A far more convincing performance form a Cumnor team determined to win the Oxford Mail U14 Cup.
With 15 boys to choose from we were keen to exploit this strength in depth and look at new combinations with Ben, Doddie and Fin playing three across midfield in front of Kyle and Joseph. We started with real fluidity and movement, using the strong wind to our advantage. Nathan threatened in the box and the solid back four of Michael, Fyn, Tom and Rory allowed the midfield five to press on.
We've tried to encourage the boys in training - mainly through playing two-touch football - to think faster and for themselves during play; to anticipate events and when an opening arises, get their shots away early. Ben responded in sublime style hitting a wonderful 25-yarder with his left foot straight into the top corner. He saw the opening for a second but trusted his ability to finish brilliantly from distance. 1 - 0. Doddie - again playing well out wide - put in some lovely corners allowing our aerial threat of Fyn and Tom to go close. We then made the first of our planned changes with key players Will and Adam joining the action. Will announced his arrival by clipping the bar from 30-yards out. Soon however, we were two up with a typically smart Nathan finish from a Fyn effort. 2 - 0.
Rory took a breather after struggling with the after effects of illness allowing Toby to bring his usual resilient self to proceedings. The ball was worked wide to Will who raced into the box, testing the keeper before knocking the rebound home for a fine solo effort. 3 - 0.
In the second-half, playing against the wind, Charlie came on to look after the excellent Oxford City winger. The wind made things difficult for us and the increasingly confident Harry in goal had to be very alert. Despite some strong defending, City got a deserved goal. We could have wobbled but Will took a quick free-kick to Adam who powered into the area before playing a beautifully weighted pass to Nathan for his second. 4 - 1.
Overall, comfortable winners. We could have scored more goals but the City keeper made some superb saves. The middle areas were a bit of a lottery with Kyle and Joseph grafting hard but we were deserved winners and happily took our place in the quarter-finals. We celebrated with delicious chocolate cake to mark Tom's 14th birthday.
Player of the Week: some tough tackling from Toby but pow was Ben for his superb goal and excellent distribution, tackling and awareness.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Cumnor Battle Through The Mud
A tough day indeed as Milton made Cumnor work almost as hard as the quagmire for the 4-0 win.
It was a mixed performance but important to remember how bad the mud was and, if you are a team who like to pass the ball, well it wasn't really our kind of conditions. We struggled with pace, passing and tempo in the first- half and didn't really create much, failing to get the ball wide to Harry S and Adam in the nicer areas. There was a decent penalty shout but we're not having much joy with refs.
In the second-half, we changed to a 3-5-3 and that extra body in midfield gave us more thrust. Fyn, playing in his old position of striker, launched a brilliant run that almost brought an opener. Nathan continued to work hard alongside him and Doddie was again full of sharpness and inventiveness. It was stand-in skipper Will, though, who fortuitously scored the opener after curling a cross in from wide left. Goal two came from Fyn as he found the right moment to break the defence.
Cumnor were cruising at this point and all boys were being used to ensure as much game time as possible. Harry D had little to do but remained sharp. In defence, Rory, Michael and Tom held a tight line whilst Ben was his ever busy self in midfield. Toby and Charlie also stepped in and did what was required. There could have been more goals with good opportunities for Doddie, Nathan, Fyn, Will and Ben thwarted by the keeper.
Two more goals followed each one set up expertly by Adam from corners. Will glanced one in and then Fin, leapt high and hard to smash one against the flailing keeper. Kyle stepped back in to close the game out and we were home and dry.
Overall, we'll take that. Moving on it would be good for us to react more quickly to events and start looking at quick corners, faster throw-ins, upping the intensity and seizing the initiative.
Player of the Week: in tough conditions, Rory was the stand out player.
It was a mixed performance but important to remember how bad the mud was and, if you are a team who like to pass the ball, well it wasn't really our kind of conditions. We struggled with pace, passing and tempo in the first- half and didn't really create much, failing to get the ball wide to Harry S and Adam in the nicer areas. There was a decent penalty shout but we're not having much joy with refs.
In the second-half, we changed to a 3-5-3 and that extra body in midfield gave us more thrust. Fyn, playing in his old position of striker, launched a brilliant run that almost brought an opener. Nathan continued to work hard alongside him and Doddie was again full of sharpness and inventiveness. It was stand-in skipper Will, though, who fortuitously scored the opener after curling a cross in from wide left. Goal two came from Fyn as he found the right moment to break the defence.
Cumnor were cruising at this point and all boys were being used to ensure as much game time as possible. Harry D had little to do but remained sharp. In defence, Rory, Michael and Tom held a tight line whilst Ben was his ever busy self in midfield. Toby and Charlie also stepped in and did what was required. There could have been more goals with good opportunities for Doddie, Nathan, Fyn, Will and Ben thwarted by the keeper.
Two more goals followed each one set up expertly by Adam from corners. Will glanced one in and then Fin, leapt high and hard to smash one against the flailing keeper. Kyle stepped back in to close the game out and we were home and dry.
Overall, we'll take that. Moving on it would be good for us to react more quickly to events and start looking at quick corners, faster throw-ins, upping the intensity and seizing the initiative.
Player of the Week: in tough conditions, Rory was the stand out player.
Monday, 19 January 2015
Cup Collapse
A disappointing end to our Berks & Bucks Cup run as we went down 2-1 to a decidedly average Woodley Hammers. We should have won and would have won normally especially as we dominated in the second-half. But we fell asleep at a corner and leaked a goal. We hit the bar. We had two very good penalty shouts denied. It was just one of those days so we take it on the chin - and yes, we need to take defeat with good grace - and we move on.
Player of the Week: an accomplished display on the ball from Doddie who added real imagination and creativity to our attacking play.
Player of the Week: an accomplished display on the ball from Doddie who added real imagination and creativity to our attacking play.
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