3 points? A little bit of luck? A penalty!
What cannot be faulted is the performance of the boys. Since we last lost to Ducklington we've re-booted our set up, our tactics and our attitude. The boys have been tremendous, they've taken on board our instruction and delivered where it matters... on the pitch. On Saturday, the football gods were against us because that's the only way to explain what happened. 3-1 was impossibly harsh. On a small pitch, sticky with mud, it wasn't pretty but it was compelling. Here's the view from the sideleines:
Henry: it takes a brave boy to go in goal... and Henry's been a lion this season
James S: called in last minute to replace injured Joe and was a revelation... great attitude too
Josh: has been unshackled in the last few weeks, defends with confidence and dangerous going forward
Will: only his 3rd game at the back... incredible
Rory: the rock... always on top form
Matt: runs and runs and runs... he never gives up and frightens the opposition out wide
Toby: loving the creative freedom in the middle
Ed: made the Duck no.5 cry... inspired in the fight
Adam: apparently, he's injured. Doesn't play like it
Ben: every tackle, every pass counts
Fyn: audacious flick, lovely finish... Fyn is purring once more
James E: came on, got stuck in and did his bit for the team
That's just our view. The Ducklington coaches, parents and referee all thought Cumnor were hard done by. We were, but there are so many positives now to take into the Middleton Cheney game next Saturday. Come on boys, this time is ours!
Player of the Week: James S for filling in at right back and playing so well
Monday 28 November 2011
Monday 21 November 2011
Cumnor On A Cup Run
It's all kicking off, in a good way.
The boys put in another exceptional performance to beat a dogged Easington and book a place in the next round of the cup. With a full squad to chose from, we set up as we did against Deddington... and the system worked again.
Cumnor built steady from the start with the defence holding a high line and ensuring most of the play was in the Easington half. Ben made a great break towards the goal and found Fyn, who spun beautifully on the spot and found the net. 1-0. However, the plan had to change earlier than the coaches hoped with Toby taking a nasty knock to be replaced by James S. More Cumnor pressure saw a corner which Matt bravely met with his head but couldn't convert. The ball spun wide left to Josh who nicely found Ed to set up Will for a fantastic edge of the box strike. 2-0.
Cumnor were motoring with the defence looking untroubled and Matt and Adam chasing everything down. Fyn was making a nuisance of himself and James S was stroking the ball about nicely. Adam latched on to a loose ball out wide and hit a clever looping shot into the goal. 3-0. With Cumnor well on top now, Ed was applying muscle in midfield. James picked up a stray pass and moved forward. With options both side, he decided to shoot. Somehow, the ball slipped through the keeper and into the net. 4-0.
In the second-half, we rang the changes with Henry M and James S joining the action and Henry S leaving his goal behind for a well-deserved run. He was unlucky not to score and rattled the bar with one effort. But goals did come, two more. Our fifth showed some great anticipation by Josh to race onto Joe's pass and our sixth and final goal saw James E smash home Rory's saved shot. 6-0.
Fantastic result, lovely to see six different scorers on the sheet and we were delighted to give all the boys plenty of football. Let's stay focussed and put what we've learnt about ourselves during the last two weeks into practice against Ducklington.
Player of the Week: another difficult decision but Josh stood out for his confidence, positional play and desire to get forward.
Remember: anticipate where the ball might go and get there first
The boys put in another exceptional performance to beat a dogged Easington and book a place in the next round of the cup. With a full squad to chose from, we set up as we did against Deddington... and the system worked again.
Cumnor built steady from the start with the defence holding a high line and ensuring most of the play was in the Easington half. Ben made a great break towards the goal and found Fyn, who spun beautifully on the spot and found the net. 1-0. However, the plan had to change earlier than the coaches hoped with Toby taking a nasty knock to be replaced by James S. More Cumnor pressure saw a corner which Matt bravely met with his head but couldn't convert. The ball spun wide left to Josh who nicely found Ed to set up Will for a fantastic edge of the box strike. 2-0.
Cumnor were motoring with the defence looking untroubled and Matt and Adam chasing everything down. Fyn was making a nuisance of himself and James S was stroking the ball about nicely. Adam latched on to a loose ball out wide and hit a clever looping shot into the goal. 3-0. With Cumnor well on top now, Ed was applying muscle in midfield. James picked up a stray pass and moved forward. With options both side, he decided to shoot. Somehow, the ball slipped through the keeper and into the net. 4-0.
In the second-half, we rang the changes with Henry M and James S joining the action and Henry S leaving his goal behind for a well-deserved run. He was unlucky not to score and rattled the bar with one effort. But goals did come, two more. Our fifth showed some great anticipation by Josh to race onto Joe's pass and our sixth and final goal saw James E smash home Rory's saved shot. 6-0.
Fantastic result, lovely to see six different scorers on the sheet and we were delighted to give all the boys plenty of football. Let's stay focussed and put what we've learnt about ourselves during the last two weeks into practice against Ducklington.
Player of the Week: another difficult decision but Josh stood out for his confidence, positional play and desire to get forward.
Remember: anticipate where the ball might go and get there first
Monday 14 November 2011
Back On Track
On a grey and dismal November day, the U11s lit up the gloom with a sparkling performance against bogey team Deddington. All the listening and hard work in training was finally taken on to the pitch as the boys brought passion, determination and guts to their already considerable skills.
There was some tinkering too. Josh was pushed out to left back, Fyn played lone striker and Ben dropped into the hole between midfield and attack. The biggest tactical switch however, was bringing Ed into central midfield to terrorise the opposition, and slotting Will into central defence. For too long this season Will has been isolated out wide, bringing him back to pair up with the formidable Rory, strengthened the spine of the team. There were other little changes that helped, taking the boys into the changing rooms for clear and concise tactical instruction (which Ed followed to the letter) and stirring them up with a little rousing speech. So did the minutes silence which helped focus their minds that football, is after all, a game to be enjoyed.
From the whistle, the boys got at Deddington. Rory and Will held a high line which pushed the midfield on and allowed us to play in Deddington's half. The passing was crisp and slick, Ed and Toby linking especially well and giving Ben plenty of time on the ball. A nice move saw the ball break for Adam but his effort was blocked only for Toby to jump on the rebound and slide it home for his second Cumnor goal. 1-0.
Cumnor were on the attack, sniffing more opportunities. Fyn almost got in but just over ran the ball, Matt and Adam were burning up the flanks and Joe - along with Rory our most consistent player this year - played a lovely ball to put Adam through to win a free kick about 25 yards out. Up stepped Will and smashed it high towards the goal, the keeper got a hand to it but carried it over the line. 2-0.
This was the Cumnor of old... but with 11 confident boys, trusting one another with the ball, talking to each other, fighting for the team. And nothing personified this new attitude than the full blooded challenge made by Matt which could be heard in Middleton Cheney. More attacks came, Josh looking very accomplished in his new role, itching to use his speed and get forward. Toby and Ed got stuck into everything and Ben just refused to be dominated. Deddignton were not done yet and a quick piece of thinking by their striker saw him sprint clear and knock a corner in at the near post. 2-1. Game on.
In recent matches, our heads might have dropped, but this tough re-booted Cumnor would not bow down again. Great work by Matt saw Ben on a twinkle-toe run into the box before chipping the goalie with the deftest of touches only to see the ball go inches wide. Deddington applied the pressure but our twin rocks at the back were winning every header. Then just before half-time, super alert Henry S put a monster kick in which found Fyn. With ground to cover and defenders breathing down his neck, Fyn raced clear and cheekily played it inside the far post for a lovely finish. 3-1.
In the second-half, Cumnor didn't let up despite a ferocious fight back by Deddington. In some ways, this was more pleasing because it showed we were able to protect a lead and still push forward. James S came on and was full of intelligent play. Ed went close and Will put a testing ball in on the keeper which might have beaten a smaller goalie. Admittedly, we played it a little more direct than in recent games but at least we had the ball. With the ball, we're as good as anyone in the league; getting the ball has been our problem. Never at any time in the second-half did we look likely to lose and that shows what a terrific all round performance it was by all 12 players. Here's hoping we've turned the corner and put a slow start to the season behind us.
Player of the Week: shared between Toby (for his midfield generalship) and Will (for taking to a new position so well)
Remember: We can't play lovely without the ball
There was some tinkering too. Josh was pushed out to left back, Fyn played lone striker and Ben dropped into the hole between midfield and attack. The biggest tactical switch however, was bringing Ed into central midfield to terrorise the opposition, and slotting Will into central defence. For too long this season Will has been isolated out wide, bringing him back to pair up with the formidable Rory, strengthened the spine of the team. There were other little changes that helped, taking the boys into the changing rooms for clear and concise tactical instruction (which Ed followed to the letter) and stirring them up with a little rousing speech. So did the minutes silence which helped focus their minds that football, is after all, a game to be enjoyed.
From the whistle, the boys got at Deddington. Rory and Will held a high line which pushed the midfield on and allowed us to play in Deddington's half. The passing was crisp and slick, Ed and Toby linking especially well and giving Ben plenty of time on the ball. A nice move saw the ball break for Adam but his effort was blocked only for Toby to jump on the rebound and slide it home for his second Cumnor goal. 1-0.
Cumnor were on the attack, sniffing more opportunities. Fyn almost got in but just over ran the ball, Matt and Adam were burning up the flanks and Joe - along with Rory our most consistent player this year - played a lovely ball to put Adam through to win a free kick about 25 yards out. Up stepped Will and smashed it high towards the goal, the keeper got a hand to it but carried it over the line. 2-0.
This was the Cumnor of old... but with 11 confident boys, trusting one another with the ball, talking to each other, fighting for the team. And nothing personified this new attitude than the full blooded challenge made by Matt which could be heard in Middleton Cheney. More attacks came, Josh looking very accomplished in his new role, itching to use his speed and get forward. Toby and Ed got stuck into everything and Ben just refused to be dominated. Deddignton were not done yet and a quick piece of thinking by their striker saw him sprint clear and knock a corner in at the near post. 2-1. Game on.
In recent matches, our heads might have dropped, but this tough re-booted Cumnor would not bow down again. Great work by Matt saw Ben on a twinkle-toe run into the box before chipping the goalie with the deftest of touches only to see the ball go inches wide. Deddington applied the pressure but our twin rocks at the back were winning every header. Then just before half-time, super alert Henry S put a monster kick in which found Fyn. With ground to cover and defenders breathing down his neck, Fyn raced clear and cheekily played it inside the far post for a lovely finish. 3-1.
In the second-half, Cumnor didn't let up despite a ferocious fight back by Deddington. In some ways, this was more pleasing because it showed we were able to protect a lead and still push forward. James S came on and was full of intelligent play. Ed went close and Will put a testing ball in on the keeper which might have beaten a smaller goalie. Admittedly, we played it a little more direct than in recent games but at least we had the ball. With the ball, we're as good as anyone in the league; getting the ball has been our problem. Never at any time in the second-half did we look likely to lose and that shows what a terrific all round performance it was by all 12 players. Here's hoping we've turned the corner and put a slow start to the season behind us.
Player of the Week: shared between Toby (for his midfield generalship) and Will (for taking to a new position so well)
Remember: We can't play lovely without the ball
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