|
16 November 2009 Match report for Wilmslow Town U11 Jaguars 1 - 5 away win against Inter Cheadle JFC U11 West (14/11/2009)
After a break which seemed longer than three weeks, the Under 11 Jaguars returned to action with an away fixture at Park Road against Inter Cheadle West. Given the rain of the previous day and the forecast for rain all morning, it was a relief to find the pitch playable, but with a strong cross wind, very long grass and two rather large puddles in each goalmouth.
The boys were playing a team that concedes but scores lots of goals. Would conditions determine the result, or would the boys continue their fine early season form?
Due to a tour in a very strange country playing a game with an even stranger shaped ball, the Jaguars squad was depleted this week. Eleven players started and finished the game. Natty reverted to goalkeeper, the defence was at full strength, with Will, Tom, Ted and Neil, Charlie made a first start in midfield alongside TJ and the attack comprised, Jamie, Kieran, Brendan and Connor. There were no substitutes.
The boys started the game brightly taking the game to Cheadle. An early chance fell to birthday boy Ted, who met a Jamie corner with a bullet header that just flashed past the post.
What became clear however, was that the boys were not thinking about their positional play, and sure enough as Cheadle launched their first attack, the Jaguars' defence was all at sea, players were out of position, panic ensued and Cheadle scored with a toe poke that escaped Natty’s dive and hit the back corner of the net. 1-0 to Cheadle and the Jaguars' proud record of being the only team in the Stockport Metro League not to have conceded a goal was gone.
The boys responded by trying to play their brand of passing football. Alas, the grass was too long, the wind too strong, Cheadle flooded the midfield and at times it was so congested it looked like Wilmslow town centre on a Friday night when the roadworks were on.
When the boys managed to play the ball to Connor, his wing play often resulted in corners and it was from a corner that Connor managed to draw the boys level, smashing the ball into the net at the second attempt.
More joy was soon found on the left wing, where Jamie hit a scuffed shot that went straight through the grasping hands of the Cheadle goalkeeper. 2-1 to the Jaguars and as half time approached, the boys started to realise for the first time this season, they were under pressure and this was not a stroll in (the) Park Road...
At half time, the boys were told in no uncertain terms that if they continued with their sloppy positional play, and poor defending this was a match they would lose. No team can walk onto a pitch and expect to win. You must work for it. So, keep your position and pass the ball harder and longer out of defence, out of the long grass in midfield and out to the wings.
The boys took the team talk on board and created a flurry of chances which somehow they contrived to miss. Kieran and Connor in particular were either denied by the brave and agile Cheadle ‘keeper, or managed to screw the ball agonisingly past the post or blasted it over the bar.
The game was finely balanced at 2-1, but after a supreme effort Cheadle’s play became more ragged. Kieran then got just reward. From a poor goal kick, Jamie supplied a pin sharp pass and Kieran took the ball around the goalkeeper. 3-1 and breathing space.
Cheadle visibly wilted, and from a free-kick deep in the Jaguars’ half, Jamie passed to Kieran, who played a short pass to Brendan who calmly placed the ball into the top corner of the Cheadle onion bag. And, as the game neared the final whistle, Brendan and Kieran again combined for Kieran to score the Jaguars fifth goal.
Final result; 5-1 win to the Jaguars. But this was a much closer game than the scoreline suggests. This was a proper match, but against a better team this was a match the boys would have lost. In the first half, the performance was more like some of those games played in the last two years, and not like those of Wilmslow Town this year. Boys not thinking, being scared to head the ball, being afraid to win the ball in a challenge, even forgetting how to defend and mark a player from behind. Bad habits returned.
This will not happen again. This match was a lesson learned. Wins are earned by thinking, working, and competing. In the second half the boys played to win, and if some of the chances had been converted, the victory might have been much greater. So well done boys –we are still top of the table. Let’s stay there!
Goalscorers; Kieran (2), Jamie (1), Connor (1), Brendan (1)
GBK Man of the Match; Tom –credit to Tom for holding his hand up and admitting he was at fault with being out of position for the Cheadle goal. But this award is for his coming to the rescue of his team mates’ mistakes on more than one occasion, and for his vocal organisation and motivation. Tom showed great determination to win this game and set a great example to his team mates. Well done!
Team
N Thomasson, T Botham, W Nicol, T Strang, N Woodward, T Jefferis, C Sciple, C Barton, B Behan, K Maguire, J NugentMan of the Match : T Botham Source: Peter Drury << to news index
Wilmslow Town U11 Jaguars : More Information
|
Site design by IMA Electronic Media 
