12/03: Match Report: Waverton Arrows 2 - Newton 6

Hi All,

A quite frustrating day yet again where we dominated most of the game but just couldn't find a sharp edge in our finishing and also lost our positional awareness on a few occasions which ultimately handed the game to Newton.

The training session on Friday evening was really positive - we were passing well and also our attacker vs. defender drill really threw up a few surprises (Oliver Barnes I'm calling you out here, you were very strong in this exercise and I'm keen to see you carry this through to the next match you are selected for).

Anyway to the match, we started off very positively and were unlucky not to get a few early goals, perhaps on reflection a sign of things to come. Newton too had a couple of chances but nothing that bothered Sam Curtis who was keeping goal superbly. End of Q1: Arrows 0 - Newton 0.

Q2 got underway and it was a very similar period to Q1, except this time Oliver Wrigley took a superb chance and buried it into the net. We looked comfortable and fully in control for a few minutes, but after what can only be described as a 50:50 challenge where a fair bit of writhing around was the result, a free kick was awarded and it was placed well, past our defence and goalie to bring everything level. End of Q2: Arrows 1 - Newton 1.

Q3 was difficult if I'm honest; some of the boys were clearly struggling in terms of energy and overall fitness and overall our heads went down. Two quick goals by Newton emphasised the point, but we still continued to attack, albeit with no end product. However, one fantastic break by our boys saw Jack Binns bury it to bring us back into the game. It seemed we were getting assertive again, but a fortuitous break by Newton down their right ended in a cracking shot that ended up in the top left corner - those type of goals are very hard to save, but still unfortunate to see. End of Q3: Arrows 2 - Newton 4.

I sent the boys out in Q4 with the message that we were still clearly in this, we just need to keep calm and hold our positions when needed. Overall we did this and at one point the ball came across from the right and Jack Binns took a fantastic shot which was honestly just wide of the post. This summed up our day to be honest in that we just couldn't find a way of finishing in this match, which is something for me to think about this week. Literally, straight from the resultant goal kick, Newton cut through us and scored their fifth. Our boys kept their heads up though and continued to battle and had a hat-full of chances that again we just couldn't put away. Towards the dying minutes, Newton broke us down and scored the final goal of the match. End of Q4 & the match: Arrows 2 - Newton 6.

To be honest its been a hard one for me today. Overall this is one of the most competitive games we have played so far and we really didn't deserve to have that result. We (I) need to look at how we can drive out these silly mistakes we are making, including lapses in concentration which are costing us. Overall I believe that most boys have one or two positions that they can play in which for them is what I will concentrate on going forward. What is a problem though is that we have no natural striker or goal keeper. Don't get me wrong, we have plenty of boys that want to be a GK, but not for more than one or two quarters. We need to find someone (or potentially two) in the team that can stay in goal at times for the entire match and hold their concentration throughout. I'll speak to the boys about this on Friday at training.

One final thing - Oliver Golding was a sensational captain today - he has a knack of being at one end of the pitch and then being able to chase after an opposition player (who has a clear head start) and not only catch up with him, but make a precision tackle, every time taking the ball and not the boy. Oliver really battled today and really owned the role of Captain, thank you Oliver.

A mail will come out shortly regarding availability over the next 4 weeks - please can I ask that you respond accordingly so I can make any rotation as fair as possible.

Thanks all.

Carl

AFC Waverton U8 Arrows
07896 515717

05/03: Match Report: Waverton Arrows 5 - Princes Villa 8

Hi All,

Before I get into the match I need to quickly talk about our training on Friday nights (and what will be supplemented shortly by a mid-week session). Over the last 3-4 weeks, at times, some of the boys have been a bit disruptive to the overall session. Believe me, I fully appreciate that they are 7 and 8, but a lot of time goes into planning these sessions by me each week. Contrary to some beliefs held; myself, Darren and Tom don't get paid to do this; we give up our time for free because we want to help the boys learn and increase skills, play sports, etc. and in addition I know and acknowledge the collective distances travelled by all the parents in order to get the boys to the sessions to train and learn.

However, increasingly some boys are using the session as a catch up conversation opportunity, or to completely disregard what we are trying to do and instead belt the ball around the area as they see fit. This is extremely frustrating as it impacts those boys (the majority) who turn up to train and to increase their skills. It needs to change. So, from now on, if I deem anyone is messing about and disrupting the training to an unacceptable level (they will be warned) then they will be dropped from the match squad (including if they are due to play the next day) and will only be let back in when and if their attitude changes. It may seem hard, but we don't have many games left and each one is now vital as it will shape my thoughts on how the team will look and go forward next season. If I see this behaviour, I will let you know after the impacted session and explain why.

Anyway back to the game today - it was yet another match where we were in control for the majority, but let our heads drop momentarily which the opposition jumped on and punished us for. We have to learn to keep our focus irrespective of what goes on around us during and in matches. We played at a new location for us, and unfortunately back on astro which was due to the recent weather conditions; however I'm certainly not using that as an excuse as it was the same for both sides.

Q1 began and we went at Princes Villa (PV) from the off - we literally swarmed over them and it was very high tempo with some good solid skills on show, Jack Binns opened the scoring from a great strike from the left, which was followed by a great headed goal by Casper. Continued pressure on PV from some good set pieces by us meant that on one occasion they put the ball into their own net to increase our lead again. Towards the end of the quarter, PV did a blatant hand ball, but it wasn't picked up by the ref and the resultant continued play ended with PV scoring a fortuitous goal to end Q1: Arrows 3 - PV 1.

Q2, with a change around in many positions, we again started brightly, but we unfortunately lost our collective concentration at one point and it meant that PV clawed another goal back. From the KO PV started to build out their possession and started to put us under pressure. Many balls were pumped forward by them into our end third and we started to get into a horrible habit of, if we saw that the ball was clearly heading out for a throw or a goal kick for us, we helped it on its way with a slight touch - this then obviously turned it into a throw in or corner kick to PV (!) which on one such occasion, PV (with a brand new way of taking a corner of literally flicking it up into the air rather than kicking it properly) put it into our net to bring them level. Luckily from our kick off, Oli Wrigley, playing in a different role as left wing back for most of the quarter, buried it to show that he has clear skills across either flank. End Q2: Arrows 4 - PV3.

We regained our composure substantially in Q3 and it was a real end to end battle, the only difference was a bit of continued pressure on us by PV, causing them to score a bobble of a goal, equalling the game at the end of Q3: Arrows 4 - PV 4.

Q4 started off tentatively by both sides, both knowing the game was up for grabs, but neither initially wanting to go for it. We started to make a few breaks, but the tackling by our opposition was starting to get much more robust, whilst in comparison, our boys are honestly just too polite when it comes to trying to win the ball (we certainly need to change that and get the right balance as we enter the final strait of the season, setting ourselves up for next year) - a few fouls by PV on us went unnoticed and our heads dropped for a period of about 4-5 minutes - PV really pounced on the opportunity and a couple of quick goals went in. Jack Binns tried to stir the group by scoring another great goal, bringing his tally for the match to two - Jack Binns is certainly finding his scoring boots out on that left wing. It looked as though we were going to get back into it as we started to play like we did in Q1 but despite our efforts the ball would not cross the line - it was so frustrating and I'm sure I embarrassed myself numerous times by hopping up and down on the touchline when the balls were just millimetres wide (or off the post on more than one occasion). After a blatant push on Jack Broadhurst again went without penalty, the PV boys took the ball right down the pitch and slotted it home - it was a real blow to me as it should just not of stood. Another quick goal in the dying minutes by PV took the scoreline and the end of the match to a fully not representative: Arrows 5 - PV 8.

I talked after the match that this is now all about 'tweaks', both to tactics, training and ultimately the squad. We need to ensure that a change 'here' doesn't undo something 'there' so as always an interesting and thought provoking week for me lies ahead.

As Henry wasn't available for selection today, I selected two captains; Jack Binns for the first half and Jack Broadhurst for the second - they both did me and the team proud; well done boys. As for Man of the Match today, this went to Oliver Golding as he played in a slightly advance position for me today - more of a DM rather than a normal D. He played it superbly and was very, very unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself on more than one occasion. Well done Oliver and I look forward to seeing you as my Captain next week against Newton - email to follow as the game as already been confirmed.

Thanks all and enjoy the rest of your weekend - if this is being read to your boys on Sunday lets hope that they've all been extra thoughtful to their mums.... :-).

Cheers,

Carl

AFC Waverton U8 Arrows
07896 515717