Yesterday and this morning, I
was quite looking forward to the match today but it quickly went down hill when
we had complaints from PV that the pitch was too small for 7v7 (it wasn't).
After multiple conversations with them I finally agreed to widen the pitch
slightly and we finally got underway.
We started off brightly,
attacking the ball and moving it around well, despite the fact that the ground
wasn't great - a bowling green of a surface it was not. PV were definitely up
for it as well (in a good way at this point) and you can see just how well
drilled they are. The ball broke at one point and they took a shot which only
narrowly went over the line to give them an early lead. A few minutes after our
kick off, the ball rolled to Oliver Golding and from the half way line took a
speculative shot and it went into the lower right hand corner to bring us level
going into the break. End of Q1 - Arrows 1 - PV 1.
Q2 began and something
changed; the PV players were pushing, shoving and clipping ankles where
possible but I tried to keep the game flowing, much to our detriment in cases.
Jack Broadhurst was taken down, but I again kept it going, however in a similar
position, not long afterwards but this time a PV player on the ground, the PV
parents (1 or 2 in particular) started to get abusive. I explained that the one
tackle was not as bad as what had transpired on at least two occasions to our
players, but this was met with just heightened abuse which now included
swearing. I instructed the PV coach to get their parents under control as it
was unacceptable, but to be honest it seemed to be a matter of fact response so
clearly this is how this team now plays. Play continued but a rare defensive
mix up saw us concede another to take us to the break Arrows 1 - PV 2.
Q3 continued with the type of
play being undertaken by PV being close to the mark. We were being tripped,
pushed and in one instance Sam Curtis (our Captain for the day) taking an elbow
to the face. I've subsequently learned that PV parents were booing our boys
whenever they went past - this is terrible, unacceptable behaviour - no wonder
our boys heads started to drop. A combination of the early morning heat and the
style of play being encountered by our boys (and now knowing what the parents
were doing) was really starting to take a toll on our boys now.... End Q3:
Arrows 1 - PV 2.
Q4 started and we were
clearly playing within ourselves still; the whole situation was uncomfortable
and not for the first time I was thinking about calling the game off - in
retrospect I should, but then again it would of undoubtedly caused more friction
with an aggressive PV team. Whenever our players broke forward PV players
seemed to go down to break up the play; we had one or two chances but it just
wouldn't break for us. PV took an opportunity and scored a decent goal, and it
was shortly after our kick off that, with a PV player racing with the ball that
we took the player out. It was a poor challenge and it could of been a damaging
one to the player; it was so uncharacteristic of how we play that I reacted
badly. We lost all moral high ground at that point, but I will learn from this
as will the boys; more on this in a bit. In the dying minutes they scored
again, to take the match to Arrows 1 - PV 4.
A few things now; please bear
with me, each one is very important:
· Sam Curtis was a great captain today in incredibly difficult circumstances. Thank you Sam, I know how much playing for the team means to you and how proud you are to lead them out.
· It was the hardest to call today, due to how the game played out, but Caspar was awarded Man of the Match today after some great performances in goal. Thank you Caspar - you are my Captain going into Blacon next week, subject to your availability.
· Princes Villa were shocking today - even at the very end, when we had the courtesy to shout the 'three cheers' chant they did not do it in return - extremely poor and so far away from the FA's spirit of the game you would not believe.
· However, there will be teams that play like this unfortunately as we move through the age groups - decisions need to be made as to whether we want to continue. I know I do and think that most parents and importantly boys do too, but you all clearly need to be aware of this. An email regarding next season will be distributed in the next few weeks.
Finally - I created this team
because I wanted to provide an opportunity to boys that were not given one
elsewhere. Look how far we have come in such a short space of time. I am my own
worst critic (believe me) and am not happy with today for a whole range of
reasons. I will put it right.
Thank you for your support as
always.
Carl
AFC Waverton U8 Arrows07896 515717
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