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U12 Boys kicked off their league season with a superb 2-4 win away at London Colney Youth Pumas.
The boys were really on it from the off with super passing, good pace and commitment. Florin in goal provided some great saves, while Song headed up central defence with Covasia to his left and Ciochina to his right. They did a great job of clearing and reading the ball.
Sarpong played a full game in central midfield with Gopinath to his right and Ciniuiz to his left. Up front was Patrick and Adom. With lots of accurate passing and some great play Adom got a break and put the first goal over the keeper and into the net. The Wood then conceded with the match 1-1 at half time.
Now the boys were settled the second half was much of the same. We went 2-1 down just after the break but the boys never gave up. With Kingham-Patrick, Gopinath, Skinner Lehouimel and Joyce all joining the play, things got underway again. It wasn’t long before Sarpong made a break from the halfway line and put a through ball in to Skinner who shot it home with style.
Sarpong not wanting to be outdone then dispatched cooly for our third within a minute with the clever assist from Kingham-Patrick. Gopinath then finished the game of with another superb finish a minute from full time. Mom was Audley Sarpong; excellent & selfless game play throughout. First 3 points on the table and the boys are off and running; very well done!
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U13 Boys hosted Northwood in the league at Pursley today looking to continue their good start to the season.
The game started with some neat passing from the Wood but there didn’t seem to be the spark or the link up needed to break down a solid Northwood defence.
It was the visitors who took the lead when a through ball split the Wood defence and was finished well by the striker. 2000 just never got going and some rushed decisions at the back doubled Northwood's lead; a sliced clearance fell to a Northwood player who volleyed across goal into the bottom corner.
The Wood made a change and replaced Smith with Rocha up front. Rocha known for his sublime skills was sent on to work hard and close down the defence, Within seconds he was working hard closing down the defenders and putting challenges on them that they clearly didn’t like. This seemed to urge on the rest of the team and before the half ended the Wood started having some half chances but couldn’t get the goal to get back in the game and at half time it remained 0-2. Hebblethwaite replaced Sutherland and Mill made way for Gusatu at half time.
The Wood during half time had spoken about putting Northwood under pressure all over the park and believed they would reap the benefits from this. This happened within minutes, after Rocha closed down a defender after a poor ball out from the back found Adoma on the edge of the box who let fly with a great strike to make it 2-1. The tide was swinging in 2000’s favour and the Northwood team were being put under pressure all over the park. Gardiner, Adom and Stevens had shored up the back and it was all Borehamwood.
Smith came on for Adoma with the instruction to work hard and chances will come. Almost straight away a well struck free kick from Staszewski was fumbled by the Northwood keeper and Smith reacted quickest for a tap in to make it 2-2.
Some teams would have settled for the point but the Wood players are a special bunch. Parratt replaced Gusatu and Murphy came on for Khan. After some great work from Rocha he was wiped out on the corner of the area by the centre back. A dangerous place to give a free kick away. Staszewski placed the ball and the fans held their breaths. Staszewski hit a rocket across the keeper into the top corner to give the Wood a well deserved 3 2 lead. The game was not over and the Wood had moments where they had to dig deep. Late on the game was almost put to bed when a great Murphy volley went just over the bar. The final whistle followed and the Wood's winning run continued.
A great team performance from all involved but the game switched when Man of the match Rocha came on and showed the rest of the team that with hard work and determination, size isn’t always important. He made it uncomfortable for all the Northwood defenders and this sent a positive message out to the rest of the team which made them push on together.
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U14 Boys started their league campaign away to Harvesters South. The boys have jumped two divisions this term and levels of concentration need to be higher than before as lapses get punished much more quickly.
After a bright start, the Wood conceded the softest goal from a situation of little danger, the home attacker somehow wrestling possession away from the Wood defence and shooting speculatively in one extended movement; the ball sailing into the goal unimpeded. In return the Wood had two very good chances, one from an excellent Crucefix pass, but, crucially couldn't find the net. When Harvesters scored direct from a corner, the boys had left themselves much to do but, there were nevertheless excellent performances being played by Silva (showing a wonderful range of skills and passing in midfield), by Captain Hones at centre back (dominating in the air) and by Hobbs, who was hitting good line balls as well as trying to get the ball down to play.
The half ended 2-0 and went 3-0 mid-way through the second half, but, the boys stuck at it, pulling a goal back from a corner; Crucefix rounding off an excellent individual appearance with a smart finish. As they piled forward to get further goals, gaps started appearing and Harvesters were able to score again, fatigue and determination levels fading in too many of the Wood's players; the game ending 1-4.
If you gift goals and fail to take your own chances, the game is tough, particularly when your opponents do the opposite. Much was learnt by the boys today and much good will come from this performance, even if right now, it is a rather bitter pill to swallow. MoM went to Reed who has transformed his football fortunes and enjoyed an outstanding match, both on the ball, in the air and in the tackle.
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U12 Girls recorded a magnificent 4-2 home win today against a very tough and gritty opponent in London lions.
Wood started on the front foot and pinned the Lions back with birthday girl and captain Theaya instrumental in keeping the game played in the opposition half. The Lions then caught Wood on the break and made it 0-1 to the visitors; the defence getting caught out by a midfield runner and Emily’s dive couldn’t keep it out.
More pressure from the Wood seemed to advent the equaliser with Elsie, Theaya and Hazel causing Lions problems. A change of personal with Ella coming into defence and Kara, Romey & Lois all up front caused some confusion in Wood's rhythm and the Lions again pounced clinically to steal another breakaway goal; 0-2 Lions.
However, our girls are made of stout stuff and Amie was having none of it! With half time approaching she won the ball outside the Lions area and unleashed an unstoppable drive into the corner to pull one back. Half time saw a re-jig of the side with the aim of putting as much pressure on the oppositon as possible from the off. Up stepped star winger Lois to open her account for the year and make it 2-2; like a hungry shark the Wood smelt blood in the water now. The pressure was pumped up with Imani rampant from left full back and combining like a dream with Lois. Theaya dropped into midfield and held the fort in front of the new back line of Ella Abi & Annie.
Abi re-tweaked a muscle injury so we were again forced to change personnel with Imani coming back on. Ella made two attack-stopping tackles, one where her player was nearly through to the keeper. Elsie was back to causing havoc on the right and she gained from a Lois cross, composing herself on the back post before dispatching an unstoppable drive past the flailing Lions keeper; 3-2 the wood and queue wild celebrations all around!
The coaching staff had to quickly dampen the girls joy and focus their minds back to the task at hand against this dangerous Lions side. With 7 mins to go it was all hands on deck as the Lions pushed to equalise. Then, from a great through ball, Lois was away, beating one player and then the on-rushing keeper to calmly slot home her second and make it a final score of 4-2. This match changing contribution rightly won her the POM award too.
Well done to one and all and a perfect start to the season!