Witnesham Wasps v Felixstowe & Walton Utd

You may be aware we are in a bit of a relegation dog-fight this year. which gives a little extra spice to the end of the season. Today was important though for a different reason, namely the introduction of my new tactics board, with magnetic markers and everything!!! The boys were suitably impressed.

A Game

We needed to win this game to go one point above Claydon. and win it we did!! 4-1 with a terrific performance from all involved.

The starting line up was -

Goalkeeper: Ollie
Defence: Sam & Will
Midfield: Matty, Jake & Jack
Striker: Charlie H(Hitchie)
Subs: Ryan & Charlie B(Bancsy)

The game began at pace with Witnesham having a little bit more of the play. We defended well and they didn't really get any chances that would cause Ollie any problems. We broke well from midfield and some great passing play from Jake and Jack found Hitchie on the right. He managed to get a shot in and hit the post!! As the game went on we were getting more on top. A few minutes later another passing move from Jake and Matty led to Charlie beating the keeper only to see his shot hit the crossbar. I thought is this going to be one of those days.
Will and Jake came off and Bancsy went into the right back position with Ryan going into the centre of midfield.
We attacked again and after some great battling in midfield from Matty, the ball was passed to Hitchie who beat the keeper from a tight angle on the left and saw his shot go in at the back post 1-0!
A few minutes later after a very similar move down the right Charlie found himself with a defender and keeper to beat from almost on the goal line. I'm not sure how he managed to curl it in off the back post from that angle but he did. 2-0!! We were cruising.
Witnesham weren't finished by a long way and they continued to pressure when they could. Ollie pulled off a tricky top corner save from a very good shot.

Just before half time Witnesham scored with a well struck low shot which went in off the post. 2-1 at half time.

For the start of the second half Hitchie and Jack Came off. Bancsy stayed at right back, with Will having a chance in the middle of midfield. Jake went up front.

We were well on top in the second half and continues to improve throughout the match. The players who were in unfamiliar positions, Will and Bancsy, coped superbly and found their feet very quickly.
We attacked down the right and Jake had three defenders around him in the corner, he shielded it well allowing Ryan time to move into a superb supporting position, Jake played the pass and Ryan shot first time from outside the box. (This is what we have worked on at the last few training sessions, Shielding, supporting and passing. I was very pleased to see it in action and thought the move deserved a goal!)
A couple of minutes later Jake found himself in the exact same position, he played the ball to Ryan who had moved into the exact same supporting position. I thought I was watching an action replay until Ryan controlled it with his first touch the hit it low into the net from outside the box. 3-1. A goal made all the better as the work we had put in had paid off.
Jake got his goal with a shot from outside the box on the left. The keeper managed to slow it down and as it crossed the line Will sensibly followed it in to make sure no defender could clear it. luckily I had a very good view of it and saw that it had crossed the line before Will got it, so it was Jakes goal. I don't care who scores the goals, It's a team game and that's what counts. I know you players think differently(as I do when I'm playing) so I was glad to clear it up very quickly!! 4-1

Sam and Matty were the final subs with Jack going in at left back, Hitchie back up front and Jake moving to left midfield. There were no more goals but a surge forward and long range shot from Bancsy was just inches passed the post.

4-1 was a great result. We played excellent football with great passing and movement and thoroughly deserved our win. Two more performances like that and we will stay in Division 1. i'm sure of it.

B Game

Goalkeeper; Harley
Defenders: Brandon & Frenchy
Midfield: Jo, Freddie & Connor
Striker: Aiden
Sub: Luke

This time the result didn't go our way. Witnesham deserved their win but 5-0 may be slightly flattering. (I am biased remember)
Like the A game we had players trying out new positions. Brandon in defence, Freddie in the middle of midfield, Frenchy moving to left midfield when Luke came on. We also had no Dan Hart, who has had a terrific season for us in defence.

Witnesham started very brightly and played some lovely passing play. They scored very quickly and before we knew it we were 2-0 down. We rallied and started to get into the game. We had a couple of chances to get the ball into attacking positions. The important thing was we were trying to get the passes in. Unfortunately the defense had other ideas.
Freddie came off and Luke went to left back, Connor in the middle an Frenchy at left midfield.
A great ball from Connor sent Frenchy on a one on one with the keeper, Unfortunately his first touch knocked the ball too near the keeper, who scooped it up. Moments later a pass from Aiden found Frenchy in the same position again his first touch gave him too much to do against the keeper. That's the problem with playing on very hard dry ground. It's so much harder to control the ball but the passing and positioning was worth something.

At half time Freddie replaced Connor in the middle and we played most of the half in defence. soaking up a lot of pressure but unable to make too many chances. We defended very strongly with Luke putting in his best performance of the season with some very strong tackling and battling. Brandon also battled superbly and had to throw himself into tackle after tackle as we were put under pressure.
We went 3-0 behind and then 4-0 quite soon afterwards. And then 5-0!!
Aiden came off and Connor had a go up front. Soon after coming on a great long pass/punt from Freddie sent Connor on a long run towards their goal with a defender snapping at his heels. He got a shot in which the keeper managed to scramble round the post for a corner.

Aiden replaced Jo at right midfield for the remainder of the game.

Late on we won a free kick outside the box which Freddie was unable to get through the mass of players in front of him.

Even though we lost 5-0 we still battled well and managed to make enough chances that might have made a difference had they gone in. The second half performance was a huge improvement on the first, which again was down to players getting used to their new positions. Not one head went down despite the scoreline which was great to see. i think the B game is to be used for experimenting and getting players used to new positions without the pressure of an A game.

Roll on East Bergholt!!

Add a comment if you're up for it!!!!!