U18 Boys faced Berkhamsted in the league looking to grab three points and get match fit for their massive Challenge Cup semi final next weekend. Conditions were brutal with a slick surface, monsoon rain and an Artic blast.
However, to their great credit, the boys were not phased by the conditions, rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in. The football was excellent and the team created chance after chance. On this occasion though, none could be taken; Fan and then Green finding the keeper, Fearon-Mcdonnell firing over, Silva unable to find the target.
It wasn't easy at all but, on rare forays forward, Berko found the Wood net twice without issue, two clean headers dispatched with no Wood defender challenging. It's a familiar story and the half time score didn't seem to reflect the sides' performances but, small differences mean a lot when scoring and conceding goals.
Second half saw Berko score twice more, Silva pulling back a consolation goal and the match ended 1-4. In summary, it was important to play minutes and the boys will be stronger for it next week. They also learnt much about themselves, with some clearly enjoying the unusual challenge presented by the conditions.
Performances of note saw Elboukhari enjoy a solid game, Ifeacho was lively and a supplier of numerous chances, Montgomery put on a shift in the midfield while Manning and Makamian were solid on the wings. Zefi looked lively on his return from injury too, while MoM was shared between Crucefix and Hones, who were both massively up for the match and played superbly from the first whistle to the last.
Now the focus turns to the Challenge Cup semi final and a top, older opponent in Tring, who are beating all-comers and already in the final of the County Cup. With the Wood 26-7 down against the older teams this season, only a fool would think a shock was in the offing, right? WRONG, and the Wood will give it everything next week knowing that records are just there waiting to be smashed when chances are taken one end and players are marked up properly at the other.