Kicking off the game with an energetic start, striking in 2 minutes , Ryan was able to secure our first goal. Pushing on with the same energy and ability to keep scoring using speed on the wings, Beau consistently crossed the ball into danger zones. One of these resulted in Imraan scoring a beautiful half volley into the roof of the net. Throughout the game we used our teammates and awareness of space, dictating the play. The substitutes, Ahmed and Labren, came on to make an instant impact, both scoring in the game.
My favourite moment was Imraan nutmegging a defender running down the wing. He was unlucky to have his cross blocked. Ryan was player of the match as he was able to get a brace and then also fulfil a centre back role. Our training has helped us a lot with our awareness of players and understanding when to play the ball as opposed to carrying it ourselves. We can be better next game by working as a team more defensively!
Kicking off our second game full of confidence we conceded in the first 2 minutes. But with our teamwork and determination we were able to get a win with a poached goal by Ryan. Skilful moves by Imraan got him his goal following a darting run by Labren down the wing. Elias, with my favourite moment of the game, defended a 3v1 which would had changed the result to a draw. He took the ball from the striker and distributed it out wide to Ahmed. Great saves from Ian kept us in the game, showing that although we can attack, we can defend when we need too.
Player of the game was Beau for running up and down the pitch to support the attack and the defence when needed! Our training impacted this game as we worked on 1v1s. This turned out to be the game clinching moment demonstrated by Elias. Next week we can work better by finishing more chances as we had lots of opportunities to score!
Two strong performances against two very different teams saw the boys take back to back wins in today’s fixtures. Both games were tied at 2-2, with the Bloomsbury boys having the desire and determination to push on and get the winning goals.
Goal Scorers vs London Thames: Castro, Khalid and Zach. Goal scorers vs Queens Park Sharks: Castro (2) and Damien. In the second game we found ourselves under pressure from larger, physical opposition. Damien drove forward from defence and drew a foul a few meters outside the box. He steps up to take the free kick and it flies into the back the net. No chance for the keeper. What a strike!
Player of the match across both matches today was Castro. Castro always looked to drive forward when he could, but never shied away from passing to a teammate in space. 6 goals across the two games, all fantastic finishes. A great performance from the lads! We have been working on finishing our attacks and shooting from different angles. We scored a variety of goals today from all different scenarios and distances. Lovely to see. To improve we need to make sure we hold our positions a little better, and don’t give the opposition too much space to attack.
A class game where we dominated on the ball. The crowds continued to chant Louis Vara’s name as he scored 5 in quick succession. Our press from the front was unbelievable. Every time the first player was beat there was always someone to close down. Charlie scored 1 goal to finish the game 6-0. My favourite moment was when I spoke to Rocco about how he could impact the game out wide and drag defenders leaving space in the midfield. His understanding of this was unbelievable, nearly getting an assist every single time. My player of the match has to be Louis. His effort over the last few weeks has been brilliant and missed out a couple times of winning it previously.
Training looked at finishing, so a bit of serious fun for the boys. Focusing on their technique and timing before having a shot. Plans for next week are to look into behaviour. It could be better in the group and which will result in us moving forward as a team. The more team building we do the better we will perform on the pitch.
The girls dominated the game throughout, showing off their skills and teamwork by creating chance after chance. Their determination to win the ball really allowed them to show what they were capable of. All the goals were amazing, Piper scoring 4 with Ettie and Aniera both scoring 2 each. They showed great sportsmanship by clapping when the opposition goalkeeper saved a shot as well as making sure every player was okay at the end. My favourite moment was when Aniera received the ball on the wing from Alexandra (who was the goalkeeper) in which she took a touch out her feet, did an amazing skill allowing her to pass two players and shot, unfortunately, just wide of the post.
Players player of the match was Maysa. Every week she tries her best to win tackles but today she stood out as she was always in the right place to score but was just a few inches away. She tried defence for the first time and did a good job. The energy and determination she brought put a smile on everyone’s face. All of them rooting for her to score. Going forward we could do better with our finishing and not panic in front of goal. Understanding when to take an extra touch will also give us a better opportunities to score.
A really good result coming off the back of a great week of training. This was a chance to put our work into practice with us starting off really well. Laurence pressed straight from kick off, taking the ball and slotting it in the bottom corner to give us the lead. My moment of the match. This set the tone for the game. I could tell we were going to approach this with intensity and be dangerous once we got our opportunities. This was soon followed by goals from Ayan, Laurence (again), Teo and Marco, capping off a really good team performance offensively. Our approach play in the final third resulted in a lot of chances. Defensively, the adjustment to be deeper, as our opponent played the ball long, was crucial in our ability to deal with the oppositions threat.
My player of the match was Marco. Not only because of his contributions in each of our goals but his combinations with our forwards and our midfield were really good. He was constantly asking for the ball in good positions, using one-twos to progress the ball well into good areas. In training this week we looked into our ball mastery and using combination plays to progress the ball forward. I felt in this game we had a very fluid shape when we moved the ball forward using the combination tricks in training, putting them on display during the game. I feel we can improve by being able to maintain our high standards of play for longer periods. Towards the end of the game we started to lack the fluid combination plays we exhibited earlier on. Being able to maintain this will put us in a great position to improve and succeed in upcoming matches.
With only 4 players available, Leo Noah and Rayan stepped up from foundation team and Ezekiel from the U9s to help out in this match. Today just wasn’t our day. Some great dribbling, but the wrong decisions at times. The oppositions long ball was something we struggled to deal with and it cost us the game. We learnt the hard way that we need to play as a team in order to win. My highlight of the match was a great free kick by Jake which was tapped home by Nathan. Some great decision making and clever set piece work to get us back level.
Ezekiel was our standout player today. He showed some great dribbling and passing in the right areas of the pitch, hardly losing the ball. His off the ball pressing was also fantastic as a striker. This week we worked on a lot of 1v1s and it showed in the way we carried the ball with confidence and created chances as a result. Going forward we need to play as a team more in order to get a results. Being arguably the better team won’t get us anywhere if aren’t using all the space we create.
That’s much more like it. A game that had everything: goals, our best build-up play to date, swings in momentum, late drama. That should give the lads plenty of confidence in our ability to compete against the best after a tricky few weeks of fixtures. We started the game a bit slow and conceded early due to a lack of pressure on the ball; however, the lads did well to keep the faith. We continue to exhibit the type of bravery and courage I want my teams to play with. Case in point, Eduardo, showing great composure in his decision-making under pressure when building up – including when to play down the line, turn away from pressure, or dribble past his direct marker. Zak Levan-Harris also had the game of his life, with boundless energy not yet seen in a Blooms shirt for the 23/24 season – keep it up!
Although we initially struggled to move through the thirds, our two central midfielders, Zinedine and Maxi, grew into the game, connecting attack and defence. Combining this on days when Oli is in the mood, Blooms will always be dangerous. He wreaked havoc through their centre, ducking and diving to score our first. Kieran then scored a rare goal to put us 2-1 up. A breakaway goal from APB levelled proceedings before a second half penalty flipped the match on its head to give them a 3-2 lead.
However, Blooms were not deterred. We showed tremendous spirit and determination spearheaded once again by Oli, who continued to terrorise and eventually get a well-deserved equaliser. It could have been even better, with a of couple dubious decisions not given by the referee (opposition parent) who, in his defence, gave the best refereeing performance I’ve seen this season (apart from Ezekiel’s brother). But that didn’t stop me from maintaining a powerlifter’s pose in disbelief at the penalty-not-given. Overall, a great game demonstrating the quality of the boys. We’ll be looking forward to the return fixture and will be confident getting the three points. More work to be done to climb up the table.
Oli’s equaliser to make it 3-3 was my highlight of the match. Oli slalomed through their left-hand side and dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to round off a terrific POTM performance. Forever in awe of Oli’s mixture mixture of courage and quality on the ball, as he wrestled back control of the match. Well-done son and keep up the good work!
This week we worked on pressing high. Based on the performance, there’s still some room to improve. The pressure on the ball was much improved, but we need to recognise opportunities to trap their build up inside and adopt a man-to-man approach to pressing. In the lads’ defence, however, APB Wingate had obviously been spying on our recent training sessions as they were evidently terrified of our high press. Going long at every possible opportunity. Let’s keep on grinding.
We spoke to the boys about the match and they knew we would win since we were the better team. The match started pretty well. Troy scored a magnificent first goal near the half-way line and then we proceeded to score 2more to make it 3-0 at half time. Both goals we scored by Zeid and assisted by Freddy. In the second half we kept the same tempo and momentum, playing great football. The match was won comfortably, scoring 6 more goals and conceding 3. Phillip scored a hat-trick, his third in three matches. Freddy assisted his teammates 5 times!
My favourite moment would be Troy’s free kick. Amazing strike from far away near the half-way line. The goalkeeper had no chance of saving it. I believe that if I chose one player to single out it would be unfair to the other players. Everyone played really well, individually and as a team. Their performance, attitude and work-rate was top class. Every player in every position, from the goalkeeper to our striker, was exceptional.
We asked certain things from our players and we expected to see them on the pitch. The boys did not fail to deliver. Whatever challenge or aim we set they seem to reach it and push even further. We could focus on our mentality when we win, because if we put our guard down too early this might be costly for us.
In the first half we were pretty good. Created some chances, played our game. But we did not manage to score early to give us that confidence boost. In the second half frustration seeped in as we felt we needed the win. That pressure did not allow us to think clearly and make the right decisions. However, in the last minute, Elliot passed the ball to Jasper who was one-on-one with the goalkeeper and scored to secure the win for some late drama. My favourite moment would be the celebration when Jasper scored. All the players jumped on the pitch to go and celebrate the goal all together. From frustration to relief.
I would rather choose a group of players because they made the difference in the match and it was our defence. Our defending has not been great for the last couple of months as we concede at least 1 goal in every match. However, our players improved and keep on improving. On Sunday they showed that. Every defender, as well as our goalkeeper, played really well. They did what they were asked and stopped the opposition from scoring multiple times. It helped us think clearly and make less mistakes when were moving the ball around the pitch. Our communication has clearly improved.
One of the things that we need to fix is our patience. We need to wait for the right moment, to pass, shoot or cross. Sometimes we push for something and we end up losing possession. Patience is key in football and this is our main focus. Also, we need to keep our heads up and our mind clear even when we lose or we really need a goal. If we feel frustrated or pressured we will not perform well and make the wrong decisions.
Overall, I feel we played well in the first half. We implemented our training into the match especially when playing out from the back. Danny scoring our only goal. I’d have to say my highlight of the match was watching the team play in transition and seeing our progress from training into match scenarios. Kian was our player of the match. He played his role in the centre of midfield very well, linking the defence and attack. Especially given that he was by himself in the middle of the park.
This week in training the boys learnt about ways to play out from the back in terms of what position to be in (with and without the ball) and we saw that in the game. We need to repeat these sessions so that these actions become instinctive. That’s the best way to improve.
Despite the tough result, I believe each individual put in a good shift, with lapses in concentration resulting in the goals conceded. Going down to 10 in the second half through injury put us in a position where we couldn’t get anything out of the game. Ayal Schwartz was our player of the match. He continued to work hard and put in a strong shift. Although concentration cost us, we can improve by helping each other out a little bit more.
The Bloomsbury girls put in a massive shift on Sunday in Colindale with 9 players turning up for a 9 a side game. All the girls gave everything on the pitch and started well, with good link up play in the middle of the pitch, leading to Kayla putting us 1-0 up 7 minutes in. The girls continued to work hard with some big tackles in defence to stop the opposition. However, Youngs eventually broke down the BFA defence. BFA didn’t let that get them down and battled hard to get another goal, which Marwa scored 17 minutes in. We slightly switched off and allowed a Youngs player to drive through the centre of the pitch, scoring another goal to equalise. Yet again, BFA responded quickly with Kayla grabbing her second of the game 20 minutes in. Taking a 3-2 lead into half time.
We were slow to start the second half and Youngs capitalised on this. Scoring early on to make it 3-3. As the game progressed the girls were slowly tiring as they were all putting in such a big shift. This allowed Youngs to score another goal to take the lead. The girls continued to work hard, however couldn’t get the result. The unity of the team to encourage each other on the pitch, was my highlight. So proud of them.
Coaches player was Muzique for her all around play. She played in central midfield but dropped back to help out the defence, even making super runs back to prevent the opposition from crossing the ball. Players player was Kayla for her incredible goals and non stop running at striker. This week the girls only had one session which included lots of game time. This helped the team to work together well. Next week we need to make sure even when we are tired we come towards the ball.
It was a tough game for the Bloomsbury team. We struggled pretty much throughout the whole game. The most disappointing aspect wasn’t the score line. It was the desire, physicality and competitive spirit. All of these were missing. We are a development team and score lines shouldn’t define success. Our definition of success is how we play with the football and our mindset. Unfortunately we struggled with the mental side. I would have loved to see better desire and passion in the match. This is something I need to see for the upcoming game this Sunday. We need to be competitive in the tackles, more vocal and leave everything on the pitch. I’m going to set this as a challenge for the upcoming game. Now we need to reset, go again and learn from the experience to ensure that this never happens again. Special mention to mention Daniel and Roka for their good performances in the match. Now we can focus on the last game of the year and leave it on a good note. We need to be striving to be better every week.
We were dealt a double blow before kick off as both Carla and Scarlet were unable to play due to illness, leaving us with 7 players for the game. Despite pleading with the opposition coach for a fair 7v7 game, he was having none of it. He was clearly aware of the quality that the BFA girls possess. And so the show went on, as the girls went up against a formidable and physical opponent in LFS, 7 against 9. Despite the setbacks, the girls approached the game with the right attitude and played their hearts out. Tori started in goal for the first quarter of the game with Malaika taking the gloves for the second quarter. The starting defensive trio of Promise, Malaika and Georgia was a lovely blend of technique, physicality and excellent reading of the game. When Tori swapped in for Malaika, we were extremely solid at the back. Alexia and Karina were the heartbeat of the team in midfield. Tracking back, driving forward and dancing through two or three players almost every time they touched the ball.
We went flat out for a good 8 minutes, battling and jostling for every duel, passing and moving and working hard both on and off the ball. Despite our best efforts of quelling the opposition attacks, there was always a player free to receive the ball and we eventually let one slip. Unfortunately, lightning struck twice, as we conceded a second goal very similar to the first, going into half time trailing 2 nil down. Both myself and the girls were still happy with the performance and how well we dealt with the setbacks. There was a unanimous belief that a goal was coming, due to how well we were playing all things considered.
Acacia started the second half in goal, with Karina being our furthest forward player and Georgia slotting in alongside Alexia in midfield. The second half was a real back and forth battle, as we attacked in numbers and created some quality goal scoring opportunities. An unfortunate goalkeeping error led to a third goal being conceded, but in the final minute of the match after some robust and resolute defending, we got our break. After 2 blocked shots and several tackles from Promise, Tori and Malaika, we countered with Karina driving the ball from outside of our box all the way up the left wing. Breezing past three players before cutting the ball back to Alexia, who ruthlessly smashed the ball into the right side netting just before the final whistle. Putting a smile on all our faces. The result was expected being two players down, but the performance was definitely commendable as everyone worked really hard and kept battling right till the final whistle.
My favourite moment was the goal in the dying embers of the game. To see the two players who ran the most out of everyone during the match combine with one final burst to score right before the final whistle was very enjoyable for me. Promise was my player of the match. She was so fantastic, even the opposition manager was singing her praises to me by name for how well she sniffed out numerous 1v1’s, 2v1’s and even a 3v1 in the second half. She also sprinkled in several last-ditch challenges that prevented more goals conceded. Her work rate in defence was exceptional but even so, she would carry the ball out of defence under pressure and make it look easy. Well played Promise, keep it up!
Attendance at training hasn’t been great for the past couple of weeks, due to exams, the cold weather and illnesses. This impacts us as many of the things we work on during the week unfortunately do not come to fruition during games. Missing out on key learning points is detrimental to our success. It’s imperative we start coming to as many training sessions as we possibly can. Yes it’s cold, but it’s just as cold for the coaches who turn up every week without fail. These sessions are a valuable time to learn and grow as a player, build understanding and chemistry with our team mates. We can work on our weaknesses as a whole to become a better and stronger team!
A tough day out for BFA as we looked to book our place in the challenge cup quarterfinal. In difficult conditions, BFA stamped their authority early on in the game, creating numerous chances down our left flank. Following a corner, Luke managed to flick home at the near post for a 1-0 half time lead. Omonia slowly grew into the game after the break, and managed to find an equaliser after some sloppy defending in central areas, allowing their striker to weave past a couple of challenges before slotting home. Their lead lasted a matter of minutes as another attack down our left yielded results. Levi found Reece unmarked in the box, who was able to compose himself and beat the keeper with a cool finish into the bottom corner. The rest of the game saw BFA soak up any remaining pressure and nullify the opponent’s threat as we saw out a comfortable victory in the end!
The teams reaction to conceding was my highlight of the match. Going right up the other end to score almost straight away! Levi was our player of the match. His persistence down the left flank was great to see, constantly giving the opposition fullback a torrid time and creating some good chances as well. This week we focused on defensive shape and responsibilities when defending in pairs. To improve we need to be more clinical up top!
LET’S FINISH THE YEAR STRONG!
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