MATCH REPORT - SAT 17 FEBRUARY

Bees 3 – 1 Tarvin Blues

What a game…What a result…What a performance!!!

With it being half-term, and without an ‘official’ fixture in place, Rob arranged a little bit of a test game against the Tarvin Blues who play in the league above us (same league as the Wasps) and for all intents and purposes this was an opportunity for us to see how the boys would fair at the higher level… Based on that performance, I would say, they more than held their own… 

Having not got off to the best of starts and going 1-0 down within the first 5 minutes, it looked like the writing was on the wall. Thankfully, that was not to be the case and the Bees were level shortly after, thanks to a well taken goal by Thomas.  Tarvin continued to press and were unlucky on a couple of occasions not to retake the lead.

The whistle signalling the end of the first quarter came as a welcome relief, and we had a lot of work to do. The boys needed to increase their intensity levels, sharpen up their tackling and increase their passing, if they were going to be competitive. They all responded well to what was being asked of them, and were duly rewarded in the second quarter, when Yazan powered home, following a nice through ball by James.

The third quarter continued very much in the same way, and with Tarvin pressing for the equaliser, the boys had to keep working hard, hold their positions and maintain their discipline – something they did exceptionally well throughout.  It was really nice to see the boys getting stuck in, making goal stopping challenges and looking to play their way out of danger from defence rather than just kicking it up field.  As a result of them focusing on these fundamentals, the game really began to flow and was a real pleasure to watch, culminating in George breaking through from midfield to unleash a Thunderbolt of a shot into the roof of the net.

Every single player had given 100% and played out of their socks - could they hold out for another 10 minutes?  Did they have the mental and physical strength to see the job through to the end?  Albeit for a few nervous moments and some last ditch defending, YES… they did!!  And what a well-deserved win it was.  That was the most determined and high intensity display we have seen from them so far.  They (and us) should feel very proud of what they achieved in this game.

It would seem the Bees are well suited to 7 a side, and are all starting to naturally play in position, making ball distribution and tackling a lot easier.
The boys were AMAZING and thoroughly deserved the win.

MOTM - goes to the entire team.
 

MATCH REPORT - SAT 10 FEBRUARY

Bees 5 - 2 Westminster Park

Whilst Rob and Sam were sunning themselves on the French ski slopes the rest of the team were warming up to face previous opponents Westminster Park. Having come out worthy winners against the Upton Jaguars the week before, the Bees were enjoying playing 7 a-side and looking to extend their winning ways.

It was clear from the off that Westminster Park had been training hard and this was going to be a tougher game than originally anticipated. That said the Bees took an early lead through a nicely worked goal, when Emlyn fired home his first goal of the day. Other opportunities came and went, and we found it difficult to get through the Westminster Park defence.

Westminster Park’s determined approach continued into the 2^nd quarter, and paid off when they were rewarded with an equaliser.  The Bees struggled to respond and were fortunate to only concede the one goal within the period.

Following a rousing half time team talk, and coach Robbie taking over the refereeing duties, the boys responded well and started playing some nice free-flowing passing football, resulting in a further three goals by Emlyn (including 1 with his right foot) and another by Oliver. In all fairness we could have had at least another couple had it not been for some good saves by their goalkeeper. This attacking play was complimented by some great tackling in all positions and we were unlucky to concede a consolation goal at the end of the quarter.

The final period was well contested by both teams, with opportunities at both ends.  Even with some positive tackling and ball distribution throughout the park, neither team was able to break the deadlock and the final quarter finished goalless.

FT 5-2

Another Win (albeit slightly closer than anticipated)

This was a rare treat for Robbie to watch the boys in a real game scenario and I think we / they can all be proud of their performance.

A big well done to everyone. MOTM went to James for his effort levels and consistent tackling throughout the game.

MATCH REPORT - SAT 3 FEBRUARY

BEES 6 - 2 UPTON JAGS

Being back on the grass and playing a proper 60x40 pitch, 48 minute match (!!)and 7-side format meant for lots of space and a pulsating match which was competitively fought.

Our 9th win of the season was really pleasing as the opening moments were very even before the combative nature of George and Sam began to win us more and more ball which we were able to feed to Emlyn and Ben. Just as we had asked, Emlyn scored twice from the left wing to take us in 2-0 after 12 minutes. Big shout to Thomas for his performance which was his best to date with solid tackles and playing the ball early down the left.

The next 24 minutes the boys bossed the game and we benefitted from high pressure particularly on the Upton goal kicks. There were two highlights; first was Oliver taking the ball down, getting it out of his feet and slamming it to the top corner from 20 yards! Second was George saving a certain goal by catching the ball between his knees - something surely Ed must have taught him!

Emlyn completed his hat-trick with another 3 goals to take his tally to 5!

In Q4 Rob and Sam had to leave and we fell apart! Only joking Chris ha ha! Upton got something out of the game in the final 12 minutes to end the game 6-2.

Our play was really pleasing as this will be the format we play for the next two years, so its good to see that we can step up. It looks like the extra space will suit us.

MOTM was shared between Emlyn and George!

Well done to everyone. All the individual performances were brilliant.

MATCH REPORT - SAT 27 JANUARY

BEES 9 - 1 TARVIN

After two really competitive and evenly matched games we showed our progression this morning with a convincing win over a team who regularly beat us at u7s.

The boys came off the back of a really good training session where they were learning to look for space and pass backwards as well as forwards - to 'go back to go forward'?!? Confusing I know!

We certainly used the space much better than Tarvin and we held great positions and shape which then allowed us to break forward with multiple options and outlets - either through  the middle or going wide and getting crosses in. Our tackling in the 1st, 3rd and 4th quarters was very intense but we need all the boys to follow each others example in getting to the ball quickly.

The boys scored 9 terrific goals - Emlyn (4), Ben (2), Pablo (1), Sam (1) plus a Tarvin own goal. To be honest it could have been many more.

Overall, as we transition to bigger pitches and 7-side we are in a really good place as a team. We will now work on using the bigger spaces and keeping our shape. As we do this we can work on how we want to play in terms of style - it seems we have players who are nippy and fast (and not the biggest) so perhaps we can think more about quickly pressing, breaking the play and then most importantly becoming calm yet quick in speed of thought to go forward. Think Liverpool, think City....forget Man Utd!  

MOTM was shared between Sam and Emlyn - who both bring different yet important qualities to the overall team and result.

Well done boys - good performance all round.

MATCH REPORT - SAT 20 JANUARY

SAUGHALL 6 - 5 BEES

Thanks to Coach Chris for the detailed report (short novel) - a second career in journalism awaits....

After a narrow defeat against a good Princess Villa side the week before, the team were keen to return to winning ways.  Unfortunately, on another rainy morning in Saughall it was not to be the case.  In fairness we were lucky to be playing at all, the Saughall pitches had been unplayable for weeks and the pitch was under attack from a grass eating grub of some sort.

The game was very close throughout and the teams were well matched – great game to watch !!

Waverton took the early lead.  James had initially made a great run down the right-hand touchline before being dispossessed while trying to cut inside.  James did not give up the fight however and was on hand to pounce when the ball broke for him inside the box – teeing himself up with the outside of the right foot past the defender before putting his laces through the ball (textbook finish).

We were looking solid all over the park, with Isaac in particular doing a great job of marking their centre forward pretty much out of the quarter (I think he actually quite enjoys that position). Everyone was putting lots of effort in and as we (well I did anyway) begin to ponder the possibilities of knocking 2 or 3 past Saughall for no reply, we immediately conceded off the restart – very frustrating, however a well taken goal by Saughall.

Level at the break, Saughall upped their intensity, and began an aerial assault on our penalty area.  Route One had clearly been the message from the bench and it worked – Saughall were 3-1 up.  Had it not been for a couple of good saves by Thomas, including one destined for the roof of the net (I even heard their coach say – great goal, before Thomas parried it away for a corner), it could have been a lot worse.  At the other end, Saughall’s defence was holding tight, before James went on another run down the right beating his man to reach the by-line and rather than shooting himself, looked up and passed the ball across goal, splitting the defender and keeper for Pablo to tap into (It is all about being in the right place at the right time).

HT: 3-2

Going into the 3^rd quarter, all was to play for.  We were only 1 goal down and still very much in the game.  Ben was making some good saves in goal and Henry was sticking to his striker at the back.  That said, Saughall’s pressure paid off mid-way through the quarter and they had doubled their lead.  The boys heads did not go down and the Bees dug deep and exerted pressure of their own resulting in a goal by Oliver (first of the season) with the outside of his foot into the bottom corner.  Pablo then hit the post directly from a corner and Isaac was really unlucky not to score on the back post having got himself into a great position. Meanwhile, another Saughall attack had rewarded them with another goal, an unlocky deflection off Henry.

Being 2 goals down, you could have thought the game over, but as we are learning about the Bees, they don’t give up without a fight... After going another goal down (6-3 to Saughall), they worked their socks off and made every tackle count before running at the Saughall defence and interchanging passes between themselves – Oliver on the left, Ben in the middle and Henry on the right.  They were playing the ball to feet, into space, in behind the defenders and were duly rewarded when Ben beat 2 players before getting his shot off early and firing home Waverton’s 4^th.  This was shortly followed by another goal by Oliver striking the ball first time into the roof of the net, following a poor corner clearance by Saughall.  Henry was finding space down the right and was unlucky not score himself on a couple of occasions.

With George and Pablo keeping things tight at the back, we really thought we were going to get that illusive equaliser… sadly not!

FT: 6-5

Man of the Match goes to James for his hard work in all areas of the pitch, some clever dribbling, scoring a great goal and his team awareness when passing to Pablo for his goal.

In addition, I have to say how impressed I was with all the boys’ resilience, desire and effort during the game, everyone worked really hard for one and other and there were moments of brilliance (both individual and collective).  I was particularly pleased with the way players are now thinking about what they are going to do with the ball before they get it; how they now look up for each other to pass to, as well as knowing what they need to do when they don’t have the ball – Mark-up.

Really promising stuff on display !!