With the U12 Boys having a free week, all the Wood action was over at Pursley.
Our U11 Boys have been improving week on week this season as they prepare for competitive football from September. They faced a talented Enfield Rangers side today over at our bitterly cold home ground!
The management team of Jamie and Greg started off the match with a completely new formation for the boys and they all settled into it very well. With the expert Luca in goal, Matei leading the defence admirably and the gifted Yue, Noah and Audley supporting, they looked solid and difficult to break down at the back.
Aiden, Klawdjo and Shreyank were sharp in midfield with Bailey the same up front as a lone striker. The shots were coming in thick and fast from both teams with Luca pulling off lots of good saves as was the away keeper.
The Wood came out second half and carried on their good play from the first. Cristian was introduced in defence alongside William and both boys got up to speed very quickly, enjoying excellent games.
Our first goal came from Klawdjo with a brilliant strike that whistled past the away keeper. After a brilliant passing move involving the entire team, Aiden lobbed one over the keeper for a super second Wood goal. A little while later, Shreyank raced through and showed the coolness or a cucumber in Gucci clothes, dribbling around the keeper to score our 3rd!
MoM went to Aiden for his consistent passing and excellent first touches and all the squad can be very proud of their performance today; first class!
Following on at Pursley were the U13 Boys, playing third placed Whestone Wanderers Leopards. The lads are preparing for their forthcoming Cup semi-final and were hoping for a morale boosting performance in the lead up to this big game.
They certainly achieved this from a defensive standpoint, keeping an excellent clean-sheet and while Marshall, Hones, Pop and Hobbs continue to develop their positional play, they have all enjoyed excellent seasons thus far and are central to the Wood having one of the tightest defences in the League.
Offensively, the guys are working dilligently but, struggling to find the confidence, composure and sharpness required to score goals regularly at this level. This is true of those starting matches as it is for those coming off the bench. Manning enjoyed a good first half probing from midfield but, opportunities were very limited throughout the match and good looking opportunities are not yet being converted into regular goalscoring chances or goals. With the undoubted ability the boys posess and the quality they show in training too, it is surely just a matter of time before real improvement is seen in this area.
In any case, Oswald continues to learn and improve and played a very encouraging cameo today while MoM went to Song. This young man has great ability and showed second half what he is capable of, enjoying an excellent closing stanza that saw him take the game to the opposition defence, really enjoying himself and looking very effective in the process.
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U11 Girls travelled away to face Welwyn Pegasus in difficult conditions on a wet and windy 3G pitch. The team has been scoring freely this season so the main focus today was keeping a tight defence also.
Welwyn started very strongly and the Wood had to be sharp to match them before winger Lois popped up to score her 25th goal of an incredible season! The back four of keeper Emily and rotating defenders Kiella, Kate and Theaya, who was returning from a long term injury today. These girls where ably supported by midfield partners Ella & Lucy and they were all tasked with shutting out this good Welwyn side and the girls did their jobs excellently.
Hazel ran riot last week with six goals and was being watched like a hawk today but still managed to sneak home a great solo finish for her 21st of the season. Elsie was next to score with skill and dazzling trickery, she created room for herself on the edge of the box before unleashing a pile driver into the bottom corner of the net.
Then came Romey’s first of her brace today. Keeper Emily noticed the quick break was on and released the Kraken with a mighty boot which bounced once in front of the Welwyn defence; Romey spun and turned her markers before winning the foot race and sliding home.
Goal machine Lois then stepped up with her 2nd of the day and 26th of an amazing season, getting on the end of some excellent team build up involving Lottie, Ella & Elsie and then calmly finishing, showing her growing maturity in front of goal.
The biggest cheer was saved for Romey’s 2nd, she was played in after some excellent skill and dribbling from Lottie, who then had the nous to play a slide rule pass to Romey’s feet.
Romey then turned and beat two defenders before calmly slotting home past the onrushing Welwyn keeper; cue pandemonium amongst the Wood's travelling army!
Welwyn continued to give it their all and were a threat going forward, testing the Wood's defensive resolve throughout. PoM went to Romey after an exquisite display but, a special mention to the returning Theaya whose season has been blighted by Covid & then injury. However, this girl didn’t miss a beat today and she slotted straight back into a team that has been very successful this season. No easy task but handled like a pro!