Squad: J.Hickman, H.Ives, M.Grundey, J.Crosby, B.Grover, M.Fell. O.Skinner (C), C.Hillier, J.Vanderweele, T.Parkhouse, H.Orton, S.Jones & O.Clinkscales.
This week after an abscence since the 19th of December last year we finaly returned to home turf at Sele School in a game against Nazeing Youth. This was a game that was a must win game in order for us to keep in the mix at the top of Division 2.
We kicked off and straight away we were pushing forward and on 2 minutes, Owen Skinner picked up a pass from Henry Orton and shot low and hard with there goal keeper saving well.
On 5 minutes, in a move that involved Callum Hillier, Joe Vanderweele and Toren Parkhouse that involved some very slick passing, the move found Henry Orton who beat the off side trap and he put the ball away well to make it 1 - 0 to us!
However this goal definatley woke up Nazeing Youth and had an adverse effect on us as Nazeing started to play football and they were stopping a lot of our play at times. The game was being played in midfield for a majority of the time and it really was a battle in there.
In a rare move forward from us in the 23rd minute, Joe Vanderweele found Max Fell out on the right wing who slotted in a great ball for Toren Parkhouse and as he was about to shoot on goal was challenged from behind in the penalty box and gave the referee no choice but to award a penalty to us.
Up stepped Henry Orton to take the penalty who shot towards the top left of goal but Nazeing\’s keeper got a hand to it to make a great save and the ball dropped towards our oncoming players but the keeper got to it to snuff out the follow up threat from our forwards.
This penalty save really did lift Nazeing Youth again and at times we were being outplayed and although we were one nil up, Bengeo Tigers looked nervous out on the pitch today.
Half time came at a good time for us. The boys took on some refreshment and we sat them all down. Our message to them for the second half was to get the shape of the team back, be more composed on the ball and to start to play it out to the wingers where we knew that we could attack well from as opposed to going long ball up the field every time.
The second half commenced and to be fair the boys they had listened at half time as we did look more composed and confident. However Nazeing were still stopping us getting forward and they then started to attack us and on 31 minutes, they went for goal however James Hickman was quick of his line to stop the attacker and got down well for the ball.
James then unleashed a great kick which found Joe Vanderweele who linked up well with Henry Orton. Henry picked out Max Fell who slotted home on 32 minutes to make it 2 - 0!
This gave us some breathing space but Nazeing had other ideas. They were attacking still and at times pulled our midfield apart. On 37 minutes, Nazeing broke forward and went for goal. James Hickman got a finger tip to it which put it on to the bar and in a 1966 world cup like moment it came down on to the line and luckily it was deemed by the referee not to have crossed the line and it was safely back in the hands of James!
After this heart stopping moment it woke up Bengeo Tigers and we started to play football again and at times the movement was good and unfortunatley at times for Henry Orton he was caught just offside on a couple of occasions by a whisker but this did not put us off in going forward and on 54 minutes, Owen Skinner picked out Joe Vanderweele with a pass that sent Joe on his way and after taking on 3 players lobbed the keeper with a great effort to make it 3 - 0!
After this goal we started to dominate more and play football as we have been doing all season.
On 60 minutes, Max Fell picked up a pass on the right from Joe Vanderweele after some great work in midfield from Bengeo. Max went on a run literally from the half way line and took on at least 6 players. Was he going to pass to the forwards who were in great space - NO! Max carried on his run and slotted home through the keepers legs from 6 yards out to make it 4 - 0! This was a great solo effort and one where I wish it was on camera for Max to watch what he had just done - simply amazing and very Pele esq!!
That was it, the referee blew for full time and was I glad today that he had.
Today was for a strange reason a difficult one for us and it was so unlike Bengeo Tigers Under 11\’s after our previous games and great performances. However if you had said to me 3 points, 4 goals and a clean sheet before the game then yes I would have taken that as things are really hotting up now at the top of Division 2 and as I have said previously, we have to maintain the run that we are on as I do strongly feel that there are more twists and turns to come yet in remaining league fixtures of the top 4 teams in Division 2.
Man of The Match……
Today this goes to a player that quite simply kept us in the game after being alert and switched on for the full duration of the game. His kicking was brilliant and his hands definatley saved us today. Well done to James Hickman - keep up this good work and it shows that your hard work in training is now paying off!
Graham Skinner - Under 11\’s Manager.