NWL U12 Reps 5 Stroud Town 2

Venue Shrivenham FC 5^th December 2012
 
On this chilly evening in Shrivenham, the U12s came together with the chance to avenge the 2-0 autumn defeat by Stroud Town. On that earlier occasion, North Wilts had played all the football but had been wasteful in front of goal and paid the price. Nonetheless, with seven goals in the last two games - four of them from in-form striker Sam Brewster (Cirencester) - hopes were high amongst the boys that they could turn the tables.
 
Still, in the early exchanges we did little to justify our confidence. Our play was frantic, as Stroud drew us into a crowded midfield and invited a scrap. Our midfield didn't show enough composure and control early in the first half, nor did they take the opportunity to move the ball wide to exploit the pace and power on the North Wilts flanks. The opening goal may have flattered Stroud, but it was a great through ball to catch our defence square and a finish worthy of the lead. It was also a wake-up call, and one which worked...

Straight after the goal, North Wilts immediatley started to make the new attacking formation pay dividends. With Ethan "Fish" Fishlock (ASC) and Finn Pannell (Cirencester) operating in a front three with Brewster, all they needed was some midfield hunger to unlock the Stroud defence - and it now came by the bucketful. Captain Lee Murphy (Greenmeadow) and James Thomas (Cirencester) took control of the centre of the park and started to vary the football - at times sending the ball wide to the marauding Tom Pudifoot (Stratton) on the left or pacy Oli Matthews (Greenmeadow) on the right, and at times sliding the ball through an increasingly square-looking Stroud back four.

Goals were never going to be far away, and they came quickly and in abundance. The North Wilts front seven were now playing with verve and skill, as well as with hunger and pace, and some of the football was mesmerising. Stroud couldn't cope with our movement and fluidity. Brewster hit two quick goals with deadly finishing to give North Wilts the lead, before surrendering the stage to Pannell to add another brace after brilliant work from Thomas and Pudifoot respectively. Brewster smashed in a fifth, and completed his hattrick, from a ridiculous angle to make the half time score 5-1.

It has to be said that while the 5-1 half time lead was a great return on the investment in a super-attacking and adventurous line-up, full backs Euan Hutcheson (Highworth) and Andrew Lewis (Cirencester) shut out everything Stroud threw at them down the wings, and also supported the attack with some superb runs and excellent balls down the line. 
 
Stroud made signifcant changes at half time, adding pace up front and bite in midfield. It is a credit to the North Wilts side that they were able to switch immediately from expansive football, to stopping Stroud playing. Jake Marsh (Greenmeadow) was positionally excellent at centre back, read the game fantastically and communicated superbly with Jayden Handel (ASC), who put his body on the line to stop Stroud's midfield ambition. As a result of their determination not to give ground, Jake and Jayden take huge credit for the fact that Stroud rarely if ever troubled Conor Chivers' (Wootton Bassett) in goal. Special mention must go to Conor, who despite a less-than-busy evening, remained sharp and alert.

Two incidents should have seen the game out of sight. A huge but fair tackle on an out-rushing Stroud keeper saw the ball spin out to James Thomas, who drove it home from fully 40 yards - only for the referee to stop play before the ball crossed the line to attend to a winded keeper.  A goal in our book, and one of the best strikes you will ever see at this level. Though we understand that child welfare must come first, and have no quibble with the referee.

Minutes later, a deep corner eventually dropped to an unmarked Finn Pannell at the far post, who must have heard teammates, supporters and coaches shouting "hattrick!" before he misconnected and the ball spun out for a goal kick!

Stroud did manage a late consolation goal with a strike from out of the blue which caught a by now freezing Conor Chivers by surprise, but by then the game was well past won.

A superb performance marked by a combination of hunger, skill, pace, flair and - yes - great finishing.

Well done to Conor Chivers, Andrew Lewis, Jake Marsh, Euan Hutcheson, Oli Matthews, James Thomas, Lee Murphy, Tom Pudifoot, Ethan Fishlock, Finn Pannell, Sam Brewster and Jayden Handel.

Neil and Nick decided to award MoM to the entire team for tonight's performance. Not because no player stood out, but because every player stood out. Congratulations to all.

Bristol Saturday League U13 Reps 2 - 2 NWL U12 reps

North Wilts under 12 reps travelled to Bristol to play their last fixture before the xmas break taking on the Bristol Saturday League under 13s.

For the first time ever there was silence in the dressing room when the North Wilts lads noticed the much larger and stronger opponents coming in – even “Fish” was quiet !

The North Wilts lads started somewhat nervously and this was not helped when after one minute the obvious mismatch in physicality was demonstrated with a cynical tackle on Andrew Lewis (Cirencester Town) that saw him withdrawn. Despite this, North Wilts regrouped and despite being hemmed in at times, the defence and midfield protected Conor Chivers (Wootton Bassett) superbly with some excellent defending.

Slowly but surely confidence started to grow with the North Wilts team clearly the better footballing side often making their older opponents look very ordinary indeed. Lee Murphy (Greenmeadow) was yet again awesome in the holding midfield role never once shirking a tackle despite being nearly half in size to his opponents. The midfield trio of Joe Liddington (Malmesbury), Oli Matthews and Sam Jones (both Greenmeadow) worked tirelessly throughout the first half linking well with Ethan Fishlock (ASC) who continued to show why is the most improved player this season in the rep squad. Ethan in turn used the ball cleverly when bringing Sam Brewster (Cirencester Town) into the play as the lone striker with Sam being a real handful throughout.

When called upon the back four of Oliver Hopegood (Cirencester Town), Jake Marsh (Greenmeadow), Euan Hutcheson (Highworth Town) and Jacob Smith (Marlborough) stood firm with Oli just edging out the others as defender of the day. When Bristol did create chances Chivers showed good handling albeit he was beaten with one shot that cannoned off the post to safety. North Wilts had chances of their own but the half finished at 0-0.

Shortly after half time saw the introduction of Alfie Presley (Pewsey Vale) started to cause more problems for the Bristol team and the first goal was not far away and what a goal it was. Conor Chivers distributed the ball quickly and accurately to Jacob Smith, now playing left back, who in turn beat a man played a triangle of passes with Murphy and Fishlock which resulted in a great pass down the line for Brewster to run onto. With still loads to do Brewster toed the ball past the defender cut in from the left and buried a lovely shot in the far corner to give the North Wilts side a deserved lead.

Bristol looked beaten and from the dugout it was difficult to see where the North Wilts side could be undone. Famous last words I’m afraid with Bristol scoring two very quick goals in succession after the North Wilts became ragged in defence for the only times in the game to give Bristol the lead.

The boys dug deep and got their just reward following great pressure by Jacob Smith which resulted in him winning the ball back from the defender, playing a lovely pass to Liddington, who without thinking smashed a superb half volley into the net to leave the game tied at 2-2.

A superb result by the lads not just in courage and determination but outplaying their older, stronger and fitter opponents for the majority of the game.

MEN OF THE MATCH – everyone

 

North Wilts League U12s 5 - 1 North Somerset U12s Reps 

Venue Shrivenham FC

 
Having received massive plaudits from all sides for the superb football they played in the 1-1 draw against the Oxford Mail Boys League, the NWL U12 squad came back together on this cold and drizzly evening for a tough fixture against the North Somerset Rep team.
 
Although North Wilts enjoyed most of the possession in the first half, they weren't able to recapture the flowing pass-and-move football which caused Oxford such problems. We allowed ourselves to be drawn into a stodgy midfield battle, too often failing to switch the play or to use the pace on our flanks. Whilst the players battled bravely, we found the ball coming back at our central defence too often and ultimately we paid the price. North Somerset may have played little football, but when they hit us on the break, poor defensive positioning and an ill thought out tackle gave away a penalty for North Somerset to take a 1-0 lead - even if undeserved - some of us in the dugout wondered if we were not going to be mugged once again.
 
As it turned out, we needn't have worried. Wholesale changes to the midfield at half time injected hunger, energy and movement into the North Wilts game. The ASC combination of Jayden Handel and Ethan Fishlock took immediate command of the midfield, playing intelligent balls out to Oli Matthews (Greenmeadow) and Tom Pudifoot (Stratton) on the NWL flanks, and stretching North Somerset to breaking point with their fluidity and industry. Simple football started to pay off - and as North Somerset were stretched, they started to chase shadows and, naturally, to tire. Goals were never far away and, duly, they came.
 
Sam Brewster (Cirencester) restored parity with a a fierce but composed strike from 15 yards having been slid in with a delightful through ball from Handel. Matthews made it 2-1 shortly afterwards and at that point North Somerset were on the ropes: Lee Murphy (Greenmeadow) was holding the midfield perfectly, and providing the platform for the team to keep pressure on the Somerset box. Brewster's aggressive drives into the box and willingness to shoot saw him complete a well deserved hat-trick, while Andrew Lewis (Cirencester) poached a fifth for the home side with a classy finish - a toe punt actually !
 
This was a well-deserved and ovedue win, and it was great to see the boys chalk a few goals up. We should also say that it really was a game of two halves.
 
There were a number of supreme performances, so it simply isn't possible to award a single man of the match. To that extent, the MEN of the match were......
 
Oli Matthews (Greenmeadow) - superb running, great vision, telling passes
Sam Brewster (Cirencester) - the hat trick says it all...finally some bite up front
Ethan Fishlock (ASC) - his movement, desire and skill in the second half changed the game.
 
Well done to the whole squad who are now getting to know each other on and off the pitch.

 

North Wilts League Under 12s 1 – 1 Oxford Mail Boys League Under 12s

Venue – Shrivenham FC 14th November 2011 　

The North Wilts U12s played hosts to their local rivals from the Oxford Mail Boys League at Shrivenham FC, the newly appointed home of North Wilts Reps football on Monday 14th November. The North Wilts side settled early, with the left footed combination of Euan Hutcheson (Highworth), Tom Pudifoot (Stratton) and Finn Pannell (Cirencester) linking well and causing immediate problems for the visitors down their right. Captain Lee Murphy (Greenmeadow) controlled the middle of the park with immense composure, and worked effectively with James Thomas (Cirencester) in centre midfield to keep the game in the Oxford half. Midway through the first half, goalkeeper Conor Chivers (Wootton Bassett) had not had a save to make, while both Pudifoot and Pannell stung the hands of the Oxford keeper with venomous shots. Oxfords more direct approach almost paid dividends on a couple of occasions towards the end of the half but this was largely due to some poor positioning in the centre of the NW defence albeit the speed of recovery by Jake Marsh (Greenmeadow) was commendable.

The second half saw North Wilts continue to dominate. Hutcheson, switched to right wing back, made several pacy and skilful runs into the Oxford box and the visitors were now struggling to contain a side which was buzzing on both flanks. However as has been the case in the previous two outings, if you don’t score when you are on top you often get caught out. This proved to be true as completely against the run of play the NW side went 1-0 down to a goal that nobody in the ground could quite believe had happened albeit it was a tremendous strike that gave Chivers no chance in goal.

Still, the North Wilts side continued to play its football and, as the game got stretched, created chance after chance. Pannell and Pudifoot worked to get great crosses into the Oxford box on the left, and Ethan Fishlock (ASC) and the raiding Hutcheson did the same on the right: still, there wasn't the striking hunger to get onto the end of the resulting crosses.　

A late switch saw Alfie Presley (Pewsey) replaced by Andrew Lewis (Cirencester) up front. Lewis's first　touch saw him put a golden opportunity just wide of the near post, but his reward came soon after as a weaving run into the box tempted the Oxford right back into a mistimed challenge and the referee pointed to the spot. Captain Lee Murphy asked　Ben Rickards (Blunsdon) to step up to take the kick and it turned out to be a great decision. Rickards blasted an unstoppable shot into the goal to make it 1-1. The least we deserved.　

In the last five minutes, North Wilts kept up the pressure as we looked for the win we deserved only for controversy to follow. Only three minutes after Rickards' penalty strike, Ethan Fishlock ("Fish" to all of us) beat two players and was then cut down in the box when it looked for all the world as if he was about to pull the trigger. The referee waved play-on, but after the game spectators from every angle were adamant that it was an even more nailed-on penalty than the first. Such is life: but immense credit goes to our players for not arguing with the referee and getting on with the game. 　

In summary, a draw was the very least we deserved having played some superb stuff at high tempo with an accuracy of passing that is worthy of higher standards. As an overall performance this was the best that this age group has played in almost three seasons. We do need to find our shooting boots however, and quickly, if we are to start winning the games we so clearly deserve to win as to score no goals in three games from open play is not good enough at this level. At the same time, we are extremely proud of a squad which represented the league superbly and yet again there is a platform to continue to build from.

Well done to Conor Chivers (Wootton Bassett), Euan Hutcheson (Greenmeadow), Lee Murphy (Greenmeadow), Finn Pannell (Cirencester Town), Ben Rickards (Blunsdon), Ethan Fishlock (ASC), Tom Pudifoot (Stratton), James Thomas (Cirencester Town), Oliver Matthews (Greenmeadow), Oliver Hopegood (Cirencester Town), Jake Marsh (Greenmeadow), Alfie Presley (Pewsey), Andrew Lewis (Cirencester Town), Jacob Smith (Marlborough).

Men of the match – Euan Hutcheson and Lee Murphy – nothing other than superb – well done lads.

 

Stroud Town Under 12s 2 - 0 North Wilts League Under 12s

Venue –Harrow on the Hill FC 26^thOctober 2011

Training game against a Junior Prem South team

Man of the Match - Finn Pannell

Well done to Conor Chivers (Wootton Bassett), Joe Liddington (Malmesbury), Jake Watson (Shrewton), Euan Hutcheson (Highworth), Tom Pudifoot (Stratton), Jaden Hier (Shrewton), Jake Marsh (Greenmeadow), Finn Pannell (Cirencester Town), Sam Jones (Greenmeadow), Euan Burke (Cirencester Town), Ollie Oshea (Malmesbury - guest), Oliver Hopegood (Cirencester Town) and Oli Matthews (Greenmeadow).

 

Oxford Mail Boys League Under 12s 1 - 0 North Wilts League Under 12s

Venue – Abingdon Town 17^th October 2011

North Wilts U12's travelled to Abingdon for their first workout of the season against the traditionally difficult Oxford Mail Boys League. Greenmeadow's Lee Murphy took to the field as captain for the first time, with rep team debuts being handed out to Andrew Lewis and Finn Pannell (both Cirencester Town), Jacob Smith (Marlborough), Jaden Hier (Shrewton) and Jake Marsh (Greemmeadow).

On a very wide surface, Oxford were the first to settle and exerted some early pressure as North Wilts struggled to hold their shape. However, with Ethan Fishlock (ASC) getting hold of the right flank and Tom Pudifoot (Stratton) increasingly influential on the left, it was against the run of play when Oxford capitalised on some uncertain defending to take a 1-0 lead. It could well have been 1-1 at the break as Finn Pannell slid a through ball to Sam Brewster (Cirencester Town), who was just beaten to the ball by an alert keeper. 

After a half-time reshuffle which saw Joe Liddington (Malmesbury) pushing up into midfield and Jake Marsh commanding a much higher defensive line, North Wilts really took the game by the scruff of the neck. Andrew Lewis and Euan Hutcheson (Highworth) were able to push further forward, allowing the North Wilts team to keep persistent pressure on the Oxford defence. A Tom Pudifoot drive almost shattered the Oxford crossbar, and the hosts struggled to contain runs made by Jaden Hier and Jake Watson (Shrewton) from wide areas. Last ditch defending saw us win a number of free kicks deep inside the Oxford half, and the hosts had to defend a succession of corners as North Wilts pressed for the equaliser. The best way to sum up the second half is in offering sympathy to North Wilts keeper Conor Chivers (Wootton Bassett), who watched most of it from the edge of his penalty area!

However, despite an excellent second half performance, the game somehow ended 0-1. Congratulations to all the boys for displaying such superb spirit, sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the evening in difficult conditions, and especially to the debutants who rose extremely well to their first challenge at this level. 

Well done to Conor Chivers (Wootton Bassett), Andrew Lewis (Cirencester Town), Joe Liddington (Malmesbury), Jake Watson (Shrewton), Euan Hutcheson (Highworth), Lee Murphy (Greenmeadow), Ethan Fishlock, (ASC), Jacob Smith (Marlborough), Tom Pudifoot (Stratton), Jaden Hier (Shrewton), Sam Brewster( Cirencester Town), Jake Marsh (Greenmeadow) and Finn Pannell (Cirencester Town)

Man of the Match is a tough call: Euan Hutcheson and Lee Murphy were both quite outstanding, but - given that he was making his debut - both are just pipped by Jake Marsh, whose absolutely superb second half display wins the laurels this time around.