U11 Boys played a strong Whetstone Wanderers Lions today and were in excellent form.
Keeper Luca was fabulous in goal securing MoM by diving everywhere and pulling of save after save throughout the whole game. Manager Hill was quoted as saying the only time he'd seen anything like it was on safari several years back, when watching a mighty leopard pouncing around in the trees!
Christian, Matei and Yue held firm in defence, with Bailey and Aiden in midfield passing and running the ball up the wings and crossing into the box for our forwards, Thomas and Shreyank. Shots were flying everywhere, with Klawdjo, Audley and Jayden also getting in on the act and raining the ball goalwards from every conceivable angle.
At the start of the second half, Shreyank slammed home after an excellent pass from Thomas in defence. Audley then dropped back and threaded the eye of an needle with a super through ball to Aiden, who shot from a tight angle past the away keeper and into the top of the net. Cue scenes of delirium from the home support as they started the Borehamwood version of the Mexican wave! The boys are really coming together and have scored 47 goals to date this season, what an effort!
U13 Boys faced off against London Colney Tigers hoping to secure three valuable points in the League.
The three man defence - this time with Hones, Hobbs and McGuinness - continue to impress and McGuinness made one goal-saving tackle that was worthy of the Premier League. They were screened really well by a midfield three of Manning, Crucefix and Makamian, the latter securing MoM after an industrious performance from the off and throughout the match.
The early chances fell to Montgomery whose shots were blocked or flew narrowly wide before Ifeacho & Crucefix combined once more, with the former finishing off beautifully to find the net and send the Wood to half time with a nice lead.
However, the team were unable to build on this platform, failing to create much & then missing the good opportunities they did create, which would have extended the lead and killed the game. Then, after a standard opposition corner was left to frustratingly bounce uncontested in the six yard box, Colney gobbled up the simplest of tap-ins to tie the contest. This is how it stayed and the boys move on to a tough away game against AEK next week hoping to continue their good defensive form but, also to add considerably to their threat in attack.
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U11 Girls played London Lions today at Pursley in a very tight game.
The Wood took the lead through the dancing feet of Karadonna; she received the ball to feet, twisting and turning back and forth to create some space before unleashing a low left foot drive into the bottom corner.
Lois and Amie where causing the visitors no end of problems in attack today with their confident and powerful runnning with the ball, they where backed up by midfield dynamo and today's POM Lucy, who covered every blade of grass fighting for her team!
Our defensive block of Captain Kate, Annie and Kiella were tested by a very slick Lions counter attacking team. The girls as usual covered themselves in glory. Emily in goal is becoming Miss Reliable at the back while Elsie had another barnstorming game and at times the crowd thought there were two of her! She was everywhere, whirling like a dervish, trying to create chances for her teammates and fast becoming an integral cog in the Wood machine.
Ella was her usual self, full of energy and running, holding the midfield and trying to break up opposition attacks. Lois scored the team's second goal which she made look simple but was her coach’s favourite goal of the season. Playing on the shoulder of the last defender, Lois was expertly found by Amie with a defence splitting pass she ran on to, beating the Lions defence with pure pace and rounding the keeper before calmly slotting a side foot home; what a stonker! Very much another great performance from this group of gifted young ladies.
U18 Girls saved their best to last as they signed off the League campaign with a thumping 4-0 victory against Welwyn Pegasus at Pursley.
Manager Makamian was forced to ref the match so Coach Branigan stepped in seamlessly to steer the team forward expertly. The girls responded very well on the pitch with Captain Hodges converting from a very acute angle after an excellent cross from Evans.
The second half saw more goals with Hodges turning provider, exchanging passes with Warren before the latter unleashed the Kraken, the ball skudding through the air before finding the top corner! Hodges was then hacked down outside the box but, got up to skillfully swing the dead ball past the away keeper and into the net for her second of the match.
The defence and midfield were working effectively with Umalin and Hooda raiding forward with purpose throughout the match and Rodrigues again impressing at centre half. Makamian wriggled through to ruthlessly slam home the Wood's fourth after earlier impressing with long range passing and Hyman added another clean sheet to her growing collection.
All in all, a super display from the girls made even better by the introduction of Fordham who played a wonderful cameo in defence, securing PoM in the process. This redoubtable young woman has suffered much more than her fair share over the last few years but, her head stays up, she never gives up and is coming out on top once again and has a wonderul future ahead of her.
When the girls were placed in Div 1, many said the team would be thrashed week in week out but, that hasn't happened and the squad has improved massively throughout the season. The Club very much hope the League will introduce a Cup competition before long and if so, don't bet against these girls as they have talent and character in huge reserves!