Regarding Groves FC - they were in the 'B' League last season (the one above us) and were very competitive; the Waverton Rockets couldn't beat them across several attempts. Groves also played one of the Upton teams in our league last week and beat them 14-1 so this match has to be taken with this context in mind. The likelihood is that they will move back up to the middle league later in the year.
To the game and we actually
started extremely brightly; keeping our composure and our positions and
releasing the ball to our attackers quickly and accurately - the size of the
pitch was massive though (it was move like a 9v9 pitch) and over the course of
the game it did have an adverse effect on the boys. End of Q1 was a well
fought Groves 0 - Arrows 0.
I made a few changes in Q2
(looking back too many to be honest - more on changes later) and Groves really
upped their game and the pressure on our defenders was starting to show. Two
relatively quick goals made our heads drop a bit and we went into the break at the
end of Q2: Groves 2 - Arrows 0.
Q3 began and the rain was
really starting to come down now - this made the grass and the ball very
greasy, but it was the same for both teams so we shouldn't use that as an
excuse. Groves were in their stride now and really punished us in this
quarter, dragging the boys out of position and hitting us in the open spaces
left behind resulting in 3 further goals with no reply from us. End of Q3:
Groves 5 - Arrows 0.
I asked the boys before going
back out for the final quarter to remember just how well we had played against
Blacon two weeks earlier and to go out and try to recreate that in this final
period. The boys really went for it and we finally started to play like I
wanted us too - we were strong on the ball (like at Blacon) and we were really
putting their defence and goalkeeper under considerable pressure, but huge
respect to their goalkeeper - he was really on it today, especially in that
final period and absolutely nothing was getting past him. We had so many efforts
but unfortunately it wasn't to be. With our boys going for it, a few holes
opened up again and we were hit with two further goals by Groves to take us to
the end of the quarter and the match, Groves 7 - Arrows 0.
I said to the boys afterwards
that I wasn't too disheartened by the result knowing what I did regarding
Groves prior to the match - it gave us more exposure to a team that have been
playing at a higher level for more than two seasons now. We do need to work on
a few things though - keeping our concentration and being disciplined in our
positions is vital now - we can't afford for players to drift as it completely
unbalances the team - I'll be working on that again this week in training.
Regarding changes during
matches - I will be implementing something different over the next 4-6 games,
and then if positive we will continue going forward. Rather than make wholesale
changes in each quarter, the boys starting the match will continue throughout
and will come off if something isn't working that day or they need some time to
rest, for me to talk to them 1-2-1 regarding tactics/positioning, etc. A lot of
other teams do this already but I've been trying to rotate as many boys as
possible still, but we really need to move away from that now (as mentioned at
the end of last season). All boys selected for a match will see game time with
subs made during match play to make it all a bit more fluid.
Malpas is next up on Saturday
- this should be a home fixture but will confirm early next week.
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