U18 Boys played Everett Rovers away in the County Cup looking to get back to winning ways and trying to go deep into a competition they'd not managed to do so before.
The game started well, with the Wood on the front foot and making several very good early chances, none of which were converted. In response, Everett hoisted a corner into the box, their player running totally unchallenged to head home.
Half time came and went, the boys were urged to give more. Most of them didn't, dropped off even further, passed the buck as has been common lately and in possibly the worst half of football from this squad ever, conceded 4 more to lose the game 5-0.
First of all, you have to compete in a football match and the boys failed in that today with hardly any winning their duels or showing the requisite effort and determination needed to be successful. The prize of a County Cup was totally lost on most the players who approached this key match as if it was a kick around in the park.
Montgomery was one who tried hard throughout and he can be proud of his efforts when others around him were wilting like flowers in a heatwave. Another positive was the form of MoM Elboukhari, who produced a wonderful display of goalkeeping that saved the team from even further ridicule and humiliation. He did so despite being low on confidence himself coming into the game, but, he found a way and it was so good to see a Wood player succeed when asked a difficult question, rather than crumbling to pieces as has been the case so much recently.
Next week the boys face Division 3 opposition in the Challenge Cup. The same approach then and the Wood will be out of that competition too.
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The U15 girls had a long away trip to Berkhampstead Raiders in the league. A weakened squad made the trip due to half term hols and injuries. Poppy S & Maisie where both on the beach living their best lives and we had Ava recovering from a knock so unavailable.
That’s a lot of talent for any side to miss so our girls had to step up to the plate today and they didn’t disappoint.
Isabella who has been unwell for a few weeks now got off her sick bed to help the girls out today, she did a sterling job even though clearly nowhere near 100% of her very formidable best 💪. We also had Amie making her first appearance for us in two seasons, Amie did us a huge favour after turning out for the U16s this morning, she got up to Berko to give us a hand and played a big part in today’s excellent performance managing 50 mins for us as well as a full game this morning!
The game started well with us attacking and showing our teeth but from minute one we just seemed a little off the pace, balls the girls normally control where bouncing off shins & feet and passes not quite finding there intended home. Chances came and went and a feeling of frustration was growing in the Wood side. When we got it right we looked dangerous with Lola in particular causing issues down the left wing, she tried to get balls into the box to feed G9 who was as per usual up against 2-3 players.
Elsie was finding space and causing issues down the right flank but the ball just wouldn’t drop or break for us as a whole for the duration of the first half. Half time came and we went in at nil nil, the talk was about not throwing away a game that we had had the lions share of, and also about trying to be more clinical in and around the box and to take our chances and work the keeper more. The girls went out reinvigorated and stepped up the intensity with skipper Annie and schemer Aanya dominating midfield and taking it in turns to break forward and test the Berko teams fitness and awareness.
Then the unimaginable happened a long ball over the top of our defence ended in a foot race and the lively Berko right winger was alive and ready to pounce! She drove into the box and slotted the ball the past onrushing Emily with Riss and Amie both making last ditch challenges but it went in for 1-0 Berko!
This made the team come alive with Elsie in particular dragging the team back into the match with a devastating 15 minute spell, Elsie broke from deep and left the defence in a spin time and again, she was causing issues every time she got the ball. The equaliser soon arrived with another darting run, then Else broke 2 tackles and she wouldn’t be denied, she passed the ball into an empty net after also beating the keeper for 1-1 and game on.
Elsinho was definitely the catalyst for our change of fortune but G9 was to hammer our advantage home with a barnstorming 5 yes 5 goals including a perfect hat trick of left foot, right foot and a sublime header that she buried into the corner of the goal !
Gabby on her day which is most Saturday’s is unplayable and her footwork and finishing is getting better weekly !
Gabby should be challenging for top scorer in the league this year which would be a magnificent achievement for a player starting only her 3rd season! Yvie D did a fantastic job of marshalling a makeshift back four with help from the experienced TJ who brought calmness and stability whilst helping Riss and Bella get through the game. All four did fantastically well aided ably by Amie who came in for Isabella who was exhausted, she fitted in seamlessly and was soon cutting inside from fullback and joining in with the midfield, playing one memorable pass from left back to right wing behind their fullback to release Elsie.
Poppy N had more and more influence as the game went on managing to get at least 5 shots off on goal but she just couldn’t find the finish today.