FC Lakers Tournament
2007
(Five acres, Coleford, Gloucestershire – Registration 08:30)
TEAM – Oliver(GK) – Charlie – Lewis – Tom H – Jack S –
Ashley – Charlie - Cameron
Due to being bounced out of the Ashton Boys
tournament at very late notice I set about getting us into another tournament
to replace it – It wasn’t easy and the end result was a 80 mile round trip over
the bridge to Coleford to play one year up in the
U10’s comp! (Age group set as season 06/07)
This was no mistake ;-) I had tried to get an U9
spot but the age group was already full so if we wanted another tournament this
year we had little option.
So at
GAME 1 -
Lydney V Frys (Pitch 2)
Just
before we started the day I took time out with the boys just to remind them
that we were playing a year above ourselves and only our attitude in the way we
handled it was important today, of course we had an hope we could pull this rabbit
out of the bag but realistically I set the team a target of finishing 4th
in the league we played in with the final comments being to enjoy ourselves and
to hang in there in each game no matter what.
With that
we went out to play!
With not
knowing what to fully expect, the boys started off a little cautious but it
didn’t take long to get the break through, Charlie had put Cameron clean
through on goal but as Cam knocked the ball past the keeper to go around him
the keeper left a trailing leg and Cameron was up-ended giving the ref no
option but to point to the spot. Cameron was given the nod to take it and he
didn’t disappoint as he drove it into the top right of the net. 1-0 Frys
The 1st
goal gave us confidence to start and play football and just a couple of minutes
later we as rewarded with another goal courtesy of Lewis. 2-0 Frys
The 2nd
goal however gave us a little to much confidence as we
streamed forward continually while forgetting that we can actually concede
goals too! With a couple of near misses
it was no surprise when Lydney pulled one back to
give themselves some hope just as half time came. HT 2-1 Frys
With a
quick change around I just reminded the players of our defensive
responsibility. The 2nd half then kicked off and the boys stood firm
as Lydney tried in vain to get level and then just
when we were starting to worry Charlie was sent clear by Ashley and with no
mistakes Charlie put us back firmly in control of the tie. 3-1 Frys
Almost as
soon as Lydney restarted we were again on the attack
and in the goals once more when Lewis grabbed his 2nd of the game to
put us into a commanding lead. 4-1 Frys
Lydney
again restarted showing great determination to get back in to the game and the
efforts didn’t go unrewarded as they managed grab another concilation
about a minute from time. FT 4-2 Frys.
GAME 2 -
Frys V Splott Albion (Pitch 6)
This game
was simply a case of missed chances :-/ Frys had played all the football in this game
only to be sucker punched by a break away goal just before the interval to
leave this game HT Frys 0-1
Splott
I made a
couple of changes at the interval to try and
force the game and on another day we would have finished winning it 3 or
4 goals to one but this just wasn’t going to be our game. The best move of the
game was when the ball was moved from left wing to right wing and back again
before Ashley put a ball across the box to be met by Lewis only to see his
effort come back off the post, the move itself was worthy of a goal but that’s
football I guess! FT1-0 Splott
Albion (who)? :-D
GAME 3 -
Frys V Forest
Rangers (Pitch 6)
We had
watched Forest Rangers play against Splott earlier in
the day and was quite impressed with them; they seemed
a strong side that could play a bit too!
Not only that, they also had a determination in every player and I have
to concede this worried me!
I told
the boys that these were the ones to beat and if we did then who knows what
could happen as all the teams at that point were beating each other.
As the
game kicked off you could see that Frys were in confident mood despite our
defeat in the last game. Frys were moving the ball around well but failing to
make an impression in front of goal, A fantastic keeper along with a tough tackling
defender kept Forest in it by keeping Charlie, Ashley & Jack to long range
efforts until again we were sucker punched by the breakaway goal midway through
the 1st half. HT
The 2nd
half was much the same as the 1st but again some strong arm tactics
by our opts was enough to keep us at bay. Cameron who
had replaced Charlie at half time had a chance to level things but the keeper
somehow managed to keep it out and ultimately won them the game. FT
GAME 4 -
FC Lakers V Frys (Pitch 6)
This was
our last chance to get something from the day, a win and we are still in with a
shout of at least runners up spot, even a draw would still give us hope! But a loss!!
Then we go in to our last game with only pride to play for :-/
I told
the boys that we had deserved more from the last two games and all I wanted was
the same frame of mind, I put them under no pressure and only reminded them
that we as still on course for their asked for 4th place finish.
Frys
again started this match in confident mood but unfortunately it only took a few
minutes to knock it out of us L
Lakers
went in front after some great play around the box which ended with their
striker smashing it past a stranded Oliver in goal to put them 1-0 up.
At the
restart I could see we were deflated and had to give words of encouragement all
the way to half time and we “just” managed to get there at only 1-0 down. HT 0-1 Lakers
At the
change over I made a double substitution to make it a basic 2-3 formation as I
knew we had to score twice to even have a chance. I gave a few more words of encouragement and
just told them to get out there and give it their best, no matter what the
outcome I was already pleased by the way we had handled the day so far with the
last reminder being that we have been in it all the way through in each game so
far, this one was no different, “so just keep at it”!
As the 2nd
half went by you could see we was playing a dangerous formation as the Lakers
missed a couple of gilt hedge chances only for Oliver to keep us in it with two
fine saves, the best one being has he was diving the wrong way but somehow
managed to get one of his fingers to it and prod it an “Hair’s Whisker” past
his left hand post. It was a fine save and one that even Inspector Gadget himself would have been proud of J
However!
while we were leaking chances at one end we were getting our fair share at the
other, the best chance was created by Tom finding Charlie on the right wing
half way line but as Charlie ran clear he seemed to get caught in 2 minds as to
weather to cross or shoot and this gave the Lakers defence just enough time to
get back and clear by putting it out for a corner.
Both
Cameron and Lewis also went close before Lakers finally sealed it just before fulltime, Oliver was given no chance with another thunderous
effort from the Lakers striker.
FT 0-2 Lakers.
GAME 5 -
Llanederyn Bulldogs
V Frys
(Pitch 6)
This was
our final game and surely some luck was a little overdue!
We
started this game much the same as the rest but this time seemed in no mood to
let this one slip by, although by several missed chances later I was beginning
to think it was a conspiracy! With no luck in sight the half time whistle came
to leave this tie all level at (as the Americans say) “Nil all”! HT 0-0
At
halftime I replaced Jack at the back with the resting Ashley to bolster our
attack as I was confident that although the Bulldogs had one tremendously quick
striker, Tom could keep it clean at the back as he’d been putting in some tough
tackling himself.
The move
was again a “master stroke” by the manager :-P as Tom
Indeed kept it clear at the back and Ashley came good in stoppage time with a
neat finish across the keeper and in to the roof of the net giving us a fully
deserved victory. J
In was a
great result in that this victory put the smiles firmly back on the boy’s
faces. FT 1-0 Frys.
U10’s Final Table |
|||||||||
Team |
W |
L |
D |
F |
A |
P |
GD |
|
|
FC Lakers |
4 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
3 |
13 |
+ 5 |
||
Forest Rangers |
4 |
1 |
0 |
9 |
3 |
12 |
+ 6 |
||
Fry Club JFC (U9’s) |
2 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
- 1 |
||
Splott Albion |
2 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
-3 |
||
Llanederyn Bulldogs |
1 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
4 |
- 3 |
||
Lydney |
0 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
2 |
- 4 |
||
|
Managers overall view
I was
more than happy with today’s showing as narrow defeats against taller, stronger
& more experienced opposition is surely a morale victory in its self.
Before even arriving I knew it would be tough but the way we handled it was
fantastic, One year may not seem a lot at junior level but at adult level you
would probably have to put in 5 years of solid training to get an equivalent
advantage over an equal opponent.
We showed
tremendous character in that we never knew when we were beaten and with the
exception of the last 30 seconds against the Lakers we continually competed in
full belief.
It may
seem I’m blowing a bit of a trumpet but today we were beaten by physical
strength only, the football on display in this age group was being played by
Frys. No disrespect to any of the other teams but sometimes we moved the ball
around our opponents like they weren’t there but ultimately our main thorn was
that we were about 2 inches and 10 KG short of the winners enclosure.
UNLUCKY
LADS! But welldone all the same, One and all you
played for each other and for this I am truly proud J If you can take this attitude in
to the up & coming season then I’m 100% positive we will do just fine ;-)
Player of the tournament
Thomas
Haynes
Tom gave 110% today and showed great
courage in a couple of 50/50 moments against boys “a lot” bigger than him! I
guess the Tae Kwon Do certainly helps ;-)
Well done Tom,
Today’s **STAR MAN**