POLESWORTH SWIFTS
JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB
EST 1971
Under 10's Match Reports
March 2011
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Saturday 5th March 2011 versus Amington Juniors at home
Polesworth Swifts 2 v 0 Amington Juniors
Polesworth Swifts 2 v 0 Amington Juniors
Polesworth Swifts 2 v 0 Amington Juniors
Polesworth Swifts 2 v 0 Amington Juniors
Polesworth Swifts 2 v 0 Amington Juniors
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
I make no apologies for repeating the score line again and again - what a fantastic result from the lads. They were brilliant every one of them.
The whole team knew that in order to beat this Amington side we had to pass the ball well, take the chances that came our way, be first to the ball in midfield and defend well. Football really is a simple game and when each player does their job skilfully and with commitment then you get a marvellous game to watch and the correct result at the end of it and this was it.
Well done to Jack who importantly took an early chance that came at him in the penalty area to rifle the ball past a surprised Amington goalkeeper and what a super game Danny was having in midfield as he took total control and found Ollie, Lewis and Jack with telling passes as we went into half time leading deservedly 1- 0.
Mark, Gary and Richard know that this Amington side are predictable in that every move is via their big No. 9, Matt, and they decided that Tom should be assigned to be in his face and at his feet every time he either got the ball given to him or as soon as an Amington midfield player looked up to see where he was. It worked beautifully, Tom was playing his best football, was not missing a tackle and won just about every ball the No.9 received or was about to receive. As a result Amington were unable to get behind our defence and Tommy also was ensuring that he mopped the long balls Amington were having to resort to. Cory as usual was as safe as houses in goal and his handling and kicking continues to improve every game.
The second half began and we continued to play some very good football with Danny, Lewis and Ollie and Jack taking it in turn to pass in little triangles all around the pitch and Amington had no answer to it. Travis swopped with Tommy in the second half and continued exactly as Tommy had left off by patrolling the area behind Tom looking for any balls that were not finding the Amington forwards. Then midway through the second half Jack again found the net as he fastened onto a ball in front of the Amington goal and steered the ball past the keeper for a 2- 0 lead. Due to the football we were playing and the lack of chances being allowed to the big Amington No. 9 we all felt this second goal was the goal that would seal victory for the first time against these opponents as the only threat to Cory's goal was coming from headed knock ons and some dead ball situations but every Swifts player was prepared to take responsibility to ensure they came to nothing.
So once again a clean sheet at home and well taken goals meant victory and the whole team were a credit to Polesworth Swifts and to Mark and his coaches. For myself I was overjoyed to see such a young team (and I have to remind myself that these lads are all ten years of age or under) produce such an exciting game and more importantly perhaps listen to the advice Mark and his team pass on to them in order for them to improve their skills and produce performances like this.
This weekend we sit at the top of the table - deservedly 3 points clear, although having played one game more than both Amington and Boley Park. But you know the saying "better to have the points in the bag than game(s) in hand".
If this report is a little light on the detail then I apologise as I have still not come down to earth yet and I was so enthralled with the game I forgot to jot any notes down.
It was so very difficult to choose Man Of the Match as every player produced effort and determination as well as good football and skill but deservedly Mark and Gary awarded the trophy to Tom who surely by keeping the No. 9 quiet more than ensured we came away with this victory - or am I just biased!!
COME ON YOU SWIFTS!!!!
POS
TEAM
PLAYED
HOME
AWAY
OVERALL
GD
PTS
W
D
L
F
A
W
D
L
F
A
W
D
L
F
A
1
Polesworth Swifts U10
14
7
0
0
33
0
5
1
1
26
8
12
1
1
59
8
51
37
2
Amington Juniors U10
13
6
1
0
51
8
5
0
1
31
6
11
1
1
82
14
68
34
3
Boley Park U10
13
5
1
1
34
4
6
0
0
41
5
11
1
1
75
9
66
34
4
Deer Park U10
15
4
0
3
13
20
2
3
3
11
12
6
3
6
24
32
-8
21
5
Wood End Tigers U10
13
4
1
2
16
13
2
0
4
17
17
6
1
6
33
30
3
19
6
Stonydelph Boys U10
13
3
2
2
22
19
2
2
2
16
20
5
4
4
38
39
-1
19
7
Castle JFC U10
13
3
1
2
13
22
1
1
5
10
25
4
2
7
23
47
-24
14
8
Measham Welfare U10
16
2
2
3
12
16
1
1
7
5
41
3
3
10
17
57
-40
12
9
Higham FC U10
15
2
1
5
15
28
0
2
5
8
28
2
3
10
23
56
-33
9
10
Austrey Rangers U10
15
0
1
6
4
42
0
0
8
7
51
0
1
14
11
93
-82
1
Saturday 12th March versus Cottage Farm Rangers at home (Major Cup)
After the rigours of our table topping battle of last week, we welcomed Cottage Farm Rangers U'10s from the South Division where they are presently sitting mid-table with 12 points from 14 games.
The Swifts lined up with Cory in goal, Travis in central defence and Tom (capt.) as defensive midfield. Danny lined up at the point of the diamond with Ollie and Lewis as attacking midfield. Jack took up his lone striker role but as expected Ollie and Lewis initially would support him going forward. Tommy & Daniel were kept in reserve to change the play as deemed necessary or as tired legs dictated.
The opening minutes saw both sides testing each other as the ball was played into each others half alternatively but influenced by the blustery wind the ball was running away from Jack, Ollie and Lewis up front. The Swifts were not, at this stage of the game, playing the football that had proved so effective last weekend but once again with Cory and Tom at their very best we felt it was only a matter of time before we went ahead. Both Lewis and Ollie had good efforts on goal but the keeper was stopping their efforts. Travis was making the odd foray forward but stubbornly the score remained at 0-0. Finally Jack fastened onto the ball in the penalty box to quickly swivel and fire a left shot just off the inside of the post into the Cottage Farm goal to put us 1-0 up.
It wasn't long before Ollie found Danny with a good pass inside and Danny wasted no time in striking a sweet right foot shot with his new "Nani" orange boots into the Cottage Farm net to make it 2-0 to the Swifts. With Tom wearing his new Nike green T90s it was obvious these footballing Madonas were either being paid too much or their pocket money needs reducing as in our day boots came in any colour so long as it was black and cost around £19.99.
Mark rang the changes for the second half and both Tommy and Daniel came on to continue the pressure on the Cottage Farm goal. Straight from the kick off Jack was off his marks swiftly to intercept the ball and took it off the Cottage Farm forwards to dribble around another 3 players and fire a super effort into the net to put us 3-0 ahead.
There followed a 10 min period when we should have increased the lead but somehow the crosses and shots just wouldn't go in and, for their part, Cottage Farm were also pressing and Cory had to be awake to several Cottage Farm efforts on his goal. Tom came back on to steady the ship and there followed a much better period of attacking play by the Swifts and it was Danny who intercepted a throw in the opposition half and rifled a powerful right foot shot into the roof of the Cottage Farm net to make the final score 4-0.
That put us into the next round to be played on Saturday 26th March at home when we will be up against Coton Green Cougars from the North Division who were also 4-0 winners against a Cottage Farm team from their own division.
Cory was awarded M.O.M and our next game is next Saturday against Austrey away at Austrey Playing Fields when we will be back on league duty to consolidate our position on top of the league.
Saturday 19th March 2011 versus Austrey Rangers away
I watched my grandson Cameron at the home of the Swifts on Saturday playing against PSJFC U'8s for Wilnecote Wanderers U'8s and was therefore unable to see the under 10s game at Austrey. Mark however was prepared, as usual, to be interviewed by the media (no tantrums from him!) and here is his after match report.
"It was a lovely sunny morning at Austrey playing fields and the rather small pitch was surprisingly heavy underfoot.
The Swifts started the game passing the ball around well and soon took an early lead but surprisingly it was soon cancelled out by a well struck free kick taken by an Austrey Rangers player. Pleasingly this had the affect of kick-starting the Swifts and there followed our best period of the game as we scored 3 more goals to reach the interval 4 goals to 1 ahead.
Very early in the second half we scored another and, with very little danger appearing to come from the Austrey side, I was encouraged to experiment perhaps a little too much and tinkered with Tom, Danny and Jack, the crucial solid spine of the side and consequently allowed Austrey to get back into the game by getting two quick goals to make the score 5 - 3.
I reverted to our more familiar formation and shape and as a result the Swifts scored twice more.
All the team showed some very good football at times and Cory could not be blamed for any of the goals we conceded. On balance the Swifts did not really show the intensity and desire that was so evident against Amington Juniors 2 weeks ago when we deservedly ran out 2-0 winners. Several good chances were created but not put away in this game and we have to learn from this, that unless we do the basics, including marking players when necessary, then even against the lesser teams in the Division we could come unstuck.
However this was not the case and we ran out comfortable 7-3 winners with goals from Lewis (3) - another hat-trick, Danny (2) and Man Of the Match Jack (1) with an o.g. forced by a great cross from Travis, to remain top of the league with Boley Park. Amington Juniors were involved a cup game so remain in third place.
Having heard this week that in the event of teams finishing level on points at the top of the division then goal difference will NOT decide the title then we we are happy with 3 deserved points and a few lessons learned".
March 26th 2011 versus Coton Green Cougars at home (Major Cup)
This Saturday was Major Cup week again and this time for our 3rd round match we hosted Coton Green Cougars from the North Division who arrived intent on halting our progress into the semi-finals.
Danny was captain today and, in Tom's absence due to a weekend holiday, Tommy and Travis re-established their defensive partnership for the start of this game. From the kick off it was evident that the Cougars were not going to simply roll over and at least initially the game was fairly evenly matched. With Jack, Ollie and Lewis working hard to create an opening for the first goal, the Swifts began to get on top and were having much more of the ball and several chances fell to first Lewis then Jack and Ollie who either fired wide or high. Danny was also unfortunate not to open our account and disappointingly we reached the break level at 0-0.
The second half opened with the Swifts carrying on where they left off with a lot of possession and we were soon rewarded when after a mazy dribble by Jack he slotted the ball through to Lewis who finished with a shot into the roof of the net to put us 1-0 up and we supporters could relax slightly. Cory made a couple of good stops and had to be out quickly to smother one dangerous sortie into the area by Cougars' best player, Ellie who I had watched partner Tom yesterday in a Warton school game against Appleby Magna (which they won 4-1) and she was outstanding in that game also. Unfortunately she doesn't have the same quality players around her in this Coton Green side and it was only a matter of time before the Swifts added to their lead when, after a good passing movement, Jack received the ball and promptly rounded two Coton Green players to slot the ball into the Cougars' goal to make the score 2-0. Travis particularly was beginning to exert his influence and with Danny looking dangerous every time he was in possession there was little doubt we would run out winners of this game. So it proved and with a 2-0 victory at the final whistle the Swifts went marching into the semi-finals of this Major Cup.
Travis was awarded the Man Of the Match and we look forward to our next league game on Saturday 2nd April at home against Wood End Tigers when another victory will keep us at the top of the table.
Mark & Grandad
