Shakey Start For U15's! - Not the start we wanted!

11 September 2011

Despite a summer spent by the manager adding to his squad a series of injuries and players being unavailable due to missing signing on forms meant that without a single ball being kicked in anger, options for selection were hampered which played into the hands of old foes Broadheath.

It was Broadheath that started the brighter of the two teams and with a new look backline of Henry Weekes in goal, Jordi Garner at right back, Dean Musa at left back and the two Smith’s Sam and Jim playing for the first time together the Town looked a little hesitant.

The two teams sparred with one another and on six minutes Town won a corner on the left. James Lawton fizzed in a low drive which was met by winger Alex Jackson lurking on the edge of the box. Jacko’s venomous shot deflected off a flailing defenders boot and into the net. 1-0 to Town.

The early goal settled the team down and the defence started to look more comfortable. Jacko and Andrew Bundred launched a series of raids down the flanks which penned back the Broadheath defenders. The biggest threat to the Town was the big number 11 from the visitors but the Smiths and Jordi marshalled him well.

As the half wore on, Broadheath started to take control of the midfield. They were given too much space and time on the ball and too often they were allowed to wander through unchallenged. As the visitors pushed the Town midfield back the attackers Oli Ford and Bundy looked increasingly isolated. Bundy dropped deeper to help out Owain Davies and Lawto in the middle of the park.

The visitors superior possession lead to a soft long range effort from 30 yards being parried by Henners in net straight into the path of an unmarked striker who pounced on the gift to slot home from 3 yards out. 1-1 and Broadheath started to enjoy the freedom they were being awarded all over the pitch as the Town’s heads dropped.

Bundy tried to drive the Whites on with his usual graft and aggressive approach. On twenty minutes his drive into the box resulted in a corner. Lawto pinged it low and hard towards Bundy who hammered it goalwards only to see it cleared off the line.

As the Town drove ever forward looking to get ahead, the visitors again sliced unchallenged through midfield and another half hearted long range effort was again spilled into the path of surprised striker who snaffled his chance with relish to make it 1-2.

From the kick off the Town surged forward and the ref missed a blatant push on Oli Mehta in the Broadheath box for what was a clear pen. He waved play on and there was feeling that today wasn’t going to the Town’s day.

Five minutes later Bundy released Fordy in the area. Surely he wasn’t going to miss from 10 yards out but too many touches when a snap shot was called for allowed the defenders to snuff out a rare chance for the Towns striker.

The Whites stuck to playing football and tried to carve out another chance before the break. Fordy, Bundy and Jacko linked up superbly on the half hour mark and sliced through the backline before Jacko seized onto a pass from Fordy to rattle the bar from the edge of the area.

Owain and Lawto started to take control in the midfield and fed the rampant strikers with several good chances but Broadheath’s luck held strong and the half ended 1-2.

Straight from the kick off for the second half the Town got a free kick which was floated in by Sam to the far post where Oli Ford was waiting to pounce. The keeper scrambled to his left to snatch the ball straight off Fordy’s head.

Seconds later Deano overlapped Jacko down the left flank and his shot flashed past the far post. Town upped the tempo and started the second half the brighter. The big number 11 though sprung his defensive shackles and bore down on goal. Just as he was about pull the trigger, Jordi slid in with Vidic style block to take man and ball and clear to safety.

Broadheath launched a sustained attack over the next ten minutes and the inevitable 3rd came courtesy of a series of failed attempts to clear the ball to safety. This was so often the teams down fall last season and their collective lack of conviction in clearing their lines was back to haunt them again.

The Whites broke forward and gained a corner. Owain’s whipped in set piece skimmed of Jim’s head and another chance went begging.

Changes were needed and the boss elected to move Jacko into a central strikers role, Deano pushed onto a left wing role and Benno coming on at left back. Oli Ford who busted a gut to get the boys back into the game made way. Midfield was shaken up too. Milan Starkie came on for Lawto.

For no reason the Town defended deeper and deeper allowing Broadheath to press and press. The forwards looked increasingly isolated and instructions from the sidelines to hold a higher line and play the game in the visitors half paid dividends.

A cross from Bundy who broke down the left looped over the keeper and into the net giving the Whites hope. With the crowd behind them they peppered the visitors goal but lady luck was against them today. With ten minutes to go the ball broke free about 40 yards out. Jordi powered onto it and his trademark thunderbolt arrowed past the post.

Sam Smith had the last chance of the game with free kick on the edge of the box but again Broadheath defended doggedly and held out for all three points.

With the new signings and players to come back from injury things will only get better for the u15’s. A little tweak here and there and the boys will be back in the groove next week at Woodhouse Park.

Source: erik

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