Score: Bookham Colts U8B 3... Horsley U8B 1

Match report:
Back to our winning ways two weeks in a row which should see us continue to head the list of B teams in the league but remember it's all about enjoying your football.

First half
The ground at Horsley was cramped and the going heavy, this did not suit the Colts game (as they say in horse racing), we are used to much more room to move the ball about in and of course enjoy the lush grass of our own field at Eastwick. So the game began with the home team exerting considerable pressure on a new defensive configuration for the Colts. Charlie S and Sam R shared the responsibility at the back with Craig manning the goal. Craig immediately saw a lot of the ball but dealt calmly and confidently even when a shot rained in from outside the box he was able to take the pace off the ball then smother it before the opposition could follow in, excellent keeping. Charlie was also a delight to watch, obviously comfortable and aware of his duty he was well positioned to intercepted the Horsley attacks and send the ball up field to Danny. Most of the play seemed to come down our right hand side and Charlie and Danny T soaked up the pressure with Jake's assistance and slowly the tide was turned. Horsley were leaving us a lot of room on the left where Josh and Sam patiently patrolled in space. This gave Charlie and Jake two options: the right wing where Danny T was able to run and cross or to switch play to the left where Sam and Josh could link up and put Danny I into scoring opportunities. Danny I continually stretched the Horsley defence by positioning himself up front behind or in line with the Horsley back row. With both channels (left & right wings) working the break actually came from a corner on the right forced by Danny T. The training practice last week paid off as Danny T lifted the cross into the box finding Josh right in front of goal, Josh kept his eye calmly on the ball and timed his strike to perfection 1 - 0 Bookham Colts. The rest of the half saw the pressure at the Horsley end of the pitch with several more excellent moves showing good positioning and long and short passing to move the ball round the field.


Second Half
Josh was rested for the second half giving Craig a run out on pitch, Sam put on the keepers jersey and Ben slotted in to his usual left back role. The shape of the game was similar to the first half with most action our right flank with us switching play now and again to the left. Sam's tremendous kicking saw the introduction of some 'Route 1' tactics with the ball sailing right up to Danny I who as usual was well positioned to exploit the opportunity by threatening goal on several occasions. Goal two however came from the right wing again with Danny T hitting a long ball in that alluded everyone and, taking the Horsley goalie by surprise, managed to nutmeg him. Every team needs some good fortune! Number three came from a contentious penalty decision by the referee for hand ball in the box (was it ball to hand? Only the replays will tell). The two Dannys offered themselves to take the strike and the manager thinking about the sticky surface went for Danny T's power rather than Danny I's silky touch on this occasion. A well struck ball beat the keeper but the controversy was not over, the ref disallowed the goal and insisted that the penalty be retaken, was his resolve over the penalty decision weakening? However there was only one possible outcome, Danny T unfazed stepped up for a repeat performance and buried the ball a second time. The last ten minutes saw Charlie come off to let Tom have a run out. However this coincided with Horsley renewing their attack with reckless abandon. The new team structure had no time to settle in and was immediately forced out of shape by Horsley's aggression. The final quarter was an almost continual goal mouth struggle which we survived battered but unbeaten - especially Sam who bravely denied Horsley on several occasions and has the bruises to prove it! Horsley managed to score a consolation goal as they were allowed too much free space in the box, it could have been two but for Ben's excellent defensive play and timely clearance in the dying moments of the game. It finished 3-1 to the Colts another excellent performance boys.

Managers comment:
I was very please to see the team putting in long crosses (lofted drives) and short passes to move the ball around the pitch - 'switching' play so that we could use the space we created through our positioning. We also took good corners too.