U14 Youth - Matchday 6: 25th Oct 20 Away V Penn & Tylers

Matchday 6: 25th Oct Away Vs Penn & Tylers (P&T)

Squad: Ben, Darragh, Kailen, Noah C, Dan, Rohan, Kieran, Max C, Charlie, Sam, Max LB, Rueben and Domi

With a number of players unavailable, I was fortunate the P&T manager was OK for me to use players from the Colts who were available as they didn’t have a match. I picked Reuben and Domi and continued with the traditional 1-4-4-2 formation with Ben in goal, but a much changed back four. Rohan started the match at right back with Reuben partnering Darragh in centre and Charlie at left back. Sam started the game, for the first time, playing on the right with Domi partnering Noah in the centre of midfield. With Dan on the left and Kailen upfront with Max C. Max LB and Kieran started on the bench.

P&T had some useful results of late, but even with the changes I was hopeful of getting something out of the game and build on the well-earned draw against Totteridge the week before. Clearly P&T were a physical looking side but the pre match talk was simple win our individual battles and play the football we are capable of.

Rueben and Domi settled into their respective positions and the early exchanges were a bit scrappy and neither side was in control. Youth knew they were all in for a battle as P&T were physical in their challenges. The Ref wasn’t taking control and a lot of challenges were going against us.

1st goal came from P&T. A freekick on the right-hand corner of the box was shot straight at goal and with the Youth defence not organised, the ball flew over Ben into the top corner. 0-1.

Youth kept on battling on and had moments of possession with some neat passing down the left. On one occasion the possession down the left led to a chance for Youth. After some nice passing play, Noah found Rohan, who was now playing right midfield, in loads of space and he took a couple of touches and connected with a clean shot which had the keeper beaten but went just over the bar.

Darragh, Reuben and Domi were in the thick of it with some notable interceptions and tackles in a progressively scrappy game which neither team was dominating.

Both Sam and Noah took some great corners from the right directed to the six-yard box, just needed a touch to convert into goals. But alas with no real challenge nothing came of them.

HT: 0-1

Second half was even more scrappy and the challenges were getting more physical and the Ref was letting it go but more worrying was Youth getting increasingly frustrated and this started to affect their game. With the lack of concentration and effort, P&T were creating more and more pressure.

Darragh was adjudged to have fouled the P&T player with what looked like a perfectly timed challenge. This got the Youth players riled but they need to forget it and keep playing but at the same time difficult to do when challenges and decisions weren’t going their way.

Throughout the match Ben had comfortably dealt with the through balls. However, with about 10 mins to go Ben came to collect a through ball but on this occasion the P&T player didn’t pull out and caught Ben on the knee. Referee was poor not to give the foul and seemed to allow us the ‘freekick as Ben was injured.

Decided to put Reuben in Goal and move Rohan to centre back. The killer blow came from a throw in on the left which Max LB was struggling to get to and managed to get a flicked which took it over Rohan and the P&T player unopposed scored with a scruffy shot.

FT: 0-2

Ben again had a solid game and did well on the through balls and unlucky with the injury. Along with the rest of the defence, needs to organise the wall/defence better on their freekicks. Darragh along with Reuben were superb. committed in the challenge and used their own strength and pace to keep P&T at bay. Charlie had an off day and seemed to get distracted and needed to focus and let his undoubted ability come through. Rohan was ‘Mr. Versatile’, playing a in a number of positions and having one sweet effort. Domi was superb winning the headers and breaking up play but also had good ability when in possession. Dan, like Charlies, was not on his game. With the changes in positions, Dan seem to struggle to settle and impose himself. Kieran likewise but could have scored if he attacked a couple of great corners from Noah and Sam. Noah, like with all the Youth players has ability to play but you need to get stuck in especially in midfield and especially against a physical team. Took some great corners. Sam also took some great corners and was strong in possession but wasn’t the same after being aggressively barged unfairly. Max LB did ok in various positions but like a lot of the players struggled to settle. Kailen was a good target and saw glimpses of the pace and power on the turn. I’m sure his 1st goal will be a simple tap in soon . It took almost the whole match for Max C to focus his energies in a barnstorming run and cross which just eluded Dan coming in on the far post. Spent too much time getting frustrated and not putting his efforts into getting himself and the team back into the game.

Overall Biggest pluses was the performance of our guest players Reuben and Domi coupled with another battling committed performance from Darragh plus Rohan’s versatility, These I felt were the standout players in a poor overall team performance.

Biggest disappointment was the lack of composure, focus and effort to stick together. Too many players were playing their own game and not working in partnerships. Also first time I have seen Youth lose their own discipline and let the decisions get to them with comments to the ref and opposition.

I reminded all the kids to play the game in a fair way and to respect the referees decisions however bad they may be. I know this is tough but the poor reaction affected the players and hence their performances. They need to learn to put this behind them and look for the next opportunity to play that pass, make that tackle, play good football and create chances. And if do this then regardless of the result, they can hopefully enjoy the game, feel proud and good in the end.

We know what to do when in possession but we need to get stuck in as a team to get the ball and when we have it provide options. This did happen but in too few occasions but in the end we got a bullied. Coupled with a poor ref this was not a good performance.

Moment of the match was the clean strike from Rohan’s shot, which I’m sure would have been a goal were they the right size.

Player of the Match: This was joint one with Reuben and Domi coupled with another battling performance from Darragh plus Rohan’s versatility, were the standout players in a poor overall team performance.

Big thanks to Reuben and Domi for not only playing but putting in a performance which they can be proud of.