Great Performance / Bad Result

LRFC Cougars (1) V (2) Fintan FC

Naunton Park

After the Painswick game i remember saying to the lads that we won't play that well again and lose. Turns out i was a liar. 

Our recent performances have not matched the results. That we lost this game 2-1 after dominating the match and passing the ball so well is so frustrating and disappointing. Fintan are a strong side and probably physically stronger than we are, where we excelled at the weekend was in the passing and movement. Dominating possession and playing large periods of the game in their half. Having said that for all our possession we did not register many shots and at times were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net. 

We went a goal behind from a free-kick. There could be some debate as to whether it was a free-kick or not but it was given. The Fintan striker struck a fierce shot that hit the wall but then dipped towards the goal. Will could only react and parry the shot down, Fintan reacted quickest and following up scored from the rebound. 1-0 down. 

We continued to play our way, Jorge playing up front started to come deep and look for the ball to great effect, Tom and Louis were combining on the left with Freddie playing left back covering the defence behind them. Centrally Jacob and Luca started well winning ball and driving forward at every opportunity. With the slope on the pitch and wind there was not much action coming down our right. For all our possession we still failed to register a shot of any note. Fintan conversely when they had the ball came as us very quickly with the intention of having a strike on goal. Very similar to Painswick, when in range have a go. 

The performance though was excellent. The improvement in heading and challenging for the ball has been immense and so good to see. We were winning a lot of ball in midfield with Luca in particular winning a good proportion of headers, George and Lewis (a really solid centre back pairing) winning most of what came there way. Freddie who was MotM was excellent, using his body so well to keep possession and dance out of trouble. Against a physical opposition he gave us a real presence in midfield. having started at left back Freddie moved into centre midfield when Jacob succumbed to a groin injury. This saw Dan G come on at left back. Dan had a great game back there against a strong opposition and when he has the confidence and makes the decision to drive into a tackle there is frankly very little that will stop him. The first half played out 1-0 with us having dominated the game albeit without really troubling their keeper.

The second half started and we started as we had finished the first. Tom and Louis continued to be the outlet with intricate passing and some nice tekkers. The equaliser when it came was from playing the ball into the box. Sam and Will linking up on the right, the ball played across arriving at Louis feet who despatched it past the keeper. 1-1. We should have been able to push on and seal the points.

As we pushed on into the Fintan half they regained possession and broke.Their striker broke clear of the defence and put the ball past Will leaving him no chance. It was brave keeping as he had been clattered not long before in a similar one-v-one.

With around 5 minutes remaining we pressed for the equalising goal again but to no avail.

The game finished 2-1. 

There were strong performances across the team, George and Lewis forming a formidable and settled centre back pairing. The full backs adept on the ball and able to push forward to support the midfield when the opportunity arises. Playing three centre-midfielders is also working for us, with one holding player and two that can roam and pick up the ball this is a high energy position but one that we have the athletes to play in. Luca and Tom were excellent playing similar positions in different ways. Louis on the wing was a constant threat, got his goal, and takes a cracking corner. We had a great moment from one such corner, the ball was fired into the box, Luca met the ball with his head, it his the post and as he followed in with a shot the keeper parried it away. It was a great moment not least of all because we won the ball in the air from a corner! 

We are playing well at the moment but need to be braver in front of goal. It's as simple as that. If you don't shoot you don't score, if you don't by a lottery ticket you don't win the raffle, you need to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince....? 

We won't play that well again and lose (crosses fingers nervously).

One final comment, as a team we need to keep our cool whatever the provocation verbal or otherwise. It happens in games and if we lose our cool we are the ones that will be punished. Just walk away. The referee is always right too and they never change their mind.   

Final League Match - Wednesday 2nd April

Our final league match of the season is against Churchdown Panthers at Churchdown school, parking is at Parton Road. With kick-off at 1800hrs we should aim to meet for 17:30 or as close as possible. Please allow time to get through the inevitable traffic.

 

The squad for this game, seriously down to the bare bones, will be...

1. Will F 
2. George
3. Lewis
4. Freddie
5. Dan G 
6. Sam
7. Louis
8. Luca
9. Tom
10. Jorge

But to the rescue come the LRFC U13's Sharks.

League rules permit players from the younger age group, signed to the same club, playing in the year above. We therefore welcome Seth, Daniel and Jack to the squad for this evening's match.
These games are normally pretty easy so we should be fine.... :)

Sunday 30th March - Home V Fintan FC

This Sunday along with it being Mothering Sunday and the day the clocks changed it is also our penultimate match of the season and final home game versus Fintan FC. The game is to be played at Naunton Park with kick-off at 2pm. As we are the home team we should meet from 1:15 to set up the pitch. 

Looking at the result and match report from the last time we played them this will be a tough fixture against a well organised side. We will need to play with the same intensity, pace and drive that we did on Sunday against Painswick. 

The squad for the game will be

1. Will F

2. George

3. Lewis

4. Freddie

5. Sam

6. Ben

7. Luca

8. Jacob

9. Jorge

10. Will T

11. Louis

12. Dan G

13. Tom

Missing for this fixture will be Dan H (snapchatting girls in Germany), Max who still thinks cricket is better than football and Will D who continues to struggle with his injury. Callum is TBC. 

Painswick Pick Pocket...

Painswick Youth (1) v (0) LRFC Cougars
King George V Playing Field, Bisley.

We have not played as well as we did in this match in a long time.
That we didn't get the result is typical of our season. We pass the
ball beautifully, have a defence that is settled and working well
together, a tenacious and technical midfield, have a keeper that can
make tremendous saves and we create chances. What we need to do is
start taking them.

We lined up in a 4-5-1 formation the back 4 having been the same for
the last few matches, Sam on the right, George and Lewis the centre
backs and Freddie on the left. The midfield was set out with 2 wingers
and 3 central. Will T was on the right, Louis on the left. The
instruction was for Louis to stay really wide as an outlet and for
Will T to tuck in and try to get up alongside Dan, up front, and help
the attack when possible. In the middle Jacob, Ben and Luca. The
latter deployed to man-mark the influential Painswick midfielder. To
stick to him and shut him out of the game. Ben and Jacob to pick up
loose balls and drive forward from deep. Dan up front to latch onto
through balls and drive at the defence.

On the bench, Jorge, Callum and Dan G. This was a difficult game for
substitutes as with the game so finely balanced for so long it meant
that making changes for rotation purposes was not feasible. The way
the team was playing, and for so long at 0-0, changes were only made
when players succumbed to injury or fatigue.

With Painswick taking kick-off the lads were instructed to start fast
and strong. To win the ball within 5 seconds. This was as much with
making sure we started the game awake and didn't make it really hard
for ourselves by conceding early which we have done on more than one
occasion this season.

Painswick did come at us, as expected, but we matched them. We were
defending deep as Painswick came down the right. Freddie was in action
immediately and showed great strength and quick feet on more than one
occasion to thwart attacks.

In the centre Lewis and George were solid and with Lewis behind him
George was able to stretch his legs and drive through into midfield
and beyond on more than one occasion. This was a battering ram
performance from, to quote from Hong Kong Phooey, a very outwardly
"mild mannered" boy. Sam on the right did not see as much action with
Painswick not really using that wing but whenever play was switched he
was equal to the threat and as the game progressed was able to push
forward more in support of midfield.

The midfield today were out-standing. Jacob was as good as we have
seen. He was his disruptive best but also able to, with Ben and Luca
doing more defensive jobs, able to push on drive into the attack. In
the second half he made a brilliant run from deep, evading tackles and
slaloming into the penalty area to see his shot fly just wide of the
upright. Alongside Jacob, Ben was a steady hand, providing the
defensive platform for Jacob to push on. Ben is so economical in
possession and makes excellent decisions of who to pass to. This was
another assured performance. Has there been a member of this squad who
has had a more consistent season?

The midfield trio was completed with Luca starting in this position
for the third week. We used a tactic we have not used before with a
man-marking job. The Painswick midfielder, number 7, has been a strong
player whenever we have played them before. We needed to mark him out
of the game. Luca was put in this role to use his pace, energy and
improving physicality. He did a sterling job shutting down the supply
and keeping close when he was on the ball. The time he did lose him
saw a shot crash off our bar with Will alive to the rebound. A
warning.

As the game continued Luca was able to get on the ball more and link
with the wide men and strikers, a more orthodox central midfield role.
This was an MotM performance capped by finishing the game as the
striker. With Dan picking up a thigh injury we switched Luca to the
point of attack. At 1-0 down and late in the game he made a surging
run under pressure from the defence into the penalty area to see his
shot deflected out to the right wing. Not giving up he chased it and
crossed the ball for Jacob, who had made up a huge amount of ground,
to head just wide. An excellent performance full of energy and
discipline today.

The two wingers; Louis on the left and Will T on the right. Louis
instructed to stay wide as a real out-and-out winger and Will to
support the attack as much as possible. With our early attacks coming
down the right Will was very involved. Linking well with Dan up front
and Jacob and Ben centrally he was pushing into the box at every
opportunity. A real bustling performance and one where he was unlucky
not to score himself. Louis had a particularly good second half as the
game stretched, his skill and technique seeing him get into great
crossing positions and deliver. He also took the corners and this is
something that he should do more. Consistent quality delivery.

We made two changes in this match, due to injury and fatigue rather
than for rotation purposes. This is difficult in this division
particularly when games are so close. We lost Dan to a thigh issue,
replacing him with Jorge. A different striker but one who knits the
midfield and wingers together. Jorge had a fantastic chance that, if
anything, he connected too well with. We were awarded a free kick
outside the area of the right. Jacob flights the ball high into the
area towards the back post. Jorge struck it on the volley to see the
ball whistle narrowly over the cross bar. Of only he had shinned it!
We then lost Will T, also to thigh issues. This saw Sam push into
midfield and Dan G come on at right back. Callum was an unused
substitute today, this is difficult as all the lads want to play but
when games are this close decisions taken need to be for the team and
not in interest of pure rotation.

Dan, starting as the striker, had very little to feed on. Picking up
the ball deep was leaving him too much to do to take it on himself and
when he did break from the defence our midfield was unable to match
his pace to support him. It is very frustrating being the striker in
matches that play like this.

Will T, similar to the last time we played Painswick, had another,
"it's only a flesh wound" moment. Before the game he had rubbed what
smelled like an entire tube of deep heat into his quads to help loosen
them up (either that or to ward off evil spirits). Shortly after half
time he had to come off as the stiffness finally caught up with him.
After 10 minutes rest he asked if he could come back on, standing up
and unable to bend his legs or walk properly he said that he would be
alright. Great to see such commitment but there was no way he was
going to be able to come back on.

Will, in goal, did not have many saves to make. He marshalled his area
well and performed a sweeper role again to good effect. With the team
pressing the opposition he was called to make clearances outside his
box on more than one occasion and rather than just thumping it long
was playing long passes to team mates. He made a good save from the
Painswick shot that hit the bar and then early in the second half kept
us in the game with another great save.

But we lost.

Painswick scored from the right wing and a thunder bolt of a shot. The
ball struck on the volley and flying into the opposite corner. No
chance for Will in goal. 1-0 and how the game would finish. There was
still 15 minutes to play and we did create further chances, Jorges
volley, Luca's run and shot, Jacobs header all while we were
trailing. What we were unable to do was get that final touch. That bit
of luck.

At the final whistle it felt, more than in any other game, that we
lost points that were ours for the taking. This is a very good
Painswick team, we have never beaten them, they are in the cup final
and up there in the league and for the majority of yesterday we bossed
the game.

We know that we can pass the ball, what we did yesterday was compete.
We were challenging for headers and winning them. Freddie, Jacob, Ben,
George and Luca all won headers that only a couple of weeks ago we
would not have been going for. George and Lewis winning headers from
goal kicks and putting us immediately on the front foot. We were
getting onto the ball from corners and free kicks.

There was even.......... Communication. Early in the match there were
a couple of occasions where we gave the ball away cheaply as two of
our players were going for the same ball and then leaving it for the
other. Far too polite. Put a name on it and take it. Be decisive. That
improved as did the communication. Freddie and George taking a lead in
talking to the midfield.

This was an excellent game of football and one where we finally saw
the improvement that we knew was in there. The game was played with
intensity from the start and but for better finishing would have been
a different outcome.

To play like that and lose is tough but to play like that was brilliant!

It was a lovely sunny afternoon with a brisk breeze coming from across
the open fields. The sky was blue with barely a cloud in the sky.
Birds sang, cows mooed and sheep baa'd.

LRFC Cougars Away to Painswick

This Sunday (23/03) we are away (King George V Playing Field, Vanderbreen Street , Bisley, Stroud GL6-7BN) to Painswick Youth with kick-off at 2pm.

This will, as we know well enough, be a very tough fixture and one of three final fixtures that will all provide a really strong test for the lads. So lets make sure we are up for this game and the lads are rested, hydrated and full of nutrient packed foods.

Lets aim to meet at 1:30 ahead of the 2pm kick off. 

Squad for the game will be:

1. Will F

2. George

3. Lewis

4. Sam

5. Freddie

6. Jacob

7. Luca

8. Louis

9. Will T

10. Dan H

11. Jorge

12. Ben

13. Dan G

14. Callum

We will, unfortunately, be without Will D who is still struggling with injury. Max who is pursuing leather on willow and Tom who is probably running from John o'Groats to Lands End or something similar.

Defender heads ball

Gotherington (2) v (2) LRFC Cougars

Sunday 9th March 2014

Swindon Village

A draw but it felt more like a defeat.

This game followed a familiar pattern of games we have had with Gotherington. A game where we will, probably, dominate possession and, probably, out pass the opposition and, probably, create more chances and, probably, dominate territory yet end up with a draw. It's not unfair to say that there were two contrasting styles of play on display and being played on a pitch that was like a ploughed field. Worse than a ploughed field, imagine a field that had been ploughed and then baked in the oven for a couple of hours. Then maybe some cows had trodden all over it then they sprinkled some grass seed on top of it. That was what the pitch at Swindon Village was like. But as the old cliche says it was the same for both teams. Except that it wasn't and Gotheringtons tactics and style worked better on this surface.

The surface ipacted us more as it significantly disrupted our passing game and ability to use the pace we have across the team. It was pretty impossible to run with the ball and keep it under control. When you were steadying yourself to take a shot or pass the ball it would roll off centre sending the shot or pass wayward. It kept getting stuck under the lads feet as they were unable to travel with the ball. It was like being tackled by the ground. Gotheringtons game is built around solid defending and pressuring the long ball out of defence. They play this was from the first minute to the last minute and this is why we have failed to get the result that we, probably, should have in our last two encounters. This is no criticism of Gotherington. The game plan works nad it makes for a tense match as you know they are always likely to score at any time that the ball comes forward.

As is customary we went 1-0 down. Starting slow we failed to clear our lines and Gotherington scored high into the net from the inside left position. Having gone a goal down we woke up and started to play. Jorge was linking the midfield and attack well, releasing the ball to the wings and forward to Dan to chase onto. We went close with a couple of attacks following some great moves of some 6 or 7 passes. The lads were also playing the way they were facing and laying the ball back to team mates in better positions rather then trying to turn on a lumpy pitch. This saw us retain possession for some good spells as Gotherington defended deeper and deeper. For all the possession the equaliser took time to arrive. 

It came from the boot of Daniel, put through following some nice link up play between Jorge and Jacob on the left wing. Dan broke the defensive line and finished past the keeper, picking his spot. 1-1 and nerves settled. Our second goal came from the penalty spot that Jorge despatched coolly into the bottom right corner, the keepernot even diving (presumably he didn't want yo break a bone on the pitch). There was some dispute of the penalty from both sets of fans on the far touchline although on checking it was for shirt pulling right in front of the ref. 2-1.

At the end of the half the instructions were simple - keep playing as we are. Territorially we were camped in their half. George, Lewis and Ben dealing the majority of high balls and the full backs, Freddie, Will D and Dan G (who rotated through those positions) able to pick up loose balls and play them forward. On the wings and up front we had pace and guile but lacked a finishing touch. 

The second half and Jorge went close with a lovely shot that the keeper saved well. Opting for accuracy rather than power he tried to knock the ball high over the keeper. Dan was then put clear again and saw his shot fly wide off a bobble. The wingers also struggled to drive at the Gotherington goal as the ball continually stuck on the pitch. Then the pretty much inevitable happened. With less than 5 minutes to play the ball was hit long by Gotherington. We were unable to deal with it decisively, there was a shot and then a goal. 

2-2. How the game would end. 

We had lost Sam, having a strong game on the right side of midfield, to a knock on his left ankle. This saw Freddie push into midfield. As we chased the game he came close with a strike from distance following neat footwork. For the last couple of minutes we pushed Lewis further forward with Ben dropping into centre back. Lewis, who can hit a ball, was told to have a go when he could. He managed a couple of shots but from too far out to trouble the keeper and the game was done by that point anyway. 

This was dissappointing as we had played well. We had dominated the match but not taken our chances. We defended with much more purpose that we have been doing. George in particular was heading the ball back towards Gotherington time and again. Lewis was strong in the tackle and decisive when clearing the lines. Will, in goal, was offered little protection from the goal scoring shots but continued to sweep up around his his area and use the space well. Rather than just putting the ball long he was playing long passes to players in space. Just like a young less gallic Hugo Lloris. The full backs were not caught out and equal to their opposing wingers. It was just one of those days and one we have far too often against Gotherington. In centre midfield we started with with a new pairing of Ben and Luca. Jacob starting wide left, Sam wide right. This worked well with the energy of Luca apparent in breaking tackles and driving forward; Ben's ever reliable assured composure on the ball saw him keep things moving for us. 

We just didn't score enough. 

MotM was Jorge for his link up play, his skill when in possession  and constant threat when supporting the front play. He set up the first goal, won the penalty and scored it for the second and was at the heart of most of what we did going forward.

I think next time i will watch this fixture on Teletext.

It was a nice sunny day too.

League Match V Gotherington

This Sunday 09/03 we are back in league action with a match away to Gotherington Juniors. The match is to be played at Wymans Lane, Swindon Village, GL51-9QQ. The game kicks off at 2pm so lets meet at 1:30.

Squad for the game is

• Will F
• George
• Dan G
• Lewis
• Sam
• Frodo
• Will D
• Ben
• Wayne
• Luca
• Dan H
• Louis
• Jorge

Unavailable for this fixture...

• Max T
• Tom
• Will T
• Callum

A pirouette turn? In our area? Under pressure from the opposition? No way!

Cheltenham Youth League U14 Cup Semi Final

Churchdown Panthers (6) v (1) LRFC Cougars

When you play the best teams in the division it's important to keep it tight, play with discipline and keep your shape. Be difficult to break down and try to frustrate them. Every minute where they've not scored is a minute of pressure that they may put on themselves. You see it all the time. It even has a name. Park the bus. Coined by a certain Jose Mourinho. 

We were 1-0 down in around 40 seconds. 

We were 2-0 down within 2 minutes.

We then started to come into the game a bit but that was probably as much to do with Churchdown stepping off the gas as anything. 

Even when saying that we came into the game more we didn't create chances. When we breached their midfield the defence stepped up. We were defending deep so getting players forward to support the strikers was difficult. 

The major positive today was Lewis in the centre of defence. He was everywhere using his power, tenacity and skill to try and snuff out Churchdown attacks. This was by far his best performance and that it came against the best team in the division should give him the confidence to boss games as we continue through the final league matches. The pairing of Lewis and George at the heart of the defence looked strong, and will be a formidable partnership for our remaining games. Lewis even managed time for a pirouette turn in our box. Tekkers is one thing but it was a nervy moment! 

On a day when we concede 6 goals it might seem inconsistent to talk about the defence. But the reality is that but for the defence and Will in goal the score could have been much higher. In the full back positions Sam, latterly replaced by Dan G, Freddie, replaced by Will T and then Willbo in a cameo before his injury resurfaced. 

In front of them Jacob and Ben linked well both having strong matches. Trying to win headers and make tackles against an opponent that seemed to outnumber them most of the time. 

Where we struggled was getting the ball out wide and with quality up front. This Churchdown team close the space very quickly and are strong athletes to recover the ground if we looked likely to get around the back. Dan and Luca, both starting up front never really got a look in and the balance of the side looked better with Luca back on the wing. On the other wing Will T and latterly Louis struggled to get into the game not because of any deficiency but because Churchdown prevented the ball going out there. 

Half time came and we were 3-0 down. 

At the start of the second half we conceded an early goal. 4-0. Again we started to come back into the game albeit posing little threat and with Churchdown firmly in control. We continued to make some changes. Max had joined the fray after a while away pursuing his cricket career. Jorge came on too providing a different sort of foil in the number 10 role as the game wore on he provided some nice link play to the wingers and threaded the ball through for Daniel to chase down, forced too wide he could only cross the ball into the goal mouth. 

In the second half we had a period where we won a couple of corners. Sam took the first, sending the ball to the near post where it was cleared under challenge for another corner. Jacob then took the next one, aiming for the penalty spot the ball drifted towards Luca who his a volley aiming for the far corner only to see the ball drift wide. 

There was then a remarkable piece of goal keeping from Will. With Churchdown attacking down the right wing the ball was hit towards his goal. Will, confident of his angles, dropped his hands to his sides to watch the ball out. The ball flew against the corner of the goal and bounced over for a goal kick. Confidence in deed!

Will's goal keeping today was really improved. He was left with no chance for the goals but marshalled his area well and came out of his area to close down loose balls. We've been trying to get Will to play in this way and today he did, with good enough feet to do so this is a good weapon in his armoury. 

Churchdown would go on to score 2 more goals and have 2 disallowed for offside. But not before we pulled one back. Will T drove forward from central midfield exchanged passes with Louis and Tom before finishing into the bottom corner. 4-1. We cheered, possibly a bit too much! 

With our tails up we pushed forward leaving ourselves exposed at the back. The game would finish 6-1.

The result was never in doubt particularly after such a shoddy start by us going 2-0 down. It was, though, a really good example of youth football. Churchdown play great football and are very strong but there was barely a foul from either side. The best team won. 

We need to learn from this as we move into the final few fixtures of the season. We remain week heading the ball, particularly when the ball is played long into our half. That continues to cost us. We also need to communicate more, demand the ball and give instructions and praise on the pitch. We also must remain united in matches. We cannot let our heads drop and give up. 

We are a team of friends; we have a core that have been playing together since we started this when the lads were 5 or 6. Others that have joined have been mates of existing players and slotted into the squad and team because of that. We need to remember that in matches. If you are only as good as your weakest man we need to make sure that effort is not where we are found wanting. 

Well done again to Lewis for an excellent performance today. That really was a performance that saw him realise what we all know he is capable of. There will be few games harder than this one so let's put it behind us and look ahead to next Sunday and a return to league action.