Twin Oaks FC U13's V Hurstpierpoint
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28th Jun 2008 CLICK TO SPONSOR |
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Twin Oaks FC U13's
v
Hurstpierpoint
It took a long time to put the gazebo up today and I think we shall have to have extra parental training on Thursday nights just to allow. We were inhibited by strong dry winds though and yet another sunny day.
Another slow start to the tournament also in terms of results and also I think in terms of how we played initially. We started playing in the same formation as Worthing but with different players it did not work so we reverted eventually to a 2-2-1 formation with Ryan and Elliot sharing goalkeeping duties.
The hosts Hurstpierpoint Colts were our first opposition of the day and we performed in a very disjointed manor with players moving out of position and leaving too many gaps for Hurstpierpoint to exploit and we were lucky to get away with losing only 1-0,
Our next two matches against Hurst Hornets and Royal United both ended in goalless draws and we were having a problem hitting the back of the net. Other teams were having a similar problem as it turned out.
Improvement came in respect of our performance against Royal United in a game where we had a number of opportunities which we were just not able to complete. Royal United will be in the A Division of the Horsham League in 2008/09 so this showed that we will be able to compete next year.
Maidenbower Utd formed our last group opposition and a match that had to be won and by a at least a couple of goals.
By this time Ryan and Elliot were rotating goalkeeping duties with Elliot going in goal for the second half of games. Finally a goal came at last from Ellias and then a second from Elliot.
Believe it or not a defeat, two goalless draws and a single win proved sufficient to place us in a quarter final which it emerged finally was to be Hurstpierpoint Colts B who topped their group. Another goalless draw followed but not until Ellias had a shot which hit the bar and most spectators felt actually crossed the line. This was another game that we should have we in normal time, However extra time followed and then penalties followed. Jerome took the captains role and …….. missed the first penalty. Still the right result came through in the end with everyone else converting there efforts.
Then on to Cuckfield Cosmos another game that we dominated without a final finish. We were a little edgier and yet again after extra time to penalties once again. And once again Jerome took the captains role and …….. missed the first penalty.
So to the final and once again Hurstpierpoint Colts A stood in front as opposition and the host team. They are also in the Horsham Youth League in 2008/09 and were runners up in 2007/08 and therefore represent very strong opposition and an excellent indication of how high our standards can be. We performed excellently this time around and fought toe to toe, making as many chances as they did. Once again the end of normal time proved goalless and extra time was played. Hurtspierpoint finally struck the final blow late in the first half which we were just unable to recover from.
Another day of sunshine, another day of sunburn, another day when our defense featuring at various points George, Sean, Elliot and Jerome remained resolute as it has done for most of the summer. Another day that started slowly but finished overall satisfactorily. Although runners up once again.
I have learnt a number of things today firstly that so far all the players have shown that they can be trusted to perform ably in their positions and that they can at least match any level of opposition placed in front of them, and finally never again to let people take pictures of me when I am watching football as I look like that well known coach Larry Grayson with hands firmly on hips!!!
Hurstpierpoint Tournament 2008 Runners Up
Match Results
Twin Oaks 0 Hurstpierpoint Colts A 1
Twin Oaks 0 Hurst Hornets 0
Twin Oaks 0 Royal United 0
Twin Oaks 2 (Ellias , Elliot) Maidenbower United 0
QTR Final Twin Oaks 0 Hurstpierpoint Colts B 0
(won 4-2 om penalties
Semi Final Twin Oaks 0 Cuckfield Cosmos 0 (Won 5-3 on penalties)