It was a disappointing end to a very tough season for the boys, who in reality, were playing a division (or even two) above themselves in terms of ability. 2nd from bottom feels like a small achievement, especially as were bottom for so long. The boys deserved not to come bottom for their spirit and commitment to attend training and matches. There have been very few weeks where we have not had the whole squad (15) turn up for training on Wednesday evenings and the match on saturday mornings.

On behalf of Roger and myself we would like to thank the boys and their parents for their effort and commitment this season, and hope that they use it as a massive learning curve in their football development. Let’s hope for a better season, results wise, in 2010-2011.

 Ewan was given Man of the Match for his superb performance against a very quick and dangerous centre forward. Their Manager actually told Roger that it was the best performance by a defender against his centre forward all season. Well done Ewan!

The performances in the second half of the season have certainly merited us not finishing bottom, and hopefully we can end the season with a couple of wins. The spirit amongst our boys is brilliant considering the season we have had and for that I hope we can end the season on a high.

We started very brightly and forced an early corner which found Jack W who shot over the bar. A minute later James M shot just inside the box but it was high and wide. However, after 5 minutes and Henley’s first attack in our half, a miskick on the edge of the area from Jack E fell to their forward who mishit a shot that looped high and over JC to give them the lead. We responded well and after 8 minutes an attack down the left and shot from Jack W was sliced into his own net by one of their defenders. We continued to dominate possession and Louis had a shot well saved before James M went on a run from half way that ended with a shot that keeper again saved. A minute later we took the lead. A great run and cross from Louis ended with a defender kicking the ball into his own net. Jack W can claim the first goal but Louis has no chance of claiming this one – a definite OG!  However,  a minute later they had equalised. This time AD failed to clear and another lob in the air by a Henley forward sailed over JC and into the net – they should make these goals smaller, definitely not fair on the keepers! We then had a good chance to go ahead but Matt’s shot from a good James M run and cross was pushed behind for a corner. In the 16th minute they took the lead again. This time a run down the right and cross cum shot was slightly deflected in, again giving JC no chance. In the 20th minute Henley had a chance to go 4-2 ahead when Charlie C pushed a forward in the back from a throw-in to give away a penalty. JC proved he was more than a match for Henley by going the right way and saving the penalty. This seemed to jolt us back into action and for the remaining 10 minutes of the half we had all the attacking play but their keeper made some good saves and their defence held firm by clearing a few corners. At half-time the boys were told to cut out the sloppy defending and put their chances away, and they would then have every chance of beating this team. The first 10 minutes of the half saw us looking a lot more secure at the back, more composed, and being first to the ball. We attacked well and Ollie P forced a save from the keeper, and we had a few corners cleared by them. In the 11th minute we got our deserved equaliser. A ball through from James M found James H, who made a great run and slid the ball under the keeper for 3-3. A minute later James M had a left foot shot that was too high. Another James M run forced a corner which Jack W crossed back in from a clearance and it fell to James H who slotted in the corner for his second goal and a 4-3 lead. We should have extended the lead in the 18th minute, with a bit of 6-yard box pinball! First Louis shot straight at keeper, renbounded to Matt, who also shot striaght at keeper. Another chance in the 20th minute fell to James H for his hat-trick but keeper saved well. In the 23rd minute we extended our lead with the goal of the game. The ball dropped to the egde of the box and Jack W smashed a left foot shot in the top corner. Wild celebrations were short-lived 2 minutes later when the referee gave another penalty to them for a “trip/shirt pull” by Ollie P – he actually made a great tackle and clearly won the ball. This gave a chance for some action for JC and he responded superbly by parrying a fiercely hit penalty. Unfortunately the penalty taker reacted quicker than our defenders to the rebound and slotted home to make it 5-4 – game on!! A nervous few minutes followed until the 28th minute when a good ball down the line from Matt found James H, who crossed and Charlie C side-footed in at the near post for 6-4. In the final minute a kick-out by their keeper only reached James H who slid the ball forward for Andrew K to run on to and slot past the keeper for his first ever Purley goal. A 7-4 win was fully deserved, and if we cut-out the sloppy defending and continue to pass and finish like today for the remaining 5 games then we have every chance of moving up the table a few places. Matt Allen was given man of the match for his great efforts on the right side of midfield.

In the first 20 minutes the game took place in the midfield, with lots of throw-ins and some good defending restricting the strikers from both teams. The first shot came from a Pirates midfielder from outside the box but lacked any power to trouble JC. We got our first corner after 20 mins whcih JM took but no-one in the box to get on the end of it. In 22nd minute we finally broke the deadlock. Ollie got forward from his central defender position but was tackled on edge of box. However, the ball broke kindly to Louis who shot on the turn to make it 1-0. The Pirates quickly attacked us but a good tackle on edge of our box from Ollie and clearance up field found JM, who in turn passed to James H to run clean through on goal but Pirates keeper came out quickly and dived at James H feet to make a great save. In the last few minutes before half-time the Pirates were on top and forced three corners in a row, which were cleared by us. At half-time we told the lads to keep competing, be frist to the ball,  and improve the passing and we would get our rewards. They started the second half well and forced a good save from JC low down at his feet. James H started to get a bit more of the ball and run at their defence, although it was well marshalled by an excellent peformance from ”The Tank”. However, James H got free of him in the 7th minute and from the penalty spot shot into the net for 2-0. In the 10th minute another good run from JH and cross into box, saw Louis get to the ball with their keeper, it broke free to Liam who slotted it into the corner for 3-0. A nice bithday present for his 12th birthday! The next 15 minutes produced a lot of midfield play, with Matt, Ewan and Ollie at the back snuffing out any Pirate attacks, leaving JC little to do in goal. Luke and Louis were tackling well in midfield, but we lacked some good passes to the front 2. In the 28th minute a good run from Luke ended with him being fouled just outside the box. JM stepped up and smashed the ball over the wall and into the roof of the net for a classy strike to make it 4-0. A good game ending with a Blues win, but Pirates can be proud of the way they played, especially “The Tank” at the back. Man of the match for Blues was Liam for his goal, hardwork up front, and it was his birthday!