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.
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