U18 Boys were down to the last 4 of 60 West Herts U18 Boys' teams in the semi final of the Challenge Cup but, facing a formidable opponent in Tring, unbeaten for many months and recently crowned Herts FA County Champions. The boys had faced this opponent only last week in a double header, ultimately losing both games but, leading both times and pushing their opponents to the limit in both matches. However, those fixtures and the win against another top older side in Harpenden the week before had taken their toll on the lads, with many players carrying injuries and knocks in a game where no quarter would be given.
The boys fought hard first half with many players reaching their levels and the Wood were competitive as the game went from end to end. Captain Ifeacho and Collier had to depart early with recurrent injuries but, their replacements in Hones and McGuinness performed well, maintaining momentum with Zefi also heavily involved in the fray. Fearon-Mcdonnell was asked to do a job for the team and did, keeping things tight at the back and his presence and excellent long balls were important to the team's progress.
With half time imminent, it seemed the Wood had yet again shot themselves in the foot with the craziest of fouls resulting in a stone-wall penalty. However, Elboukhari between the sticks enjoyed an excellent match and was too sharp for the Tring forward, making an incredible save to keep his team 0-0 at half time. It felt like an important moment and the team were urged to build on it and give everything to win the game second half.
Unfortunately, it just didn't happen, and with Tring much more physically powerful this week and gifted a goal out of nothing when the Wood again pressed the self destruct button, the game quickly ran away. 0-1 turned to 0-4 and the Wood were also reduced to 10 men as discipline wavered. However, the lads showed great strength from this difficult position and saw out the match with no further concessions, Pop even hitting the crossbar with an outstanding drive from distance.
Good chances did not flow today with talisman Silva flooded by the away team, but, if from nothing else, the Wood should have scored many from the numerous corners put on the money time and again by Makamian and McGuinness that just had to be nodded in but, that saw Tring win out every time. That was disappointing as were the peals of laughter heard from some of the boys off the pitch when their team-mates were giving their all on it. When the going gets tough, the tough get going; there's nothing funny about that, and too many of the lads were unable to find that extra gear when it mattered today, a consistent theme in the 5 semi finals this side has lost these last 3 seasons. One player who did excel though was MoM Manning, filling in wherever required and playing to a very high and consistent level throughout.
With a free weekend imminent, the boys will rest and recover now then see out our remaining league games, looking to build on what has been a much improved period of performance these last few weeks. This time next year, they will be the older team and if they perform as they have done of late (the second half today aside), then the future looks rosy and this squad may just yet get to that final in the future. What's ceratin is that we don't ever give up on that aspiration and live to fight another day.
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U15 girls had a tough away fixture today against our good friends at Ware FC. We had a midday KO on an exposed and windy pitch that made the conditions very, very tricky! The girls meant business from the off today though and they took no prisoners.
They pounced on Ware from minute one with Lonaldo in particularly devastating form.
Lo’s got her 1st of the day with a great jinking run and a fine, placed finish into the roof of the net where the keeper had no chance to save it.
Our midfield maestro Aanya then stole the show with a sublime finish full of class that she passed into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box for 0-2 the Wood. The Wood’s engine room of skipper extraordinaire Annie, schemer Aanya and the magnificent Amie was purring and creating chance after chance for the rampant Lonaldo, G9 & Elsinho!
This game could literally have been double figures in the first half with the girls terrorising the home side.
The 3rd was to come from more magic from our wing wizard Lonaldo who was rampant against the home FB, with her every involvement on the ball; 0-3 the Wood. The Wood's defence of Yvie, Riss, TJ & Poppy N who was playing in an unfamiliar position of CB today due to Ava being away were imperious; the first half in particular they were all dominant and played on the front foot with Poppy N outstanding.
Gk Emily didn’t have much to do today but stuck to her task and did all that was asked of her. Our 4th was to come from the hard working G9 who created lots of chances today but the ball just wouldn’t sit for her in the final moment; on another day Gabby would have had 5 but today had to settle for 1.
Our 5th goal came from a great run and cross from Elsie who was very unlucky not to score herself today, Else put in a phenomenal shift for the team today and from her cross into the box ended with a pen from a Ware handball. Up stepped our majestic box to box No8 Annie to bury the ball into the corner for 0-5 the Wood and the end of a truly devastating first half performance.
As often happens with young teams our intensity dropped going out for the second half and we let this dangerous Ware side back into the game, even though we spoke about this exact same thing at HT and to be aware of complacency. The Ware girls who are a good side came out fighting and managed to get 2 goals back to make it 2-5, they then had a half chance to snatch a 3rd!
The girls knew they had to score next to take the game away from Ware again, and it was Lonaldo completing her second hat trick in two games who stepped up with another fine composed and ruthless finish, Lo’s quality in front of goal is second to none, she has a keen football brain and knows where to put the ball to beat any keeper and also has the skill to do it. 2-6 the Wood.
We still had time to get our 7th and most important strike of the day when our Amie got the goal her tremendous display deserved, striking true after a late run to the back stick to meet a fine cross. This was a moment of deep meaning to Amie and a fitting tribute to all the Adam's family after suffering so much, with great reserves of courage and strength displayed. We were proud to have you as part of our team today Amie and we send our love and prayers to you, to dearest mum Kristi, Joe & Leni ❤️xxxx.