Wildcats

Wildcats escaped the rain on Sunday morning as they took to Hardy Farm in strong numbers again! We are almost at capacity now, which is fantastic to see.

The girls have all been working hard and their confidence and skills are growing each session.

We've been working on more match based tactics with our older group playing invasion games adapted to suit a footballing scenario. Games such as British bulldog, dragons eggs and shark tank! Finishing sessions with a small side match.

Our younger girls have been working on their basic ball control with dribbling and shooting games. Also focussing on their listening skills and awareness whilst introducing them to gentle invasion games.

All of the girls have improved their stamina and fitness without realising it, and they seem to love what they do. We even had a little visit from a player from the women's team and one of their coaches, who were very impressed with the progress the girls are making.

If you wish to book on to a session, please follow the link below.

http://faevents.thefa.com/book?sessionid=154103

WD&C U10 Harriers v Altrincham U10 Warriors

This was our first ever semi-final and we were up against a friendly foe in the Warriors who’d turned us over twice in recent games. The previous matches had started evenly but pursuit of glory had been our undoing and a more disciplined performance was requested from and delivered by the Harriers to find us through to the final. The spring air at Hardy Farm brought on a heightened state of defensive awareness in the trio of Kayne, Digby and Tyler who were each complementary ingredients in a delicious midfield recipe of industry, power and skill. Max arrived shorn of his mane but gave a lion like performance in defence and Jacob was ever looking the threat up front with a couple of half-chances flashing wide. Vaughn came on to frighten the opposition with his direct running style whilst Lucas gave a generous performance to his team mates with his passing and his willingness to engage in the high press. Digby, who took over nets in second half, gave the save of the day as he threw himself in front of the onrushing striker when a moment’s hesitation would have cost us dear. Max H giving his usual airborne performance in goal in the first half went to ground in the second half but on each occasion managed to sneak the ball away from the forest of legs lying around him. The first goal, which came at the end of the first half, was open to interpretation – either Jacob missed it or it was an outrageous dummy that then wrongfooted the goalkeeper, but there was no doubt in the intention with Tyler’s second as he was released to bear down on goal and apply a crisp finish whilst under pressure. It was a great team performance but PoM goes to Ollie for his mature performance in defence which demonstrated the rare ability to create space and pick out the right pass when under pressure.

Goals: Tyler (2)
PoM: Ollie

Broadheath Central U10 Red Star v WD&C U10 Hawks

Hawks came up against a big, physical Red Star team who went ahead after a long ball fell kindly for a home striker. But Hawks fought back and carved out several good chances with fluent passing moves. A goal down at half time, Bertie's spectacular effort flew into the bottom corner for an equaliser. But the home team's physicality saw them grab a couple of goals as Hawks struggled to create chances in the second half.

WD&C U13 v Sale United U13 11-1

Starting Line-up: Alfie (GK), Cameron, Zach, Louis, William, Ted, Frankie, Kenta, Mark, George Subs: Jacob, Tom, Isaac, Kofi (NB started with 10 due to opposition initially only having 9 players)

West hit 11 as they put on a relentless display of attacking football against a depleted Sale Utd.

With seven different scorers (including a Sale defender) and countless other chances denied by an excellent shot-stopping display by the Sale keeper, this could easily have been one for the record books.

Sale could initially only field 9 players and with West starting with 10 the match remained goalless for a long period. There was some lovely attacking play, but an inspired display by the Sale keeper saw George, William, Kenta and Ted denied.

Chances came and went as West poured forward and it looked worryingly like it may be one of those days.

But then Ted slotted the ball through to Frankie who made no mistake, hammering the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the box. Within a minute it was 2-0 with Frankie latching onto a loose pass in midfield to score a near identical goal.

It was just reward, but suddenly Sale woke up and Alfie, having had nothing to do, had to be alert to make two good saves to preserve the lead.

The Sale revival was short lived as West began to pile the pressure on the visitor’s defence. After William and Mark had contrived between them to miss an open goal, George, who was proving a constant irritant to the Sale defence, showed them how it is done. Jacob found him in acres of space and he took his time to slot the ball home.

Isaac and Tom came on and almost immediately combined to send Tom through but again the Sale keeper pulled off a great save. But Tom wasn’t going to be denied and on the stroke of half-time he turned on the edge of the box and curled a lovely shot into the far corner.

The second half started immediately with a goal as Isaac released Ted and his left foot cross was deflected past the keeper by a Sale defender.

The floodgates opened – just as the heavens opened with an unexpected hail storm – and it looked like West were going to score every time they came forward. Ted challenged the keeper for a loose ball and when William laid it back for Isaac he made no mistake as he coolly slotted in the sixth.

William and Cameron went close before Ted finally got his goal. He was found by Tom on the halfway line and turned his defender before racing clear and finding the net.

A penalty following William being brought down as he raced goalwards gave Isaac his second goal minutes later.

George and Frankie went close to adding to the goalfest before Sale got the consolation their effort deserved. A free kick on the edge of the box was parried out by Alfie but the Sale player reacted quickest to find the empty net.

But it was a mere distraction from West’s insatiable appetite for goals.

Ted raced to a hat-trick with a quickfire double thanks to good interplay with first Kenta and then George. Ted then almost turned provider as he combined with Louis raced forward and pulled the ball across goal for William, but he couldn’t turn the ball into the empty net as he came under pressure from the defender.

But William wasn’t going to be denied his goal and on the full time whistle he picked up a loose ball in the box and turned to hammer home.

Great display by the boys with everyone contributing and enjoying their football – despite the weather!

Goals: Ted (3), Frankie (2), Isaac (2), George, Tom, William

Brookland U15 Dragons v WD&C U15 Magpies 7-4

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness”. I think a tale of 2 halves pretty much sums up this exciting game. All of the traits mentioned above featured in this game,  but what the Dickens was going on in the first 10 mins of the 2nd half remains a mystery of classic proportions. What preceded it in the first half shall probably remain a season highlight.

Challenged by the management team to engage, be more combative,  press and jostle for every 50:50, the Magpies started like a beast possessed. An early corner was swung in and met by a near post header from Tyler to give the away team a deserved lead. It was so effective that the Dragons repeated the move for a quick version of their own! “Stick it on the big lad's head” was the shout. A delivery akin to UPS efficiency was met with a suitably smart header from their high tower for a swift reply.1-1.

The Magpies, who have resembled flightless birds of Dodo proportions in recent times,  re-gathered their momentum and pressed like a medieval thumb screw. A typically high press coughed up a chance to a prowling Josh Fookes to slot in for 1-2 from the edge of their box.  Zeno, our mercurial non-Brazilian winger, glided in off his left foot and flank to pick out his favourite top bin for a Z classic. 1-3. The touchline crew pinched each other to check for dream status.  Sweet dreams were soon punctured with a poachers near post finish to peg us back to 2-3. The Magpies genuinely puffed out their chest and squawked loudly to get under the Dragon's thick skin. Conor ghosted out of his holding role to deftly plant an assured left foot arrow into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. 2-4 @HT. The best 40 mins of football in recent memory played against the undefeated champions elect should give the boys some self belief and a little confidence that has been in short supply since the re-start.

The less said about the next 10 minutes the better. Onlookers could be forgiven for thinking that instead of rattling tea cups at half time, I offered up sedative laced tea and biscuits. 4 goals in about 7 minutes from the wounded Dragons showed us that football is a concentration test for 80 ish minutes. And they are top of the league for a reason. A few may have  got carried away by the halftime dreamland..

A 5th straight unanswered 2nd half goal in about the 50th minute seemed to kick our re boot back into action, but by then, the slippery Dragons had scorched the new, downy growth on the Magpies wings.

4-7 it remained at FT with Potm Fin keeping Magpie dignity in tact with a string of strong handed saves to at least keep it respectable.

Spring is in the air, and if we can take these green shoots into our next fixture, some positive results should follow soon..

PoM: Fin

WD&C U17 v Sale Communities U17 Falcons  4-7

On a beautiful Sunday morning West's U17s licked their lips at the prospect of playing our closest league rivals with them with only 9 men as half the Sale team had parked at Jacksons Boat and attempted to gatecrash the U15s match as they played an away game down by the water. Unfortunately sale dragged out the warm up, the toss, the cards until all the players arrived and while our muscles had gone cold Sale started like lightning, the rapid run from the river having clearly done them good. Within 20 minutes West were 4-0 down and reeling but the fight back ensued and 4-0 became 4-2. A super fast and actually quite good Sale striker netted his 5th but we competed and at 6-4 looked the more likely. Unfortunately we were unable to force any more and conceded one more the deadly striker. Final score 7-4. Player of the match Basim who also scored with 2 for Daniel and 1 for Nic.

PoM: Basim