Under 10's Match Reports
February 2011
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Saturday 5th February 2011 versus Deer Park Away
Saturday morning on 5th Feb and at last I have a match to watch as the game is going ahead. In extremely blustery wind conditions the Deer Park skipper called correctly and having won the toss, chose to kick against the wind (as Tom would have done had he won the toss).

Polesworth were quickly into their stride once again and several skilful runs and passes produced quite a few good chances but no goals as our attempts on goal were not testing the keeper but flying high and wide in the blustery conditions although one screaming shot by Danny came very close. Our defence was rarely troubled in the first half although Tom & Tommy saw plenty of the ball. Ollie had the ball over the line late in the half but the absence of an assistant meant the ref wasn't aware it had crossed the line. We reached the half time break with the score at 0 - 0 and I was beginning to have thoughts of the same fixture last season that effectively ended our chase for the top spot.

The second half started with the Swifts untroubled but still needing to score if 3 points were to be taken from this game and sure enough, with Mark & Gary alternating Tommy & Travis at the heart of the defence, Danny was able to set up Ollie with a defence splitting pass and Ollie, who had put in a hard working performance as usual, slotted the ball in the net for the goal we so richly deserved. Both Jack and Lewis were also working hard, in fact in fairness the whole team was and Cory was also having to be alert as Deer Park had the wind behind them in this second half. Now able to relax slightly I was able to reflect on what was indeed a really good game and credit to Deer Park they showed no signs of caving in and the remainder of the game was very evenly matched and some good football was played by both sides.

The final whistle went with the score 1 - 0 to the Swifts and the icing on the cake was the news coming from Anker Valley where Amington Juniors had been held 1 - 1 by Stoneydelph boys. Boley Park and ourselves are only three points behind Amington now having all played the same number of matches (if Boley's game was postponed on Saturday which I'm assuming it was as no result is posted!). We still have to play both Amington & Boley so we will have a say again on the outcome of this very competitive league. Ollie was deservedly awarded Man of the Match and we look forward to the next game versus Higham (a) which I'm unfortunately due to miss as Cameron is playing against Birch Coppice Pumas for Wilnecote Wanderers - but I'm sure Mark will allow me to interview him for you after the Higham game.

Saturday 12th February 2011 versus Higham away
Having seen a run of Swifts matches against good opposition and due to fixtures being postponed I was due to watch Grandson No. 2 play for Wilnecote Wanderers U8s and consequently I was unable to watch our U'10s at Higham.

With Amington Juniors (leaders) and Boley Park (second place) playing their Invitation Cup game this fixture gave us the chance to move above Boley into joint top spot with Amington Juniors. Mark the Swifts U'10s Manager agreed to be interviewed immediately after the match and this is his report:
 
The morning got off to a bad start when a phone call informed me that our goalkeeper Cory had failed to recover from his illness. This meant that not only would we be without our reliable and trusty No. 1 between the sticks but that we would be down to the bare 7 players with no substitutes.

We are extremely lucky to have many lads who can do a capable job in goal, but prior to kick off I had to ask them all to work harder than ever for each other and run their legs off and expend so much energy without being able to bring them off for a breather on the bench. As I expected they told me as one that they would do it and I knew they meant it.

Lewis went in goal for the first half and the Swifts started well and an early corner led to the first goal scored by Jack. We were playing some good football and it wasn't long before Travis added the second before Higham got back into the game with a well worked goal to make it 2-1 at the break.

Travis put the goalkeeper's gloves on for the second half and the Swifts stepped up the pace of the game and scored 4 more goals without reply. They worked hard as a team and were passing the ball superbly. Danny was the scorer of the third goal with a long range shot that really should have been saved by the Higham 'keeper. Jack got his second goal and our fourth and Lewis then scored to make it 5-1 before Danny saved the best 'til last when he spun the defender and struck a sweet left footer into the top corner of the Higham net.

The Swifts were inches away from adding to their score on several occasions in the second half but a 6-1 away win under the circumstances was a tremendous effort from Tommy, Tom and Ollie as well as the four goal scorers. So much so that I was unable to single out a Man of the Match as the team effort by everyone involved was superb.
 
Next week sees us without a fixture and Amington Juniors and Boley Park play each other in the league where a dour 0-0 draw would suit us just fine before we take on Measham Welfare on the wind swept expanse of the Polesworth High School pitch when my new bench coat will be tested severely.

Saturday 19th February 2011
With no fixture set for Saturday 19th Feb. 2011 and the game between Amington Juniors and Boley Park postponed the league positions still show us in second place with equal points to Amington but with an inferior goal difference but we have played one game more although as we all know better to have the points than a game in hand.

Next Saturday the 26th Feb sees us playing Measham Welfare on the windswept plains of Polesworth High School and I'll be there when only 3pts will do.

Saturday 26th February 2011 versus Measham Welfare at home
This Saturday we welcomed Measham Welfare U'10s to the Polesworth High School pitch and amazingly the wind wasn't blowing and it wasn't icy cold either. The rain however was falling in a steady drizzle as the game began.

For the first five minutes the Swifts probed the Measham defence with first Danny and then Ollie making telling runs down the right wing and sending over crosses that had the Measham defence at sixes and sevens. With some effective stops by the Measham keeper there was a possibility they might keep out all our efforts.

With 5 mins gone Danny again went past several Measham players and sent over a good cross which Lewis met with his head to send the ball rocketing into the roof of the Measham net to make the score 1-0 to the Swifts. What a great goal it was and all the more pleasing because I know Mark, Gary & Richard have been striving to get us to send over crosses and meet those crosses to create good opportunities on goal. Only a few minutes passed before Danny again crossed a beautiful ball for Lewis to meet this time with a sweet left foot shot into the Measham net to make it 2-0.

The Swifts were now coasting and looking very dangerous as Ollie joined in to send telling crosses deep into the Measham box, however it was Danny once again who crossed from the right to enable Jack to finish the move with a left foot shot past a helpless goalkeeper to make the score 3-0 to the Swifts.

The match although effectively over now was becoming a good game to watch as Measham began to threaten more often and Cory, Tom and Tommy were having to be on the guard to ensure our clean sheet at home was preserved. Jack was again on the score sheet just before half time when a good passing move led to him putting the finishing touch to send us in at the break with a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Captain Tom who plainly was not yet fully recovered from a virus that had affected his breathing all week made way for Travis and new boy Daniel came on to make his debut for the Swifts. This part of the game was probably Measham's best and Cory and his defence needed to be alert as Measham pressed and created some chances. We still were creating chances at the Measham end as first Ollie then Danny sent telling balls into the penalty box and it was inevitable that we should score again given the quality of the crosses that were being put over. This time Lewis was on the end of the cross to rifle a right foot shot that sealed his "perfect" hatrick (header, left foot, right foot) and the final whistle went to send us home happy with a 5-0 home win. Lewis deservedly was awarded the Man Of the Match trophy for this his best game since joining us last summer and he has now developed into our best player attacking the ball.

Next week we host Amington Juniors who presently have the same number of points as ourselves at the top of the table. Can this be the "six pointer" that will take us above them for the first time since we started out playing in the Tamworth Junior League? We certainly have the players and we have certainly improved since we lost to them at Anker Valley and if we continue to send in quality crosses for Jack and Lewis to feed off then this Saturday is when we will get our revenge for that 2-6 anomally.
 
Once more I will be there to bring you the news as it happens.

Granddad

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