Warmley 6's Tournament 28th June 2003

The squad: 

Mike Hughes, Tom Moreton, Mike McGuinness, Stuart Tucker, Gary Carter, Jamie Dennis, Martin Gronow, Martin Hills

Weather brilliant, full sunshine, too hot for football really and ground hard.

On the basis that the closest to any venue are always the last to arrive it was always going to be a just in time, last minute registration but register we did at 11.30am.

So who did we play? Having not attended last year and having started at 9.00am at the Frys Tournament but not exiting until nearly 4.00 pm I was wondering if supper would be in the cat! No worries. 3 Groups of 5 Teams would see the last scheduled match in the group stages finishing at 2.30pm. But could we get beyond the Group stages!

In our Group and first up, Plymouth. Rumoured to be Plymouth Argyle 'academy players' (why would they come all that way?) that could be a tough game.

Next game and that was to be against more familiar opposition, Pucklechurch. In the past when ever we played them in the AYL it invariably chucked it down and was ****** freezing! Not today though and great things could be expected!

Third game and Warmley Rangers C. Some interesting games against Warmley (see previous match reports) but didn't recognise any of the players in this particular incarnation so in with a chance?

Last match to be against Bradley Stoke B. No real knowledge of them. Wait and see then.

So first up, Plymouth. Team talk given, keep possession, if lost chase to recover, play the easy ball, believe in yourselves and go out and enjoy it.

Communication comes in many forms. Verbal and visual being perhaps the most important in football. Well body language says a lot. We lost 5-0 and you could have forecast it just from the head up confident air of the opposition from the start versus our head down, foot dragging lethargy. Deservedly beaten by a better stronger and more determined team. It could have been more but for a couple of exceptionally good saves from Mike Hughes in goal.

Next up Pucklechurch. Now with our penchant for defeatism you always felt that the first goal against 'we can beat 'em' opponents would be crucial and thats the way it was. A goal from Martin Hills and our confidence grew. Perhaps from the fact that the goal came from simple passing and teamwork or perhaps from a growing realisation that they can actually play if they put their minds to it. In any event a  second was added from Gary Carter and we were never really threatened. Two games one win. Could we qualify for the next stages?

From watching Warmley versus Pucklechurch and Bradley Stoke there was an understandable and refreshing amount of optimism in the team. Alas , whilst witnessing  encouraging spells when the ball was played to feet with purpose we lost 2-0. That made the next game a must win if we were to progress further.

We had already decided that Bradley Stoke were beatable and that's the way it proved to be. We had the better of the play, passing with purpose in the main but one strike in the first period of play saw us concede. Despite a late change in the second half  bringing on Martin Hills for the strangely out of sorts Tom Moreton all to no avail.

Played 4. Won 1 Lost 3 Goals for 2 Goals against 8.

Managers player of the tournament Gary Carter.

See the Picture Gallery for action shots including the goal bound Carter volley!