Bergholt Heath YFC – Results & Fixtures 7th April 2013

The weather finally allowed Bergholt Heath to play games this weekend, although only two of our four teams were scheduled to play as the league starts to juggle outstanding fixtures.

With a squad decimated by holidays and sickness, the Under 10s could only field 6 players in their 7-a-side league match away to Stanway Villa.  The team forewent a striker for the game knowing that they would be camped in their own half for the majority of the game.  Stanway Villa tried to carve their way through to goal, but a combination of good defending and ‘keeping kept them out.  Bergholt’s only chance of scoring would be by making a swift counter attack, and indeed the best chance of the first half fell to Bergholt when Matt set Dan free on the left.  Dan’s shot fell to Nathan at the far post with the ‘keeper stranded at the other post.  Unfortunately, Nathan could not direct his shot into the goal. Though tired, the Bergholt boys came off at half time delighted to have kept the score to 0-0.

The second half was backs to the wall as Villa pushed forward and threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Bergholt to try and make their numerical advantage count.  With a herculean effort the boys kept them out, although it was very close at times.  The match finished 0-0, although you would have thought Bergholt had won it the way the boys celebrated at the end!

Well done boys for a fantastic display.  It seems lately that when we are really up against it everyone steps up a couple of gears. We really need this type of display every week.

Man of the match went to Louis for a great display between the sticks.

The Under 14s travelled the short distance to Clairmont Road to play Brooklands in the league, looking to make it 10 wins in a row. However after 2 weeks without a game it seemed that the lads had forgotten who their team mates were as there was a distinct lack of communication in the first half.  It was mainly because of this that the hosts created a couple of chances in the first quarter of an hour and the team had Connor in goal to thank, with 2 excellent saves. Going forward the boys lacked a little drives, but they still managed to create chances for Owen, Mickey and Max, but they all failed to hit the target.  As always Bergholt were dangerous from corners, but with a narrow pitch, some were over hit.  Max’s long throw ins also caused the Brooklands defence some uncomfortable moments. As the half progressed, Sam headed a corner wide and Jamie went close when he had a shot after picking up a cleared corner.  The end of the first half saw Owen break down the right and send in a great cross that looked destined to fall for Mickey at the far post, but a defender stretched out a leg and was fortunate to divert the ball up and over his cross-bar rather than into his own net from little more than 3 yards out.   A half that balanced itself out finished all square.

After a positive team talk the boys certainly upped their game in the second half and dominated play for much of the remainder of the match.  It was scrappy at times, but they showed a lot more desire and worked hard to stop Brooklands from playing, whilst making several opportunities too.  Mickey, Jake, Ollie and Ben had shots that all cleared the bar, but Jake came close to opening the score as he turned his man and hit a great shot that came back off the bar.  Soon after, a good move down the left lead to James Hirst crossing to an unmarked James Holden who headed over from 6 yards: getting the ball under the crossbar seemed to be Bergholt’s main issue today! Max’s throw ins continued to lead to chances, but the Brooklands ‘keeper pulled off a really impressive save from Jake, who had diverted Sam’s flick on towards goal, and another header from Sam was cleared off the line by a Brooklands defender.  The home ‘keeper made two more outstanding saves to deny Bergholt a goal – 1 from a lobbed shot by Ollie that looked destined for the top corner until he stopped it, and another from his own defender who miss-hit a low cross from Mickey that headed arrow-like towards the bottom corner, but he got down really well to turn it round the post.

So the match finished all square at 0-0 and Bergholt didn’t make it 10 wins in a row which was a little frustrating, but the way the lads went about the second half was good to see.  Work on finishing is required at the next training session!

Man of the match: Goalkeeper Connor Welfare, for great saves in the first half and a confident performance.

Next weeks matches – Sunday 14th April

• Brooklands v Under 8
• Reed Hall Sentinels v Under 10
• Under 14 v Stanway Rovers KO 10.30am
• Boxford Rovers v Under 18 LC QF