Our U13 Boys sit proudly atop their division in the League and are in great form. They took on a tough challenge today, facing Enfield Rangers from the White division in the League Cup.
The Wood had a few players away with injury or illness, but still fielded a strong side. Enfield Rangers took the lead after five minutes with a well worked goal. Borehamwood 2000 didn’t give up though and applied plenty of pressure which forced mistakes from the opposition and created good chances for us. On the half hour, Staszewski hit a supreme 30 yard free kick that scudded into the top corner to make it 1-1.
Just before half-time, Enfield took the lead again from a cross into the box which was finished well by the forward making it 2-1 at half-time. During the break, the Wood discussed applying pressure to the Enfield Rangers defence, which would give them chances further forward. The lads applied the tactics perfectly from the first minute of the second half and after some great work, Stevens slipped through a super ball which Staszewski finished with class, chipping over the goalkeeper to see the net billow!
At 2-2 the game was very even and could have gone either way, but unfortunately with the last kick of the game a cruel own goal gave Enfield Rangers a 3-2 lead. The whistle blew instantly and the game was over; a tough pill to swallow indeed. However, the boys should be very proud of their performance; not only did they battle but they also played some great football and matched a team two divisions above them for most of the game. Man of the match went to Staszewski who not only scored a lovely brace but drove the team forward every time he got the ball. Take a bow young man and the boys will look to bounce back in the County cup next week.
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Meanwhile, our U14 Boys travelled away to AEK and were confident of securing a result after gradually coming into form and getting to grips with White division football. However, they suffered the concession of two freak goals early in the match and were then forced into a keeper change after Marshall suffered a nasty knee injury; the adaptable Reed swapping centre midfield to go between the sticks.
The pitch was very tight and the boys struggled to find the confidence and courage to get the ball down and play; far too often the ball was launched off the pitch wide or long. Chances were few and far between and the team looked dejected at half time, perhaps thinking they were due a good break after a recent run of bad luck? However, sometimes you have to make your own luck and it was a far more resilient Wood side that took to the pitch second half, with all the guys working hard for each other with the intent to play football on the deck, difficult as it can be at times.
Though the match was lost 3-2, the boys won the second half 1-2, with the impressive Fan scoring his first goal for the club after easily reacting quickest to a saved Wood penalty, while Silva scored after drilling a superb corner into the goal despite the opposition's best attempts to clear. Reed played an outstanding match showing all his best qualities to master the very difficult challenge of seemlessly moving from midfield to keeper. He secured MoM for this and a willingness to play for his side wherever needed, it not being the first time he has done so either.
No points again but, the boys are getting to grips with the stiff challenge they were given when moving levels so rapidly at the start of the season. The tough matches keep coming with away games against Omonia and Enfield Town to come next, but, the mindset is changing and whoever the opposition, they'll be at it at competing from start to finish next Sunday. Regardless of results just now, that utlimately, is going to improve them the most and the fastest.
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Our U12 Girls hosted their friends from Hemel Aces Jaguars on a lovely, crisp autumn morning just made for football. After last week's masterclass of total football from the girls, Coaches Dave & Rich were keen for the team to pick up where they left off.
The girls listened to the instructions and carried them out and soon had Hemel on the back foot. The front 3 of Lois, Romey & Elsinho were really stretching and testing the Hemel defence. Lonaldo (Lois) was particularly devastating today with numerous darting runs and a plethora of sumptuous crosses for her attacking partners to gobble up, one cross field ball today to opposite winger Elsinho brought tears of joy to coach Dave’s eyes!
The Hemel keeper had her hands full containing the rampant attacking flair on display in white shirts today, but, made plenty of smart saves to keep her team in the game.
Amie & Lucy were winning the ball high and feeding the front 3 with Theaya coming into the game early due to an injury to Lucy. She was soon passing the ball around like a modern day Beckanbauer and prompting attacks herself.
The defensive unit of Captain Annie defensive rock Abi and terrier like fullbacks Ella & Imani were keeping Hemel’s attacks at bay and then starting numerous attacks with their probing passing and overlapping runs. Hazel and Kara came into the fray on 15 mins and Hazel soon had her 1st of the day with a smart finish inside the box. Hazel’s second was soon after, she almost broke the net as she swivelled in the box and smashed an outstanding volley into the corner of the net!
Wood’s pressure continued to grow with Elsinho tormenting her opponents with her dazzling feet, she beat the offside trap and despatched an unstoppable drive into the net for 3-0 Wood! Half time came and the message was more of the same but also to keep a nice clean sheet.
The second half started and Romey came back into the game with a renewed vigour that saw her chasing down every Hemel player and perceived lost causes. Wood attacked again down the left flank with Hemel’s defence clearing to Imani who controlled the ball out of the sky, beat an onrushing defender before composing herself and lobbing two more defenders and the keeper for a beautiful 4th! Imani is a coaches' dream as she can play anywhere on the pitch and her performance level never drops.
Romey’s chasing down continued and one such endeavour against a player twice her size saw her win the foot race then turn and run towards goal and beat the keeper into the bottom corner for 5-0 wood. The attacks kept coming and no mercy was asked or given today and defensive rock Abi pick up a clearance near the halfway line, she beat two Hemel players before unleashing the Kraken to beat the Hemel keeper with an unstoppable drive that 3 keepers wouldn’t have stopped! 6-0 Wood.
The girls kept probing and looking for more chances to create goals, the pressure built and Karadonna was in the area; her quick feet won control of the ball with defenders all around her she swivelled and had a split second to get her shot off which she did with aplomb and the net bulged again: 7-0 Wood.
The Hemel girls never, ever threw in the towel as lesser sides might have done today but, it was just one of those days where everything went in. To their credit they fought the whole game like it was 0-0 and they got their reward when sloppy defending at the end saw them score their goal and make it 7-1. Coaches Dave & Rich were really happy with the performance and especially the spread of goals, but gutted to give up a goal at the death!
The girls sit proudly atop the table and are in terrific form!
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