MYS BLACKS 4 SPARTANS BLUES 5 - DECEMBER 14, 2009
After a series of great and gritty performances, the boys ended the seven-a-side season with their worst performances for months. We had beaten this Spartans team 3-0 earlier in the season and could have had eight. Today, they played us off the park and if anything, the scoreline flattered us.
We had the best of the early play but were restricted to long-range efforts from Jack and Seth which went wide. We went behind after about 20 minutes and although Jack equalised after missing an earlier one on one, we went 2-1 behind just before half-time. Our big weakness was our tackling in wide midfield, which was really poor. Too many players today forgot that we have to win the ball to play and tackled much too softly. This gave Spartans the advantage and they took it.
Immediately after half-time, we came right back into the game and created a few chances, with Scott coming more into the game up front. But more poor defending allowed Spartans to take a 3-1 lead and although Jack ran through to finish neatly to make it 3-2, the visitors then pulled away - first with a skilfully-worked goal, then another from a short back pass after more poor defending. At 5-2 down we were dead and buried but Jack completed his hat-trick and Callum could have set up a grandstand finish but blasted wide from close in. We did make it 5-4 when a clearance cannoned off Jack and looped high into the net, but it was the last kick off the game.
As well as Jack, Connor and Jason were the only players who could hold their heads high today as they never stopped battling and tackling. Further forward we were weak and need to improve when we move up to 11s.
However this game shouldn't hide the fact that we have taken another step forward this year -apart from the games against Gullane and Currie, all the teams in this league were strong and apart from the 6-1 thrashing at Spartans, all our defeats were by a single goal. We played some great stuff and have progressed in many aspects, especially in moving the ball forward from the back and in scoring from corners. Our victory at Hutchy Vale was the best all-round performance I can remember from any Youngstars team.
As a team, we have improved a lot and dealt well with the loss of Lloyd. All credit to all the boys for their efforts, which will stand them in good stead when they move up to 11-a-side.
Squad: Cammy, Connor, Jason, Seth, Jack, Callum, David, Scott, Brandon.
Scorers: Jack (4)
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
HARD-FOUGHT WIN, 6-12-09
MYS BLACKS 5 DUNBAR UNITED 4
This was a totally different game to last week. We didn't play the same fluent football, but scored a high proportion of our chances and battled all the way to the end against a skilful passing team.
Dunbar had the better of the early play, and we struggled to get possession in their half. David, back in goal in the absence of Cammy Brown, made two or three excellent saves to keep the score at 0-0.
Our first clear chance came when Seth played a lovely through-ball for Jack, but the keeper blocked his shot and ge put the rebound wide. But about five minutes before half-time, Callum hurled the ball over a defender and Jack ran on and squeezed the ball under the goalie.
Unfortunately, we again conceded a goal just before half-time when a well-directed corner was headed in by a Dunbar player off the inside of the post. But this time we came straight back as Scott lofted a brilliant ball through and jack ran on to slide the ball, left-footed, across the keeper and in.
It was 2-1 at half-time but just like last week, we lost a goal right at the start of the second half as a Dunbar player ran through to finish neatly.
Connor and Jason were coming under fierce pressure at the back, but stuck to their task brilliantly throughout the game.
We were starting to pass the ball around better than the first half, but it was Dunbar who gained the upper hand from another one on one. David saved the first shot well but another striker was on hand to score from the rebound.
Our heads could have dropped but we came back with a bullet as Callum scored one of the goals of the season. Brandon, Scott and Jack worked the ball neatly into space and Callum hit an absolute rocket into the top corner from well outside the box.
We then raced into a 5-3 lead as Scott scored two beauties, first slipping the ball neatly past the keeper and then firing a powerful shot across the goalie right into the far corner.
At 5-3, we still weren't comfortable and Dunabr pulled it back to 5-4 with almost ten minutes still left when we defended a corner poorly. There were one or two close shaves near the end, but David, Connor and Jason held firm and the midfield tackled back superbly, especially as everyone was really tired.
This was a real backs-to-the-wall performance, but a really good result that showed great team spirit.
Squad: David, Connor, Jason, Seth, Jack, Callum, Scott, Brandon
Scorers: Jack (2), Callum, Scott (2)
This was a totally different game to last week. We didn't play the same fluent football, but scored a high proportion of our chances and battled all the way to the end against a skilful passing team.
Dunbar had the better of the early play, and we struggled to get possession in their half. David, back in goal in the absence of Cammy Brown, made two or three excellent saves to keep the score at 0-0.
Our first clear chance came when Seth played a lovely through-ball for Jack, but the keeper blocked his shot and ge put the rebound wide. But about five minutes before half-time, Callum hurled the ball over a defender and Jack ran on and squeezed the ball under the goalie.
Unfortunately, we again conceded a goal just before half-time when a well-directed corner was headed in by a Dunbar player off the inside of the post. But this time we came straight back as Scott lofted a brilliant ball through and jack ran on to slide the ball, left-footed, across the keeper and in.
It was 2-1 at half-time but just like last week, we lost a goal right at the start of the second half as a Dunbar player ran through to finish neatly.
Connor and Jason were coming under fierce pressure at the back, but stuck to their task brilliantly throughout the game.
We were starting to pass the ball around better than the first half, but it was Dunbar who gained the upper hand from another one on one. David saved the first shot well but another striker was on hand to score from the rebound.
Our heads could have dropped but we came back with a bullet as Callum scored one of the goals of the season. Brandon, Scott and Jack worked the ball neatly into space and Callum hit an absolute rocket into the top corner from well outside the box.
We then raced into a 5-3 lead as Scott scored two beauties, first slipping the ball neatly past the keeper and then firing a powerful shot across the goalie right into the far corner.
At 5-3, we still weren't comfortable and Dunabr pulled it back to 5-4 with almost ten minutes still left when we defended a corner poorly. There were one or two close shaves near the end, but David, Connor and Jason held firm and the midfield tackled back superbly, especially as everyone was really tired.
This was a real backs-to-the-wall performance, but a really good result that showed great team spirit.
Squad: David, Connor, Jason, Seth, Jack, Callum, Scott, Brandon
Scorers: Jack (2), Callum, Scott (2)
Saturday, December 5, 2009
PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON, 29-11-09
HUTCHISON VALE 1 MYS BLACKS 6
It's not always easy coaching a youth football team, but today was one of those days that makes all the hassle worthwhile.
It is hard to find enough superlatives about how the boys played today. There was no moaning about Lloyd leaving us - the other boys just stepped up their game and blew Hutchy Vale away.
To win away at such a big name in youth football is an achievement - to win so well was a wonderful bonus.
On an astroturf pitch in bitterly cold conditions, we started well and created a number of chances but failed to convert them - a familiar story. However, we were doing everything right - winning the ball all over the pitch, getting it on the floor to pass about and as a result, creating plenty of chances.
The well-deserved goal finally came at the very end of the first half as Seth delivered a superb corner to the far post and Brandon sneaked in ahead of Connor and a couple of defenders to prod the ball home. We have started scoring lots more goals from corners, mainly thanks to the superb delivery from Scott in particular, but also Seth and Callum.
We lost a goal right at the start of the second half as Cammy was left with no chance as a powerful shot went in off the inside of the post. However, we stood firm and after Hutchy Vale went close, we broke away and Scott, who had a superb game, ran clear and smacked the ball across the keeper and inside the far post.
Jack, who was colossal in midfield, almost extended the lead when he ran clear but the keeper saved his shot and Seth was unlucky to see his volleyed rebound come back off the underside of the bar.
However, we soon made the game safe, as Scott followed up a rebound to score from very close range, then Callum side-footed home neatly after a brilliant team move.
Callum then hit a right-foot shot high into the net from another rebound before Scott rifled home a sixth to complete his hat-trick.
Although the goals flowed in the second half, the victory was built from the back, with Cammy distributing the ball with confidence and Connor and Jason tackling magnificently and using the ball intelligently coming forward. The pair of them hardly allowed Hutchy Vale a clear chance apart from the goal.
Praise also for David, Seth and Brandon, who all played extremely well despite being used, as ever, in a a variety of positions. The versatility of our team, and ability of players to slot into different positions when needed, has been a hugely important feature if our team this season.
Magnificent - no other word for it. Thanks for a great day, boys.
Squad: Cammy, Connor, Jason, David, Jack, Callum, Scott, Brandon, Seth
Scorers: Brandon, Scott (3), Callum (2)
It's not always easy coaching a youth football team, but today was one of those days that makes all the hassle worthwhile.
It is hard to find enough superlatives about how the boys played today. There was no moaning about Lloyd leaving us - the other boys just stepped up their game and blew Hutchy Vale away.
To win away at such a big name in youth football is an achievement - to win so well was a wonderful bonus.
On an astroturf pitch in bitterly cold conditions, we started well and created a number of chances but failed to convert them - a familiar story. However, we were doing everything right - winning the ball all over the pitch, getting it on the floor to pass about and as a result, creating plenty of chances.
The well-deserved goal finally came at the very end of the first half as Seth delivered a superb corner to the far post and Brandon sneaked in ahead of Connor and a couple of defenders to prod the ball home. We have started scoring lots more goals from corners, mainly thanks to the superb delivery from Scott in particular, but also Seth and Callum.
We lost a goal right at the start of the second half as Cammy was left with no chance as a powerful shot went in off the inside of the post. However, we stood firm and after Hutchy Vale went close, we broke away and Scott, who had a superb game, ran clear and smacked the ball across the keeper and inside the far post.
Jack, who was colossal in midfield, almost extended the lead when he ran clear but the keeper saved his shot and Seth was unlucky to see his volleyed rebound come back off the underside of the bar.
However, we soon made the game safe, as Scott followed up a rebound to score from very close range, then Callum side-footed home neatly after a brilliant team move.
Callum then hit a right-foot shot high into the net from another rebound before Scott rifled home a sixth to complete his hat-trick.
Although the goals flowed in the second half, the victory was built from the back, with Cammy distributing the ball with confidence and Connor and Jason tackling magnificently and using the ball intelligently coming forward. The pair of them hardly allowed Hutchy Vale a clear chance apart from the goal.
Praise also for David, Seth and Brandon, who all played extremely well despite being used, as ever, in a a variety of positions. The versatility of our team, and ability of players to slot into different positions when needed, has been a hugely important feature if our team this season.
Magnificent - no other word for it. Thanks for a great day, boys.
Squad: Cammy, Connor, Jason, David, Jack, Callum, Scott, Brandon, Seth
Scorers: Brandon, Scott (3), Callum (2)
Friday, November 27, 2009
THRILLER IN THE MUD, 22-11-2009
HUNTERFIELD 5 MYS BLACKS 5
Although just about all the other games in the area were off after heavy rain, we went ahead on a quagmire of a pitch, with one area of the pitch a total mudbath.
Finding the pitch was hard enough, but playing on it was even worse. We started defending the Mudbath End, but took the early initiative and Seth had a snapshot well-saved after some neat interplay. We took the lead when Scott muscled a defender off the ball and rounded the keeper to score - but were soon pegged back when the ball held up on the line when it looked like it was going out. A Hunterfield player pulled it back and his team-mate side-footed the ball across Ross and in off the post.
Ross was playing in goal as it was an eight-a-side game and Cammy Brown was back in his old position of right midfield. Ross made some good saves and Connor and Jason made some goal-saving tackles in the mud as Hunterfield came at us, but we created plenty of chances too but struggled to find the target. Callum smacked the ball against the post but made up for it when he chased a long ball from Connor that looked lost - and pounced to score when it squirmed away from the keeper.
Again, we failed to hold on to the lead as a long-range shot slipped away from Ross and rolled over the line to make it 2-2 at half-time.
We were almost straight back into the lead after the break when Seth broke clear and hammered the ball against the angle of post and bar. Soon after, Scott played a great ball to Cammy, who whacked the ball across goal for Brandon to meet with a superb left-foot volley.
Unfortunately we then started to lose possession too often as Hunterfield roared back into the match. First, a long-range shot just inside the post left Ross with no chance, then he was badly exposed as a free header put the home team 4-3 ahead. We were in real trouble when a speculative shot looped in off the inside of a post at 5-3 down with less than 10 minutes left.
Jack had played superbly in the second half and got us back into the game with an excellent header from a pinpoint corner by Scott.
Scott then played a lovely ball in to Jack to run clear for a great chance of an equaliser. His first shot was saved, but he reacted well to score from the rebound to earn us a deserved draw.
Squad: Ross, Connor, Jason, David, Jack, Seth, Scott, Callum, Cammy, Brandon.
Scorers: Scott, Callum, Brandon, Jack (2)
Although just about all the other games in the area were off after heavy rain, we went ahead on a quagmire of a pitch, with one area of the pitch a total mudbath.
Finding the pitch was hard enough, but playing on it was even worse. We started defending the Mudbath End, but took the early initiative and Seth had a snapshot well-saved after some neat interplay. We took the lead when Scott muscled a defender off the ball and rounded the keeper to score - but were soon pegged back when the ball held up on the line when it looked like it was going out. A Hunterfield player pulled it back and his team-mate side-footed the ball across Ross and in off the post.
Ross was playing in goal as it was an eight-a-side game and Cammy Brown was back in his old position of right midfield. Ross made some good saves and Connor and Jason made some goal-saving tackles in the mud as Hunterfield came at us, but we created plenty of chances too but struggled to find the target. Callum smacked the ball against the post but made up for it when he chased a long ball from Connor that looked lost - and pounced to score when it squirmed away from the keeper.
Again, we failed to hold on to the lead as a long-range shot slipped away from Ross and rolled over the line to make it 2-2 at half-time.
We were almost straight back into the lead after the break when Seth broke clear and hammered the ball against the angle of post and bar. Soon after, Scott played a great ball to Cammy, who whacked the ball across goal for Brandon to meet with a superb left-foot volley.
Unfortunately we then started to lose possession too often as Hunterfield roared back into the match. First, a long-range shot just inside the post left Ross with no chance, then he was badly exposed as a free header put the home team 4-3 ahead. We were in real trouble when a speculative shot looped in off the inside of a post at 5-3 down with less than 10 minutes left.
Jack had played superbly in the second half and got us back into the game with an excellent header from a pinpoint corner by Scott.
Scott then played a lovely ball in to Jack to run clear for a great chance of an equaliser. His first shot was saved, but he reacted well to score from the rebound to earn us a deserved draw.
Squad: Ross, Connor, Jason, David, Jack, Seth, Scott, Callum, Cammy, Brandon.
Scorers: Scott, Callum, Brandon, Jack (2)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A BIG IMPROVEMENT, 14-11-2009
MYS BLACKS 1 SPARTANS 2
Last time we played Spartans stronger team, we were hammered 6-1 and played very poorly. Today, we competed well and were unlucky to be beaten by a good team.
The first half was really tight, with few clear chances at either end. Seth had a long range shot tipped over and Scott hit the side netting, while Cammy made one good save and David cleared a shot off the line after a scramble.
It was 0-0 at half-time and we had tomanage without Connor in the second half after he took a nasty kick just before the break. Jason and David did superbly without him, though, with some full-blooded tackling and impressive and calm distribution. We were also thankful to Brandon for chasing back to stop a dangerous break.
Youngstars certainly showed much more composure on the ball today, and we also tackled well across the pitch. We took the lead not long after half time when Seth charged down an attempted clearance and hammered the ball first time into the corner of the net.
Spartans came straight back with a lovely goal as their striker turned on he edge of the box and fired into the corner. The game could have gone either way but Spartans nicked it with a superb goal, built all the way from the back. Scott had a superb curling shot brilliantly saved and then was denied again from close range.
In the end, we again lost by a single goal but this was a very good performance all over the pitch, with Lloyd working especially hard in midfield.
Last time we played Spartans stronger team, we were hammered 6-1 and played very poorly. Today, we competed well and were unlucky to be beaten by a good team.
The first half was really tight, with few clear chances at either end. Seth had a long range shot tipped over and Scott hit the side netting, while Cammy made one good save and David cleared a shot off the line after a scramble.
It was 0-0 at half-time and we had tomanage without Connor in the second half after he took a nasty kick just before the break. Jason and David did superbly without him, though, with some full-blooded tackling and impressive and calm distribution. We were also thankful to Brandon for chasing back to stop a dangerous break.
Youngstars certainly showed much more composure on the ball today, and we also tackled well across the pitch. We took the lead not long after half time when Seth charged down an attempted clearance and hammered the ball first time into the corner of the net.
Spartans came straight back with a lovely goal as their striker turned on he edge of the box and fired into the corner. The game could have gone either way but Spartans nicked it with a superb goal, built all the way from the back. Scott had a superb curling shot brilliantly saved and then was denied again from close range.
In the end, we again lost by a single goal but this was a very good performance all over the pitch, with Lloyd working especially hard in midfield.
OH NO! TRANENT AGAIN, 7-11-2009
MYS BLACKS 2 TRANENT COLTS 3
This was the third time we had lost by a single goal to Tranent this season. In our tournament, when we lost 1-0, and when they beat us 2-1 in the league, we really should have won well on both occasions. This was a tighter game but again, we probably deserved to take something out of it.
The match was very flat for the first 15 minutes, with both sides struggling to get a grip. There was then a goal rush before half-time, with Tranent going ahead when Jack unluckily chested the ball over his own goal line from a well-directed corner. He made up for it soon after by powering home a header from a superb corner kick by Scott.
Unfortunately, we fell asleep and allowed Tranent to take the lead when one of their players nipped in unmarked at the back post to finish off a good move. We came straight back again when Seth turned a defender on halfway and ran clear to slide a neat left-foot shot into the corner.
Yet again, we conceded a goal on the stroke of half time as we allowed a Tranent player a free header from a corner.
At 3-2 down, we had an uphill battle in the second half, and we had Ross - deputising for Cammy in goal - to thank for three or four fine saves. The Tranent keeper also saved well from Callum and Lloyd, and we came very close to an equaliser in the last minute when Scott turned inside a defender superbly but lashed his shot over the bar.
There were no complaints about the second half performance. Connor, David and Jason fought really hard to contain a physical Tranent team and we never gave up. If only we could avoid conceding so often just before the break.
Squad: Ross, Connor, David, Jason, Lloyd, Jack, Seth, Callum, Scott, Brandon
Scorers: Jack, Seth
This was the third time we had lost by a single goal to Tranent this season. In our tournament, when we lost 1-0, and when they beat us 2-1 in the league, we really should have won well on both occasions. This was a tighter game but again, we probably deserved to take something out of it.
The match was very flat for the first 15 minutes, with both sides struggling to get a grip. There was then a goal rush before half-time, with Tranent going ahead when Jack unluckily chested the ball over his own goal line from a well-directed corner. He made up for it soon after by powering home a header from a superb corner kick by Scott.
Unfortunately, we fell asleep and allowed Tranent to take the lead when one of their players nipped in unmarked at the back post to finish off a good move. We came straight back again when Seth turned a defender on halfway and ran clear to slide a neat left-foot shot into the corner.
Yet again, we conceded a goal on the stroke of half time as we allowed a Tranent player a free header from a corner.
At 3-2 down, we had an uphill battle in the second half, and we had Ross - deputising for Cammy in goal - to thank for three or four fine saves. The Tranent keeper also saved well from Callum and Lloyd, and we came very close to an equaliser in the last minute when Scott turned inside a defender superbly but lashed his shot over the bar.
There were no complaints about the second half performance. Connor, David and Jason fought really hard to contain a physical Tranent team and we never gave up. If only we could avoid conceding so often just before the break.
Squad: Ross, Connor, David, Jason, Lloyd, Jack, Seth, Callum, Scott, Brandon
Scorers: Jack, Seth
Monday, November 2, 2009
YOUNGSTARS TOO HOT FOR CURRIE, 1-11-09
CURRIE STAR 1 MYS BLACKS 8
The black stripes recorded a third successive seven-a-side win with an excellent team performance on a dreich and miserable day.
From the start of the match, the boys took on board what we had worked on in training and were much stronger in the tackle all over the park. We took a very early lead when Jack nicked the ball under the keeper after a one-two with Scott. Soon afterwards, Jack set up Seth on the edge of the box and he fired a fine shot high into the net to make it 2-0.
Jack scored again from close range and Lloyd hit an angled shot across the keeper to make it 4-0 with barely 20 minutes gone. David, playing left defence in the absence of Jason, had a superb game, and got forward to support the attack on several occasions. On the other side at the back, Connor was magnificent and barely lost a tackle all match. Both defenders - plus Callum when he filled in for David at the back - distributed the ball really well.
Cammy Brown was barely troubled in the first half, while the Currie keeper made five or six great saves to keep the score down,. Towards the end of the half, we lost our discipline a wee bit and started taking pot-shots rather than looking for the simple ball - but on the whole, our first half display was excellent.
We were straight back into our stride at the start of the second half but missed a bagful of chances before Currie pulled a goal back from a corner against the run of play. (we need to defend corners better as we have lost a lot of goals from them).
Callum nipped in to dispossess a defender and score to make it 5-1 and we could have had another ten goals but for more excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing on our part. Callum also had a goal disallowed for offside, as did Jack in the first half.
Jack did complete his hat trick when he ran clear to slot home, after Lloyd had also scored three. His last goal was smacked high into the net after a great team move involving Connor, Callum and Scott.
Although he didn't score, Scott had a very good and hard-working game, while Brandon also played well to continue an excellent run of form. If we can carry on playing like this, we can realistically look at the same sort of long unbeaten run that we had at the end of last season. When we win the ball and get it down to play, no-one can touch us - as long as we start taking our chances!
Squad: Cammy, Connor, David, Lloyd, Jack, Seth, Scott, Callum, Brandon
Scorers: Jack (3), Seth, Lloyd (3), Callum
The black stripes recorded a third successive seven-a-side win with an excellent team performance on a dreich and miserable day.
From the start of the match, the boys took on board what we had worked on in training and were much stronger in the tackle all over the park. We took a very early lead when Jack nicked the ball under the keeper after a one-two with Scott. Soon afterwards, Jack set up Seth on the edge of the box and he fired a fine shot high into the net to make it 2-0.
Jack scored again from close range and Lloyd hit an angled shot across the keeper to make it 4-0 with barely 20 minutes gone. David, playing left defence in the absence of Jason, had a superb game, and got forward to support the attack on several occasions. On the other side at the back, Connor was magnificent and barely lost a tackle all match. Both defenders - plus Callum when he filled in for David at the back - distributed the ball really well.
Cammy Brown was barely troubled in the first half, while the Currie keeper made five or six great saves to keep the score down,. Towards the end of the half, we lost our discipline a wee bit and started taking pot-shots rather than looking for the simple ball - but on the whole, our first half display was excellent.
We were straight back into our stride at the start of the second half but missed a bagful of chances before Currie pulled a goal back from a corner against the run of play. (we need to defend corners better as we have lost a lot of goals from them).
Callum nipped in to dispossess a defender and score to make it 5-1 and we could have had another ten goals but for more excellent goalkeeping and poor finishing on our part. Callum also had a goal disallowed for offside, as did Jack in the first half.
Jack did complete his hat trick when he ran clear to slot home, after Lloyd had also scored three. His last goal was smacked high into the net after a great team move involving Connor, Callum and Scott.
Although he didn't score, Scott had a very good and hard-working game, while Brandon also played well to continue an excellent run of form. If we can carry on playing like this, we can realistically look at the same sort of long unbeaten run that we had at the end of last season. When we win the ball and get it down to play, no-one can touch us - as long as we start taking our chances!
Squad: Cammy, Connor, David, Lloyd, Jack, Seth, Scott, Callum, Brandon
Scorers: Jack (3), Seth, Lloyd (3), Callum
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)