Having already taken to the battlefield with Harvesters North in a thrilling pre season friendly the Wood's U9 Boys knew what they would be up against.
Again another week of high energy and enthusiasm saw Borehamwood out play their opponents on every part of the pitch. With a solid defensive unit of Lake, Ronnie and Lennon and a terrier like performance from Vinnie, the Wood did everything apart from score in the first 2 quarters.
Into the 3rd quarter and it was still all Borehamwood with some great wing play from Mehdi and Kacper almost breaking the deadlock. With the game still level and Borehamwood seeking that well deserved goal, their opponents countered twice and managed to convert to goals against the run of play.
Into the final quarter and with it still all to play for, the boys kept their heads up and kept on playing their football. Efforts from Arthur, Archie and Aiden kept the Harvesters' defence busy but again failed to make them pay. With time running out Borehamwood kept pushing only to be punished once more by a wicked deflection.
Special mention to this week’s Parents player of the match - Mehdi - whose twisting runs and energy made him their choice as the star performer. All in all another great game with Harvesters North and good luck for the rest of the season. Finishing practice Wednesday, boys!
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Our U18 Boys looked to build on a good start to the season with an away league fixture against Bushey & Oxhey Bulldogs. Competition for places has never been greater than now, with demonstrably excellent performances and discipline in both matches and training the conduit to squad inclusion and the starting line-up.
A junior 11aside pitch hardly helped the flow of the game but, the boys are improving together in their ability to start matches fast and again flew out the blocks to place Bushey on the back foot early. Silva was raiding down the left flank and supplying one quality cross after another, while Ifeacho and Fearon-Mcdonnell were a literal and metaphorically huge challenge for the home defence to contain.
After his hatrick last week, Fearon-McDonnell took just 20 minutes to score another, firing smartly home for his first, picking out the top corner with his second and making a lob over the keeper from distance look much easier than it actually was, this after an outstanding long pass from Hones at the back picked him out with precision. With a team leading 7 goals in 3 games, Fearon-Mcdonnell’s early season finishing is very encouraging as is his willingness to provide chances for his team-mates in equal measure.
Meanwhile, Ifeacho was in rampant form himself, firing home low and hard from distance before capping off a wonderfully technical dribble with a fine finish. Fan was beginning to influence things and picked out Makamian for a goal that would be disallowed for offside despite the ball appearing to be played backwards, while Green threatened several times with surging runs that were a portent for what would follow second half.
That kicked off with the centre back trio of Crucefix, Manning and Hones continuing to exude class on the ball and grit in the header and tackle, while Fan went through the gears to crash home a left foot stunner that flew into one top corner before converting a free kick won by Silva from miles out, that resembled Halley’s Comet as it flew into the opposite top corner!
Makamian’s big header and tackle, allowed Fearon McDonnell to slip in Ifeacho to classily complete his hatrick with a low drive, before the busy Green got the goals his excellent play deserved, blasting home efficiently twice in quick succession for a brace. Elboukhari enjoyed another solid and vocal game between the sticks and pulled off an incredible point blank save which seemed like it would preserve a Wood clean sheet. However, Bushey would score a late consolation goal after pressure built up due to the Wood over-playing in the wrong areas and failing to close down quickly enough. Not ideal but, the performance was strong and the focus good for so much of the match and with 3 points bagged, the boys headed to the top of the table with the final score 1-10.
MoM was shared with the impressive and energetic Fan heavily involved throughout the match whilst scoring two goals from the very top drawer. While Zefi in the holding role was like a maestro conducting an orchestra, oozing class throughout the game, switching play effortlessly while snuffing out so many of Bushey’s attempted attacks; a performance of great maturity and quality.
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Hot on the heels of an opening day fixture with reigning league and county cup champions Bengeo Tigers, the fixtures' fairy handed the U16s another challenging game away to the all conquering Ruislip Rangers Clarets.
Ruislip have rejoined the division, having played up an age group for two whole seasons (and still winning trophies) so we knew this would be a tough test of our credentials. We went into the game in good shape, with a clear game plan, and with confidence having recently beaten Ruislip in the final to win a summer tournament.
The first half went exactly as planned. The Wood defended superbly as a team and limited the hosts to very few clear chances. We showed bravery and composure under pressure to keep playing our football from back to front and going in level at half time was no more than we deserved. Stand out player of the first half Amie with some strong and incisive wing play and great composure on the ball. It was also particularly pleasing to see the girls implement things that we have been working on in training in recent weeks.
With the game still firmly in our grasp The Wood kicked off the second half on the front foot with the intention of pressing and pushing further up the pitch and creating more opportunities. Unfortunately, this was to our detriment as we quickly found ourselves trailing and caught out by a quick long throw on the half way line followed by a well taken finish. We didn’t see this coming.
The goal knocked our confidence and momentum and Ruislip were in no mood to go easy once they had their noses in front. Another rare lapse in defence handed Ruislip a penalty and chance to extend the lead, but this produced a fantastic save from player of the match Nisa.
A second goal still arrived moments later, via a short corner that we didn’t deal with well enough and at 2-0 down that gave us a mountain to climb. We scarcely need reminding about the willingness and determination of this Bwood team to stand up and fight until the end of every game, every week, no matter the score. This was exemplified again this weekend as the girls picked their heads up, rolled up their sleeves, and dug in for the remaining 20 minutes of the game.
With the final kick of the game, and a very good strike it was, Ruislip made it 3-0. This was harsh on our girls but overall we cannot complain about the result as Ruislip were much the better team in the second half.
The Wood’s girls continue to make us all proud every single week and with two very tough games under their belts, and lessons learned, we are still in great shape for an enjoyable season ahead.
Player of the match was Nisa who made some great saves, including a penalty, and also for excellent distribution throughout.
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This was not a game for the faint-hearted! On home soil, the mighty Borehamwood 2000 U11 Girls came out fired up and ready to get back to winning ways, led by their captain, Elsie. From the first whistle, Borehamwood set the tone with a blistering start, playing at 100mph and pressing Harpenden back into their own half.
Within the opening minutes, the trio of strikers linked up beautifully. Daisy almost opened the scoring, her thunderous shot rattling off the post. Moments later, she turned provider with a perfect cross to Elsie, whose shot whistled just wide.
At the back, Sienna was rock solid, throwing herself into crunching tackles and organising the defence like a seasoned pro. Harpenden threatened on the break, but Tippi, with her strength and speed, snuffed out danger and launched powerful clearances to give Borehamwood breathing space.
The pressure kept coming. Elsie went close again, before Juniper lit up the game with a dazzling solo run, skipping past two defenders and smashing the ball home. She wheeled away to celebrate in trademark Chloe Kelly style.
The whole team played with fire. Anisia came on in defence and immediately stamped her authority with fearless tackles. In midfield, Xyla dictated the tempo with passing beyond her years, while Gracie threaded a superb ball through to Elsie, who was unlucky to see her effort fly just over.
The breakthrough came again when Elsie’s shot was handled in the box. Up stepped Daisy. With tension thick in the air, she calmly slotted home from the spot with ease. The roar from the sidelines could be heard across Shenley!
The second half saw no let-up. Borehamwood’s stamina was incredible, and the tempo remained relentless. Tippi moved into midfield and began orchestrating play, almost creating another goal for Daisy, who was denied once more by the outstanding Harpenden goalkeeper.
At the other end, Olivia stood tall between the posts. She read the game brilliantly, rushing off her line to gather loose balls and pulling off a world-class one-on-one save that wouldn’t look out of place in the professional game.
Still, Borehamwood pressed. Daisy, determined to score again, struck the post again, before finally pouncing on a rebound to fire home her second of the game. Harpenden’s goalkeeper was kept busy, denying long-range efforts from Juniper and Elsie, but she couldn’t stop everything.
When the final whistle blew, the crowd rose to applaud not just a brilliant performance, but the spirit of a team that never gives up and always plays with joy. The girls left everything on the pitch.
A superb team performance and a performance that sets Borehamwood right back on track!
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U15 girls were at home again this morning and we welcomed close rivals Berkhampstead Raiders. Berko have been a D1 side forever in HGFPL and today would be a tough test for this new look Bwood sides metal.
The team today was shot stopper extraordinaire Emily, Back four of Elsinho, Ava , Poppy S & Theaya in midfield we had skipper Annie, Poppy N, Aanya , Lonaldo & Maisaldinho with G9 up top.
Yvie & Riss coming into the fray early doors to add there qualities to the team. The game started well and G9 looked in the mood , running at the Berko defence at every opportunity.
It wasn’t long before she would open her account for the day after being released by schemer Aanya, G9 raced clear and slotted the ball past the Berko GK. 1-0 wood (3 mins).
The girls smelt blood in the water and jumped on a shocked Berko side and we were soon celebrating and 2 up thanks to Maisaldinho! This girl only scores worldies it seems
after she unleashed yet another rocket shot into the roof of the net for her 4th in Bwood colours! 2-0 (6 mins).
The girls where on fire and it wasn’t long before our 3rd goal from midfield General Poppy N, Pops is blossoming into a fine midfielder tough in the tackle, she can pick a pass, break the lines with dribbles and has a shot like a mule’s kick! Her goal came from a shot outside the box that two keepers couldn’t save!! 3-0 (9 mins).
Berkhampstead didn’t know where to look or who to tackle in this devastating spell, and it wasn’t over with our midfield magician Aanya next to get her name on the sheet. Aanya’s goal was about skill and determination today after riding two tackles she broke into the box and toe poked the ball past the onrushing keeper! 4-0 (15mins). Not in our wildest dreams did anyone see this scoreline and the girls took their foot off the pedal at 4 nil.
Berko have some very good players and they started to get on the ball more and tried there hardest to get a toe-hold in the game. Try as they might though they where banging their heads against the brick wall that was Poppy, Ava, Else, Yvie, Theaya and Riss, with Emily sweeping up anything that got beyond her defence.
Poppy S was imperious cleaning up behind the back four using her excellent turn of pace to slam the door shut time and again. Theaya is turning into a fine fullback and has had an excellent start to the season; she put in 3 crunching tackles that Lucy Bronze would have been proud of! The first half would come to and end with the home team 4 up.
The half time talk centred around not thinking our job was done and going out to win the second half. The girls responded and piled pressure and attack after attack on the Berko goal, it really should have been 9 or 10 today with the chances the girls created. The fifth was to come from our fifth scorer of the day, flying winger Elsiho! Elsie’s darting probing runs were causing havoc in the home defence and her eye for a pass beat the defence time and time again, releasing G9 & Maisaldinho.
Lonaldo was coming more and more into the game and offering cute angles for passes and quick releases into space behind and beside the Berko defence. Elsinho cut inside from the right wing beating tackles and broke into the area before smashing the ball into the net for our fifth of the day. 5-0 (60mins).
Berko lost a player to injury and went down to 10 players, the rest of the game played out in the Berko half and it must be said their girls never gave up and fought to the 80th minute today. Final score 5-0. Scorers: Gabby, Maisie, Poppy N, Aanya, Elsie.
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Our U16 Girls fought well against Ruislip but, ultimately went down valiantly 3-0.