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Match Reports
Up one levelSaint Hill Blues V Lindfield Juniors. Saint Hill Blues U12 6 Lindfield B U12 0 Scorers: Cam 2, Luke 1, Oscar 1, Rob 2. Team: Conall (captain), Cam, Harry, Luke, Oscar, Rob, Liam, Tom, Alex, Louis, Jack, Sam. MAN OF THE MATCH: Liam Steve and Gary joined the world of Carlo and Rafa this weekend. Back to back games, with an away fixture on Saturday against Charlton, followed by a league match with second playing fifth. The squad was also depleted by players on international duty (well – half-term skiing holidays!). Lindfield have certainly improved from there encounter with us earlier in the season and defended strongly, using through balls to try and turn our defence on the counter attack, but possession was mainly Saint Hill Blues in both halves. It took a time for the first goal to come – some trademark balls from the right finding no result for the first ten to fifteen minutes. Are those crosses too flat, or do we not attack the ball enough? Maybe a bit of both. Oscar, eventually, got things rolling with a fierce drive one on one with the goalkeeper squeezing past the near post. The pressure continued and we should have been more than three up at half- time. Cam scored a brace from inside the penalty area, both crisp finishes. He looked lively all game – tempted to say he was “on-fire”, but I think that was just the orange gloves. Liam offered himself as an outlet on the right and provided strength and determination, linking well all game. Alex followed the half-time whistle with a cheeky shout of “Can you get my drink Mum, please!” The “please” was a nice touch – but all of us on the side-line near his mum knew he was getting his own drink! Throughout the game our defence dealt confidently with any threats from Lindfield, even one from a moment of madness from Sam. Well done Louis – in Rugby it’s called a hospital pass. Conall marshalled things with his customary efficiency. Most of the play was in the Lindfield half, however, and the second half saw us create and miss an avalanche of chances. In the end further goals came from Luke, with an impressive looking lob, and from swift play down the left; counter-attacking goals after accurate throws from Sam, good control and early distribution from Oscar and Alex and cool finishing from Rob. Rob’s first went across the keeper, while his second feinted to do the same, but went near post. Nice to be back to winning ways after two draws, well played to everyone, but especially Liam, who followed up a tireless display on Saturday with more of the same. In the second half, the threat offered by him and Cam on the right was what created the space on the left for the goals. Thanks to John for running the line. Neil Jackson Team: Cam, Billy, Conall (Captain), Harry, Luke, Oscar, Rob, Louis, Liam, Tom, Alex, Sam. Saint Hill Blues were afforded a fantastic opportunity this Saturday to travel to Charlton Athletics Training ground and take on a combined Academy/Advanced player’s team for a friendly training match. Despite some prematch nerves the boys more than acquitted themselves, really rising to the occasion to play some lovely football. Saint Hill were bright and lively from the start and soon found their stride against a very able Charlton side. After three 20 minute thirds of a very evenly matched game a nil nil draw was a true reflection, with Saint Hill drawing some very favourable comments from the Charlton coaches. Well done boys. Many thanks to our coaches for organising such a great afternoon. Jenny Jackson es v Charlton Athletic FC
Saint Hill Blues 12 Cuckfield Cosmos Athletic 0
A great start to the New Year! Scorers: Oscar 5, Cam 3, Liam 2, Billy 1, Rob 1 Team: Cam, Billy, Conall (captain), Luke, Oscar, Rob, Joe, Jack, Liam, Tom, Alex, Sam. MAN OF THE MATCH: Tom
Match Reports
TD Shipley 1-4 Saint Hill Blues. Saint Hill BSaint Hill Blues U12 4 TD Shipley 1 Scorers: Oscar 1, Cam 2, Luke 1 Team: Conall, James (captain), Harry, Joe, Luke, Oscar, Rob, Liam, Tom, Liam, Marcus, Billy, Sam. Well here we are at the final games of the season, a double header, as the weather had been against us the many previous times we should have met. A boggy sticky pitch but dry, and at least the sun was shinning at times. Following the Satnav there came from the east 3 Wise Men – to bring their gifts to the squad – “play the easy ball”, “don’t get sucked in” and “switch the play”. At one point they were all raising their right arms in unison – not pointing to a star but politely encouraging the boys to “get it out wide”. As we have become accustomed to over the last few weeks this was yet again a game of agony watching the chances! But to be fair to Shipley they held there positions well and were out to defend. Despite this the Blues had most of the play and almost always in Shipley’s half. Eventually a lovely cross from Rob found Cam and 1-0. Rob was involved with the second, this time finding Oscar who showed some great skill and 2-0 just before half time. The second half was really more of the same – agonising chances! Shipley defending well and the Wise Men getting pretty animated at times. A trademark precision cross from Liam found Luke who slotted it home to make it 3-0. This was followed soon after by a rare excursion by Shipley into our half, a great strike, and a fine save by Sam wasn’t quite enough as the ball hit the post and, to the absolute delight of the Shipley fans 3-1. The Blues then worked hard through what seemed like a longer second half and Cam wrapped up the game with a super effort 4-1. Saint Hill Blues U12 3 TD Shipley 0 Scorers: Luke 1, Oscar 2 A drinks break and yet more pearls of wisdom from the Trio and we started the second game. This time we had Tom in goal and were really hoping to convert all those chances and really take hold of the game. This didn’t quite go to plan, even with Sam “Crouchy” coming on up front. There were even more agonising chances (see last weeks report!), with almost the entire team having shots at various times. At half time it was still 0-0, a position no one would have betted on. A few home truths were expounded on by our “Magi” at the team talk and the second half was a bit more fruitful. Some moments of great football emerged, with lovely passing moves, skill and flare. A well timed through ball from Conall found Liam for a marvellous cross and Luke showing fine control, finally making it 1-0. Harry, who had a great game today, showed some lovely thinking and with a precision pass, found Oscar 2-0. Despite pretty relentless Blues pressure the flow of goals just wasn’t forth coming today, but Oscar, determined to keep up his season goal tally, took a great shot from the edge of the box and our final score 3-0. Perhaps not the score lines we were expecting but, as always for us spectators an entertaining morning. This leaves us second in the league with only one defeat and ensured a promotion to the A league next season. A huge thank you to Steve, Gary and Glynn. The season has been a real success, and the standard of foot ball at times breath taking. Thanks also to all the parents and brothers/sisters/grandparents who come to support and not to forget John and Neil for the flag waving. Finally thanks to all the boys for the hours of fun/laughter/thrills/pain/heartbreak (delete as appropriate!) in watching you. Then there is always next season…………………………… Jenny Jackson lues 3-0 TD Shipley
Match Reports
Saint Hill Saint Hill Blues U12 7 Hassocks U12 1 Scorers: Oscar 3, Rob 2, Joe 1, Alex 1. Team: Conall (captain), Harry, Joe, Luke, Oscar, Rob, Liam, Alex, Louis, Jack, Billy, Sam. MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex This was definitely the match of chances! Chances saved, just going wide, hitting the cross bar, going over the cross bar, in the side netting, just passed an out stretched foot, skimming a head – it was painful at times, but in the end a good win. Hassocks are third in the league and it was never going to be an easy game we needed to pay well and be convincing. From the start it was the great passing play we have become used to and of course chances! A lovely run from Joe found Oscar for our first, just wide. Further attacking play found Luke having a long shot and just wide. Then it was nice work from Billy and a shot over the top. I’ve then written “great set up play Joe to Rob to Liam to Oscar to Luke to Alex and….. Just over the top”. A wonderful Liam cross found Rob for a fine header, but denied again. Closely followed by Oscar just putting it wide. A fine ball from Jack through to Luke, just wide. Liam denied, Luke denied again, Joe denied. At one point a Dad shouted “goal” only to realise it hadn’t actually got there – Oscars shot being pushed into the cross bar only to fall in front of the Keeper who was able to grab it! Finally a well executed pass from Joe to Rob and at last the elusive goal! It was then unbelievably more of the same pressure and chances, pressure and chances flowing until almost the relief of the half time whistle. With a change of formation – no white board this week but our quick thinking coach made good use of the boy’s cards - we surely had to convert these chances. The initial few minutes were a bit tense with Hassocks taking advantage of a communication difficulty at the back, or may be it was the spring sunshine! And Hassocks levelled the score at 1-1. However this possibly gave us the nudge we needed and the goals did start to flow. A piece of skill from Billy and excellent finish from Rob made it 2-1, a fabulous cross from Liam found Joe who controlled it well and 3-1, Oscar then joined the queue and with a great finish 4-1, Alex then having come so close before found the net and 5-1, Oscar then completed his hat-trick with the final two, 7-1. Real credit to Hassocks, and especially their Keeper who was on his toes all the time and made some great saves, they stuck with it to the end and made us earn the victory. There were really great performances from everyone today but Alex battling in the middle deserved his MOM, well done. Do hope Louis is feeling better and great to see Cam supporting – I was convinced he was going to throw those crutches down at any moment and rush on and try and score! My only disappointment- I had not counted the shots off and on target, it would have been a great statistic. Thanks to Neil for running the line – in sunglasses at times! Jenny Jackson Blues 7 - Hassocks Juniors 1