29th January 2017 KO - 12pm. Depleted Piranhas out-joust Knights!
Team:
GK - Charlie W
DEF - Tom A
MID - Leo M, Harry H, Cameron M
CAM - Charlie T (C)
GK - Charlie W
DEF - Tom A
MID - Leo M, Harry H, Cameron M
CAM - Charlie T (C)
 |
After weeks of frustration from cancelled matches due to the poor weather conditions, the Piranhas were finally back in action. This week saw the lads travel away to Chelmsford where they would face Broomfield Knights, a team that we had never played before.
There was a great turnout in training the day before with some focused excitement as the boys got back together. In the training session, we focused on moving the ball quickly and how to make the most of over-load situations. We also concentrated on how we move the ball out from the back. During this morning’s warm-up, we went over it again to ensure the lads understood.
The Piranhas were down to six players with Etien H pulling out late due to sickness and the unlucky Sam M picking up an ankle injury following a few weeks out with illness. Get well soon lads.
Broomfield opted to play with seven players so the Piranhas knew they would have to work really hard today. This meant a slight change in formation with Tom A playing on his own at the back, supported by Harry H in defensive midfield. Charlie T played as attacking midfielder as he would also need to come slightly deeper than normal. Leo M and Cameron M covered the two wings up and down.
The hard work from everyone in training the day before made it really difficult to pick a skipper for the day so a penalty shoot-out decided that Charlie T would wear the armband. Charlie was advised to choose to play uphill rather than take kick off so we would be playing with the slope as they got more tired in the second half.
Broomfield got the game underway.
The team in red and black probably started the brighter, a combination of playing down the slight slope and the Piranhas having not played for a few weeks. Charlie W had to field a couple of shots from the Knights, which may have troubled other keepers but the sort of thing that Charlie deals with comfortably these days.
It wasn’t long before the Piranhas came into the game with some lovely combination play between Harry H, Cameron M, Leo M and Charlie T. The boys looked brave on the ball and, more often than not, were picking out the right passes.
Tom A was picking the ball up from every goal kick and with true composure was demonstrating everything we had practiced in training. Great stuff. Leo M, Harry H and Cameron M were giving Tom options through great movement.
Neither team were really dominating but it was the Piranhas who broke the deadlock. Harry H played a ball into Charlie T who turned on a sixpence and smashed a shot into the corner of the goal from the edge of the box with his left foot.
The Piranhas came under a bit of pressure and only determined defending from Tom A, Leo M, Cameron M and Harry H kept Broomfield at bay. Harry H was playing the central role perfectly and was comfortable on the ball, looking up and picking out Cameron M who smashed home to double the Piranhas lead.
The Knights pulled a goal back before Charlie W pulled off a ‘worldie’ save to keep the lead intact.
The Piranhas’ first corner of the game gave them their next goal. Harry H put the ball into the box and after a bit of bouncing about, Charlie T volleyed home for his second of the game. The ball took a slight nick off the defender on the way but was definitely Charlie’s goal.
The half time whistle blew and every player came in for their well deserved drink. Cameron M went in goal, Leo M moved out to the right and Charlie W went out to the left. The message to the team was to protect the goalkeeper. We didn’t need to tell the boys to give it 100% because they were already giving 150%.
The lads kicked off for the second half.
Tom A kept up his usual imperious defensive display and he was also using the ball superbly. Tom was managing the Broomfield attacking players with real composure. The next goal came when Leo M won the ball on the right with a great challenge. Leo slipped the ball into Charlie W who shot with his left, the ball crashed off the post. Charlie T reacted first to smash home again with his left foot to complete his hat trick.
Cameron M pulled of some outstanding saves before he was beaten by another Knights goal. Harry H then cleared off the line superbly from a Broomfield corner, great anticipation from Harry to protect his goal.
The final Piranhas’ goal came when the ball was cleared up front to Leo M. Leo ran half the length of the pitch on the left, beating a couple of defenders before slotting home calmly for a superb solo goal, reminiscent of another Leo M who currently plays for Barcelona!
Broomfield were then awarded a dubious penalty which Cameron M came close to saving. They also scored with a minute to go to set up a slightly nervy finish but some solid tackling from Tom A, Charlie W and Harry H saw the game out for the Piranhas.
An absolutely fantastic performance from the six-man Piranhas. A real team performance of determination and desire along with moments of skill and bravery. Every player left everything they had out on that pitch today and fully deserved the result they got.
There was a great turnout in training the day before with some focused excitement as the boys got back together. In the training session, we focused on moving the ball quickly and how to make the most of over-load situations. We also concentrated on how we move the ball out from the back. During this morning’s warm-up, we went over it again to ensure the lads understood.
The Piranhas were down to six players with Etien H pulling out late due to sickness and the unlucky Sam M picking up an ankle injury following a few weeks out with illness. Get well soon lads.
Broomfield opted to play with seven players so the Piranhas knew they would have to work really hard today. This meant a slight change in formation with Tom A playing on his own at the back, supported by Harry H in defensive midfield. Charlie T played as attacking midfielder as he would also need to come slightly deeper than normal. Leo M and Cameron M covered the two wings up and down.
The hard work from everyone in training the day before made it really difficult to pick a skipper for the day so a penalty shoot-out decided that Charlie T would wear the armband. Charlie was advised to choose to play uphill rather than take kick off so we would be playing with the slope as they got more tired in the second half.
Broomfield got the game underway.
The team in red and black probably started the brighter, a combination of playing down the slight slope and the Piranhas having not played for a few weeks. Charlie W had to field a couple of shots from the Knights, which may have troubled other keepers but the sort of thing that Charlie deals with comfortably these days.
It wasn’t long before the Piranhas came into the game with some lovely combination play between Harry H, Cameron M, Leo M and Charlie T. The boys looked brave on the ball and, more often than not, were picking out the right passes.
Tom A was picking the ball up from every goal kick and with true composure was demonstrating everything we had practiced in training. Great stuff. Leo M, Harry H and Cameron M were giving Tom options through great movement.
Neither team were really dominating but it was the Piranhas who broke the deadlock. Harry H played a ball into Charlie T who turned on a sixpence and smashed a shot into the corner of the goal from the edge of the box with his left foot.
The Piranhas came under a bit of pressure and only determined defending from Tom A, Leo M, Cameron M and Harry H kept Broomfield at bay. Harry H was playing the central role perfectly and was comfortable on the ball, looking up and picking out Cameron M who smashed home to double the Piranhas lead.
The Knights pulled a goal back before Charlie W pulled off a ‘worldie’ save to keep the lead intact.
The Piranhas’ first corner of the game gave them their next goal. Harry H put the ball into the box and after a bit of bouncing about, Charlie T volleyed home for his second of the game. The ball took a slight nick off the defender on the way but was definitely Charlie’s goal.
The half time whistle blew and every player came in for their well deserved drink. Cameron M went in goal, Leo M moved out to the right and Charlie W went out to the left. The message to the team was to protect the goalkeeper. We didn’t need to tell the boys to give it 100% because they were already giving 150%.
The lads kicked off for the second half.
Tom A kept up his usual imperious defensive display and he was also using the ball superbly. Tom was managing the Broomfield attacking players with real composure. The next goal came when Leo M won the ball on the right with a great challenge. Leo slipped the ball into Charlie W who shot with his left, the ball crashed off the post. Charlie T reacted first to smash home again with his left foot to complete his hat trick.
Cameron M pulled of some outstanding saves before he was beaten by another Knights goal. Harry H then cleared off the line superbly from a Broomfield corner, great anticipation from Harry to protect his goal.
The final Piranhas’ goal came when the ball was cleared up front to Leo M. Leo ran half the length of the pitch on the left, beating a couple of defenders before slotting home calmly for a superb solo goal, reminiscent of another Leo M who currently plays for Barcelona!
Broomfield were then awarded a dubious penalty which Cameron M came close to saving. They also scored with a minute to go to set up a slightly nervy finish but some solid tackling from Tom A, Charlie W and Harry H saw the game out for the Piranhas.
An absolutely fantastic performance from the six-man Piranhas. A real team performance of determination and desire along with moments of skill and bravery. Every player left everything they had out on that pitch today and fully deserved the result they got.
| There really were six ‘Men-of the Match’ today but the award went jointly to Harry H for his unbelievable work-rate and Charlie T for his hat trick which ultimately saw off the Knights. Thanks to Ross for his help with the boys and thanks, as always, to the loyal Piranhas supporters. Well Done lads! Next Fixture - Sunday 5th Feb. Home v SWF Pumas. KO - TBC. |  |
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