 different keepers the week and in the 3^rd period Rafa made the save of the game diving one way and keeping the ball out with his feet as it span the other.

Man of the match Ellis (who also won the dirtiest shirt contest) could not have left any more on the pitch by the end of the 4^th period – which saw him and the rest of the team step up the level of effort (just as the coaches asked so some great listening) and lead to the Bee’s best 5 minute period of sustained pressure in all of their matches to date. Only some great goalkeeping and an annoying post kept the Bee’s from getting on the score sheet.

Loads of positives to take from this game and the lads should be very proud of the great progress they are making together. One area to work hard on in the coming weeks is the effort to rapidly turn attack into defence – as most of the Tarvin goals came from breaks which went unchallenged.