Rumour has it winter is on its way, but those hardened souls that stand the sidelines think nothing of freezing temperatures & laugh at the prospect of sideways rain!! (In truth, we'd all be happily commited to the local loony-bin if only they hadn't built rather swish 3/4/5 bedroom houses on it a few years back!)
....I digress, not too unusual in fairness.... Another home game this week, a back-to-back against Chiltern Athletic Colts. Now I quite like it when fixtures do this, like changes at half-time anything different stands out fresh in your memory (& with a memory like mine I need all the help I can get). It made me smile to see the most obvious change to the opposition. Moved from right-forward (Ollie Raabe) had been shuffled across the pitch on to the left. With James Marsh getting all over what should have been their goal scorer last week it looked like an attack from the left was going to be more favourable...
....Out of the frying pan & into....
....I'd love to know what was going through the strikers heads when they came up against the other three; Jordan Murphy, Chris Pope & Scott Turner...
Anway to the game...
Under 16’s – Division 2
Hale Leys Youth 4 – Chiltern Athletic Colts 0
Hale Leys Youth took a resounding win yesterday (Sunday) at home against last week’s opposition Chiltern Athletic Colts.
Opening with the same strength as last week, Leys took control of the game; Luca Forchione sending a warning blast just wide across goal in the first 5 minutes. Three minutes later and an incident that brought Forchione down in the area gave away a penalty for the home side; and he made no effort in converting it to the score sheet.
With the pressure being piled on the visitors, any errors were capitalized upon & when they were unable to take advantage of a throw deep in the Leys Half the break forward was beyond them to halt. Pat Hurst running through centre knocked on to Forchione, a superb one-touch ball across & forward-runner Chris Hawes slotted it away without hesitation past the reach of Callum Harris.
The Colts gave away a second penalty before the end of the half after a handball in the box & Forchione buried it again.
The half-time team discussion gave a new approach for the Colts & a little complacency from Hale Leys saw two quick breaks only scuppered by a lack of finish in front of goal; but it was enough to wake Leys up to the oppositions capabilities.
Strengthened again, the Leys squad pushed hard to increase their lead & at the 55-minute mark Forchione slid another past the substitute keeper, Andre Dahlgren.
Immediately after the restart Colts made a break from a long lob over midfield. With only keeper Gary Bidgway to beat the shot from the onward running Charlie Kirby was skied over the bar & the threat ended.
In an almost final push for Leys, left forward Nathan Scarfe turned & gave himself a space to target the top left corner of goal; outstretched Dahlgren managed to push the ball wide for a corner, which Colts defended well.
Keeping the momentum to the final whistle Leys held the game without any drama & add another 3 points to their top of the table position.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Back to the winning way....
Definitely a November match day yesterday, cold with the threat of drizzle. Not that any of that dampened the spirits of either the team or the supporters. After last weeks tough game against an even tougher opposition, where the boys never let their heads go down, the determination carried over into this weeks match & what a mindset it was too!
Under 16’s – Division 2
Chiltern Athletic Colts 0 - Hale Leys Youth 3
Hale Leys Youth strengthened their position at the top of the table yesterday (Sunday) with an away win over Chiltern Athletic Colts.
Solid performances from the entire squad allowed Leys to take the dominant stance & control the midfield. The back four quashed any breaks that were made for the home team & in particular those of Ollie Raabe.
Despite Leys opportunities on goal, accuracy of finish wasn’t quite as switched on as the rest of their play; the first goal not coming until just ahead of the interval when Chris Hawes squeezed across the halfway line & delivered a well measured ball forward to Luca Forchione; who in turn placed it beyond the reach of keeper Callum Harris.
The second half continued in the same way, Chiltern being held in midfield & often pinned in their own half, with right back Ollie Shaw having to pull out all the stops & keep Leys away from the box.
Nathan Scarfe battled on the left wing for Leys & emerged with the ball; Hawes received & touched it on for Forchione. The shot across the goalmouth cleared over Harris & rattled the far post as it rebounded into the net.
Attacking from all channels Colts barely had time to recover from one onslaught to the next & the match was wrapped-up when Scarfe slotted away the final goal after a break on the right wing by Kasim Zargar.
Next week should be an equally interesting match...
Back at home again.... Chiltern Athletic Colts!
Under 16’s – Division 2
Chiltern Athletic Colts 0 - Hale Leys Youth 3
Hale Leys Youth strengthened their position at the top of the table yesterday (Sunday) with an away win over Chiltern Athletic Colts.
Solid performances from the entire squad allowed Leys to take the dominant stance & control the midfield. The back four quashed any breaks that were made for the home team & in particular those of Ollie Raabe.
Despite Leys opportunities on goal, accuracy of finish wasn’t quite as switched on as the rest of their play; the first goal not coming until just ahead of the interval when Chris Hawes squeezed across the halfway line & delivered a well measured ball forward to Luca Forchione; who in turn placed it beyond the reach of keeper Callum Harris.
The second half continued in the same way, Chiltern being held in midfield & often pinned in their own half, with right back Ollie Shaw having to pull out all the stops & keep Leys away from the box.
Nathan Scarfe battled on the left wing for Leys & emerged with the ball; Hawes received & touched it on for Forchione. The shot across the goalmouth cleared over Harris & rattled the far post as it rebounded into the net.
Attacking from all channels Colts barely had time to recover from one onslaught to the next & the match was wrapped-up when Scarfe slotted away the final goal after a break on the right wing by Kasim Zargar.
Next week should be an equally interesting match...
Back at home again.... Chiltern Athletic Colts!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Brothers in Arms....
A fantastic effort put in by the whole squad yesterday. Bucks CC under 16's are a most formidable power, Division One winners for the last two seasons & runners up at under 13 level, they are highly organized & exceedingly strong. The result, at a glance, doesn't do the match justice. In fact I have to admit, on reading the report, it doesn't do the match justice. We have all come to know that the collective that make up the Hale Leys squad are highly motivated & never give up. Without doubt, a lesser side would have rolled-over & given away a double-figure deficit without a seconds thought. The HL boys are becoming men & should be proud of their achievement yesterday, a loss yes, but not an annihilation by any stretch of the imagination.
Under 16’s – Berks & Bucks Cup Round 2
Hale Leys Youth 0 – Bucks CC 8
After a bye in the 1st round of the B&B Cup the 2nd round played a local derby against a very formidable Bucks CC. It was to be an exciting match throughout the full 80 minutes.
The teams assembled on the centre circle with 2 minutes silence to mark Remembrance Day. The quiet was quickly broken as the visitors piled on the pressure & pushed hard into the Leys half, a clearance out to the halfway gave a 2nd chance to attack; as the forwards squeezed into the box Joe Pickwick turned in a cross to the bottom left corner of the Leys goal with only three minutes played.
Leys tightened up after the initial surprise & held the midfield well; but 22 minutes into the period & Sam Ward found space to deliver from just right of goal & again found the bottom left corner.
The game continued on & after a brief halt in play due to Leys injuries & Bucks’ made another attempt at goal with a header rebounding off the crossbar & the 2nd strike pushed wide.
35 minutes played & Pickwick found space in the middle to receive & deliver another on target shot. Teammate Marcus Brown joined the scoresheet seconds before the end of the half turning in a cross.
The second half opened, & despite the scoreline, Hale Leys continued to keep a spirited approach to the task at hand. An epic battle for possession just outside the Leys 18yd box & James Marsh emerged with the ball for Leys, sending it forward to safety; but it was only a brief respite, Ward was soon harrying the defence again & found enough space to get a well targeted shot off.
As in the 1st half, Leys tightened their game, which caused frustration for the visitors. Jack Welch provided another goal midway through the period & it was quickly followed up by Pickwick’s hat trick just 3 minutes later.
Hale Leys had a fantastic opportunity denied, Simon Dunne getting a break that brought him almost in front of goal. Keeper Daniel Kelly blocked his attempt & although both Nathan Scarfe & Luca Forchione supported him they were unable to get a targeted shot in before Kelly managed to cover the ball.
As the rain came descended it did little to dampen the spirit of the game, with both sides looking to make a break. Welch concluded the goal tally in the 35th minute, although a last second strike by Pickwick screamed inches over the crossbar.
Under 16’s – Berks & Bucks Cup Round 2
Hale Leys Youth 0 – Bucks CC 8
After a bye in the 1st round of the B&B Cup the 2nd round played a local derby against a very formidable Bucks CC. It was to be an exciting match throughout the full 80 minutes.
The teams assembled on the centre circle with 2 minutes silence to mark Remembrance Day. The quiet was quickly broken as the visitors piled on the pressure & pushed hard into the Leys half, a clearance out to the halfway gave a 2nd chance to attack; as the forwards squeezed into the box Joe Pickwick turned in a cross to the bottom left corner of the Leys goal with only three minutes played.
Leys tightened up after the initial surprise & held the midfield well; but 22 minutes into the period & Sam Ward found space to deliver from just right of goal & again found the bottom left corner.
The game continued on & after a brief halt in play due to Leys injuries & Bucks’ made another attempt at goal with a header rebounding off the crossbar & the 2nd strike pushed wide.
35 minutes played & Pickwick found space in the middle to receive & deliver another on target shot. Teammate Marcus Brown joined the scoresheet seconds before the end of the half turning in a cross.
The second half opened, & despite the scoreline, Hale Leys continued to keep a spirited approach to the task at hand. An epic battle for possession just outside the Leys 18yd box & James Marsh emerged with the ball for Leys, sending it forward to safety; but it was only a brief respite, Ward was soon harrying the defence again & found enough space to get a well targeted shot off.
As in the 1st half, Leys tightened their game, which caused frustration for the visitors. Jack Welch provided another goal midway through the period & it was quickly followed up by Pickwick’s hat trick just 3 minutes later.
Hale Leys had a fantastic opportunity denied, Simon Dunne getting a break that brought him almost in front of goal. Keeper Daniel Kelly blocked his attempt & although both Nathan Scarfe & Luca Forchione supported him they were unable to get a targeted shot in before Kelly managed to cover the ball.
As the rain came descended it did little to dampen the spirit of the game, with both sides looking to make a break. Welch concluded the goal tally in the 35th minute, although a last second strike by Pickwick screamed inches over the crossbar.
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