U14 Youth - Matchday 3: 27th Sept 20 Away V Burnham White

Matchday 3: 27th Sept 20 Away Vs Burnham White (BW)

Squad: Ben, Emie, Darragh, Alex, Callan, Kailen, Noah C, Dan, Rohan, Max LB, Kieran, Max C & Harley.

Bit of a revolving door with player availability. Max Cotter returned and there was a debut for Kailen. However, we’ve lost Charlie for a number of weeks with a badly strained shoulder, joining Max H and Bailey on the injury list. Pondered the best starting formation and with players available, so I went with a 1-3-2-3-2 formation. Ben in goal, with a back three of Alex, Emie and Darragh. Sitting in front of them was Noah and Rohan. With an attacking three of Kieran, Kailen and Dan. With Max C returning to reform the strike partnership with Harley. Max LB and Callan started as the subs.

The brief team chat at the beginning was to try keep and clean sheet and maximise the attacking five and take the game to Burnham. Communication and organisation were the key points the squad highlighted and with the unfamiliar formation, each player was given a task to reinforce the formation.

Before the Kickoff, we impeccably observed a minute silence in memory of the police officer who lost his life who, we were told, had a connection with the Burnham football club.

It didn’t take long before a ‘fired’ up Max C was in on the action. An interception from Darragh on the right side of defence, was played up to Max just inside the BW half. Max got the ball out of his feet and surged forwards towards the goal. With the keeper a little off his line, Max shot over the keeper and into the net. Great goal! 1-0 (Goal Max C, assist Darragh).

BW pegged us back soon after and then took the lead 1-2.

Dynamos kept battling and from a corner on the right from Noah, Max ‘Birthday boy’ LB, who was expertly positioned (:-)) at the near post, was on hand to take advantage of a fumble by the keeper to tap in. 2-2 (Goal Max LB, assist Noah)

Max C used his strength to make a break down the right and crossed brilliantly to the far post and Harley was inches away from connecting.

BW keeper made a triple point blank save to deny us what looked like a certain goal.

HT: 2-2

Few minutes into the second half a strong run from Dan, and interplay with Harley, resulted in a freekick five yards out and to left of centre. With Noah lining up the freekick, the call was for all to follow the ball in. The freekick hit the wall and deflected left. Rohan, who was expertly position (:-)) to the left of the wall, ran to recover the ball near the byline and crossed with his left across a crowded six-yard box for Max ‘Birthday boy’ LB to bag his second of the match at the far post. 3-2 (Goal Max LB, assist Rohan)

With players picking up injuries as well as fatigue, the game got stretched and the constant changes to formation gave BW opportunity to get back into the game. 3-2 soon turned into 3-3 and although the team battled to hold onto the draw, BW scored a scrappy/lucky winner.

FT: 3-4

Ben could do nothing with the goals. Needed to remain confident and think about the place kicks. And as mentioned last week need to develop passing out from the back and equally for the team to work together on this. Darragh, Emie and Alex started well but Alex went off the boil and we lost the solidity that he brings to the overall defence. Darragh did well in various positions across the back and in midfield. Callan was solid but faded with fitness. BW had a tricky left winger who gave a tiring Callan and Max LB a constant headache. Rohan and Noah started well and, with all the positional changes, lost a little bit of shape. Good when in possession notably with two assists but need to work hard on tackling, winning the ball back and getting onto the long balls. Couple of chances for Noah with freekicks but radar not quite tuned in yet. The attacking five didn’t quite work out and Kailen struggled to see enough of the ball to use his pace and power. Dan had a good game going forwards and gave the BW player, twice his size, a torrid time. Dan should use the attacking confidence to keep in the game when not in possession. Kieran tried and needs to keep working hard when things aren’t going his way. Had a better second half in the uncustomary left back spot. Max C started well, scored a great goal but his frustration got the better of him resulting in a cooling off request from the ref. Harley got into good attacking position but could not get the burst of speed away from a quick defence to turn the half chances into goal attempts. Max ‘Birthday boy’ LB scored two and worked hard to support the attacks with a couple of good crosses.

Frustrating and disappointing result but there were some notable performances and deserved to at least to come away with a point. What was a little disappointing was the effort as a team when not in possession and to work to support each other. There was no need for players to ‘drop their heads’ and to stick together when we had a chance to at least get a draw.

Getting closer 1-3, 2-4 and now 3-4..sequence has to follow with at least 4-4..surely

Moment of the match Emie when surrounded by 3 BW attackers in the box to calmly do a ‘Cruyff’ esk drag back and turn and take all 3 out of game…nice :-).

Goals; Max LB(2), Max C. Assists Darragh, Noah & Rohan.

Player of the Match: Two notable performances and joint PotM goes to Max ‘Birthday boy’ LB with 2 goals on his birthday and some good crosses. And Darragh, who, in whichever position he played, was committed, strong in the tackle, good in possession and passing…and got the bonus of the assist :-)