Under 14’s start new season in winning style!
8 Sep 2008
Foresters U14’s ( Tandridge squad ) win their first trophy of the new season
Playing in south London is always a challenge (there are times when you want to check the opposition’s birth certificates) and a nine a side tournament is something of a novelty. On fabulous pitches Foresters played a number of south London sides and Edenbridge. With a series of 10 minute games arranged with only 5 minutes between games this was always going to be a tough challenge.
Foresters rose to the challenge – playing 5 league games and securing 2 wins and three draws. With such short games and no players except the keeper allowed inside the box goals were always going to be at a premium. Credit therefore to Alex Smith and Jo Laurie for scoring. Toby Barrows kept a clean sheet in all league games – including an outstanding penalty save.
What really made the difference was the way this squad played – as a team – the coaches rotated players and every boy made telling contributions. Each player worked and the afternoon was a good example of team spirit.
So after five games the final was a tense encounter with Valley Valiants on their home pitch. Extra time was needed and came and went without any goals.
The dreaded penalty-shoot out once more. Foresters were confident – their keeper had been in outstanding form all afternoon and the last cup penalty shoot out had gone our way. The coaches were confident and left it to the captain to pick the three players for the penalties.
Archie chose well – he picked the same players the coaches would have chosen and when Foresters scored two of their three penalties and Toby saved two of the opposition penalties the Foresters crowd went wild.
A good crowd of parents had turned out and supported the team throughout and while they were somewhat bemused by the massive “ bundle “ after the final whistle all agreed it was a great way to start the season on a cold and damp Sunday afternoon.
Onward and upward for the new season!
Under 14’s start new season in winning style!
8 Sep 2008
Foresters U14’s ( Tandridge squad ) win their first trophy of the new season
Playing in south London is always a challenge (there are times when you want to check the opposition’s birth certificates) and a nine a side tournament is something of a novelty. On fabulous pitches Foresters played a number of south London sides and Edenbridge. With a series of 10 minute games arranged with only 5 minutes between games this was always going to be a tough challenge.
Foresters rose to the challenge – playing 5 league games and securing 2 wins and three draws. With such short games and no players except the keeper allowed inside the box goals were always going to be at a premium. Credit therefore to Alex Smith and Jo Laurie for scoring. Toby Barrows kept a clean sheet in all league games – including an outstanding penalty save.
What really made the difference was the way this squad played – as a team – the coaches rotated players and every boy made telling contributions. Each player worked and the afternoon was a good example of team spirit.
So after five games the final was a tense encounter with Valley Valiants on their home pitch. Extra time was needed and came and went without any goals.
The dreaded penalty-shoot out once more. Foresters were confident – their keeper had been in outstanding form all afternoon and the last cup penalty shoot out had gone our way. The coaches were confident and left it to the captain to pick the three players for the penalties.
Archie chose well – he picked the same players the coaches would have chosen and when Foresters scored two of their three penalties and Toby saved two of the opposition penalties the Foresters crowd went wild.
A good crowd of parents had turned out and supported the team throughout and while they were somewhat bemused by the massive “ bundle “ after the final whistle all agreed it was a great way to start the season on a cold and damp Sunday afternoon.
Onward and upward for the new season!