Rain stopped played again for the girls' on Saturday and did so for our U13 Boys away today too. Pursley was playable on Sunday though and our U14 Boys took full advantage recording an excellent 4-1 home victory aginst Hinton & Finchley Wolves. The boys sit atop their division with 5 wins out of 5, scoring a tremendous 19 goals and only conceding 3!
Chen was in deadly form banging in a first class hatrick that had power, pace and composure written all over it, while the tough tackling Gardiner stepped out of defence to bang one home smartly too. Hebblethwaite enjoyed a fine match providing an excellent assist, while MoM went to Sheppard, who was just too good for the opposition to stop as he laid on three superb assists in a breahtaking display.
Next up is a tricky away fixture against Rap Aid but, the boys will be looking forward to this challenge as they attempt to put an early strangehold on the league championship!
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U15 Boys have been focusing on the remaining 5 games this calendar year, knowing maximum points would see them at the sharp end of three tournaments in 2024. First up today was Whetstone Tigers, a middling team within the Red Division and one the boys could easily get at.
Silva cannoned a fierce shot off the cross-bar in the early stages and Whetstone had barely featured in an attacking sense but, as last week, the Wood midfield failed to close down quickly and a speculative shot sailed home. What followed after this belly punch was just not good enough with very few of the team showing the levels of commitment required to play in the Red division. A little later, Whetstone scored a second, with much of the Wood team watching passively as a woeful shot tamely screwed into the middle of the net. 0-2 at half time and it could have been many more; against a side that were so physically limited, the Wood had very little in the way of positives to grasp.
Things did improve second half. Silva was up-ended in the box but, Reed's penalty strike was saved. After an outstanding Fan pass, Ifeacho hit the post. McGuinness had two excellent efforts just off target with his left foot. Hobbs had his shot pushed on to the same post a little later by the away keeper who then genuinely produced an incredible save to deny Fan when the ball seemed destined to fly into the top corner. Despite all this, the Whetstone net remained un-touched before a hopeful punt into the Wood box fell to a Whetstone attacker who popped it home from close to the line. C'est la vie and the match ended 0-3.
Today was a hugely disappointing performance from the Wood's players when expectations were so high; the match being important and very winnable. The centre back trio of Reed, Boshjaku and Manning continue to excel and can hold their heads-up high; their collective performances didn't deserve to concede so many cheap goals. Crucefix in the holding role performed consistently also while MoM went to Fan who fought like a lion, at times seemingly on his own against the entire Whetstone team and staff, and he is one that can take much pride in his efforts. As the boys' get older and seek to perform at higher levels, those with this spirit and grit will move forward to great things.