Hi Pythons
This is our last league game this year. We will have played a total of 11 games compared to 10 games last year. We have won 2 games and drawn 4 games which is reasonable, but we know we can do better. So let's go for it and make our last game a good one.
Kick off is at 10:30 at:
Hillside Primary School, (beside the big Asda superstore)
Rushey Way,
Lower Earley,
Reading.
Berkshire,
RG6 4HQ
Please be there 20 minutes before kick off, so we can warm-up.
If you're unable to play, please let me know asap
If you have any problems on Saturday, please phone me on my mobile 0789 538 7815
Remember:
1) Position
2) Take a touch
3) Look to pass the ball
4) Talk to each other
5) Attack as a team and defend as a team
Come on you Pythons, let's go and score some more goals.
John
The final game of the season saw us play Lower Earley away who are currently 3rd in the league but whom we beat at home 1 – 0 just before Christmas. We were missing Haydn and Mathew L so this was going to be a tough game. Before kick-off your coaches asked for maximum effort as this was the last game and that we wanted you to go out on a high particularly after last weeks game. Again we went over the need to work as a team, attack as a team and defend as a team and remember to hold your positions.
1st half – Michael went in goal and Luke, Kieran and Alex in defence with Mathew F, Cameron and Ben in midfield, George was sub and Michael was captain. The game kicked off and we were immediately being pushed back as Lower Earley took the early initiative. It took a little bit of time for you guys to settle down but once we did we looked strong at the back albeit at times a bit stretched with Kieran holding well in central defence and both Alex and Luke covering well. Most of the early pressure was coming from Lower Earley corners as our one weakness was not marking tight enough to the attackers and not concentrating in getting the ball away, some quick reaction from Michael after 1 corner certainly saved a goal. Upfront we created some good opportunities with Mathew F and Cameron pushing on when Ben was put through by Kieran we had a great opportunity but their keeper game out really well to save at Ben’s feet. George came on and looked to get down the left and with Luke always willing to run on the over lap you guys looked strong. Following a good 5 minutes for us with good pressure and a couple of corners we got caught out at the back. A break down the right and some poor defending allowed the ball to get pulled across our penalty area and the attacker running in from the left had an open goal as everyone had been dragged to the ball, 1 – 0. You battled on for the rest of the half and some good defending and smart goalkeeping kept the score at 1 – 0.
At halftime we talked about the need not to panic but get the ball under control get your heads up and pass as some were rushing to just clear the ball. Whilst we defended well we were at times being dragged out of position because we were watching the ball not the players around us so we needed to really concentrate on that. So with the last 20 minutes of the season left we asked again for you to give it your all.
2nd half Luke went in goal, Mathew F, Alex and George in defence and Michael, Ben and Kieran upfront. Again as the game kicked off we took a bit of time to get in our stride but we looked strong at the back but we struggled upfront. Lower Earley had couple of strong boys at the back that out muscled us and even though Kieran and Ben worked hard to create some chances we found it hard to get past those 2. However with Alex in sparkling form in centre defence and ably assisted by Mathew F and George Luke was well protected. But the game was being played in our half and at 1 – 0 down we needed to get the ball up field. As we tried for an equaliser we took some chances at the back as Cameron pushed on into midfield and a couple of times they broke but some last ditch tackling saved us. With 5 minutes to go we moved into 2 at the back 3 in midfield and 1 in attack and George and Kieran had a couple of chances and at the back Cameron made a fantastic sliding tackle to save a certain goal and Luke made a great save but the game ended 1 – 0.
Guys we couldn’t fault your effort or commitment today as we said we have seen you play a lot better this season but you didn’t give up and you gave it everything. Although the ball spent a lot of time in our half you defended very well which cut their clear chances to just a few. They were a strong tough side probably along with Curley Park the best we have played this year. It’s a shame to finish the season with a defeat but as we said you gave it everything and you should be proud of yourselves every one of you was a star today.
During the upcoming tournaments we will work on getting more support in attack as too many times we had 1 or maybe 2 players in attack and its difficult to score in that position. Defensively we are very strong we have the 5th best defensive record in the league but upfront we have the 4th worst goals scored record. Yes we have missed some chances this year but we believe the lack of goals is solely down to not being able to create enough opportunities and so we will be working on that in the tournaments ready for next season.
Congratulations to Alex for a fantastic game in defence today playing in centre defence for the first time in the second half, well done. Moment of the match was a tough call between Cameron’s chase back and tackle and Luke’s stunning save but in the end Luke won it this week so well done.
From your coaches perspective you have developed so much since last September so once again well done this season for fantastic effort and commitment and let’s now have some fun at the tournaments.
Come on you Pythons!
John, Ian and Paul