With the season up and running the U14 Boys Wood army travelled to Enfield for their first away game of the season against SSW Lions.
The facilities weren’t the best, with the pitch overgrown and the opponents not even having a ball to warm up with it couldn’t have been more rag rovers if they tried, the opposition had a go though with half their team not even in what resembles a matching kit. Undeterred the Wood boys got their heads down and warmed up well seeming to focus on the job in front of them.
The game kicked off with the same starting line up that had served them well in the previous match. SSW came out early looking to play and looked impressive but Borehamwood 2000 matched them every step of the way and with Stevens and Adom winning everything at the back it gave the midfielders chances to play. Chances started to come in the shape of some decent through balls from Staszewski, Gardiner and Parratt with Chen and Sheppard going close on separate occasions.
Joyce and Hebblethwaite had to stay switched on as full backs with the SSW wingers looking to get in behind. They did this with great tenacity and even managed to get forward and send crosses over. The first goal came when a half chance fell to Chen who impressively stayed calm in front of goal and finished to make it 1 0. Abiso was having his usual solid game in front of the back 4; his discipline to sit and do a job didn’t go unnoticed.
Sheppard nearly doubled the lead when some well worked play found him clean through, but he was denied by the keeper. The Wood finished the half strongly but, new they needed a second goal to kill the game.
At half time Hebblethwaite was replaced by Sutherland who fitted straight in at right back and had a great game dominating his winger, Smith also came on for Parratt. Smith and Chen formed a great partnership up top with Sheppard sitting just behind them. The Wood knew they had to push for the next goal as it was crucial to put the game to bed. Every long ball or ball played into the channel by SSW was mopped up by the Stevens at the back, hardly putting a foot wrong all game. And with Staszewzki driving the team forward in midfield it seemed inevitable the second goal would come. It did, when SSW tried to play out from the back some great pressure from Smith and then Sheppard forced the mistake and Chen was there to score his second of the game finally give 2000 the 2nd goal they deserved.
Rocha replaced Sheppard, Murphy came on for Gardiner and Evans slotted in for Joyce at left back. All 3 had an instant impact on the game. Murphy started up where Gardiner had left off, getting stuck in in the middle of the park and playing the ball about, Rocha’s pressure on the defenders was class and he was also a threat going forward, Evans played with composure at left back and it was from his great pass the 3rd goal came. After a 25 yard pass from Evans, Smith held off his man, turned him and drove a thunderous strike into the bottom corner to send the players and fans into rapturous applause. It was a goal his hard work over the last few weeks has deserved.
3 0 was a great result away from home in tough circumstances, a lesser team may have folded when the going got tough but this Wood side have shown they can win games in more then one way. Mom went to both Stevens and Staszewski who lead by example today and pushed the team forward. 2 wins from the first 2 games is a great start. Roll on the next game!
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U13 Boys enjoyed double training sessions last week in a bid to improve on a start that has seen two predictably one-sided games thus far, the result of a fragmented pre-season due to holidays and other absence. The boys responded brilliantly and put on a terrific display against an experienced Hinton side currently topping the Yellow division table.
Even better was the way in which the Wood stormed back from an excellent Hinton start that saw them take a 0-3 lead. First Gopinath slotted home a fine shot to fire the team up, then the combative O' Rourke calmly stepping up to sweetly bury a penalty kick. Captain Adom, then weaved a path through the away defence before dispatching a wonderful effort past the despairing hands of the Hinton keeper.
The boys kept driving on in search of a winner but, ultimately submitted to a couple of late Hinton goals, a highly competitive matching ending 3-5. MoM went to Joyce whose industry and love of a tackle make him an invaluable player to this side. While on the wing, Powell wooed the massed ranks of Wood supporters with fabulous technique and drive. Back to the training field tomorrow for more hard work, this team is now properly off and running and aiming for another top perfromance against Winchmore Hill next Sunday.
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U15 Boys kicked off the League Cup at home against Northwood after the game was switched due to a charity run at Moor Park. The teams last faced each other in the 4th division in Feb 22, when Northwood routed the Wood 5-3.
The boys were led out by Captain Boshjaku, who dominated the match defensively with several goal saving challenges that made the ground shudder, such were their intensity. This teak tough young man was also vocal and constantly encouraging his team-mates throughout; a Captain's mark to be sure. Manning came in at left centre back and enjoyed an assured performance with excellent technical play on his 'weaker' side. Hobbs started off at right centre back, completing the role with ease before moving to right wing where his driving runs and quality crossing presented nightmares for the away defence and chances a plenty for the Wood attack.
Crucefix opened the scoring after getting to a cross ahead of his defender, then spinning to fire home in style. The outstanding McGuinness then skillfully won a penalty that was dispatched confidently by Montgomery, before McGuinness scored his third in two matches with a precise drive into the right bottom corner. This guy is in outstanding form and secured MoM today, his work rate and desire to score without question and not reducing if a chance was missed, which is absolutely key. 3-0 at half time and the boys had laid the groundwork for a really big second half.
However, second half performances from the team have not matched the opening stanzas this season so far and despite making glorious chances, goals were squandered again and again with too many boys dragging their heels and passing on responsibility to team-mates. One player who was getting right stuck in was Fan and he also drove the ball high into the net with his left peg to increase the scoreline. Unfortunately, as too many players switched off again, Northwood had a period of play that ended with an inevitable concession; yet another cross being headed in unchallenged from inside the six yard box and the Wood's clean sheet bit the dust.
The game finished 4-1 but, this scoreline doesn't properly reflect the improvement from the boys since last playing Northwood 18 months ago; they have advanced considerably and are a force to be reckoned with now. However, players in this team need a strong mindset, a real desire to succeed and can't just pick and choose when they want to put in a shift or try hard. As such, training this week will be very intensive as the team prepares to seize three league points against a top Colney Heath side next week. If that is our collective desire and we all work really hard for it, that is what we will get.
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U13 Girls have enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, instantly banishing any thoughts that they could not yet compete in the top division. The truth is they are a first class outfit and genuine contenders for the title this season. However, there was a real test of these undoubted credentials today as they travelled the short distance up the A1 to Harvesters, our close neighbours and a very handy, established top Division 1 side. The Wood fielded a very strong squad of 12 with Hazel & Riss busy with their families and brave Pola recuperating after sadly turning her ankle at training.
The day had come for Ava, one of our newest signings to make her first start after impressing the coaches with her attitude and willingness to learn. Manager Dave said Ava was a joy to coach and is possibly the most coachable girl in the team; she has come on leaps and bounds and thoroughly deserved her starting berth, putting in a sterling performance against one of Harvesters' most dangerous attackers.
Making up the other two thirds of our back 3 today were Abi and Ella. Two titans of the Wood's defensive wall, they gave no quarter in what was a very tough football match with no challenge uncontested. Our midfield four consisted of Kara on the right, Skipper Amie and human destroyer Lucy in the centre, with the sublime skills of Imani on the left. Another of our new signings, the fantastically gifted Gabi, played a very hardworking role alone up front. Gabi often found herself isolated up there today but she stuck to her task like the fighter she is, causing Harvesters no end of headaches whenever she had the ball.
The first half was fairly even with Harvesters' electric wingers threatening down the flanks and the Wood answering in turn. Imani, when challenging for a ball in midfield, was heavily fouled and sustained painful knee damage and was no longer able to continue; she left the field to calls of support for such a brave young lady. Elsinho entered the fray and set about trying to change the game with her mazy runs. From an attack down the left, skipper Amie got hold of the ball and unleashed one of her trademark pile driving efforts to put the Wood 1 up! This one made our hosts try harder and they increased the pressure on our back line, which was marshalled impeccably by POM Emily in goal today; making multiple crucial saves to keep Harvesters at bay.
Abi picked the ball up from a Harvesters' pass and beat her marker before unleashing a shot which squirmed under the keeper for 0-2 Wood! Half time came and went and Borehamwood knew the next goal was of the upmost importance; unfortunately it fell to the Harvesters No9 who was flagged and looked offside for not the first time in the match, but the ref played on and it was then 1-2 the Wood.
Harvesters then tried turning the screw, throwing everything forward to their credit, trying to salvage a point which they everntually did, making it 2-2 late in the second half. However, this match was a great advert for girls' football and certainly a point earned for the Wood, rather than 2 dropped and this was the message from the staff to the players. Another huge match beckons next week against St. Albans and it's simply fantastic that the girls are featuring in such matches at the top of the table!
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Our U9 Girls are coming along so well and learning oodles every training session and match they play. At present, they are competing against teams that have already experienced at least one and sometimes two previous seasons; this is a chasm of learning at such a tender age so the learning curve is steep! However, the girls have such a good attitude, are adapting so well and quite frankly, are just having a great time learning an exciting new sport with their friends!
Today, they faced LGDA at Pursley and it was standing room only as our intrepid girls marched proudly onto the hallowed turf. Almost instantly after the first whistle blew, the galloping Polly pulled back her right boot and let fly a supersonic missile that hit the LGDA bar so hard it was still shaking some hours afterwards; what an effort! Joining in this offensive onslaught, were the seriously rapid LeahP & Emelia, taking wing wizardry to a new level as they weaved their way to the opposition goal!
At the other end, Sienna, Gracie and LeahT fearlessly took on goalkeeping duties and did a tremendous job in this tricky position, the referee inspecting all three girls' boots for high tension springs such were they pinging about to foil the LGDA attack! Juniper is growing in deep confidence every week and showed panther like strength and power as she drove forward while Amber continued her defensive masterclasses, laying everything on the line against bigger players as she thwarted their attacks!
All in all, it was a tremendous showing and with 12 girls now signed up and 3 more signing up next week, this team is going places really fast, interest is going through the roof and girls' football is thriving in the Wood; which is what it's all about! PoM went to the irrepressible Polly, whose mantra is why walk when you can run hard! Very well done young lady.