The U16 Boys looked to extend their recent unbeaten run to five games in a Challenge Cup match against London Lions at Pursley. The Lions took our boys to penalties last year in the same competition and were not to be under-estimated despite currently playing in a lower division. The Wood also had a strong sense of purpose heightened by the absence of Montgomery, their mucker and team-mate continuing his battle back from illness.
The boys started well with good energy levels and accurate passing and this continued throughout the match. However, the many chances created were not converted, leaving the door open to the opposition to profit from defensive play that was not as solid as recent outings. The Wood were somewhat bemused to be 0-2 down in a half they’d dominated but, the score never lies and it was only a parried shot from Fan, crossed by Silva and dispatched confidently by Da Silva that saw the Wood close this gap, to go in 1-2 down at half time. The team talk then focused on what was some very good attacking football and continuing that, finishing with more accuracy and less power, while tightening up at the back.
The boys delivered and scored one of their best team goals to date, with Crucefix, Song, Zefi, and Makamian all playing effective, slick passes to release Silva who played another top quality match and scored his 10th goal in five games to draw level. The Lions were not done yet though and produced the strike of the match that flew like an arrow, pure and straight into the top corner.
No matter, it was back down to business and the Wood equalised again, the gutsy Fan winning the ball and releasing Ifeacho, who enjoyed a much improved, simpler game and buried home in style. With the clock running down, the boys trusted each other and worked more opportunities with good, unselfish play and Da Silva, playing another very strong match, latched on to a Boshjaku free kick to slam home the ball, sealing a place for the team in the next round of this competition.
Sometimes things don’t go to plan and you suffer setbacks despite doing lots of things well. In all such cases, players that stay calm, trust their training and dig deep can overcome adversity. The boys did that really well today and can be proud of their efforts. Crucefix secured MoM with easily the most solid and aggressive tackling in the squad, while other performances of note came from Song and Makamian, who were effective due to their willingness to play the early ball. Marshall was assured between the sticks while Zefi improved his match day preparation, with a much improved performance naturally following on the pitch.
The boys face HMH Hawks in the League next week knowing three points will move them up to 3rd in a very competitive division. Not easy but, achievable and training mid-week will be focused and driven in the search for success.
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Our U15 Boys were in fine form, dominating Bushey and Oxhey in a comprehensive 8-0 victory to push up the table ahead of a big Cup match against Harpenden next week.
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Our U14 girls had a rare home game today in the County Cup vs Hertford Town Belo. We expected a tough game and we certainly got it today, with Hertford employing all the tricks of the trade to try and ruffle our girls’ feathers!
Our now usual fast start shocked Hertford with the speed and ease our girls moved the ball around their powerful and physical runners. The girls put on a show for the first 20 mins and we needed goals to show for our early dominance, unfortunately they just didn’t come today no matter how hard No9 Gabby knocked with Lola & Elsinho providing assists and back up to our marauding 9.
The front 3 were creating lots of half chances only due to the stellar work of our midfield trio of skipper Annie, our ball playing maestro Aanya and our midfield monster Lucy. These 3 were at the heart of all that was good in the first half. The back 5 of GK Emily, CB pairing Ava & Poppy S and fullbacks Yvie and Theaya were also moving the ball around like prime Brazilian defenders, closing any gaps and avenues of attack for Hertford, then playing calmly into midfield to start our attacks.
Karadonna, Hazel, Poppy N and midfield enforcer Pheidi came into the fray and tried to help turn our dominance into goals; try as they might they couldn’t and at half time we went in at 0-0 but the moral victors.
The second half started with Riss in goal for Emily. Hertford came out and put a real shift in and started to push us back and play more in our half. Continued fouling and slowing down of attacks was now being punished by the ref and we started to wrest back some control and apply more pressure on Hertford’s defence again with tormentor in chief Gabby now joined up front by Light Speed Lucy in a change of system to 4-4-2 to try and break the deadlock.
The game was end to end with Hertford making the game a battle which they wanted as they couldn’t compete with our football. Constant probing and some long shots from Aanya, Poppy S & Theaya couldn’t get the goal out football deserved. We changed system again to a back 3 to get more goal threat on the pitch with Hazel, Karadonna and Poppy N; we were now a fluid 3-5-2 and Lucy was able to feed Gabby and also play off her which began to work a treat. Both teams huffed and puffed and the whistle went for full time and it was still 0-0.
So, straight to the dreaded pens! Skipper Annie who put in another skipper’s performance today chose to go second. We asked the girls who wanted to take a pen and 5 stepped forward. Ava, Yvie, Poppy S, Kara & Poppy N; we subbed Emily back on with 2 mins to go as she has bags of penalty shoot out experience.
Up stepped the first Hertford player and Emily did her best Grobbelaar impression dancing on the line pointing out where to shoot and generally being a nuisance. Miss. Advantage Wood. Up stepped Ava who calmly slotted home: 0-1 Wood. Pen 2, the Hertford player scored, up steps Yvie; bang, bottom corner: 1-2 Wood. Pen 3, the Hertford girl puts it over the bar and up steps Poppy S, bang, dispatched high and left of the static keeper: 1-3 Wood. Up steps the Hertford player and she scores for 2-3 now, all the pressure is on Karadonna our 4th taker who can win the tie if she scores. No doubt as Kara roles it into the bottom corner for a 4-2 win and wild celebrations as the Wood surge into the next round of the County Cup!
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Our U15 Girls took to the road for the first of a run of six consecutive scheduled away games. Today was a county cup tie away to fellow HGPFL Division 2 side Stevenage Starlets.
With a squad reduced to just 12 players it was important that we started strongly and took hold of the game, and that we certainly did. Abi set the ball rolling on 5 mins with a 20-Yard strike after robbing the opposition centre mid in the middle of the park. We were soon 2-0 up on 10 mins with Missy’s own 20-yard strike and first goal for the club. Not to be outdone, Milly crashed in the third goal of the game on 25 mins.
We were dominating all of the pitch and some of the football really was a joy to watch. More goals were certain to come and a brace from Amie Adams, including one in the top corner saw us go 5-0 up.
The only blemish on an otherwise perfect first half was conceding just before half time when we had re-shuffled the back line to allow Abi some time off for treatment of a dead leg. 5-1 the score at half time.
We talked at half time about not getting complacent and not gifting the host a route back into the game. We started the second half well enough but the hosts definitely improved and pressed us higher and more physically. This pressure brought them a goal on 55mins which they probably deserved at the time.
Abi returned to the field to give us some more energy in midfield and we soon established ourselves back in the game. Our sixth goal arrived courtesy of some great link up play between Louella and Lilly VT with Louella then calmly finishing. Another assist from Lilly set Louella away to score a late seventh goal (her 12th of the season) and close the game out as a contest.
Apart from brief moments in the game our goalkeeper Nisa and back four were in complete control. Led by skipper and player of the match Leni, and with a dominant performance from Lily B, Amy and Abi, we were very solid. In midfield Lilly VT was superb yet again and in the first half in particular the midfield trio of Lilly, Missy and Jess were totally dominant and played some great football. Missy stepping into midfield for the first time this season was first class. Jess won all her duals and worked tirelessly throughout. The attacking quartet of Milly, Amie, Louella and Hailey were a constant threat throughout and the Stevenage defence will be pleased to see the back of them for sure.
The first half was arguably the best we have played than season. The second half was more a battle which is no surprise as the heavy pitch sapped the energy from our girls, but they kept going and going and should all be very proud of that performance, particularly as a spot in the blue riband County Cup was secured!
Next up for the Wood is a league cup tie away to Division 1 side Harpenden Colts. It will be a tough game and we will need to be at our best to progress but we go into the tie in good form and with confidence.
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Our U10 Girls have been going like the clappers and had a fixture free week so jetted off to Dubai for some warm weather training. They'll be back next week straining at the leash!