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MATCH REPORT

Sunday 5^th October 2008

Chiltern Youth League 2008/2009 - U13’s – Division 2

JASON’S THUNDERBOLT KEEPS BOROUGH SINGING IN THE RAIN!

AMPTHILL TOWN YOUTH (1) 2

LUTON BOROUGH FC (A) (1) 3

THE MATCH

FIRST-HALF

In weather that was more suitable for ducks than football, we travelled to play last years’ Division 3 Champions – Ampthill Town Youth.

We went back to our 4-4-2 formation, but it was Ampthill who started the better side and went ahead after
3-minutes when the Ampthill winger sent in a cross that eluded Brad and dropped into our net at the far post.
I had only just said that I wanted to see how we would respond to going behind, well, we then showed everyone that we don’t like being a goal down and we were level within 5-minutes, when Joe found Shelds with a great ball and he took a lovely first touch and riffled the ball into the corner of the Ampthill net.

We now tried to boss the game with Shelds, James and Jason all linking up, but Jason shot wide. We had a chance to take the lead just before half-time when Harry found Nathan who put James through, the Ampthill keeper came out quick, but James still managed to get the ball beyond him only for the Ampthill centre-half to clear the ball for a corner. The corner was cleared to Max who put the ball back in, but Shelds' looping header was easily saved!

Ampthill were playing their part in a good footballing game and nearly scored right on half-time when another cross-come-shot drifted just wide.

HALF TIME SCORE 1-1

SECOND-HALF

The rain seemed to get heavier at the start of the second-half.

We again had a lot of possession, but we were only creating half-chances.

Ampthill were defending very well and looked dangerous on the break. With 20-minutes left, we got the spark we needed when Shelds won a superb tackle on the edge of the box, the tackle had desire written all over it and it seemed to galvanise us as a team. A minute later Joe hit a 25-yarder into the top corner of the net, it did take a slight deflection, but it was still a great strike.

As I prepared to change our formation to hold onto the lead we had – Ampthill equalised as Max got caught out of position and the Ampthill striker lifted the ball over an advancing Brad. We had to pick ourselves up again and to our credit we did just that. With 10-minutes left, Jason picked the ball up and ran forward and then hit an unstoppable shot into the opposite top corner to Joe’s. Great strike!

We nearly got a fourth when Tom worked really hard to get James free, but after getting past the Ampthill keeper he was crowded out. Luke had come on and won every tackle and header and we saw the last 10-minutes out without any real scares.

FINAL SCORE 2-3

MAN of the MATCH - SHELDON

Good all round game, took his goal well and a cracking tackle!

NIGEL’S VERDICT

On a day when Noah was busy building another ark, it was a very important 3-points won. I thought that we had lots of possession, but never created the chances we had in previous weeks, but we did score three quality goals. We have to give Ampthill credit, they were the best team we have played so far and they played football the right way.

A special mention to Luke and Tom, who stood in dreadful conditions, then had to come on and then both played really well. Also an apology to Christian, who didn’t manage to get on, but showed character encouraging the team in the torrential rain.

Finally well done boys, you had to battle really hard for the points and when you were asked questions you showed desire and guts!!!

MATCH REPORT

Sunday 28^th September 2008

Chiltern Youth League 2008/2009 - U13’s – Division 2

ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET KEEPS BOROUGH UNBEATEN!

LUTON BOROUGH FC (A) (2) 4

BARTON ROVERS (A) (0) 0

THE MATCH

FIRST-HALF

After hitting ten in our last two games, playing this game was always going to be a stiffer task. Barton came well organised and a packed midfield made the game very tight in the first 10-minutes. Our best chance being a snapshot from James that went over the bar. We were getting the ball wide and two crosses in from Joe and Tom were well claimed by the Barton Rovers goalkeeper. We broke the deadlock after 20-minutes when Joe split the Barton defence with an incisive pass to Tom whose low cross went past James at the front post, but Nathan came in the back door to side foot the ball home. We now had more confidence about us and kept going forward. After a slow start Harry was now pulling the strings and with 5-minutes to go until half-time we got a deserved second goal, when this time Harry found Nathan, who skinned the Barton right back, pulled the ball back from the by-line and Jason drove the ball into the box and at full stretch managed to steer the ball home. At 2-0 we looked comfortable, then right on half-time Dereece was alleged to have fouled the Barton striker on the edge of our box and from the free-kick the Barton player chipped the ball over the wall - only for Brad to dive full length and make a fine save.

HALF TIME SCORE 2-0

SECOND-HALF

We discussed at half-time how important it was to keep it nice and tight for the first 5-minutes of the second-half and we did just that. We then managed to extend our lead when Joe’s long range effort found its way beyond the Barton keeper and into the net, this was harsh on the Barton keeper who had played well until then. In the 5-minute spell following that, I managed to get all four subs on to the pitch. We nearly added to our lead when Josh shot narrowly wide after good work from Shelds. We then got our fourth goal when Adam’s pass found Harry whose long-shot went in via the keeper’s body. Barton nearly got consolation 5-minutes later when Brad missed a cross, but Harry headed it off of the line. We nearly scored a fifth when Sheldon’s low corner was met by Harry, but this time the Barton keeper made a good save.

FINAL SCORE 4-0

MAN of the MATCH - NATHAN

I love watching him play football.

NIGEL’S VERDICT

Ex-goalkeepers always like clean sheets, so you will be pleased to know that I was in a good mood Sunday afternoon. I thought we defended really well and Bradley looks more confident with every game. We didn’t create as many chances as we have been doing during our previous games, but we still won the game with a bit in hand.

The belief in the squad at the moment is sky high and the attitude spot-on. Long may it continue!

Well done boys!

BEST MOMENT OF THE MATCH!

Our first goal – simply great football goal!

FUNIEST MOMENT!

Just watching Mark every time the ball gets near to our net!

MATCH REPORT

Sunday 21^st September 2008

Tesco U13 Youth Challenge Cup

TEN UP BOROUGH MARCH

INTO ROUND THREE!

LUTON BOROUGH YOUTH (A) (7) 10

BARTON ROVERS YOUTH (B) (0) 0

After conceding three goals in last week’s match, this week I wanted more than anything to keep a sheet clean against our Division 4 opponents!

THE MATCH

FIRST-HALF

I changed our formation to three upfront as I thought that Barton would play with only one striker. We started the game playing down the hill and at a very high tempo. We could have gone in front as early as the second minute into the game, when Nathan’s superb run and cross was met by Tom at the far post, but the Barton Keeper made a fine save. We took the lead a minute later when Joe found Shelds, who appeared to be brought down in the box, but the ball ran loose and Tom slotted it home. Five-minutes later we were 2-up when Shelds ran on to Joes pass and finished into the bottom corner of the net.

We then scored our best team goal of the day when Luke, Harry and Joe all linked up to release Nathan who beat the Barton full-back and drove a hard low cross into the box which Shelds finished from close range. This was followed by Tom scoring a fine goal after being found by a great pass from Harry, Tom cut inside and curled his shot over the Barton goalkeeper into the top corner. Harry then blasted in our fifth goal after a scramble on the edge of the box, in which he took control of the ball and hammered a left footed strike into the bottom corner of the net.

James had scored five goals last week and had now decided to get in on this week’s act just before half-time, when Shelds found him with a good quick throw and James then turned on a sixpence and riffled the ball home. Right on half-time James helped himself to a second and our 7^th, when he turned in Toms cross from close range.

HALF TIME SCORE 7-0

SECOND-HALF

We discussed at half-time how important it was to come away with a clean sheet, so we started the second-half where we left off – on the attack. We created several more chances, but we lay siege to the Barton goal, with Shelds, Josh and James all missing good chances, then Joe struck the bar and it looked like we would not add to our first-half goal tally. With 15-minutes left Jason riffled a shot into the corner of the net to make the score 8-0. Then, as he so often does, James finished Barton off with another brace of goals, the best of which was our tenth, when he again swivelled and fired into the corner of the net.

FINAL SCORE 10-0

MAN of the MATCH - JAMES

He scored four more goals to add to his five from last week - simply a lethal finisher!

NIGEL’S VERDICT

Firstly, I would like to just say how well Barton Rovers applied themselves to a game that was always going to be tough one for them. The Barton Rovers goalkeeper made some outstanding saves, including the save from Tom which was quite brilliant.

As for us, it was a game that we were expected to win, so we did that with a bit in hand. Brad kept his first clean sheet, so he was happy, and so was I.

What sums us up at the moment, happened five-minutes from the end of the game when Max gave the ball away on the halfway line, but chased back and tackled the Barton Rovers forward in our box like we were 1-nil up not 10!

At the moment we are totally committed as a squad – long may it continue!

BEST MOMENT OF THE MATCH!

Our third goal – not because it was scored by my son, but because it was what I like to call an Arsenal goal – total football!!!

FUNIEST MOMENT OF THE MATCH!

Harry asking me at half-time if the game would go to pens if Barton scored 7 in the second-half – I told him it wouldn’t matter to me, because if it ended 7-7 - I would be long gone!

Sunday 14^th September 2008

Chiltern Youth League 2008/2009 - U13’s – Division 2

FIVE ALIVE JAMES STEERS BOROUGH TO THE SUMMIT!

LUTON BOROUGH FC (A) (3) 10

BRICKHILL WANDERERS (A) (0) 3

Well, after sulking last week like we had lost – this week I had the hump about conceding three goals - but scoring ten did help the mood!

THE MATCH

FIRST-HALF

We started the game very shakily and could have gone behind when Bradley came out, didn’t get to the ball and the Brickhill Wanderers player shot wide. But, after 12-minutes we took the lead when Sheldon worried the Brickhill centre half into a mistake, and with shear persistence Shelds forced the ball home. The goal settled us down and we then began to play our football. Shelds and James both headed over from close range before we finally got our second goal when Joe’s corner was headed down by Harry, and Adam was on hand to volley the ball home. Brickhill then had their best chance of the first-half when Bradley made a fine point blank range save. Right on half-time we extended our lead when Joe found James who turned on a sixpence and buried the ball in to the net.

HALF TIME SCORE 3-0

SECOND-HALF

We discussed at half-time how important it was for Brickhill not to score in the first 5-minutes of the second-half. But, incredibly we conceded twice – the first was an excellent finish, from in my opinion Brickhill's best player. The second was from a harshly awarded free-kick, where Brad got his wall and angles all wrong, 3-minutes later the unthinkable happened and Brickhill equalised, this time a mix up between Brad and Adam and it was 3-3. We reshuffled and regained our composure and 2-minutes later we were back in front when Jason cut in from the right and fired into the corner of the net. We then stepped up a gear and scored two more quick goals, the first was from James who took an extremely good pass from Harry down and Cooley finished past the Brickhill keeper. Then Tom found Josh with an excellently weighted ball, which he curled into the corner of the net.

I felt that the game was now won and we had Brickhill penned in their half.

With 15-minutes to go James completed his hat-trick with a fine individual goal. He then bagged a fourth and our eighth, with a tap in. Followed shortly after with Harry capping a fine performance with a stunning 20-yard strike into the top corner. With almost the last kick of the game, Joe unselfishly threaded James through and he grabbed his 5^th goal.

FINAL SCORE 10-3

MAN of the MATCH - HARRY

Outstanding performance capped with a great goal.

NIGEL’S VERDICT

After a poor opening 10-minutes, we played some lovely football and deserved our 3-0 half-time lead. We then put in a shocking 10-minute spell just after half-time, but what I was pleased with was how we regained our composure and went on to win comfortably.

Some great pluses from the performance, but also some things to work on.

BEST MOMENT OF THE MATCH!

Harry’s first-half cross field pass, which Jason took in his stride – classy!!!

UNLUCKIEST PLAYER!

James must hate me, he scored five goals in one game - one of which was a fine solo effort and still didn’t get Man of the Match.

U13’s Division Two Chiltern Youth League 2008/2009

Sunday 7^th September 2008

BUSHMEAD ROVERS (A)

LUTON BOROUGH FC (A)

Firstly, I would like to thank all of the parents and the boys for turning up to training throughout the Summer months. I know that training twice a week is a massive commitment, but I hope that you appreciate that we are trying to do this to make sure that our fitness is at its highest level for the season ahead.

As we embark on our third season as 11-A-Side, I would like to wish all the players and parents all the best for our 2008/2009 season.

THE MATCH

FIRST-HALF

Our first game of the season saw us play away at Bushmead Rovers – a tough assignment at anytime of the season.

We started the game playing 4-4-2, with our five Summer signings all making their debuts. We took the game to Bushmead right from the kick-off. Nathan had several good runs, but just failed to find the killer pass at the right time. On a small pitch our midfield were trying very hard to find space so that we could play our one-touch football.

Bushmead had a good chance to score in the first 15-minutes when a cross to the far post was followed by their striker putting the shot wide. We broke the deadlock after 20-minutes when Nathan found Joe and his perfect pass opened the Bushmead defence up and Josh took the ball in his stride and placed it into the bottom corner of the Bushmead net – a quality finish to a great move!

Bushmead’s only real threat was coming from set pieces and Bradley dealt with them superbly, coming and taking three corners on the trot.

We lost Lloyd in the first half due to a very worrying eye injury, which required hospital attention, so we had to reshuffle the team with Luke coming on and Dereece moving to left back. We nearly doubled our lead right on half-time, when Jason found Nathan with a good pass and Nathan’s curling shot came off of the foot of the post and bounced to safety.

HALF TIME SCORE 0-1

SECOND-HALF

We started on the front foot and scored a second goal 5-minutes into the second-half, when this time Jason found an excellent pass to James, whose shot was parried by the Bushmead goalkeeper, only for Josh to react quickly and fired the ball into the Bushmead net to put us 2-0 up.

I then managed to get the remaining four subs into the game, this did disjoint our second-half performance, but this was not a reflection on the boys who came on. Bushmead scored with 10-minutes to go with a well taken close range strike that Brad had no chance to save.

We had several chances to extend our lead with Nathan, Sheldon and Joe all making the Bushmead goalkeeper work hard. Sam received a nasty clash of heads near the end of the game, but managed to play out the last few minutes.

FINAL SCORE 1-2

MAN of the MATCH

BRADLEY

A good all round performance, Brad’s handling of the ball was excellent, as was his kicking. Brad had no chance with the Bushmead goal.

NIGEL’S VERDICT

Although I spent most of Sunday afternoon sulking and feeling like we had lost, I really believe that it was a job well done. Bushmead were a good, well organised side and we worked very hard to beat them. There was no doubt our second-half performance was not as good as our first-half, but that was due to making so many changes. We also have to remember we had five players making their debut for us too.

I do hope that Lloyd and Sam are both feeling a lot better.

BEST MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Joe’s superb pass for Josh’s first goal!

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Me asking Harry to take a corner when I had just taken him off!

...Well done boys – three well earned points!