Tuesday 30 May 2017

BEES MATCH REPORT - SAT 27 MAY

BEES 11 - 1 ELLESMERE PORT JETS

A fabulous display after a tough but worthwhile practise match in training. We showed that when we get slightly more time to play we can string together brilliant passing moves and score some great goals.

Our last match against this team was a narrow 2-0 win and it was a scrappy match against a team set up defensively. Today though we got about our work quickly and managed to get the ball wide which created lots of space for overlaps and crosses.

The goal-scorers were Henry (3), Ben (2), Yazan (2), Emlyn (2) and Harry (2). Samuel went close a few times and Oliver hit the post twice so it was a pretty attacking display!

The most pleasing thing was the style of our play in terms of passing inside and outside, wing play, crosses and some quality finishes. The boys really tried hard to keep to their positions which was the most obvious improvement we can make as a team looking at the training match V Wasps.

All the boys who went in goal did a great job and its nice that we can play with different options. Yazan showed he can defend and hold position which was a big positive from the day as we try to get the boys to understand various positions and recognise the different areas and what is required to be a team.

In training from now to the end of the season we will focus on positions and hopefully the boys can work hard on keeping the formations and shape we talk about going into each quarter of the match. This will ensure that when we come up against talented sides we don't get 'caught' as much.

A great effort boys, well done. MOTM was shared across the whole team as we had so many awesome displays.

Monday 22 May 2017

BEES MATCH REPORT - SAT 20 MAY

SAUGHALL COLTS 3 - 1 BEES

Playing 7v7 for the first time today the boys started really well in wet conditions and whilst we didn't quite hit the heights of recent weeks the game was very even until the last quarter.

Yazan put the Bees 0-1 up with a finish from close range and the boys looked quite comfortable and dangerous on the break.

In the 3rd quarter we conceded a goal direct from a corner. We were set-up correctly but the ball sailed over our tallest player Thomas and right into the top corner, even though he leapt valiantly to try to get it. Really, really unlucky.

At 1-1 both teams had chances and in fairness to Saughall they did start to pass the ball with more control than the Bees and they opened us up on a couple of occasions.

In the final quarter we conceded from a good move and then we switched off at a Saughall throw-in (marking the wrong side of the player) to give them a soft goal and take the match away from us.

The boys all tried their best against a team we've been close against in the last two games (one win, one defeat). There are things we can learn from and take back to training on Thursday. The main aims by the end of this first season are to be organised, less bunching up and a bit more relaxed on the ball. We are not far away! 

Oliver was named MOTM for a committed and calm display.

Well done boys. We can't win them all!

Sunday 14 May 2017

BEES MATCH REPORT - SAT 13 MAY

BEES 6 - 1 CHESTER NOMADS COLTS

A really encouraging performance after a good training session and warm-up where all the boys showed they can pass and move.  

We recorded our 9th win in 13 games since Christmas to keep our good form and progress going.

In the first quarter we started a little slowly and Samuel in goal and Thomas in defence made good clearances. It was particularly nice to see Isaac using his tackling and high energy. We ended 0-0.

After the first 10 minutes we talked to the boys about being first to the ball and raising the efforts to win possession. Soon after Samuel won the ball, headed towards goal and after a clearance Henry coolly slotted home his 14th of the season.

After that we started to dominate and Henry doubled the lead with a smart finish before Nomads scored an own goal for 3-0. Yazan also went close after good runs on the left.  

In the third quarter Ben came into the game as an attacking threat down the right and was really unlucky not to get on the score sheet. Oliver moved further forward into midfield and was doing what we asked by getting shots on goal and the ball forward quickly.

From a good midfield tackle we set Pablo free on the left who cut inside and buried his chance to the bottom right for 4-0 and Pablo's first goal. Shortly after Nomads conceded again through their own net from a perfect Ben corner.

In the final quarter Emlyn really showed what he can do against a tiring Nomads. He picked the ball up deep on the right, ghosted past two players before slotting home to the bottom corner. A great goal caught on video!!

Nomads did score late on to deny our defenders a clean sheet.

MOTM award was a tough call but we went with Emlyn this week. A great contribution and a very, very good goal.

We can still relax more on the ball and get into space rather than crowd the ball and own players. We can also work on attacking our set pieces as with Ben, Oliver and Henry we have quality corners and free kicks.  

Well done to everyone...

Monday 1 May 2017

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MINI TOURNAMENT - 29 APRIL

BARCELONA 4 - 3 JUVENTUS

Rather than play our Arrows V Bees league match we mixed things up with a mini tournament and short matches which will be the format for future competitive tournaments.

Nick was Manager of Barca
Chris was Manager of Real
Rob was Manager of Juve

The Group stage results were as follows:

Barcelona 2 - 0 Real Madrid

Barcelona 2 - 1 Juve

Real Madrid 1 - 3 Juve

This meant that the final was Barcelona V Juventus. Real Madrid's players were transferred across to the other teams to give us a 20 minute final on a bigger pitch.

Chris was sacked by Real Madrid but picked up a coaching job with Barca!

The first half was dominated by Barca whose tiki-taka football meant they went 2-0 up. During the break coach Rob got his Juve players together and commented that Barca were already celebrating.

A change in formation with Oliver going further forward to join Yazan brought Juve level 2-2 and then remarkably Oliver scored with 2 minutes to go for what surely was the winner!?

Unbelievably Henry (aka Lio Messi) got Barca level with 30 seconds to go. The coaches were shaking hands thinking a 3-3 draw would mean everyone was happy. Henry though had other ideas as he picked up the ball 25 yards out, jinked and span in the box before hitting the winner with the last kick of the match!

Player of the Tournament went to Henry, for obvious reasons! Other notable performances were Frankie with a great goal, Samuel with two against Madrid, Yazan with three against Madrid and Oliver B for two in the final.   

All the boys played really well and the passing from our Arrows and Bees was superb.

Good fun and we will do it again next time we are drawn in the league.