U14 Boys faced Harvesters Blue in the Spring Cup knowing 3 points were a necessity to stay in the competition. This was the 4th game between the teams this season and the Wood had lost these a combined 2-9. However, the staff were convinced this seemingly big gap between the teams was actually quite small, the result only of a little focus and desire, and so went into the game with high hopes.
Marshall enjoyed an excellent time of it, displaying very solid handling with the defence in front of him playing consistently well throughout. Pop and Makamian at left and right back, enjoyed particularly consistent games, with much improved defensive displays to add to their undoubted quality going forward.
In attack, Crucefix started fast and was a threat down the wing while the outstanding Ifeacho was in top form again, easily out-stripping the Harvesters' defence on multiple occasions before just firing wide. Meanwhile, Hobbs produced a shot of great quality that was somehow pushed away by the opposition keeper. Still, at half time, there was a feeling that the boys had many more gears to go through and a big push was requested from the ref's whistle.
The lads didn't disappoint with wave after wave of Wood attacks on the away goal. Song, Ifeacho & McGuinness all forcing saves from the keeper, with Hobbs, growing into the challenge of midfield, firing just over after a bullet throw from Pop. Silva was now becoming really influential and his quality through ball found Ifeacho who bolted through and finished low and hard to give the Wood a fully deserved lead. The outstanding Reed followed up a few moments later, lashing in from a Silva corner to put the match beyond doubt.
A great effort from all the boys today and they proved just too strong for the opposition to deny. Ifeacho shared MoM with Silva after they both raised their output decisively and the squad goes into their double header against Omonia Green next Sunday knowing 6 points will give them a great chance of making Finals Day; only a fool would bet against them in such superb form!
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U12 girls had no fixture this weekend so travelled to their good friends at Panshanger FC Lionesses for a friendly. With a depleted squad through illness and injury we could only field 10 players, with just one substitute.
The game kicked off and was a very even contest for the first 5/10 mins before Wood started to gain the upper hand, we then began to pin Panshanger back into their own half for long periods of the game and started testing the home keeper. Karadonna broke the deadlock with a fine solo effort; receiving the ball outside the area she turned smartly 180 degrees and left the home defence mystified as to where she’d gone, the keeper came out to meet her but Kara slotted calmly past her for 0-1 Wood.
The midfield quartet of Captain Amie and midfield dynamo Lucy were purring, add in the wing wizardry of Elsinho and Lois and the Wood gained the upper hand. Amie especially testing the home defence and keeper with her long range shooting. After a couple of stray attempts she picked the ball up in midfield, beat the first defender looked up set herself and dispatched a screamer into the back of the net for 0-2 Wood!
The back three of Imani, Abi & Ella were breaking up the occasional Panshanger counters with Abi in a particularly destructive mood today. Emily in goal had nothing to do bar one catch which she did very well today. Half time came and it was 2-0 to to the Wood. Hazel entered the fray for Karadonna and was soon causing problems in the box with her natural electricityl she’s a real live wire and a handful for most defences. Hazel pounced as she finished off a great team move by getting on the end of a sublime through ball from Amie; Hazel redirected the pass in one move into the corner for a real predatory No9 goal, 0-3 Wood.
The girls sensed blood in the water and put the pedal down fully now, the Panshanger girls fought for their lives and to stay in the match, they also started creating a few chances for themselves that they may have scored on another day. This was more down to our girls going a little gung-ho at times though and leaving the back door open. This will happen at times during the girls' development stage. Elsinho wanted to get into the goals for column today and was probing the home defence for weaknesses, she punched a hole in it herself in the end with pure pace and power winning her shoulder battle and then curling the ball around the on rushing keeper for 4-0 wood!
The Panshanger girls to their credit didn’t once give in today and even at 4 down were trying to score and fought for their ground; after some great attacking play they breached the Wood defence to make it 1-4. This gave the home team an added impetus and they had the Wood on the back foot for 5 mins or so. Little did they know that we are just as dangerous from here! Jet heeled Lois picked up the ball in her own half and headed full speed towards the goal she beat her marker and stayed the course, the keeper tried to come out to close the angles on her but even at 11yr old Lois is an old pro in this situation and she let loose a masterful drive to finish a stunning solo effort to wrest control again back to the Wood and to complete the days scoring at 1-5 Wood.
A great game from the girls who showed their class going forward today with 5 different goal scorers. In the post match inquisition the girls' growing game awareness came to the fore in them critiquing there own performances and highlighting where they’d liked to have done better today! A finer group of young women and footballers there never was.