U14 Boys travelled to Finchley today for their latest test in the Challenge Cup vs Alyth Belsize.
The Wood started well and stamped their authority on the game early on with some great passing football along the way. The breakthrough came early when the impressive Shepherd played Chen through and the club's top scorer dispatched in fine style. The Wood continued to pile on the pressure and when Abiso broke up play and drove through the midfield he had the vision to find Smith who finished with power to make it 2 0.
Both fullbacks, Sutherland and Hebblethwaite, had been threatening with great runs all half and it was the latter, Hebblethwaite, who picked up the next goal after some good play down the left. The ball fell to him 15 yards out and he drilled it low and hard to make it 3 0 at half time.
The Wood rung the changes with captain Gardiner coming on for the industrious Joyce, Evans replaced Hebblethwaite at LB and Rocha came on for Smith up top. The Wood carried on where they left off with at times some scintillating football from front to back.
Alyth had decided to play longer second half but the solid partnership of Adom and Stevens backed up by Singleton were too much for the Alyth front line.
Parratt replaced the impressive Sheppard and immediately found Gardiner after a great trick and pass; Gardiner danced through the midfield and found Staszewski who finished with a first time strike across the keeper into the top corner to kill the tie. Murphy replaced the ever impressive Staszewski and got straight into the game. The Wood were awarded a penalty late on and after converting his last three attempts, Gardiner stepped up to take but the Alyth Keeper was equal to him and saved well. The game finished just after and another impressive win was recorded for the Wood.
Man of the match went to Stevens who hardly put a foot wrong to clinch another clean sheet for the team. The boys return to league action again next week vs Hinton Wolves at home where they look to extend their lead at the top of the league.
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U15 Boys re-joined battle with Kings Langley away in the league after narrowly exiting the Cup against these high flyers last week. The game was very intense from the start with the home side starting quickly and forcing Marshall to produce multiple excellent saves. Eventually one crept in and despite Fan's long range effort flying just wide and Reed's free kick being saved, the half ended 1-0.
The Wood began to exert more influence on the second half with Kings Langley always a threat but, our continued inability to clear routine crosses led to a simple tap in to send the boys 2-0 down. However, the response at this point was nothing short of utterly outstanding as the Wood piled it on Kings Langley who were hanging on for dear life, hoofing the ball away at any opportunity they could in an effort to keep their lead. Silva whipped a beautfiul ball into Song whose run was excellent but, was unable to steer the ball home when the goal beckoned. Ifeacho left the Kings Langley defence in his trail twice only to see his shots saved at close range. Silva and a revitalised Fan fired further shots goalward that were kept out by the keeper and McGuinness fired wide when through on his left.
The Wood piled forward again and again and Kings Langley were no longer any attacking threat whatsoever as they desperately tried to keep what they had. In the end, the boys' finishing was not of sufficient quality to beat an inspired keeper but, the intent, the desire, the hunger, was incredible to witness and when the final whistle blew, the home team reaction was telling as they trudged off without much celebration at all, knowing they'd secured the points, but, realising they'd been played off the park in the latter stages of a game they would normally expect to waltz home from a 2-0 lead.
That is totally testament to the Wood's boys who are growing and learning so much every single game. No better was this exemplified than by the three centre backs - Manning, Boshjaku and Reed - who played like grown men all game, revelling in the physical battle and producing a sublime display together. Of these, Reed secured MoM with a display that had everything from a player that is now matching his work-rate and intent with his considerable natural talent; in the process, there is nothing he can't achieve with this approach.
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Our U13 Boys kept battling at home to Whetstone in the Cup but, conceded too many goals on the way to a heavy defeat. The boys can play but, need to compete more and work harder to get to the ball first; that needs to come from within and only the boys can drive this.
Leading by example was MoM Lehouimel, playing at left back and giving it everything throughout the match. Keeper Florin was afforded very little protection at times but, pulled off many fantastic saves as he also refused to give up. Gopinath showed tremendous touches of skill while Powell was industrious and hard-working on the wing. Patel was a presence at centre back throughout and shows great potential as well as leadership qualities.
These boys are leading the way forward and as their team-mates pile in too, performances will improve and results will come. Back to training Tuesday and then another chance next Sunday to hone their skills, get their approach right and above all else, work their socks off so that when they leave the pitch, they can honestly say they gave it the very best they had; which is all anyone can ever ask.
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U13 girls returned to Saturday morning football against Berkhampstead Raiders Pinks, after a 4 week rain induced break.
The Wood got off to a sluggish start and the time off showed as for 5 or 10 mins we were second best to the ball and most challenges. The girls soon remembered who they where though and started to play on the front foot. The starting front 3 of Elsinho, Karadonna and Gabz were testing and probing the Pink’s defence trying to find a break through, prompted by Theaya and Lucy in the engine room. The break came when star winger Elsinho smashed a drive past the Pink's keeper after beating her marker; Else is in a rich vein of form right now and looks dangerous whenever she gets the ball!
The Pinks are made of very stern stuff and these young women wear their team jersey with pride and never give in! They came straight back at us with their dangerous right winger challenging Ella at left back all day. Luckily for the Wood, Ella is one of, if not the best LB in the league and is capable of stopping all comers! Aided by defensive giant’s Abi and Ava who themselves turned away every Berko attack like a dominating sea wall!
Our second goal was to come from live-wire Gabz who was the quickest to react from a corner as she deftly used the pace on the cross to turn the ball into the bottom corner: 2-0 wood. Wood were dominating across the pitch now with wave after wave of attacks! A mention must go to the Berko keeper today as she had a stormer in defeat, making many goal saving stops.
Another attack went out for a corner and the pressure was growing. Elsinho delivered a low bamboozling drive across the goal that caused mayhem with it bouncing off one or two players before Karadonna pounced to poke it home with her little toe for 3-0 Wood! Cue time for some reinforcements as Hazel, Pola and our newest signing Gabby came on to try and get in the goals. Hazel was buzzing straight away and tried to stamp her personality on the game from the off, linking with Ella and Theaya. Lucy’s skill in the tackle and power on the ball was making the midfield battle one sided and the ball was soon falling at Gabby’s feet regularly, but spirited and tough defending by Pinks was stopping her debut goal.
Pola on the right was showing the full repertoire of her skills but we just couldn’t get the fourth before half time. It shows how far this team have come and the standards we set that the coaches weren’t happy at half time with the performance. The girls where asked to give more and to play with a bit more fire in there bellies; win every 1st ball and then win the 2nd if needs be.
The second half started and the game turned into a bit of a battle which was a lot to do with a wet and slippery pitch, the mud was playing it’s part. We had to wait for our fourth goal after creating another handful of chances prior to it, Gabz picked the ball up in midfield and drove at the Berko defence; she played a ball out wide to Ella who had seen Gabby free in the middle. Ella released Gabby whose pace took her away from the defence and she prodded the ball past the on-rushing keeper for 4-0 Wood!
The Wood were cruising now and the 5th was soon to follow with the relentless Elsinho beating two players and unleashing an unstoppable drive into the back of the net for her 2nd goal of the game. She also had 3 assists and a work rate that took her game to a new level and rightly won PoM today. Berko kept fighting and got a consolation goal after some fine work from their No10; a shot was released and the slippery ball squirmed out of Emily’s hands with Berko tapping home.
3 points in the bag and we go on to face the form team this year in Harvesters next week in the cup. Don't be surprised if the girls make the next round as they are a very talented bunch indeed!
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Now, something very special is going on with our U9 Girls who have a huge squad of talented and motivated girls improving at a very fast rate of knots! Having had the chance to play some games this season, they are now learning the ropes quickly, ready to hit the ground running next season at 7aside.
Today they travelled to the fortress known as Aston Clinton Park, on a very cold and crisp November morning. The girls had their game faces on and leading the pack was Captain Elsie. As soon as the ref blew the whistle to start the game they were down to business!
The game got off to a ferocious start and credit to Aston Clinton as they caught us off guard in the early exchanges, scoring a couple of fine goals in the opening minutes. It’s safe to say they had the Wood's girls and manager shaken and the whistle to end the first quarter couldn’t come quickly enough!
Like all top class teams, the break did us good, we re-focused, learnt from our mistakes and went into the 2nd quarter a new team. Within minutes Daisy made a blistering run through the middle and unleashed what can only be described as a rocket; the Aston Clinton keeper did not stand a chance. This really gave the team a lift and the massed ranks of Wood spectators were showing their support with choir like choruses of encouragement!
Elsie lived up to her duties as a Captain and led by example, making courageous crunching tackles and blistering runs. Tag-team partners Polly and Tippi teamed up really well running down the wings and constantly feeding the ball to the forwards. It was all Borehamwood now, however, Aston Clinton were always ready to pounce too. Luckily for us, Emily was now in full swing and as per usual, did not let us down with heroic save after heroic save.
It was now time to make a few changes and give some players a well earned rest. Juniper took up the role of an attacking midfielder and with her trademark determination really pressurised the opposition. Ruby and Sienna took up defensive duties, and despite facing a bigger and physically imposing opposition never shirked away from big challenges and put into practice what they had learnt from past training sessions.
Emilia shouldered attacking duties and showed incredible dribbling skills running rings round the defence and on numerous occasions was unlucky not to score. As the game went on it seemed only a matter of time before Borehamwood would score again, with pressure building all the time. Leah Sp was now playing in midfield and, using her sharp footballing brain to the max, really opened up play with tremendous clearances and pin-point accurate passes; Becks himself could have learnt a thing or two.
We were now fast approaching the end of the 3rd quarter and Daisy re-entered the fray. This girl has a taste for goal just like Augustus Gloop savours chocolate milk and was hungry for more! Daisy put into practice what she has learnt and like all opportunistic strikers capitalised with another great goal when an opportunity came her way. In true Wood fashion we entered the final quarter with more energy and enthusiasm than in the previous 3 quarters and it was now Aston Clinton’s turn to be shaken!
The team spirit shown was breathtaking. Every player had each others' back, the space awareness was tremendous, the passing was incredible, the defending was outstanding, but above all the bravery shown was remarkable! The final whistle blew, and a rather muddy and battered Borehamwood left the pitch with their heads held high and big smiles on their faces, none bigger than that of Captain and PoM Elsie; take a bow young lady!