Our U13 Boys and staff have been working really hard to improve and faced New Salamis in the league at Pursley hoping to record their first win of the season.
The boys were out the blocks really fast and created two excellent chances early on, O'Rourke firing narrowly wide before Kurti produced a smart save from the home keeper with an excellent effort. The Wood kept up the pressure and secured the lead when Ciochina supplied a defence splitting pass for Gopinath to race through and score!
New Salamis won a penalty which cannoned off the bar but, did score later in the half to make it 1-1 at half time. After a rousing team talk, the lads went out for the second period with renewed purpose and an unquenchable desire to succeed. They played an outstanding half with Gopinath sprinting from half way to bury his effort into the bottom corner. Kurti then produced a sublime through ball which Gopinath converted, completing his hat-trick and securing a MoM award that was richly deserved.
After the match, manager Frank took time out of his busy schedule to give an exclusive interview to the Washington Post and said, "The boys are working really hard on their game and made us all very proud today as they bagged the three points. This is just the start, however, as we're setting our sights high and going for it every time we play. We have momentum now and this has come about from hard graft and will continue with hard graft!" With that he was off to the hospitality van and two or three well deserved bacon rolls!
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Our U14 Boys are perfect this season, winning four out of four as they sit atop of the league on 12 points. The boys and staff are doing a fabulous job and secured the points today against SSW Lions, scoring two goals each half while keeping a clean sheet to record an impressive 4-0 victory.
Chen was in the finest form firing in a quality hat-trick which secured him a share of MoM with the redoubtable Hebblethwaite, a defensive titan who continues to improve rapidly each game. Between the posts, Singleton pulled off a crucial double save to keep the opposition out while the disciplined and reliable Abiso enjoyed another fine match.
The final goal was scored by Staszewski who showed admirable calm to slot from the penalty spot and as the final whistle blew, the Wood army went home entertained and voicing their support for another excellent display!
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Finally, our U15 Boys continue to impress with a fine 1-2 win far away against Berkhamsted. Belief is coursing through the boys' veins right now and they looked the stronger side from the off against an established Red division side with a huge catchment area.
However, after starting very fast with Montgomery to the fore, the Wood were unable to find quality with their finishing, spurning numerous good chances with shots that lacked zipped. That's not to be recommended at this standard as all teams can score in the blink of an eye and Berkhamsted duly did so to take the lead; keeper Marshall helpless to stop the shot from point blank range after tackles had been missed.
The Wood are not 3rd highest scorers in this league for nothing though and were calm heading into the second half as they went about settling the score. Fan let his feet do the talking and upped his game noticeably to force a corner; Wood Captain Boshjaku climbing like a mountain goat to firmly bury a majestic header from Silva's precision delivery. Silva then produced a vintage period of play, tormenting the Berko defence remorselessly before setting up McGuinness, enjoying another superb outing, who fired home for his 4th of the season. This was also the goal that proved to be the winner, though Hobbs, producing a much more balanced performance on the right wing, slammed home a ballistic missile from 25 yards, only to see the Berko linesman's flag disallow it narrowly.
The boys performed highly today, didn't panic when going behind and pulled the game back in our favour with a pressing game of the very highest intensity, showing quality when the ball was won back. The mentality is strong and changing positively too as we look forward to securing more points and genuinely challenging for honours this season. MoM went to Crucefix who showed a shrewd football brain and positional discipline as he played the holding midfield role to a tee.
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Pursley was buzzing with anticipation as our U9 Girls took to the pitch today against a physically developed Aston Clinton Colts. The team are training Friday evenings this season as that works best at present but, after a long school week, that's not always easy at a young age, especially when playing matches the following morning. As the team evolves, this may perhaps be something for review in future seasons but, the girls gave it their all as usual anyway as Captain Amber proudly led them out.
Amber kept it tight as two coats of paint at the back, with Daisy straight into the action and showing huge potential; she, Juniper & Polly constantly raiding the Aston backline like Vikings marauding the Saxon coastline!
Leah displayed her excellent passing range and Tippi surged forward at will, while at the back Ruby was tigerish in her tackles and running, with Sienna bringing calm and quality to proceedings whenever she touched the ball. However, it was Emilia who lit up proceedings with a series of outstanding dribbles. One such she seemed certain to score from only to be denied by a very heavy challenge as she bore down on goal. Tough as teak, she bounced back up and flashed the resultant free kick narrowly wide of the stanchion as the massed ranks of Wood supporters bellowed their appreciation!
All the while, keeper Gracie was showing Zen like focus between the sticks to produce one flying save after another, rightly securing the opposition's PoM award, while Amber secured our own after another first class display, oozing quality in her reading of the game and defending.
Another matchday ended with so much learned and so many positive qualities displayed by our fabulous girls. Preparations now begin at Wood HQ for our away match against Berkhamsted next week; we can't wait!
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Our U13 girls travelled away today to play local rivals St Albans City Lionesses. The Wood took the lead through new signing Gabi who was causing City no end of problems and made City change their full backs to try and stop her! St Albans then equalised with some quality play by their left winger who squeezed past Annie and then slipped the ball under the onrushing Emily. The goal was totally against the run of play with the Wood dominating in every area and City left playing long balls from their keeper and fast breaks.
City would take the lead from such a long goalkeeper’s clearance and through a mix up in defence. Emily and Ella who were both trying to play the right way out from the back just got caught out this time. This will happen on their football journey from time to time and the girls know this and we accept it.
The goal made the Wood try and ratchet it up a gear to find the deserved equaliser. This came with some industrious wing play from Elsie who beat her player and fired an unstoppable low shot into the corner of the net for 2-2!
St Albans to their credit never laid down and came back again to get a third goal which was slotted past new keeper Marissa. The score at half time was now 3-2 to the home team.
The second half St Albans changed their system and went more defensive to hold their lead; the game was virtually played in the City half for the remainder but try as we might, we just couldn't find another goal past a determined City defence.
If the game was won on possession, territory and attempts on goal the City white flag would have long been raised but, it's not and they held on valiantly to take the 3 points. Well done City and we look forward to the return match. PoM today was Ella who was just fantastic once again.