Our U11 Boys are having a season to remember and played another excellent match at home today against a fine Croxley Green side.
The boys started really well and scored a cracking opener when Julian whipped in a corner that was met like a salmon by MoM Ethan, who sent the net billowing with a bullet header. The opposition then enjoyed a good period of play which saw keeper Caed make many breathtaking saves, one of which had the Fleet Street hacks in attendance rubbing their eyes in amazement!
A rousing team talk at half time saw the boys come out fired up and working really hard for each other. They turned on the style with Mackenzie playing some lovely stuff in midfield. A well worked free kick chipped in from Hayden was attacked by Zain who lobbed over the keeper with a class finish. Ethan, Julian, Zain and Lennon kept working very hard up and down the pitch with the forwards Jack, Leon and Joel closing down defenders all over the park.
The defence stood firm with Hayden, Stanley and the always impressive Josh winning every challenge. After another impressive tackle from Will the ball dropped to Zain who put Leon through with a great pass for our young star to finish off as cool as the proverbial cucumber. Fantastic entertainment and the watching staff were very impressed with the hunger shown by all the boys. First class.
Our U10s are very pleased to be welcoming new players to their team as their technical play continues to impress. Today they faced a tough test against Borehamwood Youth but, responded really well with Klaudjo racing through to score a quite wonderful goal for the team.
New signing Yue has fitted into the squad really well and continued to impress today while William produced lots of hard running allied to excellent passing. Bailey, Shreyank & Aiden made surging runs up the wing from defence while keepers Charlie & Leo flung themselves about in goal, producing acrobatic saves that defied logic! MoM rightly went to Matei who worked so hard and gave it just about everything today. Well done young man.
After a perfect start in the League, U12 Boys worked hard but, were narrowly unable to keep their run going, suffering a 2-1 reverse against London Colney today.
The boys started really brightly knocking the ball around well but, were just unable to find the net on several occasions. George and Malcolm were full of dangerous intent on the wings and Hones showed calm composure at the back and the omens looked good. As luck would have it, a soft penalty was then conceded from one of the opposition's forays forward and the team found themselves behind.
As they've done so often already, the boys summoned great desire and scored an outstanding goal when Pop - playing a game of rare quality - received the ball from Malcolm, streaked down the pitch and then had the composure to fool the keeper and slide the ball into top scorer Crucefix, who smashed into the empty net for his 10th goal of what is already becoming an excellent season.
At 1-1 starting the second half, with the wind behind and the slope in their favour, the boys laid siege to the Colney goal but, were missing that clinical finish and with the opposition keeper in excellent form, conceded a break away goal that secured the points for Colney.
Lots of positives today with some excellent headed efforts on goal and some well worked moves also. MoM went to Hobbs who returned from absence last week to put in a very impressive performance in defence. Onwards and upwards!
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Very wet and windy weather didn't deter our girls as they swam on to their pitches and played some sparkling football today.
U10 Girls faced tough and experienced opponents today away at Bedwell Rangers.
On a unfamiliar astro pitch amidst howling wind and rain the girls faced a barrage of attacks from their talented opposition but, battened down the hatches with keeper Emily springing about superbly like Zebedee!
Lois, enjoying a fine season, grabbed another super goal as she lashed into the net, followed by today's Captain & recent birthday girl - Lottie - banging in an incredible brace of top quality goals and securing PoM in the process.
Solid defending by Ella and Theaya (who bravely turned out despite a nagging hand injury) impressed the watching terraces and they were aided magnificently by a new Wood star - Chloe - who effortlessly stepped from defence to midfield and back again. What a fab performance from the girls!
Meanwhile, U18 Girls played Welwyn Pegasus in the League and excelled against a determined opposition. The squad played with good shape and discipline in defence with Turner impressing with her intelligent defending and Murray making a strong comeback after injury. Opposition strikes were capably dealt with by Hyman in goal while the Wood created many chances but weren’t quite able to stick them away at first. Embleton worked tirelessly in midfield to retrieve the ball and was awarded PoM, while the midfield combinations of Branigan, Makamian & Trainis made their way around the opposition with excellent paired passing.
The Wood eventually broke through with Swain first drilling in a well-placed missile and then Young going through one-on-one with the goalkeeper before finding the net effortlessly. After a fairly even period of play, Welwyn pulled a goal back with a long range shot before Swain grabbed her second with a classy finish that had the record Pursley crowd squealing with excitement from underneath their brollies.
The weather became even more atrocious and it was hard to see at times, particularly for the keepers but the girls kept on determinedly with Branigan swapping to goalkeeper and making a couple of top notch saves, and Hyman moving outfield for the last stanza where she defended excellently. The whole squad played with commitment and skill, enjoyed an excellent performance and grabbed three well earned points. Very well done indeed.