SYL Prem Elite versus Sandgate

Another very good contest today, against a confident Sandgate team, who knocked Leatherhead out of the League Cup last week.

The wind and slope on the pitch made it a tricky first half for the defence and goalkeeper, but at 1-0 we were very much still in it. Throughout the first half, we created some good chances and 1-0 would have been fair, however a well taken second goal made the task for the second half difficult. 

More movement and a harder work rate got us back into the game and on the whole we deserved to win and were much the better team. We didn't win, because we conceded two very good goals and didn't take those chances in the first half. Still, it's all part of the learning curve and we're learning fast.

We play the same team in the cup next week and I know the players will be right up for that one and will want to prove a point.

Sunday 23rd September 2012: home match vs Carshalton Athletic

Although it was great to put 8 goals passed Hawley last week, our performance vs Carshalton Athletic today was full of character and resilience in dreadful conditions. In the end our belief, desire and ability to pull together as a team, gave us the extra 2 goals we needed to win the match.

It was an important win in many respects, but mainly because it builds on the result last week and forms the basis of the consistent run that we need. Training and improving week-to-week is the key to our individual and collective development and results will follow.

Carshalton did start more quickly than us and we did ride our luck in the first 20 minutes. That said, we looked good on the break and inevitably that's where the first goal came from. The new system is enabling us to attack with at least 4 forwards every time and it's still exhilarating watching our attacking play.

Of course, effective forward play is only possible if we have midfield and defensive solidity when we do not have the ball and we are improving all the time in this respect, although high balls into the box remain a slight area for improvement (...we dealt with this quite well considering the conditions).

A key moment in the match was Adam's save when the score was 2-1. I'm not sure I've ever used the word "incredible" in this context, but not only did I think it was a goal all the way (as did the Carshalton forward and their entire bench), I didn't think he'd get anywhere near it, let alone turn it around the post! It was a key moment as at 3-1 down we would have struggled to come back.

So "marching on." Sandgate (away) next up in the league on Sunday, so let's train well (playing through the midfield is the topic this week) and build on this performance. We are still "work in progress" but we seem to be improving consistently. Let's keep it going in training. 

"The most important game is always the next one" as they say!

Farnborough FC (under 15s) vs Hawley Raiders

What a difference a week makes! After the disappointment of last week, a steady performance this week saw us come up against out local rivals Hawley. 

Bragging rights were certainly at stake and with the game starting quickly it was Farnborough who opened the scoring on 6 minutes. Rutty won the ball deep and carried it out playing a good ball to Dan Myuambi. Dan turned well and played a great through ball to Ryan who controlled it well and shot across the Hawley GK to put us 1-0 to the good. 

One soon became two when Scott B drilled in a great free kick which Rutty headed on only for Ollie to jump highest and score with a great headed finish. Yes Rutty and Ollie headed the ball. A great start and some good football being played. 

Before the watch said 10 minutes, we added a third when Ollie ran on to a good through ball to finish with a good left-footed shot giving the GK no chance. The next 10 minutes saw some great possession football being played by Farnborough with Ryan nearly adding a fourth by turning and hitting the cross bar with a great shot. 

Hawley being Hawley started to get back in the game and 2 goals in 10 minutes from their left winger brought them back into the match when we were caught in possession on both occassions. The good thing was that we didn't panic and we kept the ball well moving it quickly causing Hawley to do a lot of running and chasing. 

Half time 3-2. 

Changes at half time saw Tom replace Adam, Ben replace Rutty, Josh O'Relly replace Matt, Ed replace Dan, and Tom replace Callum. Within 2 minutes of the second half starting Tom B scored the important goal of the game when he turned about 20 yards out, took a touch and drilled a great shot into the far corner with the GK getting his hand to the ball but failing to keep it out. 

The next goal was goal of the game and contender for goal of the season when Ryan picked the ball up about 30 yards out at an angle to the goal. He hit a shot that went like an arrow straight into the top far corner with the GK not even moving his feet. An excellent strike to seal another good performance for Ryan. 

Dan M then came back on for Rory, who was struggling with blisters to make an impression straight away. Good play by Scott saw him pass a through ball to the feet of Tom B who played a first time ball through to Dan who saw his first shot saved by the GK only to finish the rebound. 

Matt Cook came back on for the injured Okey with Ollie coming off and then going back on for Ryan.

The last 10 minutes saw a goal for both teams when Dan M cooly slotted home his second and Hawley scored the final goal of the game with a good header from a great cross. 

At the final whistle the boys, although tired, were happy with a fantastic performance to gain their first points of the new season. Both Paul and I thought the boys were fantastic today and deserved to win by such a margin. Well done all and Happy Birthday to James, Scott and Ryan. 

Farnborough FC (under 15s) vs Hawley Raiders FC

Going into the season with a new squad, playing in one of the most competitive divisions in the country and only a couple of friendlies and training sessions together, I expected at least a month to adjust and develop a system and a way of playing that suited our new team. However, in our first friendly versus Oxford City I saw enough to encourage me that we might develop more quickly than first anticipated.

Two defeats followed, but there were some positives to take from both games and apart from a knock in confidence, I there wasn't much to worry about.

In our second league match today, we took apart our boggie team - Hawley Raiders - scoring EIGHT goals in the process. Some of those goals were superb and with players in our squad who have that level of ability, it makes the rest of the matches we have ahead of us very exciting indeed.

That said, we are still very much "work in progress." I'd like to eliminate all break away/counter attacking goals completely. We like possession and our game relies on it, but if we do lose the ball we must work very hard to win it back and certainly delay the forward momentum of the opposition until our defence is back "in balance."

This is the "beginning of the beginning," so we still have a lot to get through in training. Matches and results are only the result of hard work in training. That's where we will really make the difference. 

We'll finish our defending topics this week and move into transition and playing through the midfield. After that, we can move onto wide play and forward topics.

I'm pleased to say that Ben Bartlett (FA Regional Dveelopment Manager) will be taking a session with our squad on Monday. In my opinion, Ben is one of the best coaches in the country and it's great that he supports our squad with the these sessions.

So, marching on. We have Carshalton next Sunday and if we can use today's win as the basis to work from, we can get a run going and build some momentum, for the challenges ahead.

Pre-season vs Oxford City

A very pleasing start to the season with a 1-0 win over a technically competent Oxford City side who play against most of the academies on a regular basis.

We were bedding in a new system of play (4-4-2 when not in possession) in order to give us more of a compact shape defensively and asking the players to play in a variety of positions, which is great for their development and essential if we are to use the squad to it's full effect.

After just one training session, I was pleased to see the players applying what we said in the match and looking organised. As we develop this system further, it will make us hard to beat. With so many attacking players in the squad, I feel confident going forward that we will create good chances. I still want our philosophy to be to out-score the opposition, rather than concede less and this system will give us the balance we need.

The area where we did look a bit "pre-season," was where we tended to rush our final ball through to the forwards and the quality tended to suffer - especially from midfield. This was similar in terms of our end product, as we created the best chances and could have won 3-0 if we had taken our one-on-ones.

However, that will come and all in all a very useful exercise. Next up: Staines on Wednesday.