Sunday 31st August we had a friendly match against Kings Stanley who
play in, I think, the North Wiltshire League. This was to be the first
main session of pre-season with training sessions cancelled as many of
the lads were on holiday late into the school holidays.
We had agreed to play 4 x 20minute games to give the lads a breather
and also to make any adjustments that we wanted. Against, what we knew
would be a tough team, we lined up in a conservative 4-5-1 formation.
This formation saw us defensively quite solid but lacking when trying
to break forward as supporting the lone striker was difficult. KS were
dangerous on the break and a very physically powerful team.
The first game started, as you'd expect, at quite a pace. Both teams
up for it on a perfect morning. Blue skies, firm pitches and little
wind. Both teams trying to pass the ball and play football. There
wasn't a bad tackle throughout the game despite both teams playing
full throttle.
We started strongly with Ryan, making his 11-a-side debut for us,
catching the eye in centre midfield. Plenty of drive from deep and
always looking to thread the ball to the striker. At the back we
looked solid with Lewis and George picking up from where they left
last season. At full back Freddie and Dan G were quick to push on if
the opportunity arose. What we did show though was tactical nous. So
the messages about watching your team mates and not all bombing
forward was starting to show. If we broke up the right then Freddie
would push on with the defence and left back shuffling across. This is
what what we want to see.
Most of our good play came down the right hand side where Finn was
able to get on the ball and create some space with a trick, then look
to play the ball infield or forward. This was Finns return to the team
after a year out and showed that he is one of our more skilful
players. Once he has his fitness sorted he will be a significant
player for this team.
The first game finished 0-0. In reality we didn't look like
threatening their goal, restricted to a couple of long shots.
Something the lads should do more if they are in and around the box.
We were on occasion reluctant to have a go preferring to try and walk
it in.
Will F kept us in the game with a quite excellent double save. With
the KS striker bearing down on him in a 1-on-1 Will came off his line
and stayed tall, the KS striker hit his shot which Will pushed onto
the post. The ball still live KS had another go Will equal to it again
pushing it onto the crossbar and out.
The second game we continued with 4-5-1 bringing Jorge on for Taylor
up front and changing personnel in the middle to give Charlie (Will
T's cousin) a game I centre midfield. Jorge offered more presence up
front and was able to hold the ball up more. By the last game we were
playing 4-4-2 with Taylor and Jorge up front looking much more
dangerous, Jorge providing the outlet and Taylor, looking much more
confident, working off him. Something we will need to consider more to
get the best out of our attacking options this season.
The second match played very similar to the first and with the referee
about to blow the whistle we conceded to lose 1-0. The ball fired in
high from a tight angle. A decent finish.
With a few players missing we lacked some depth in the squad and in
particular in the defensive positions. Lewis needed a break with some
back trouble so Freddie, who was outstanding all morning, moved to
centre back with Will T dropping to full back (even his granddad said
this is his best position). Through this game we were a little
unbalanced with both Freddie and George more inclined to attacking
play we were left exposed through the middle. We lost this game 2-0
with the second coming from a gap in the centre of defence the KS
striker running through and lobbing the ball over Will's head as he
closed him down. A FIFA goal you might say.
We lost this one 2-0.
The final game and heads were down although we had played well. We
couldn't match the KS physicality all over the pitch but we showed in
patches that when we passed the football they struggled to get near
us. What we needed to do was show more confidence in our game and work
to impose that more.
For the final game we played Freddie in centre midfield. He was a
revelation and drew admiring comments from some of the spectators. He
started to mix it more with the KS midfielders with his physical
presence giving them something different to worry about.
With Taylor and Jorge up front we looked more progressive and had
better options. We would struggle to stretch the play with pace but
both players have good skills on the ball. Jorge in particular looked
more up for it than he had done, after a rotten injury struck year
lets hope we see the best of him. He scored red our goal to put us 1-0
up finishing over the keepers head with the outside of his right foot
from just inside the area. We continued to push forward, linking with
Taylor and Jorge early but unable to get a second goal.
The sucker punch came with a KS goal to level the scores.
Overall we played well against a very good team. This was our first
outing of the season and we did not look too rusty. Missing some key
players meant that rotation and cover, particularly in defensive
positions, was difficult. Thanks to both Fergus and Charlie, coming in
like the cavalry to help us out. Both played well and settled into the
way of playing.
There were excellent performances from Will in goal, Freddie (possibly
our best player on the day) and George at the back. The debutants all
played well and settled into the team - we will need to adapt our play
a little this season to get the best out of all of them.
We should be confident as we move to the season opener this Sunday
against Rodborough. We will not face many teams as strong as KS and
with a few more games under our belts and the full squad available
would be a different prospect.
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