U12 Blues punished for lazy start!

Posted in U12 Blue News ... February 9th, 2010

Back to the league on Saturday against AFC Henley, another team in the bottom three, and a chance to get some points on the board. However, most of the boys only seemed to realise they were on a field playing football about 6 minutes into the game, by which time we were 2-0 down. Some very sloppy play led to them opening the scoring after 1 minute. A shot was parried away by JC but the follow-up was toe-poked past him. We had one break in the next few minutes that James H toe-poked and keeper easily saved. We then conceded a lot of possession and lacked any ball-winning skills. We were being completely out-muscled all over the pitch. It was no surprise that in the sixth minute they made it 2-0. A quick break down the right hand side and a cross into the box left their centre-forward an easy tap-in, as we had no defenders running back with them. After 10 minutes Charlie Arrowsmith started to get on the ball a lot more in centre of the park, and on one attack AD shot but keeper saved. He quickly caught us on the break with his kick away, and it needed JC to push a shot behind for a corner. We got our first corner after 15 minutes but could not make anything of it. Henley continued to be quicker to the ball and got past our players too easily. They forced another corner in 18th minute which was excellently cleared away by Ewan. In the 22nd minute they made it 3-0. A tame shot from edge of box that JC tried to push away for a corner resulted in an easy tap-in for their forward. In the 25th minute we managed (somehow!) to pull a goal back. The keeper kicked the ball out and it fell to CA, who shot back over his head into the empty net. Half-time came and the boys received a rather strong talking to from Roger (the parents said he lost it big-time BUT IT WAS NEEDED they agreed).  The second half saw a totally different game (Roger’s team talk/rage DEFINITELY worked), with the boys getting first to the ball, tackling properly and with purpose, and playing some football. After 2 minutes JH was put through but excellently tackled. In the next 13 minutes we forced 5 corners, had shots saved by the keeper or cleared by their defence, and AD had a great shot from egde of box that rattled the far post, but we could not find the net. At the 5th attempt on 15 mins the corner came over and was cleared to penalty spot but our centre back Jack E was there to rifle a shot back into the net for his first ever goal for Purley. Great strike Jack. We then piled on the pressure to try and  get the equaliser but could not, and ended the game losing 3-2. We certainly paid for a very poor start to the game, as this game was there for us to win. Good performances again from Ewan and Jack E at the back, and AD in the second half, but man of the match went to Luke H for his effort, tackling and all-round game. We now have tough games coming up against the top two teams so we must play from the off if we are to compete against them.