Sadly, we've not yet been able to play our final match before the winter break. It had been scheduled for 28th November, but the snow we've had since then has meant playing matches has been impossible. Our opponents are Sproatley & as they are one of the best teams in our league, we are keen to see how we measure up against them.
Sadly, this unseasonal weather probably means we won't get chance to play again until the New Year - even when the snow melts, the ground is likely to be flooded for some time.
Looking back over the matches we've played so far this season we've won 5, drawn 4 & lost 9. We've scored 19 goals & conceded 22 & in the matches we've lost, this has usually been by the odd goal.
More important that the results, all the boys seem to have thoroughly enjoyed it & can't wait to play again. As league matches don't start again until late February, we are going to try to arrange some friendly matches in the meantime. We are also looking forward to a 5-a-side tournament that will be played in January. We'll update the blog with all our exploits ahead of the league matches resuming.
The team
Our first outing as a team
Monday, 6 December 2010
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Sunday 21st November vs East Riding Rangers
Although we were away from home, it felt like a home game as we were playing in Cottingham. The good weather we had enjoyed in previous weeks had gone & we were again faced with wet & muddy conditions, However, the consolation for our hardy supporters was that the Pavilion was serving hot drinks & bacon butties, which must have been very tempting on such a damp morning.
Match 1
Taylor took over the captain's armband for the first half & formed a solid defensive partnership with Harry. JoshC stepped up to be goalie for the first match & did a great job in very difficult circumstances. As he showed throughout, he's a good shot stopper & has a great kick on him.
Although we had the majority of possession, East Riding proved to be a skillful team & took advantage of one of their few goalmouth opportunities to open the scoring.
In the second half, we were led by Joel who put in a storming display at the heart of our defence. Determined to get a goal back, we had plenty of chances to score, but we were thwarted by a combination of good goalkeeping & just not quite being on target. William, Ewan & Dylan all went close & it was very much against the run of play when East Riding increased their lead. Despite lots more pressure from us, we weren't able to break their defence down & East Riding ran out winners 2-0.
Match 2
As the rain came down again, we set off determined to convert our possession in the first match into goals. Unfortunately, Kieran was feeling unwell after a strong performance in midfield in the first match & wasn't able to continue. (Get well soon Kieran!)
Again in this match, we had plenty of possession & pushed forward in an attempt to take the lead. Unfortunately this left space at the back for East Riding, but thanks to some great defending by our captain JoshL & Harry, we were able to keep them at bay. Benson was back in goal for this match & again put in one of the confident displays we have become used to over the season.
In the second half we were convinced we could win & our efforts finally paid off when Ben scored a well taken goal. Despite a concerted effort by our opponents to equalise, our team held out for a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win.
The penalty competition was just as closely competed as the matches themselves & there were plenty of great shots & saves despite the sticky conditions.
There were plenty of candidates who deserved to be chosen as "Man of the Match" but it was awarded to Joel for his great defensive display.
Match 1
Taylor took over the captain's armband for the first half & formed a solid defensive partnership with Harry. JoshC stepped up to be goalie for the first match & did a great job in very difficult circumstances. As he showed throughout, he's a good shot stopper & has a great kick on him.
Although we had the majority of possession, East Riding proved to be a skillful team & took advantage of one of their few goalmouth opportunities to open the scoring.
In the second half, we were led by Joel who put in a storming display at the heart of our defence. Determined to get a goal back, we had plenty of chances to score, but we were thwarted by a combination of good goalkeeping & just not quite being on target. William, Ewan & Dylan all went close & it was very much against the run of play when East Riding increased their lead. Despite lots more pressure from us, we weren't able to break their defence down & East Riding ran out winners 2-0.
Match 2
As the rain came down again, we set off determined to convert our possession in the first match into goals. Unfortunately, Kieran was feeling unwell after a strong performance in midfield in the first match & wasn't able to continue. (Get well soon Kieran!)
Again in this match, we had plenty of possession & pushed forward in an attempt to take the lead. Unfortunately this left space at the back for East Riding, but thanks to some great defending by our captain JoshL & Harry, we were able to keep them at bay. Benson was back in goal for this match & again put in one of the confident displays we have become used to over the season.
In the second half we were convinced we could win & our efforts finally paid off when Ben scored a well taken goal. Despite a concerted effort by our opponents to equalise, our team held out for a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win.
The penalty competition was just as closely competed as the matches themselves & there were plenty of great shots & saves despite the sticky conditions.
There were plenty of candidates who deserved to be chosen as "Man of the Match" but it was awarded to Joel for his great defensive display.
Monday, 15 November 2010
Sunday 15th November 2010 vs. Shiptonthorpe
We were again blessed with a perfect autumn morning for football - bright,clear & crisp. Again the pitch had recovered well from lots of heavy rain in the week & was in great condition.
It was always going to be a colourful affair on the pitch, with Shiptonthorpe's green & yellow strip just as bright as our blue & yellow stripes. I noticed a couple of people in the crowd wearing sunglasses & it probably wasn't just to protect them from the glare of the early morning sun!
At it was Remembrance Sunday, before kick-off the players & crowd held a minutes silence. Then it was time for the off!!
Match 1
JoshC was captain for the first half & did a great job organising his team. However Shiptonthorpe were lively opposition, with players who were good in possession & quickly put us under pressure.
After a few attempts at both ends of the field, Shiptonthorpe were rewarded with a scrambled goal when they broke through our defence. Undaunted, we came off at half-time determined to equalise in the second half.
In the second half, Ewan took over the captaincy & controlled the team from the heart of the defence. Determined to get on equal terms, Ewan led by example & pushed up into Shiptonthorpe's penalty area at the right time & was rewarded by scoring our first goal. The opportunity had been created after some lovely team play including Harry, Taylor, Kieran & William.
However, Shiptonthorpe came back at us & managed to score what proved to be the decisive goal. Their attackers for once outnumbered our defenders & despite several great saves from Benson, they managed to force the ball home.
In what is proving to be the story of our season, we were unlucky not to score again after a host of great chances, to leave the final score 2-1 to Shiptonthorpe.
Match 2
Although we'd lost the first match, we were convinced that the opposition would tire in the second match if we continued playing the way we'd started. As many of the best captains in football are goalkeepers, Benson was in charge for this half & he made sure the defence was tighter than in the first match.
It seemed that virtually all the match was being played in the Shiptonthorpe half & we had plenty of opportunities in front of goal. Eventually we took the lead with a well taken goal by Ben, our top scorer, who tucked the ball into the corner of the net.
Shiptonthorpe had several dangerous breakaways despite being penned in their own half, but thanks to an accomplished display of defending by Joel & JoshL, they didn't get a clear shot on goal.
The second half was very much a repeat of the first, with lots of shots from our side & a well organised defence (led by our captain Dylan) which prevented the opposition from scoring. Although we couldn't add to our score, we held on for a much deserved 1-0 win.
Unfortunately the opposition needed to leave so it wasn't possible to have a penalty competition.
When it came to selecting the "Man of the Match" we decided it ought to go to the player who had been best at communicating with & organising his team mates. The boys unanimously decided that Ben deserved to be "Man of the Match" on that basis. He did a great job at encouraging his team mates & leading by example. (He was almost as loud as his Mum!)
JoshC's Dad (or "Foghorn" to his friends) felt he deserved the award because he does the most shouting. In the absence of a "Noisiest Spectator" award, we put him in goal & let the boys take shots at him - let's see if that quietens him down next week! :-)
It was always going to be a colourful affair on the pitch, with Shiptonthorpe's green & yellow strip just as bright as our blue & yellow stripes. I noticed a couple of people in the crowd wearing sunglasses & it probably wasn't just to protect them from the glare of the early morning sun!
At it was Remembrance Sunday, before kick-off the players & crowd held a minutes silence. Then it was time for the off!!
Match 1
JoshC was captain for the first half & did a great job organising his team. However Shiptonthorpe were lively opposition, with players who were good in possession & quickly put us under pressure.
After a few attempts at both ends of the field, Shiptonthorpe were rewarded with a scrambled goal when they broke through our defence. Undaunted, we came off at half-time determined to equalise in the second half.
In the second half, Ewan took over the captaincy & controlled the team from the heart of the defence. Determined to get on equal terms, Ewan led by example & pushed up into Shiptonthorpe's penalty area at the right time & was rewarded by scoring our first goal. The opportunity had been created after some lovely team play including Harry, Taylor, Kieran & William.
However, Shiptonthorpe came back at us & managed to score what proved to be the decisive goal. Their attackers for once outnumbered our defenders & despite several great saves from Benson, they managed to force the ball home.
In what is proving to be the story of our season, we were unlucky not to score again after a host of great chances, to leave the final score 2-1 to Shiptonthorpe.
Match 2
Although we'd lost the first match, we were convinced that the opposition would tire in the second match if we continued playing the way we'd started. As many of the best captains in football are goalkeepers, Benson was in charge for this half & he made sure the defence was tighter than in the first match.
It seemed that virtually all the match was being played in the Shiptonthorpe half & we had plenty of opportunities in front of goal. Eventually we took the lead with a well taken goal by Ben, our top scorer, who tucked the ball into the corner of the net.
Shiptonthorpe had several dangerous breakaways despite being penned in their own half, but thanks to an accomplished display of defending by Joel & JoshL, they didn't get a clear shot on goal.
The second half was very much a repeat of the first, with lots of shots from our side & a well organised defence (led by our captain Dylan) which prevented the opposition from scoring. Although we couldn't add to our score, we held on for a much deserved 1-0 win.
Unfortunately the opposition needed to leave so it wasn't possible to have a penalty competition.
When it came to selecting the "Man of the Match" we decided it ought to go to the player who had been best at communicating with & organising his team mates. The boys unanimously decided that Ben deserved to be "Man of the Match" on that basis. He did a great job at encouraging his team mates & leading by example. (He was almost as loud as his Mum!)
JoshC's Dad (or "Foghorn" to his friends) felt he deserved the award because he does the most shouting. In the absence of a "Noisiest Spectator" award, we put him in goal & let the boys take shots at him - let's see if that quietens him down next week! :-)
Monday, 8 November 2010
Sunday 7th November 2010 vs Cottingham Rangers B
To some people a "derby match" might be described as Liverpool against Everton, Rangers against Celtic or even Real Madrid against Barcelona - but they are nothing compared to Cottingham Rangers Under 8's "A" team against the "B" team!
It turned out to be a bright but cold Sunday morning & despite some heavy rain over the previous few days, the pitch looked to be in remarkably good condition. Not surprisingly both teams were at full strength & raring to go.
From our side, we'd decided to appoint a captain for each half of both matches. As the boys grow in confidence, we want to encourage them to communicate on the pitch & make more decisions for themselves & hope that the captain will help to develop that.
Match 1
As the boys still train together, there were no surprises regarding the players on each side & it started out as the competitive match we had expected. Despite waking up feeling a little under the weather, JoshL was captain for the first half & did a superb job marshalling his team, whilst playing a great role at the heart of the defence.
Both sides were playing well & there was some great passing on show. There weren't many clear cut chances but the "B"team managed to convert on of theirs to go 1-0 ahead.
We continued with our policy of giving everyone an equal amount of playing time & the opportunity to play in different positions. For the second half, the team was expertly captained by Ewan, who made sure everyone knew what their position was. Despite some great team play from our side (including Kieran, JoshC, William, Dylan & Joel) we weren't able to equalise, so the first match went to the B team 1-0.
Match 2
For the first half of match two, Harry was chosen as captain & organised his team well from the heart of the defence. William, who'd played well in goal last week, took over the goalies jersey from Benson for this match.
Just as with the first match, it was a tightly contested affair with lots of good play from both sides. Again, it was the B team who made the most of their opportunities & opened the scoring in the first half. They could have scored more goals if it hadn't been for some great defending by Taylor, Harry, Ewan & Benson.)
Determined to equalise in the second half, we pushed on & were suitably rewarded when Ben fired home from close range to equalise. Ben was captain in the second half & playing in defence - so it just shows that defenders can get up front & score.
At that point, I made a mistake & asked all the boys to push up to see if we could score another in the final minutes. Unfortunately this left space at the back which allowed the B team to score a breakaway goal, which ended up being the winner - the final score 2-1 to the B team. (Next time I'll keep quiet & let the boys make the playing decisions for themselves!)
It was an enjoyable morning, despite the results & we ended with the usual penalty competition, which was another evenly matched contest.
When it came to the Man of the Match award, John & I found it impossible to pick a winner - so we asked Paul (who'd refereed both matches & was well placed to decide) to choose for us. For his all round play & for communication with his team, Harry was deservedly awarded "Man of the Match" for this week.
It turned out to be a bright but cold Sunday morning & despite some heavy rain over the previous few days, the pitch looked to be in remarkably good condition. Not surprisingly both teams were at full strength & raring to go.
From our side, we'd decided to appoint a captain for each half of both matches. As the boys grow in confidence, we want to encourage them to communicate on the pitch & make more decisions for themselves & hope that the captain will help to develop that.
Match 1
As the boys still train together, there were no surprises regarding the players on each side & it started out as the competitive match we had expected. Despite waking up feeling a little under the weather, JoshL was captain for the first half & did a superb job marshalling his team, whilst playing a great role at the heart of the defence.
Both sides were playing well & there was some great passing on show. There weren't many clear cut chances but the "B"team managed to convert on of theirs to go 1-0 ahead.
We continued with our policy of giving everyone an equal amount of playing time & the opportunity to play in different positions. For the second half, the team was expertly captained by Ewan, who made sure everyone knew what their position was. Despite some great team play from our side (including Kieran, JoshC, William, Dylan & Joel) we weren't able to equalise, so the first match went to the B team 1-0.
Match 2
For the first half of match two, Harry was chosen as captain & organised his team well from the heart of the defence. William, who'd played well in goal last week, took over the goalies jersey from Benson for this match.
Just as with the first match, it was a tightly contested affair with lots of good play from both sides. Again, it was the B team who made the most of their opportunities & opened the scoring in the first half. They could have scored more goals if it hadn't been for some great defending by Taylor, Harry, Ewan & Benson.)
Determined to equalise in the second half, we pushed on & were suitably rewarded when Ben fired home from close range to equalise. Ben was captain in the second half & playing in defence - so it just shows that defenders can get up front & score.
At that point, I made a mistake & asked all the boys to push up to see if we could score another in the final minutes. Unfortunately this left space at the back which allowed the B team to score a breakaway goal, which ended up being the winner - the final score 2-1 to the B team. (Next time I'll keep quiet & let the boys make the playing decisions for themselves!)
It was an enjoyable morning, despite the results & we ended with the usual penalty competition, which was another evenly matched contest.
When it came to the Man of the Match award, John & I found it impossible to pick a winner - so we asked Paul (who'd refereed both matches & was well placed to decide) to choose for us. For his all round play & for communication with his team, Harry was deservedly awarded "Man of the Match" for this week.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Sunday 31st October vs. Bridlington
After a late night for many of us at the school Halloween party, there were a lot of tired boys on the field this morning - including one who apparently was still in bed only half an hour before kick off! And to add to our woes, Dylan was away on holiday & William had been poorly all week but was determined to play. He bravely volunteered to go in goal for the second match - more of which later.........
Match 1
Although it was chilly with dew on the ground, it seemed a perfect day for football & both teams started off well. It certainly showed that the passing we'd been practicing at training was paying off, because there were some great passing moves on show which gave us plenty of opportunities on goal.
Our great play was rewarded by first-half goals from Taylor & Joel (who was still sporting his spooky Halloween hair!) There were plenty of other chances on goal, but a combination of good defending & some spectacular saves from Joshua in the Bridlington goal prevented us from scoring again.
Undeterred, Brid put in a fighting display & in the second half were rewarded with a good goal. It was terrific to see the celebrations from their players, supporters & coaches - it was their first goal for several matches & it was great to see their excitement.
This led to a nervous last few minutes for us. It took some great defending from Kieran, JoshL & Harry plus some super saves from Benson meant we held on for a 2-1 win.
Match 2
Spurred on by a win in the first match, we played even better in the second match. It looked to me that all the tired legs were forgotten & our all round play improved further.
Once we'd made a breakthrough with a great goal from JoshC we upped our game & more goals followed. There was a second goal for Joel, one for Ben (to keep him as our top scorer for the season) & it was terrific to see Ewan score his first goal for the team.
Even though we were well on top, Bridlington were still fighting & it took some great saves & a super all round performance from William in goal to ensure we kept a clean sheet. 4-0 was perhaps a bit harsh on our opponents but was just reward for a great effort from our boys.
The penalty competition was tightly fought with very few goals being scored - largely due to some great saves from William & Joshua (the Brid goalie). We just sneaked it due to William scoring against his opposite number.
And in recognition of his all round efforts in goal & in open play - whilst being under the weather - William was a well deserved winner of the Man of the Match trophy.
And onto next week - when we play our own B team!
Match 1
Although it was chilly with dew on the ground, it seemed a perfect day for football & both teams started off well. It certainly showed that the passing we'd been practicing at training was paying off, because there were some great passing moves on show which gave us plenty of opportunities on goal.
Our great play was rewarded by first-half goals from Taylor & Joel (who was still sporting his spooky Halloween hair!) There were plenty of other chances on goal, but a combination of good defending & some spectacular saves from Joshua in the Bridlington goal prevented us from scoring again.
Undeterred, Brid put in a fighting display & in the second half were rewarded with a good goal. It was terrific to see the celebrations from their players, supporters & coaches - it was their first goal for several matches & it was great to see their excitement.
This led to a nervous last few minutes for us. It took some great defending from Kieran, JoshL & Harry plus some super saves from Benson meant we held on for a 2-1 win.
Match 2
Spurred on by a win in the first match, we played even better in the second match. It looked to me that all the tired legs were forgotten & our all round play improved further.
Once we'd made a breakthrough with a great goal from JoshC we upped our game & more goals followed. There was a second goal for Joel, one for Ben (to keep him as our top scorer for the season) & it was terrific to see Ewan score his first goal for the team.
Even though we were well on top, Bridlington were still fighting & it took some great saves & a super all round performance from William in goal to ensure we kept a clean sheet. 4-0 was perhaps a bit harsh on our opponents but was just reward for a great effort from our boys.
The penalty competition was tightly fought with very few goals being scored - largely due to some great saves from William & Joshua (the Brid goalie). We just sneaked it due to William scoring against his opposite number.
And in recognition of his all round efforts in goal & in open play - whilst being under the weather - William was a well deserved winner of the Man of the Match trophy.
And onto next week - when we play our own B team!
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Sunday 18th October vs South Cave
We woke to a gloriously sunny & bright day - the best weather of all the matches we had played so far. We had a few issues getting access to the goals & nets but after the usual assistance from Mum's & Dad's we were ready to go. The South Cave team arrived in good time so we even decided to kick off early.
Match 1
From the start, it seemed again that we had two well matched teams. South Cave seemed to be a good passing team & caused us a few problems but with some great defending by the two Josh's, Kieran Harry & William (plus some good saves from Benson) we were able to keep them at bay.
We created plenty of chances but yet again we were thwarted by a goalkeeper who was on top form. Eventually the pressure from South Cave paid off & they went 1-0 ahead.
Cottingham came right back & pushed for an equaliser. After some great passing & team play Ben managed to break through & score. Despite good chances for both sides, there were no more goals & the match finished 1-1.
Match 2
This match was just as evenly fought as the first one with both teams having plenty of attacks & great defending. Dylan played in goal for this match & did the team proud with a confident performance. He was well supported by strong performances by all players, including Ewan, Joel & Taylor.
In the end, the only difference between the teams was when one of the South Cave players dribbled through down the right & scored a good goal. Despite lots of pressure, we weren't quite able to equalise & South Cave ran out winners 1-0.
We finished off with a penalty competition & it's evident to see our penalty taking - & goalkeeping - is improving every week.
We'd decided in the week to award a "Man of the Match" trophy for all future matches - & what a difficult decision it proved to be. After much chin-scratching, John & I decided the "Man of the Match" was Taylor for a great all round performance.
Next Sunday we have a week off - so it will either be a lie-in - or a chance to cheer on the B team!!
Match 1
From the start, it seemed again that we had two well matched teams. South Cave seemed to be a good passing team & caused us a few problems but with some great defending by the two Josh's, Kieran Harry & William (plus some good saves from Benson) we were able to keep them at bay.
We created plenty of chances but yet again we were thwarted by a goalkeeper who was on top form. Eventually the pressure from South Cave paid off & they went 1-0 ahead.
Cottingham came right back & pushed for an equaliser. After some great passing & team play Ben managed to break through & score. Despite good chances for both sides, there were no more goals & the match finished 1-1.
Match 2
This match was just as evenly fought as the first one with both teams having plenty of attacks & great defending. Dylan played in goal for this match & did the team proud with a confident performance. He was well supported by strong performances by all players, including Ewan, Joel & Taylor.
In the end, the only difference between the teams was when one of the South Cave players dribbled through down the right & scored a good goal. Despite lots of pressure, we weren't quite able to equalise & South Cave ran out winners 1-0.
We finished off with a penalty competition & it's evident to see our penalty taking - & goalkeeping - is improving every week.
We'd decided in the week to award a "Man of the Match" trophy for all future matches - & what a difficult decision it proved to be. After much chin-scratching, John & I decided the "Man of the Match" was Taylor for a great all round performance.
Next Sunday we have a week off - so it will either be a lie-in - or a chance to cheer on the B team!!
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Some VIP's at training!
We had some special guests who visited us at training tonight. We'd contacted Hull City & asked if they would send a player or two to meet the boys - & they were very willing to help us.
So tonight the boys got to meet a couple of rising stars - Daniel Ayala & Mark Cullen. Daniel is currently on loan at Hull from Liverpool & Mark is making his name in the first team.
After getting 22 excited boys together, the players answered the boys questions before signing autographs (& shirts) & having photographs taken.
Big thanks to both the players & Dan Pratt from Hull City who organised the visit. And fingers crossed, we might get a mention in one of the future Hull City programmes!!
So tonight the boys got to meet a couple of rising stars - Daniel Ayala & Mark Cullen. Daniel is currently on loan at Hull from Liverpool & Mark is making his name in the first team.
After getting 22 excited boys together, the players answered the boys questions before signing autographs (& shirts) & having photographs taken.
Big thanks to both the players & Dan Pratt from Hull City who organised the visit. And fingers crossed, we might get a mention in one of the future Hull City programmes!!
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Sunday 10th October 2010 vs Hall Road Rangers
At last! We woke up to blue skies & sunshine! What a great morning for a game of football. This was an away match for us & it turned out the journey was eventful for most of us. We were playing at a school on Wawne Road & the directions seemed straightforward - but it's a good job we left in plenty of time because we ended up in Sutton. After a quick U-turn we arrived to find a great little pitch at the back of the school.
At least I wasn't the only one who had a problem finding it - I had to rely on a local supporter to give directions over the phone to the "convoy" of cars from Cottingham who were struggling to find it!
And with the weather holding it was an opportunity for the parents to show off their designer sunglasses - rather than their umbrellas & wellies!
On the pitch today was the first time Dylan was going to play in goal for one of the two matches to give Benson to play in the outfield. And after Benson had injured his finger in the final minutes of the warm-up, Dylan agreed to go it goal for the first match.
Match 1
From the start it seemed that we were two very evenly matched teams & that proved to be correct throughout both matches.
Both teams had lots of possession and both defences were playing extremely well which meant there were few clear shots on goal. Benson settled well into the team & is just as good in the outfield as he is in goal.
After a goalless first-half, we used our 4 substitutes in the second half so that everyone had a go. Again it seemed that luck wasn't on our side as Hall Road managed to score a goal after a goalmouth scramble. However later in the match, Dylan made an absolutely fantastic point-blank save to keep the final score at 1-0.
Match 2
Despite the result in the first match we were sure we were playing well & felt we had every chance to win the second match.
Right throughout the team we were playing well; Joel & Ben had some mazy runs, Josh L & Kieran put in some great tackles in defence & Taylor & Josh C ran tirelessly in midfield. And a special mention must go to Ewan who had a great game, despite struggling with his asthma & Benson who made some great saves, despite his finger injury.
Although we went 1-0 in the first-half, we carried on playing just as well as before & we were rewarded when Harry scored after great support from the rest of the team.
And with time running out, we managed to get in front after a great goal from William, who fully deserved to score his first goal of the season.
With minutes left, Hall Road came back at us but we defended like demons & held on for our first win of the season - the final score 2-1. Great stuff!!
It didn't matter that we just lost out in the penalty competition, because the boys were so excited at winning our first match of the season. We took the opportunity to get some team photographs in the autumn sunshine. ..........................and then all we had to do was find our way home!!
Thanks to Hall Road for their warm hospitality & we wish them well for the rest of the season. And well done to our B team who continued their great start to the season with a 3-1 win & then a 1-0 loss.
At least I wasn't the only one who had a problem finding it - I had to rely on a local supporter to give directions over the phone to the "convoy" of cars from Cottingham who were struggling to find it!
And with the weather holding it was an opportunity for the parents to show off their designer sunglasses - rather than their umbrellas & wellies!
On the pitch today was the first time Dylan was going to play in goal for one of the two matches to give Benson to play in the outfield. And after Benson had injured his finger in the final minutes of the warm-up, Dylan agreed to go it goal for the first match.
Match 1
From the start it seemed that we were two very evenly matched teams & that proved to be correct throughout both matches.
Both teams had lots of possession and both defences were playing extremely well which meant there were few clear shots on goal. Benson settled well into the team & is just as good in the outfield as he is in goal.
After a goalless first-half, we used our 4 substitutes in the second half so that everyone had a go. Again it seemed that luck wasn't on our side as Hall Road managed to score a goal after a goalmouth scramble. However later in the match, Dylan made an absolutely fantastic point-blank save to keep the final score at 1-0.
Match 2
Despite the result in the first match we were sure we were playing well & felt we had every chance to win the second match.
Right throughout the team we were playing well; Joel & Ben had some mazy runs, Josh L & Kieran put in some great tackles in defence & Taylor & Josh C ran tirelessly in midfield. And a special mention must go to Ewan who had a great game, despite struggling with his asthma & Benson who made some great saves, despite his finger injury.
Although we went 1-0 in the first-half, we carried on playing just as well as before & we were rewarded when Harry scored after great support from the rest of the team.
And with time running out, we managed to get in front after a great goal from William, who fully deserved to score his first goal of the season.
With minutes left, Hall Road came back at us but we defended like demons & held on for our first win of the season - the final score 2-1. Great stuff!!
It didn't matter that we just lost out in the penalty competition, because the boys were so excited at winning our first match of the season. We took the opportunity to get some team photographs in the autumn sunshine. ..........................and then all we had to do was find our way home!!
Thanks to Hall Road for their warm hospitality & we wish them well for the rest of the season. And well done to our B team who continued their great start to the season with a 3-1 win & then a 1-0 loss.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Sunday 2nd October 2010 vs Beverley Whitestar
We woke to yet another wet morning - that's three weekends we've played, & it's rained every time! This was by far the wettest - apart from causing serious delays with the Ryder Cup that's currently being played in Wales, it was apparent that some local teams had called their matches off due to flooded pitches.
John & I arrived to set the goals up & were pleased to see that our pitch seemed OK. The goal areas were a bit muddy & likely to get worse, but overall the pitch seemed to have drained well despite the dreadful weather.
Clearly it's only the coaches, parents & supporters that are concerned by the weather - as usual the boys arrived full of smiles & ready for the challenge ahead. After a warm-up, we were ready to get going.......
Match 1
I'm not sure what our boys had eaten for breakfast, but they started like an express train, with lots of possession & plenty of shots on goal. Unfortunately like last week, we were up against a goalkeeper who excelled himself & was covered in mud from head to foot within a few minutes. It seemed like every one of our boys had a chance to score (including Ben, Dylan, Joel & William)& it seemed inevitable that we would take the lead before long.
However, completely against the run of play, Beverley picked the ball up in our half & after a great run from one of their players, they managed to score.
One of the many attributes of our team is that they are undaunted when the other side score & we continued to attack through the remainder of the first half & the second half. However, despite raining shots on their goal, we didn't manage to get the goal we deserved & the score remained 1-0 to Beverley
Match 2
After a brief spell when the rain had stopped, the umbrellas went up again as the second match got underway. By now there were lots of muddy faces (and knees & hands etc) on both sides & it was difficult to tell what colour shirt each goalkeeper was wearing - by now, they were distinctly brown!
The second match seemed to follow the format of the first one, with Cottingham having lots of possession & chances, but no goals as reward. However, Beverley took the few chances that came their way & by the end of the first half we found ourselves 2-0 down.
In the second half we threw caution to the wind & decided to push more players into attack. We were finally rewarded when the referee gave us a penalty for a hand-ball in the area. (It seemed a bit harsh to me, but it was awarded by Beverley's referee rather than ours.) Harry took responsibility for taking the penalty & crashed it into the net. (I really laughed later in the match when the Beverley coach was shouting instructions to one of his defenders to mark Harry. He shouted "watch their number 6....... the one with a beard!!" Whilst I admit he's big for his age, he's not using my razors just yet!)
Fired on, the boys played some great football & shortly afterwards drew level after a well worked goal scored by Josh C. The goal was well deserved & it was good to see Josh's good all round play properly rewarded.
We continued to push hard for the win but despite lots of great efforts, we just couldn't score again before the whistle went. It was terrific to see the boys fight back from 2-0 to draw 2-2 & it was an all round team effort from all eleven players. Special mention must go to those boys (including Kieran, Josh L, Taylor & Ewan) who worked tirelessly to provide great defence & also to support our attacks.
We then decided to have a penalty competition, despite the goalmouth looking like a mud-bath & the penalty spot being water-logged. And just like last week, through a combination of great saves from Benson & some tremendous shots from all our players, we comfortably won the penalty shoot-out.
So, all the players left happy & looking forward to the matches still to come. And as always, the usual thanks from me & John for the terrific vocal encouragement from our supporters & for their help in setting up & dismantling the goals.
And it was great to hear that the "B" team continued their unbeaten run with 3-0 & 1-0 wins away at Swanland.
John & I arrived to set the goals up & were pleased to see that our pitch seemed OK. The goal areas were a bit muddy & likely to get worse, but overall the pitch seemed to have drained well despite the dreadful weather.
Clearly it's only the coaches, parents & supporters that are concerned by the weather - as usual the boys arrived full of smiles & ready for the challenge ahead. After a warm-up, we were ready to get going.......
Match 1
I'm not sure what our boys had eaten for breakfast, but they started like an express train, with lots of possession & plenty of shots on goal. Unfortunately like last week, we were up against a goalkeeper who excelled himself & was covered in mud from head to foot within a few minutes. It seemed like every one of our boys had a chance to score (including Ben, Dylan, Joel & William)& it seemed inevitable that we would take the lead before long.
However, completely against the run of play, Beverley picked the ball up in our half & after a great run from one of their players, they managed to score.
One of the many attributes of our team is that they are undaunted when the other side score & we continued to attack through the remainder of the first half & the second half. However, despite raining shots on their goal, we didn't manage to get the goal we deserved & the score remained 1-0 to Beverley
Match 2
After a brief spell when the rain had stopped, the umbrellas went up again as the second match got underway. By now there were lots of muddy faces (and knees & hands etc) on both sides & it was difficult to tell what colour shirt each goalkeeper was wearing - by now, they were distinctly brown!
The second match seemed to follow the format of the first one, with Cottingham having lots of possession & chances, but no goals as reward. However, Beverley took the few chances that came their way & by the end of the first half we found ourselves 2-0 down.
In the second half we threw caution to the wind & decided to push more players into attack. We were finally rewarded when the referee gave us a penalty for a hand-ball in the area. (It seemed a bit harsh to me, but it was awarded by Beverley's referee rather than ours.) Harry took responsibility for taking the penalty & crashed it into the net. (I really laughed later in the match when the Beverley coach was shouting instructions to one of his defenders to mark Harry. He shouted "watch their number 6....... the one with a beard!!" Whilst I admit he's big for his age, he's not using my razors just yet!)
Fired on, the boys played some great football & shortly afterwards drew level after a well worked goal scored by Josh C. The goal was well deserved & it was good to see Josh's good all round play properly rewarded.
We continued to push hard for the win but despite lots of great efforts, we just couldn't score again before the whistle went. It was terrific to see the boys fight back from 2-0 to draw 2-2 & it was an all round team effort from all eleven players. Special mention must go to those boys (including Kieran, Josh L, Taylor & Ewan) who worked tirelessly to provide great defence & also to support our attacks.
We then decided to have a penalty competition, despite the goalmouth looking like a mud-bath & the penalty spot being water-logged. And just like last week, through a combination of great saves from Benson & some tremendous shots from all our players, we comfortably won the penalty shoot-out.
So, all the players left happy & looking forward to the matches still to come. And as always, the usual thanks from me & John for the terrific vocal encouragement from our supporters & for their help in setting up & dismantling the goals.
And it was great to hear that the "B" team continued their unbeaten run with 3-0 & 1-0 wins away at Swanland.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Sunday 26th September vs Swanland
Today we were back to full strength with Josh having fully recovered. It was also our first home game of the season so we arrived early to assemble the goals & nets.This was made much easier with the help from numerous parents, including some who were "old hands" at getting pitches ready.
Just like last week, the weather wasn't particularly kind & we were faced with light rain before & during the first match. However this didn't dampen anybody's enthusiasm & the boys were as keen as ever to get started.
Again, we had plenty of vocal support from family & friends which made for a great atmosphere - & our support was equally matched by the supporters from Swanland.
Match 1 - Lost 1-0
It was evident from early on that we had two very evenly matched teams which resulted in two very closely fought matches. It showed that after last weeks baptism, the boys were more comfortable with the size of the pitch & most of them paced themselves for the duration of the matches.
From the sideline, it seemed to me that we probably had the lions share of the shots, but we were unlucky to be off target or faced with some good defending & goal-keeping.
After a goalless first-half we were undone in the second half by a long range curling shot from outside the penalty area which fully deserved to win the match. A great goal from Swanland!
Match 2 - Drawn 0-0
Yet again I was confronted with a sea of beaming faces all desperately keen to play & try to get on the score sheet. As we learned last week, everyone tends to slow throughout the second match as the effort involved takes its toll, so it was helpful to have 4 substitutes on the sideline who could help out.
Again there were plenty of chances at both ends but both goalies (Benson for us & Oscar for Swanland) did themselves proud & kept the attackers at bay. Our best effort resulted in their keeper "catching" the ball between his knees.
So after the draw we decided to have penalties to add to the fun. I must admit that I didn't keep track of the score, but after some terrific saves from Benson, it was evident we had won the penalty shoot-out - perhaps Fabio should send the England team down to learn from us! :-) (Somebody told me later we'd apparently won 5-1 on penalties.)
So it was another great day all round & everyone's ready for our first indoor training session of the autumn on Tuesday - when we'll have to do shooting practice!!
And the B team got their season off to a flying start with 5-0 & 4-0 wins away at Bridlington!!
Just like last week, the weather wasn't particularly kind & we were faced with light rain before & during the first match. However this didn't dampen anybody's enthusiasm & the boys were as keen as ever to get started.
Again, we had plenty of vocal support from family & friends which made for a great atmosphere - & our support was equally matched by the supporters from Swanland.
Match 1 - Lost 1-0
It was evident from early on that we had two very evenly matched teams which resulted in two very closely fought matches. It showed that after last weeks baptism, the boys were more comfortable with the size of the pitch & most of them paced themselves for the duration of the matches.
From the sideline, it seemed to me that we probably had the lions share of the shots, but we were unlucky to be off target or faced with some good defending & goal-keeping.
After a goalless first-half we were undone in the second half by a long range curling shot from outside the penalty area which fully deserved to win the match. A great goal from Swanland!
Match 2 - Drawn 0-0
Yet again I was confronted with a sea of beaming faces all desperately keen to play & try to get on the score sheet. As we learned last week, everyone tends to slow throughout the second match as the effort involved takes its toll, so it was helpful to have 4 substitutes on the sideline who could help out.
Again there were plenty of chances at both ends but both goalies (Benson for us & Oscar for Swanland) did themselves proud & kept the attackers at bay. Our best effort resulted in their keeper "catching" the ball between his knees.
So after the draw we decided to have penalties to add to the fun. I must admit that I didn't keep track of the score, but after some terrific saves from Benson, it was evident we had won the penalty shoot-out - perhaps Fabio should send the England team down to learn from us! :-) (Somebody told me later we'd apparently won 5-1 on penalties.)
So it was another great day all round & everyone's ready for our first indoor training session of the autumn on Tuesday - when we'll have to do shooting practice!!
And the B team got their season off to a flying start with 5-0 & 4-0 wins away at Bridlington!!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Sunday 19th Sept vs Elloughton Stirlings
It proved to be an early start for some of us - Harry was in his full kit (including shin pads) at 7am - & I imagine all the other boys were just as keen to get started! Unfortunately for Joshua C he'd been ill all night & couldn't make it & so everyone was going to have to play even longer than planned. (We all hope you're fit for next Sunday Joshua.)
Although it was a rainy morning itdidn't dampen anybody's enthusiasm as we travelled the short distance to Elloughton's ground at Brough. It was great to see a good crowd of supporters to cheer the boys on.
After a warm-up we were ready to kick-off in match 1. This was the first time we'd played a match as a team (we'd added some new players & lost one or two since the June tournament) & both the pitch & the goals looked ENORMOUS! And ten minutes each way over two matches proved to be a real test of fitness.
Having settled into our play & buoyed on by some great support by our crowd (plus Adele's half-time oranges) , everyone was determined to do even better in match 2, refereed by John. Even after conceding a goal early in the first half, we continued to play well & were rewarded by an equaliser from Harry. Elloughton came back to take the lead again 2-1, but despite feeling wet & tired, the boys dug in & scored again through Ben.
Playing our best football of the match , we pushed on & were very unlucky not to win. We had several shots just wide & there were a string of great saves by their goalie. A couple more minutes & I'm sure we would have won - but 2-2 was a great result against a strong team.
Every player did themselves proud & it was great to see a crowd of smiling faces at the end, who were cheered all the way by our fantastic supporters.
I also just wanted to say "thanks" to Lawrence (the Elloughton coach) & his team & supporters for a great start to our footballing journey. We were made very welcome & he's got the makings of a great team. (He mentioned to me afterwards that two of their players are soon to have trials with Hull City so we feel chuffed to have competed so well against such good opposition.) We'd love to play them again in the future.
What a fantastic first outing & we all can't wait until next Sunday for our first home match - against Swanland.
Although it was a rainy morning itdidn't dampen anybody's enthusiasm as we travelled the short distance to Elloughton's ground at Brough. It was great to see a good crowd of supporters to cheer the boys on.
After a warm-up we were ready to kick-off in match 1. This was the first time we'd played a match as a team (we'd added some new players & lost one or two since the June tournament) & both the pitch & the goals looked ENORMOUS! And ten minutes each way over two matches proved to be a real test of fitness.
Match 1
At kick-off everyone was keen to get a touch of the ball & the subs couldn't wait to have a chance to show their skills. After a very evenly matched first half (including some great saves from Benson, terrific tackling & mazy dribbling from our outfield players) we found ourselves 3-0 down following some really good goals from the opposition. Undaunted, we fought back to 3-1 & eventually 4-2 after a couple of great goals from Ben, well supported by his team-mates.
Match 2Having settled into our play & buoyed on by some great support by our crowd (plus Adele's half-time oranges) , everyone was determined to do even better in match 2, refereed by John. Even after conceding a goal early in the first half, we continued to play well & were rewarded by an equaliser from Harry. Elloughton came back to take the lead again 2-1, but despite feeling wet & tired, the boys dug in & scored again through Ben.
Playing our best football of the match , we pushed on & were very unlucky not to win. We had several shots just wide & there were a string of great saves by their goalie. A couple more minutes & I'm sure we would have won - but 2-2 was a great result against a strong team.
Every player did themselves proud & it was great to see a crowd of smiling faces at the end, who were cheered all the way by our fantastic supporters.
I also just wanted to say "thanks" to Lawrence (the Elloughton coach) & his team & supporters for a great start to our footballing journey. We were made very welcome & he's got the makings of a great team. (He mentioned to me afterwards that two of their players are soon to have trials with Hull City so we feel chuffed to have competed so well against such good opposition.) We'd love to play them again in the future.
What a fantastic first outing & we all can't wait until next Sunday for our first home match - against Swanland.
Preparing for the season ahead
A lot seems to have happened since the last posting. We've now formed two teams - the Under 8's A team coached by Simon & John & the B team coached by Jez. We finally ended up with 21 players who were keen to play, so there are 11 in the A squad & 10 in the B squad.
We continued training over the summer as everyone was keen to keep playing. Most of the summer sessions were matches rather than training. The highlight (?) of the sessions was usually the Lads versus Dads (& Mums) match - which often consisted of 18-20 lads against 4 or 5 Dads & Mums. Despite what the lads might tell you, the Dads didn't play too badly - & the Mums were even better!!
The finale of each session was always a penalty shoot-out when the lads would take penalties against one of the Dads - & the Dads would take penalties against ALL the lads (yes, all in goal at the same time!!) Needless to say who won those................................
So, as school & proper football training started again in September, we prepared for the season ahead. Both the A & B teams were placed in Division 3 of the Hull Boys Sunday Football League & received details of the fixtures, starting on 19th September & ending in November.
The A teams first match was away at Elloughton Stirlings in Brough on Sunday 19th September - & we couldn't wait to get started...........
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
The journey begins........................
Hi to anyone who stumbles across these ramblings........
I thought it might be fun(?) to record the journey of the Cottingham Rangers Under 8's football team(s) that were formed over the summer of 2010. Many of the boys involved have trained with the mini-soccer group (run by Cottingham Rangers AFC) for several years & who now have the opprtunity of becoming a team & playing in the East Riding Boys Football League.
The starting point in forming a team is to find volunteers - primarliy from the players parents - to manage, coach & administer the running of the team & all that entails. Several weeks ago I found myself volunteering (or was it being volunteered?) to coach one of the teams that is being formed this summer.
And so the journey begins...................................
I thought it might be fun(?) to record the journey of the Cottingham Rangers Under 8's football team(s) that were formed over the summer of 2010. Many of the boys involved have trained with the mini-soccer group (run by Cottingham Rangers AFC) for several years & who now have the opprtunity of becoming a team & playing in the East Riding Boys Football League.
The starting point in forming a team is to find volunteers - primarliy from the players parents - to manage, coach & administer the running of the team & all that entails. Several weeks ago I found myself volunteering (or was it being volunteered?) to coach one of the teams that is being formed this summer.
And so the journey begins...................................
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