U14 OMBL vs Botley
Sept 12, 2010 16:34:34 GMT
Post by robin on Sept 12, 2010 16:34:34 GMT
Oxford City Colts U14 Match Report
12th September 2010
Oxford City Colts 6 – Botley 1
Bright sunshine greeted the players on the opening day of the new season. City were largely unchanged from the side who played so well in the second part of the previous campaign although for this match they were missing leading scorer Jack Kent and midfield dynamo Tyler Walker. Botley, however, were rather worse off arriving with only 10 players. And so with a sense of fairness in mind, City withdrew one player to make it an even 10 vs. 10.
From the first whistle City showed a greater sense of determination and won most of the early possession. The central midfield partnership of Joe Roberson and Ben Proper controlled the game moving the ball effectively down both flanks. Tom Homer and Adam Martin on the right and Daniel Dennis and Liam Williams on the left gave the Botley defence plenty to think about in the early minutes as City played some outstanding football. Ben Tombs opened the scoring with a majestic strike from just outside the penalty area which gave the keeper no chance as it sailed into the roof of the net. The second followed shortly after as Alex Ball stuck his shot low and hard into the corner of the Botley goal. And just on the stroke of half time, City extended their lead to 3-0 as Ben Tombs calmly slotted the ball home at the far post.
At the break the boys were told to keep their concentration and not consider the match already won. With City playing into the breeze, the second half continued in much the same vein although the boys were not able to add to their half time lead. Indeed it was the visitors who scored next; a long shot from outside the box coming back off the bar with the Botley attack reacting quickly to scramble the ball into the City net.
Any hope the visitors had of getting back into the match was, however, soon extinguished as City scored again within a minute of the restart. Moving quickly down the left flank the ball came to Liam Williams who delivered a perfect cross for Alex Ball to climb above the Botley defence and steer the ball into the corner of the net. City now comfortably ahead could be forgiven for allowing Botley a little more space in midfield but their strikers were extremely well marshalled by centre backs Stephen Lawson and Brian Muinami both of whom read the game well and intercepted almost every forward pass.
City were not finished and in the last 10 minutes added two more goals. Ben Proper powered his way into the box before shooting past the keeper in what was a just reward for a terrific performance with Joe Roberson in midfield. And in the dying seconds Alex Ball completed a well-deserved hat trick when he poked the ball home from close range.
So an excellent way to start the new season. It was not simply the result but the way in which the team played. The boys have built on some excellent performances at the end of last season and improved, now moving the ball down both flanks and crossing into dangerous areas. If they can continue to play this style of football it should be an exciting season. Finally many thanks to our opponents Botley, to Tom Morgan for an excellent job as referee and to Mike Dennis for running the line.
Team: J Russell, A Martin, B Muinami, S Lawson, L Williams, T Homer, B Proper, J Roberson, D Dennis. B Tombs, A Ball
12th September 2010
Oxford City Colts 6 – Botley 1
Bright sunshine greeted the players on the opening day of the new season. City were largely unchanged from the side who played so well in the second part of the previous campaign although for this match they were missing leading scorer Jack Kent and midfield dynamo Tyler Walker. Botley, however, were rather worse off arriving with only 10 players. And so with a sense of fairness in mind, City withdrew one player to make it an even 10 vs. 10.
From the first whistle City showed a greater sense of determination and won most of the early possession. The central midfield partnership of Joe Roberson and Ben Proper controlled the game moving the ball effectively down both flanks. Tom Homer and Adam Martin on the right and Daniel Dennis and Liam Williams on the left gave the Botley defence plenty to think about in the early minutes as City played some outstanding football. Ben Tombs opened the scoring with a majestic strike from just outside the penalty area which gave the keeper no chance as it sailed into the roof of the net. The second followed shortly after as Alex Ball stuck his shot low and hard into the corner of the Botley goal. And just on the stroke of half time, City extended their lead to 3-0 as Ben Tombs calmly slotted the ball home at the far post.
At the break the boys were told to keep their concentration and not consider the match already won. With City playing into the breeze, the second half continued in much the same vein although the boys were not able to add to their half time lead. Indeed it was the visitors who scored next; a long shot from outside the box coming back off the bar with the Botley attack reacting quickly to scramble the ball into the City net.
Any hope the visitors had of getting back into the match was, however, soon extinguished as City scored again within a minute of the restart. Moving quickly down the left flank the ball came to Liam Williams who delivered a perfect cross for Alex Ball to climb above the Botley defence and steer the ball into the corner of the net. City now comfortably ahead could be forgiven for allowing Botley a little more space in midfield but their strikers were extremely well marshalled by centre backs Stephen Lawson and Brian Muinami both of whom read the game well and intercepted almost every forward pass.
City were not finished and in the last 10 minutes added two more goals. Ben Proper powered his way into the box before shooting past the keeper in what was a just reward for a terrific performance with Joe Roberson in midfield. And in the dying seconds Alex Ball completed a well-deserved hat trick when he poked the ball home from close range.
So an excellent way to start the new season. It was not simply the result but the way in which the team played. The boys have built on some excellent performances at the end of last season and improved, now moving the ball down both flanks and crossing into dangerous areas. If they can continue to play this style of football it should be an exciting season. Finally many thanks to our opponents Botley, to Tom Morgan for an excellent job as referee and to Mike Dennis for running the line.
Team: J Russell, A Martin, B Muinami, S Lawson, L Williams, T Homer, B Proper, J Roberson, D Dennis. B Tombs, A Ball