Borehamwood 2000 under 9’s were back on the road again this week with a trip to Chorleywood Common. It was another game against top opposition which seems to be the theme so far this season.
Straight from kick off, the Wood put their training into practice with free flowing football creating chances from either wing which saw Archie clip the post and Mehdi also coming close, but neither team were able to convert.
Into the 2nd quarter and the Wood went from strength to strength with some great link up play between Vinnie, Lennon and Aiden creating more and more chances and allowing them to take hold of the game. Midway through the quarter it was a corner from Vinnie that was cleared as far as Ronnie who steered it back towards goal only for Mehdi to pop up to slot home calmly from 6 yards. Chorleywood almost scored but for a great goal line clearance from Lennon just before the break
The start of the 2nd half saw Chorleywood come out of the blocks faster and if it wasn’t for Lake’s commanding presence and goalmouth heroics between the sticks they could have easily bagged a hat full of goals.
After soaking up the initial pressure the boys started to look dangerous again and it was some great play down the line which allowed Mehdi to get a shot off which the Chorleywood keeper could only push onto the post where Arthur was on hand to tap in for his first goal of the season.
The 4th quarter allowed 2000 to show it’s not all about attack when Ronnie and Kacper had all the answers in defence when the Chorleywood attack were asking questions. A few minutes from full time the ball fell nicely for Vinnie some way out and he let fly a trademark strike which 2 goalkeepers would not have saved and he got his goal which capped a great performance from him in the centre on midfield.
The top class effort & attitude from each and every boy this week made this the standout performance so far this season and we hope it will only get better. Parents' player of the match was Lake who did everything right when called upon and kept his first clean sheet of the season.
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U18 Boys faced Bushey & Oxhey Stags in the league knowing 3 points would lift them to the top of their division. However, inexplicably, the boys failed to deliver what should have been a standard win.
From the start, there was a lack of urgency and fight, the quality of play was poor and normally reliable players struggled to pass the ball simply. Good chances were made despite this but, spurned with too many shots fired straight at the keeper or with a lack of power. Fan in midfield did show the heart and desire required and put in an excellent shift to his credit but, there were not enough like him and the Wood conceded two miserable first half goals, with the defending for these leaving so much to be desired.
MoM Carlow stabilised the backline and turned defence into attack with an outstanding pass forward with the outside of his right foot that Collier whipped across well for Silva to fire home. Shortly after, Collier scored his first competitive goal for the club latching on to Fan’s quality corner to fire home and level the match. It seemed like an important intervention from him and one that could fire his team forward to a victory coming down the hill second half.
Not to be, however, and it was Bushey that scored after winning a free kick near the box, the Wood’s efforts to defend this seemingly non-existent as the away team simply passed a ball into the box that was popped into the home goal. There was no one switched on in the Wood defence, no one laying it on the line for their team.
Montgomery enjoyed a strong second half making several key interventions to stop Bushey breaking away again while Makamian was lively down the right wing and unfortunate with a left foot effort that flew over the bar. Elboukhari was solid and vocal in goal while Silva worked hard up front and was hacked down for a penalty but, his effort thereafter was saved.
To be frank, this would only have papered over the cracks as the Wood really didn’t deserve anything from the game, consistently outplayed and outfought by a basic opposition that gave everything they had for the win. We’ve seen such performances too often over the years and though we hoped that time was at an end, we now know that’s not the case. The boys can decide where the team goes from here but, for sure, if you give so little as a unit, you can hardly be surprised when you get so little back.
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U15 girls had a tough away draw vs St Albans Yellows in the Cup today. After a very narrow 3-2 defeat in the league a month ago when we were 2 up, the Wood hoped to get a deserved one over the Yellows today!
On a terribly small, sloped pitch which really didn’t suit our game, the girls came out flying with Elsinho opening the scoring with a sublime finish into the bottom corner after beating two players; this was Elsie’s 4th of the season so far.
St Albans upped their game and had a good spell territorially without threatening our goal other than with an amazing long throw from one of their players. We were later to find out this girl does shot putt for England!
G9 & Maisaldiho were causing havoc with Elsinho but the 2nd goal just wouldn’t come. The equaliser was to come from a bouncing ball forced over the line, even with Theaya fighting to make the clearance: 1-1. Poppy N was having a stormer in midfield aided by skipper Annie and schemer Aanya.
Half time came and went and we didn’t feel at threat at all with Skippy & Ava locking up the middle with Yvie & TJ tying down the flanks assisted by Riss. Emily hardly had a save to make all day.
St Albans were to nick quite literally the win from a long throw, Riss threw herself at the throw to head away but it just skimmed off her head and looped in the goal, a terrible piece of ill fortune for the girls who had fought valiantly in the hot sun with only one sub today.
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U16 Girls had a home walkover in the cup while our U11 Girls enjoyed a super match against Potters Bar United Lionesses. There were great performances across the park not least from Tippy who bagged two fine goals, while the hard running Juniper bagged OPoM and Polly was checked for an extra set of legs as she sped through the gears to score and secure PoM!