U13 Boys hosted Enfield Rangers at Pursley who themselves were fighting for the league title this season. Following a 5 1 loss in early January to this opposition, the Wood knew they would be up against it. A depleted Bwood 2000 started really well and took the lead within 5 minutes when a great through ball from Staszewski found Adoma who cut inside and finished sublimely across the keeper and off the post!
Gardiner and Joyce swapped rolls and both shone in their new positions. The double act of Stevens and Adom were solid throughout both showing that with every game they are getting better and better. The only time in the half that Enfield got through they were thwarted by the impressive stand-in keeper Khan. Khan had stepped up to replace the injured Delia and did his managers proud with a great display.
Both full backs Sutherland and Hebblethwaite were different class today carrying a threat going forward but also nullifying any threat posed by the tricky Enfield wingers. Wood went close on a few occasions with Gardiner, Staszewski and Parratt winning the midfield battle with determination and game management. Chances came for Adoma and the hard working Smith but at the half it remained 1 0.
The second half started and the Wood worked so hard there literally was no way out for Enfield. A second was surely on its way… unfortunately it didn’t come and after a long ball, a defensive mishap saw Enfield tap the ball in to make it 1 1. This gave the visitors hope and they piled forward. The Wood seemed a little shell shocked and following a deflected clearance, the ball found its way into the bottom corner to give Enfield a 1-2 lead against the run of play.
Evans replaced Smith, and Gusatu came on for the impressive Parratt who ran out of steam. The two subs worked hard to get involved and try and turn the game. The pressure was telling and following a great run down the right Hebblethwaite delivered a super cross that was half cleared to the edge of the box. Adoma met it on the half volley, he beat the keeper but was denied by the cross bar, the pressure was slowly telling.
Following a long ball over the top, Captain and MoM Gardiner didn’t give up the chase, he nicked the ball, went round one and drove into the area, the centre half came across and barged Gardiner to the ground. The ref pointed to the spot and finally the Wood had a chance to get something from the game they so richly deserved. Up stepped Staszewski, the coolest man on the pitch, he sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2 2 sending the players and parents mad with celebration!
The Wood weren’t finished there and sensed they could go one better. Following some panic at the back from Enfield a free kick was awarded 30 yards out. Adom stepped up and let a venomous shot go, the keeper was beaten but a retreating defender managed to clear it off the line, the ball was cleared and the final whistle went.
The Wood showed unbelievable character today to not only come back from 1-2 down but to keep pushing on as a team after many would have been happy with the draw. Games like this don’t just build character, they reveal it and this group of young men can be proud that when times got tough they dug in together and got something from the game. Very proud managers and parents all round.
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U14 Boys travelled away for a tough Spring Cup double header against Omonia Green. The last time the teams faced off the Wood went down 5-0, with Omonia now handily placed in the league and headed for the top division.
As all teams at this age know, however, the Wood are on the rise and the boys, with just one sub in attendance, fought like dervishes in the first half of the first match, with keeper Marshall making a series of tremendous stops to keep the score level against a side packed with huge, aggressive and fast players. Hobbs and MoM McGuinness provided threat going forward and strength in the tackle when tracking back and it was the latter who slipped in Captain Ifeacho, with our in-form striker leaving the home defence in his wake before classily finding the net with a delightful finish.
More good efforts followed but, massive focus when defending this lead in a half that seemed to go on for ever was required and Manning made a crucial headed clearance before the teak tough Reed also cleared right at the end to make sure the Wood won an excellent victory, with all 12 boys playing superbly and contributing hugely to the collective effort.
More of the same followed in the second match with Song and Crucefix rotating to great effect before a game changing intervention by the referee, who awarded a highly contentious penalty against the Wood, Omonia converting to their great delight. The boys were stunned by this unexpected gift for the opposition and turned off, a quick, second Omonia goal finding the net.
The boys came out for the second half determined to respond with Hones & Montgomery particularly tenacious and Makamian adopting a much more physical and effective approach to silence the dangerous Omonia winger. Silva's close control was quite breathtaking at times and he showed great courage in dealing with continued foul play, earning a richly deserved MoM award.
The match finished without further goals and the spoils were shared on the day, however, the Wood proved again that they can now give any grassroots teams a game, home or away, and this transistional season to a much higher level is now reaping huge rewards both in the ability of our players and a collective mentality to stick together and never, ever give up. A truly outstanding day for the lads and next Sunday can't come fast enough!
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U12 Boys have been making encouraging progress but, a flatter performance last week against London Colney was followed up today with a tough 8-0 reverse away to Hinton, a side the Wood had beaten 1-0 just a few weeks back.
Kingham-Patrick, Joyce and Kurti tried hard in defence and did all they could to keep the ball away from our net, while MoM Lehouimel was outstanding in goal repelling Hinton many times. In attack, excellent shots from Powell, Kingham-Patrick, Hartslief, Skinner and Kurti just went narrowly wide on this occasion, when one or two on target may have turned the course of the game?
Second half was much the same with Florin impressing in goal and a succession of lovely crosses from the Wood almost leading to a finish; the impressive Gopinath sparkling and refusing to throw in the towel.
Patrick-Mason, Ciniviz, Ellams and Song entered the fray and gave it their all but, the boys played a very good team today. However, much was learnt and the guys will dust themselves down and be back on it next week, refreshed and ready to go again.
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A fantastic performance from the U12 Girls at home today, securing a hard fought victory and a deserved 3 points against one of our big title rivals, the talented Hemel Reds! On a horrible, blustery morning with a slippery and sodden pitch it was always going to be a tough day and it took heart, desire, a will to prevail and no little skill from our players. Once again our team showed up, displaying their Amazonian spirit and showing they have all the key ingredients for life in spades!
We've played Hemel three times already this season as we drew them in the cup; they beat us 3-1 in one game, on pens in another after extra time and the third game was a draw. The girls were reminded of how unlucky we had been during those previous encounters when great footballing displays hadn't necessarily converted into the results we perhaps warranted so today was a tremendous opportunity to have another go!
The Wood came out of the blocks like a train in a very attacking formation with No10 Karadonna up front holding the line like a true pro, ably supported by the wizardry of our two dazzling wide players: Lois & Elsinho. Elsinho was in particularly outstanding form today and she had the opposing defence on red alert from the start. This front three will be worth more than PSG’s Mbappe, Messi & Neymar if they keep performing to the standards they did today! The engine room was made up of the guile of Captain Amie & the team's unstoppable enforcer and her dynamic midfield partner Lucy, with Theaya adding her touch of class, composure and lots of in-game nous to the equation. The defensive unit consisted of wingbacks Imani and Ella who where constantly probing Hemel for weaknesses and the CB foundation stone of the unbeatable Abi. Emily completed this unit with her cat-like reflexes and speed off her line to clear.
A through ball behind the left back was hunted down by Elsinho as her awareness left the Hemel defence trailing; the Hemel keeper came out to make a last ditch save but Elsie had other ideas and duly sent a low drive into the corner for 1-0 Wood. The girls were quickly back at Hemel and sensed they could get some joy from Elsinho’s side of the pitch. Amie picked up the ball in midfield and slid another ball behind the defence which Elsie raced onto; with class and composure she again made the net bulge for 2-0 the Wood and control of the game.
The girls were pressing from all over the pitch and Lois was getting balls into the box from her wing, it was only last ditch defending and heroics from the Hemel keeper that kept us scoring again. Then, from a corner, the unthinkable happened and Hemel scored a great goal with a near post header: 2-1 Wood. Once again, Hemel fought back and a missed tackle or two saw them draw level at 2-2, somewhat against the run of play.
Half time came and the conversation was about what we had done very well, which today was releasing our flyers on the wings early and could we look to do this more? The girls went out determined to show their class and the chance soon came as Elsinho was found again; she jinked inside her fullback, around the on-rushing CB and was travelling at light speed towards the Hemel goal. The Hemel keeper - who was magnificent all game - came out to try and deny the attack but Elsinho dropped her shoulder and then sped off the other way to round her and calmly tap home for 3-2 the Wood!
Hemel tried to fight back as that is their nature and they never gave up, however, their attempts to equalise exposed them to more attacks with Abi, Imani & Ella breaking them up and quickly releasing the Wood to attack. Emily swept up behind the defence and she picked up one ball and launched a long kick up towards Theaya, now playing as a No9. Theaya got the deftest of touches onto the ball to drop it into space, where El Fuego again reacted quickest and pounced; the Hemel keeper again came out and tried to stop the ball but she never quite had it in two hands and Elsinho gathered the ball and dispatched into an empty net for 4-2 the Wood and her own fourth of the day!
Hemel could do nothing now but push for goals to try and score and get back into the game. This left them constantly exposed to the quick counter and who was waiting, licking her lips, but today's PoM destroyer - Elsinho El Fuego - who grabed the Wood's and her 5th goal to cap a magnificent personal and team performance and cement our place near the top of the table!