The club are thrilled to announce our U12 Boys today secured promotion from the Yellow division with a thumping 2-5 victory away against Alexandra Park South! This is a huge achievement for Craig, Sam and the boys in their first competitive season!!
An early setback saw the Wood go behind to an unfortunate own goal before Adoma crossed for Rocha to equalise with style. Staszewski fired home to make it 1-2 just before half time and added his 23rd of an incredible season the other side of the break.
Fowler then produced a sublime through ball for Gardiner to skillfully make it 1-4, before a penalty saw the Park pull one back. However, Adoma had the last word with a stunner to make it 24 for the season for him and a final score of 2-5 . This cued scenes of joy as the boys celebrated a promotion bonaza!!
Man of the match went to the irrepressible Joyce, whose legs never stopped moving and enjoyed a brilliant, disciplined game in midfield with coolness on the ball and bite in the tackle. At the same time, Parratt provided fantastic delivery into the box throughout the match and the centre back partnership of Adom and Gardiner continues to impress with the former also hitting the post from 30 yards, which is probably still shaking now!
Having sealed promotion, the boys wait to learn of results elsewhere which could mean winning their last two games to secure the League title too. Everything crossed for that but, let's first savour a huge achievement from these fine, young Wood stars!
U13 Boys have been finishing their league season really strongly with just one loss in their last 10 matches and were looking forward to a cracking fixture away against London Colney Tigers today. Unfortunately, their opponents could only provide the same 9aside pitch and goals used at U11 & U12, rather ruining the spectacle and enjoyment of both players and parents. That the appropriate facilities were available at Pursley made things doubly frustrating.
The game ended 0-0, which was not a surprise given the circumstances though Makamian scored a tremendous volleyed goal after a stunning pick out from McGuinness only to see a late flag deny the effort. At the other end, the defensive unit of Marshall, Hones, Hobbs & Pop continued their excellent work with a fourth clean sheet in five games with keeper & Captain Marshall securing MoM and continuing his recent fine form.
The lads next play away against Edgware and hope to be back to an 11aside pitch and goals then.
*
The Wood's Girls' section is buzzing at the moment, with the U18 Girls today drawing Garston Leopards away in the semi-final of the League Shield, to be played next Saturday. After many years together, the team is coming to it's natural end but, could they go out in style with a Cup final; only these incredible young women know!
At the other end of the spectrum our U11 Girls are closing off an excellent season and have a packed off season planned to ready them for competitive football in 22/23. They are sooooo excited about that! Today the girls welcomed a fine Stevanage Starlets side to Pursley after the Easter break.
It was a tense opening 10 minutes before the Wood scored through Elsie with her 1st of 4 cracking goals today in an outstanding POM performance. Starlets were in excellent goal-scoring form themselves but the Wood's stout defence learnt quickly and began to close the door on our travelling opponents glittering attack.
Star winger & Captain Lois was soon to get involved and tapped in at the back post after a smart cross from Romey. Lottie was causing problems all day for the Starlets with her late runs into the box and her eye for a killer pass almost lead to another for Lois. Hazel almost broke the opposition goalie in two at one point with one of her ferocious drives, it was just stopped on the line by the brave Starlets keeper.
Hazel’s build up and inter play with her teammates is getting better and better and she released Karadonnna on numerous occasions for her to then cause havoc; Kara rattled the defence every time she got on the ball. Meanwhile, Elsie was unplayable and her finishing and cross field balls where a sight to behold! She soon got another two goals and also released Lottie with one sublime pass threaded between the defence, while her 4th was a wonder goal, cutting in from the left onto her right boot she then cut again and slipped two defenders, then unleashed an unstoppable shot back across the keeper and into the bottom corner.
Lois saved her best till last and she beat two defenders before unleashing the kraken into the top corner of the goal. The Midfield engine room was covered by Olympic standard running and tackling by super star Lucy who also bagged a goal after running half the pitch and beating three players and the keeper! Amie patrolled the midfield and let no one past and her composure and slide rule passing is getting better weekly, while Amie was also unlucky not to get on the scoresheet today.
Annie and Ella had there normal 9 out of 10 games which is just standard for these super young players. Kiella and Ella also at the back took the fight to the Starlets with defensive steel and attacking prowess. Between the sticks, Emily stayed focused and closed out many Starlets attacks behind her defence, her big kicks also setting up numerous attacks.
All in all, it was a really great display from the girls and a cracking game of footie!