U13 Boys played their first home game for two months against familiar opposition today: Ally Pally north. The Wood had keeper Delia and playmaker Staszewski missing through illness but knew that this squad could fill the gaps left by the two big players.
The Wood started bang up for it after some rousing words in the changing room before the game. Smith who was back up front after a two game absence started on the front foot, he ran at the defence with every opportunity and never gave up on a pass. Adom, Gardner and Stevens returned as a centre back partnership and were quality throughout. Following a long ball over the top, Smith chased down the keeper forcing him into a rare mistake and scoring the Wood's opening goal. The midfield three of Khan, Murphy and Joyce started to win the battle in midfield and the two wing backs Sutherland and Mill (great to see him back playing after a recent operation) made marauding runs throughout the half. Mill whipped in a corner and Joyce hit a great shot across the keeper into the top corner to make it 2 0 just before half time.
Parratt, Evans and Gusatu came on to give the team fresh legs. AP North came out the blocks flying in the second half. After some pressure from AP, Borehamwood broke on the counter attack and Khan, with a classy through ball, found Smith who bore down on goal and calmly slotted it home to make it 3 0. AP continued to fight for every ball and deservedly got a break through from a well worked goal to make it 3 1.
Adoma went into midfield to give the team some more legs and with the support of Khan, and now Fowler, the Wood slowly hit back on top of AP. Following a great ball from Sutherland, Smith was played through and his sheer power and pace got him into a great position where he cut it back for Parratt who slid it onto his left foot and powered a strike through the keeper's hands to make it 4 1 and game over! In the last seconds a long shot took a wicked bounce and beat Rocha who did a great job as stand in keeper. MoM was Smith for his hard work which resulted in 2 goals and an assist.
A good 4 2 win that sees the Wood army stay top of the League and tees them up well for next week's quarter final.
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U12 Boys are coming very nicely into form and played AFC Southgate Knights in the League today. The lads were at it from the off, with Florin back in goal after sickness last week and Kingham-Patrick, Joyce and Covasala playing rock solid in defence. Patrick-Mason ran his heart out today and played a blinder as a result, and he was joined in midfield by the impressive Gopinath, Adom & Hartslief, with the fleet of foot Skinner up front.
It wasn’t long before a direct pass from Covasala up the wing found Skinner who smashed it into the net from the corner of the box to give the Wood a 1-0 lead! A lot more of the same followed with plenty off attempts on goal and a stunning shot from Adom getting saved off the away goal line. AFC pulled back a couple of goals late on to finish the first half 1-2.
Second half was much of the same with the Wood raining down shot after shot but just being unable to find the net. Kurti, Ciniuiz & Powell joined the fray to great effect as the midfiled tired a little, putting in much good work with endless pass after pass. Ten mins before the final whistle, Adom put in a corner and with some twinkling footwork in the box, Gopinath struck gold, drawing the match 2-2. Unfortunately, shortly after, AFC found a winner with a wonder strike from distant. However, it was a super effort from the team and they are improving every week. MoM went to Gopinath, who scored and enjoyed a world class match; well done that man!
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U14 Boys faced Enfield Town away in the League Cup today. Enfield are competing for the Red Division title and are also in the Middlesex County Cup semi finals. They contain a wealth of talented players and have threat throughout a side gathered from a very wide catchment area. However, the Wood through the top notch friendlies they've played against this side (and others) and after meeting them in another cup tie earlier in the season, no longer fear such teams and went into the game fully aware of what was required; the team spirit before the match delighted the management staff.
The team talk centred around really supporting each other and getting to the ball first, and the boys applied themselves to this really well throughout the match. Some of the closing down was exceptional and it was noticeable this was achieved by coordination and hunting in packs, rather than lone players having to track around on their own. Tackles were flying in left, right and centre but, did get missed for three Enfield attacks that resulted in goals that could and should have been prevented.
However, the heads stayed up, the spirit was formidable and the boys just didn't cave in. Led by a centre back pairing of Reed and Hones, who were quite outstanding all match, the boys dug in second half, stood up and were counted. Manning & Makamian at left and right back respectively, continued their impressively consistent form, with Silva and McGuinness ahead of them working their socks off and enjoying excellent games. Ifeacho followed suit in midfield, playing with energy and making his presence felt repeatedly while Fan up front went in with huge intent every single time. Captain Marshall in goal made many super saves and was back to his best. A late Enfield goal after the ball was cheaply surrendered failed to take the gloss of a really encouraging performance from the boys and at the end of the game, they left the pitch with their heads held high and earning respect from their illustrious opponents.
Manager Makamian took five minutes out of his busy schedule to speak with BBC Sport after the game and said, 'MoM today went to Montgomery who added steel to his rapidly improving technical play and enjoyed a tremendous match as a result, winning countless duels and screening the defence really well. Many of my lads were lying exhausted, bruised and even a little battered after the game. That's because they gave it all against a top side, left nothing out there and were gutted to lose and exit the Cup. That mentality and determination is going to take these lads very, very far indeed. We'll be back on the training ground Thursday, working even harder and getting every ounce out of these boys' potential and will simply not stop until we succeed."
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U12 Girls travelled away today to play a double header against a talented St Albans City Lionesses side in the League cup. St Albans are a Div1 side and have a lot of girls training with pro academies during the week.
On a lovey day for football, the game started at a great pace with both teams seeking to play the game on the floor. Emily in goal, supported by Abi, Annie and PoM Ella all had great games; as a back four, they closed and harried and stopped all of St Albans's attacks.
The midfield of Captain Amie, Lucy, Elsie & Imani worked their socks off trying to create chances for Hazel up front. However, St Albans broke free, winning the second ball with the Wood's midfield napping and from a long range snap shot went 1-0 up. Romey, Kara & Theaya came on and tried their darndest to get us back into this first game of the double header but they couldn’t quite force the required goal to equalise, the game finishing 1-0.
The second game started and was all pressure from the Wood's girls but we just couldn’t get the break today. The girls gave so much but, the goal just refused to come. The second game finished 0-0 and went to penalties. Emily tried her very best between the sticks and pulled off two amazing saves, but St Albans held their nerve to win the shootout 2-1.
Scoring goals against the more advanced sides requires that extra bit of nous and guile and, as the girls continue to improve and work hard in training, that will come. Certainly, conceding just one goal away against a top division team over two matches is a considerable achievement and shows much is being learnt and applied. Very well done and the club is tremendously pleased and proud of this team's efforts and development!