MATCH REPORTS: POSITIVE MOMENTS, 10-16 OCTOBER

BOYS ACADEMY

U13 BOYS BLACK V. BOREHAMWOOD TIEMPOS (WFL) // 0-6 // LEAD COACH: BEN FOSTER

Fixture date: 13 Oct 2024

MATCH OVERVIEW There were moments in the 2nd half where things clicked; we managed to get ourselves up the pitch into positions that, on another day, would have resulted in a goal or two. It showed that even when things look bleak, we can still produce some positive moments – we just have to string them together!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Our POTM goes to Remy today. His reading of the play defensively and his composure on and off the ball was excellent. He consistently made positive and intelligent decisions to stop promising attacks and attempt to get us further up the pitch when under pressure!

THIS WEEK’S LEARNING Today was an example of what happens when we struggle to do the basics well and was the opposite of last week’s resounding performance. We lacked the personal responsibility needed to be brave and be an option for the ball and instead played within ourselves. A good lesson for the lads all the same.

U13 BOYS GOLD V. COLNEY HEATH (WFL) // 2-2 // LEAD COACH: BEN FOSTER

Fixture date: 13 Oct 2024

MATCH OVERVIEW I thought this game was highly competitive and a great challenge for the lads, with some excellent football played by both teams. The teams’ resilience to fight back after missing a pen at 1-0 and going down 2-1 was excellent. Yaroslav’s equalising goal was a fantastic strike, too – proper top bins!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Chris was absolutely superb in defence today. He was intense, read the play well, and used his body really effectively to win his individual duels. When he regained possession, he was composed and picked the right passes often, even adding a few of his whole-pitch dribbles! Great work at the back.

THIS WEEK’S LEARNING I think we would have benefited from a variety in tempo today. We used the ball well, but it was very toe-to-toe; calming and slowing the game down at 1-0 would have been a very effective strategy to see out the game and pick our moments to strike.

U15 BOYS V. HENDON UNITED (WFL) // 9-8 // LEAD COACH: BIRAJ PAUL

Fixture date: 13 Oct 2024

MATCH OVERVIEW It was a great first half with dominant and excellent play at every moment, with quality on the ball. As well as this, there was a lot of urgency and hard work off the ball too!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Patrick Devlin was a danger both on and off the ball today. His ability to create numerous chances, and taking on many himself, with be very important for us this season!

THIS WEEK’S LEARNING The second half saw poor tactical decisions by the coaches, which inevitably put the team in a poor position and allowed 8 goals to be conceded.

U14 DEV V. WINCHMORE HILL (WFL) // 9-8 // LEAD COACH: IGNACIO MARINI

Fixture date: 13 Oct 2024

MATCH OVERVIEW Despite being down in the scoreline, the players never let up. As a result, in the last moments of the game we managed to score a fantastic goal in which Jax George was through on goal, faked a shot one way, and dribbled the keeper the other way before tapping the ball in.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH Marcel Maclean-Thomas is the player of the match for being the conductor and ball winner of the team. He never stopped running and was a leader on the pitch.

THIS WEEK’S LEARNING Despite the resilience we showed in the game, there were moments where we lost concentration and did not capitalise on the other team’s mistakes.

LET’S GO BLOOMS!