U14 Boys hosted AEK in the League as monsoon conditions descended at Pursley. However, the boys went about their business well, efficiently defending a number of early corners and then really taking the game to their opponents.
The Wood's chances were raining down like the weather, with Ifeacho slinging in two wonderful crosses that somehow evaded everyone, with a further two excellent crosses excruciatingly missing the outstretched head and foot of Pop moments later. Sunkara was lively and had several goal threatening attempts, Silva hit the post with a lovely strike while a wonderful move started from the back saw Ifeacho convert only for it to be ruled out by the very tighest offside decision. Having spurned enough chances to kill the game off completely in 20 mins, the Wood then lost focus at the back; miscommunication during a routine clearance seeing possession gifted with the away striker smartly finishing a chance that was arguably harder than all those missed by the Wood earlier. When a second, hugely preventable AEK goal went in some minutes after, there was definitely a feeling of deja vu prevailing during the half time break.
Management called on a huge Wood effort second half but, in truth, didn't receive it, with a number of players not running hard or tackling with determination though Silva did make a fine run to create what seemed a certain goal only for the defender to somehow clear off the line. The match ended 0-3 and at that stage, there could be no complaints.
Performances of note included another solid match at left back from Manning, Montgomery and Makamian contesting admirably despite ceding much in size at this time, while MoM was easily secured by Reed, who was the one Wood player to really have a go second half. As more of his team-mates take up the cudgels with him, the team will begin to turn the corner.
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U12 Boys' match was rained off while our U13s had a rest week.
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U12 girls had a tough away fixture at Hemel Reds today, made even harder as the game was played on an astro pitch. The game started well for the Wood with lots of pressure coming from the left with Lois in a particularly destructive mood. She jinked left and right and got cross after cross into the box. The Hemel defence was stretched stopping Kara and Elsie benefiting from these crosses. Eventually the pressure told and good work from midfield dynamic duo Amie & Lucy set the wing terror away again, this time she cut inside her opponent and dispatched a shot into the goal off the flailing Hemel keeper. 0-1 to the Wood.
Hemel reacted as any good side would and tried to assert themselves onto our girls and get back into the game themselves. They decided to go more direct and managed an equaliser from a long clearance that just managed to beat defensive stalwarts Ella, Abi and Annie and then the dive of keeper Emily. 1-1.
The next few minutes where a hectic battle and Hemel got a corner off another long clearance, the corner landed in the middle of the box and the Hemel players reacted a split second quicker to make it 2-1 to the home side, somewhat against the run of play. On came Hazel, Romey and Theaya to try and change our fortunes and make the pressure tell, unfortunately we were sucker punched again by a Hemel breakaway and now found ourselves 3-1 down and scratching our heads. The girls on another day could easily have scored 3 or 4 goals in the first half alone!
Then with another poacher's goal, Romey slashed the deficit with a first time finish buried into the Hemel net; what a demon finisher this girl is turning out to be! 3-2 Hemel. Half time came and the girls where re-invigorated from the goal and a slight sense of mystification at how they could be losing a game they had played so well in! Ella, Elsie and Kara came back on to try to rest the victory from Hemel Reds. and Kara soon equalised with a decisive finish from a training ground routine. The ball was won in defence, Annie releasing Amie whose slide rule pass behind the Hemel fullback released Lois, who saw Kara in the middle of the goal so she released a beautiful first time cross for Kara to collect without breaking stride to side foot first time home for a 3-3 score line.
The girls smelt blood in the water then and penned Hemel back into their own half for the full 30 mins, as they searched for the winning goal. Hemel struggled to get out and it seemed only a matter of time before the Wood would score the winner but, it wasn't to be on this occasion. All in all, a gritty, gutsy performance from the team on an unfamiliar surface, and the mentatility to come from two goals back to secure a point (which might well have been three) is a very good sign for the future. PoM went to Hazel who enjoyed a phenomenal game and was a constant threat in attack throughout the match.