U15 Matthew Wyatt Cup Final
Abbey Business Stadium
3rd May 2015
LRFC Cougars (2) v (1) Painswick Youth
The u15's cup final was against a team that we have never beaten, not
only that but a team that we have only ever drawn with once. In all
but that one meeting, earlier this season, Painswick had taken all the
points. They also finished runners up in the league 3 points ahead of
us. In cup competitions though, so often, the form book is irrelevant.
The weather had significantly improved, the early monsoon replaced by
blue skies and sunshine - perfect conditions. The pitch looked good
and was certainly the best surface we have played on this season.
We won the toss for the changing room so were the home team. This gave
us the better of the changing rooms. The home dressing room isn't
great but you might think twice about even keeping livestock in the
away one!
Freddie played some inappropriate music at inappropriate volume while
the lads put their shin pads and boots on and got themselves ready.
The mood was assured and confident.
We went out onto the field to warm up, the usual set of moves and
actions. Some running, limbering up and stretching before some cone
work without and with balls. Simon warmed up Will.
Back inside we had cut it a bit fine, Painswick were already lined up
in the tunnel. The lads assumed their position alongside them ready to
be led out.
We emerged onto the pitch to a huge roar from the crowd. We were, as
we have always been, the better supported of the two sides. The 11
starters took to the pitch with the 5 subs taking seat in the dugout.
We had set the squad out on Wednesday and the on the Saturday and the
team out on Wednesday. This meant that the lads could just relax and
focus on their jobs in that structure.
The team had been determined with a number of factors, the size of the
pitch, the strength of the opponent and how we could best negate them
and still have attacking options.
When defending we were to slot into a 4-3-2-1 formation, when
attacking we would go to 4-2-3-1. Not a massive change but it did give
us some midfield stability which is where we knew Painswick were
strong. The starting line-up was Will in goal, Sam at right back then
George and Lewis in centre back Dan G making up the quartet. The
midfield two were Freddie and Ryan. Jacob was on the right and the
player to make up the number in midfield or attack. Wide left was
Luca. Tommy in the number 10 and Jorge up front. On the bench Louis,
Ben, Adam, Tom and Max. Quality everywhere.
Painswick started strong but in a change from our normal starts in
matches so did we. We matched them in the early exchanges although
when breaking from midfield they looked stronger not least because of
the size of the lads they had in those positions. We were getting
bypassed in midfield and it was the tenacity of the back 4 and
midfield 2 holding that kept us in the game.
Up front we could not get the ball to stick, Jorge was too isolated
and the gap to him to great making it very difficult for him to hold
the ball up.
We went a goal down from a corner. Painswick sent the ball into the
area landing it between the goal and penalty spot where their player
was able to head from close range. 15 minutes played and 1-0 down. It
was important to keep composure and not panic, plenty of time to play.
Painswick continued to dominate for the next 5 minutes or so but as
the half wore on we did start to come back into the game. With the
ball not reaching Jorge the decision was taken to sacrifice a striker
for another midfielder. Ben came on and immediately made an impact to
our play. His brief was to sit in front of the back 4 and provide a
screen. Like a young Makele he was into action, making countless
tackles and showing a calmness with his distribution.
We created a couple of half chances, Luca went close following a
typical dribble into the box but just over ran the ball. Tommy saw a
goal bound shot from the edge of the area canon of a defender and
Jacob went close with a header.
The equalising goal came with maybe 2 minutes to go until half time.
Inside the box on the left hand side Tommy hit a shot that bent into
the far right corner. 1-1 and what we deserved.
Half time we made a few changes, Max coming on for Tommy, Jorge for
Ryan with Jacob dropping back alongside Tom and Ben. Tom had come on
earlier replacing Freddie. At full back Adam had come on for the
excellent Dan G and Sam, needing a break, was replaced by Dan G. The
pattern of play was the same. With Louis now the outlet on the wing,
replacing Luca, and the rest of the team playing narrow we needed to
be strong and able to counter attack.
Painswick started strong again and the full backs, Adam and Dan G,
were having to defend stoutly. Adam took a heavy knock that ended his
game, winning a header bravely he took an elbow into his hip that
meant he couldn't continue. Sam came back on in his place.
It's why we have the squad we do.
Both teams continued to search for the second goal and it was
difficult to see where it was coming from. We had more of the ball but
Painswick were always dangerous on the break.
The second goal came from a fantastic piece of individual skill. Luca
was released and outpacing the defence drove towards the Painswick
box, he evaded one tackle and was then brought down just outside the
area. Free kick to the left of centre.
Tommy stepped up and in a replay of his goal against Cashes sent a
shot over the wall and into the left hand side of net beyond the
keepers dive. 2-1.
At this point we parked the bus. We sacrificed Jorge up front for
Jacob to provide some additional midfield cover. Luca went to the
striker position, his pace a danger and keeping a couple of their
players occupied. We didn't create another chance and nor did we need
to. Painswick raised their game but the defence held strong and did
their jobs. As time ticked down there were some nerves. If Painswick
scored it would be a penalty shoot out and we had a couple of our
takers on the bench. We were readied just in case.
The moment never came - the final whistle blew and we had done it. We
had won the cup 2-1 with an excellent squad performance.
Will was the MotM as voted by the referee. He had an excellent game
making saves from some long range efforts but as Painswick were so
dangerous from set plays he started to dominate the box at corners.
Connecting with a couple of crosses with excellent punches. Brave and
decisive goal keeping.
Looking at the squad in this game everyone did their jobs and so
everyone stood out. The back 4 were excellent with the full backs in
particular kept very busy. Adam was brave and took a big hit as a
result, Sam was dynamic, defending well and also pushing on as much as
possible. Dan G was like the guard to a castle "none shall pass".
George in the centre was, well, George and Lewis saved his best
performance of the season for the cup final. Winning headers and
making great clearances, his delivery from deep free kicks was also
excellent.
Our midfielders were also excellent with, a bit like George, Freddie
and Ryan doing what they do. The same was true of Tom who when put on
in the centre won all his tackles and brought the ball out. He
threaded some great passes to the front players too. Ben also saved
his best game of the season for the final. His introduction to the
game, as has happened before, really calmed the play down. Where the
midfield is the hurly burly of the game Ben can always find time and
space to pick up the ball and move it on quickly. This was an
excellent performance. Jacob played in the middle and wide and had a
busy game, against a physical opponent he stood his ground and rarely
gave the ball away.
It was a game though where being an attacking player was frustrating.
Jorge worked incredibly hard for the team but was not able to get any
meaningful chances. Most of his work being done well outside the
penalty area. Out wide we had a threat with Luca and Louis providing a
different option. In the number 10 position we played Tommy then Max.
In a congested midfield it was difficult and Painswick were quick to
close them down but their quality shone through.
Winning this game was an excellent achievement but rather than being a
team performance it was a squad one. The whole match day squad played
their part in the game with as the game progressed and our tactics
changed personnel also changing. This was all about getting the win
forts and foremost and it worked.
The lads were so self motivated for this match that it was almost
sheer will that saw them get the victory. We were, if we are honest,
underdogs for this match. While we knew we could win we also knew it
would be difficult. We won by working as a team, sticking to the task
and executing the tactical plan. Overall we looked fitter and at the
end our desire looked greater too.
This was an excellent game of football, Painswick could have easily
won just as we did. They created a number of chances and on another
day it could have been different. It was also their second successive
league cup final and they have now lost both - that is tough to take
and we should remember that. Losing is not easy but losing on that
stage is doubly, trebly, hard.
As an advert for youth football it was great. It was made even better
that we won playing so well.
Thanks to the referee and linesmen who all had good games controlling
the match. Also to our fans who were the most noisy and excellent
through huge whole game. It was genius for Paul to bring his clown car
horn!
