Under 9s Match Reports

"Hawks celebrate reaching league cup final"

This was a superb advert for mini-soccer. The first ten minutes were very even with plenty of good passing and tackling. Abbeymead posed more of a threat with Clayton Dee going close. Hucclecote were obviously aware of the threat of Abbeymead's top scorer and he was man-marked throughout the game by Hucclecote's man of the match William Reese.

After fifthteen minutes a Dee shot was saved by the keeper and Brodie Goddard-Jones followed up but his shot hit the outside of the post. Abbeymead were getting more of a grip on the game but Hucclecote always looked a threat on the break. Elliot Obee and Elliot Basford had to be at their best in defence and both made a number of fine and well timed challenges to protect George Hall in goal.

A Joe Wilton corner was not dealt with by the defence and Jamal Lawrence fired home an excellent volley to put Abbeymead into the lead. Just before half time Ben Langworthy picked up the ball in defence and he fed Dee who in turn put the unmarked Wilton through to slide the ball home for a two-nil lead.

Hucclecote came out fired up for the second half and pushed more players forward - the roles were reversed with Abbeymead defending well and looking to score on the break. Obee, Basford and Josh Cannon were superb defensively and for all their possession Hucclecote could still not get through to test Hall.

Goddard-Jones had an inspirational game in midfield and Dee was a constant handful. A Dee chip was superbly half saved by the Hucclecote keeper and a defender managed to clear the ball off the line. A smart turn and shot on the volley from Lawrence hit the post again - a third from Abbeymead would have killed the game but with five minutes left Danny Webb latched onto a loose ball to fire home for Hucclecote to give them hope. Some last ditch defending kept them at bay and Abbeymead hung on for a deserved win.

Both semi-finals were taking place simultaneously on adjacent pitches. The other semi saw Tredworth beat Mitcheldean three-two to set up a mouth watering final between the top two teams in the North League.

Abbeymead: George Hall, Elliot Obee, Elliot Basford, Clayton Dee, Brodie Goddard-Jones Jamal Lawrence, Josh Cannon, Joe Wilton, Ben Langworthy

Abbeymead player of the match - Brodie Goddard-Jones
Hucclecote player of the match - William Reese

Mid Glos Mini-Soccer League
Saturday 18th February 2006

Abbeymead got off to another flying start when Ben Langworthy hit a lovely cross field pass to Jamal Lawrence who laid the ball off to Brodie Goddard-Jones who then fed top scorer Clayton Dee to open the scoring. Abbeymead were in complete control of the game but found it difficult on a heavy pitch to get their passing game going. Josh Cannon and Elliot Basford had to make several good tackles to protect George Hall in goal who did not have a save to make in the first half. Clayton Dee put in a cross from the left but Langworthy's header hit the post. Minutes later Goddard-Jones hit the post and it looked like it was going to be one of those days. Joe Wilton then set up Goddard-Jones when his shot again hit the post but Langworthy was on hand to fire home the rebound.

In the second half Abbeymead continued to control the game - Jamal Lawrence put in some excellent crosses but Abbeymead could not increase their lead with Dee, Obee and Goddard-Jones all going close. With ten minutes to go, Bream's Lewis Thompson broke from deep to score a fine individual goal. Abbeymead responded almost immediately when Dee scored his second after Elliot Obee's pass found Wilton, whose shot was saved but Dee scored from the rebound. Cannon won the ball in midfield and fed Dee who put Langworthy through but his shot hit the post for the fourth time. Elliot Basford nearly scored his first of the season, but his shot was blocked.

Abbeymead player of the match: Clayton Dee
Bream player of the match: Lewis Thompson

Abbeymead: George Hall, Elliot Obee, Elliot Basford, Clayton Dee, Brodie Goddard-Jones Jamal Lawrence, Josh Cannon, Joe Wilton, Ben Langworthy

Mid Glos Mini-Soccer League
Saturday 4th February 2006

This was an excellent advert for mini-soccer. Top versus second in the league and both teams proved why, with excellent passing football. For the first five minutes it was end to end - Abbeymead broke the deadlock when Brodie Goddard-Jones fed Jamal Lawrence whose cross was headed home by top scorer Clayton Dee. Dee then caused havoc in the Mitcheldean area and had point blank shot superbly saved by the keeper. Jamal Lawrence made an excellent tackle on the half way line, attacked and then calmly placed the ball in the corner for a fine solo goal. Within minutes Goddard-Jones fed Joe Wilton whose pass was finished off by Lawrence. Mitcheldean then fought back and put Elliot Obee and Elliot Basford in defence under increased pressure. Basford, in particular was forced into some excellent last ditch tackles.

In the second half, Abbeymead attacked from the start putting Mitcheldean under pressure. Obee forced a good save from the keeper and Dee went close to increasing the score before he was put through by a Ben Langworthy pass to score from a tight angle. Another Langworthy pass put Lawrence through but he was denied his hat-trick by a superb save. Abbeymead then relaxed as Mitcheldean poured forward. Josh Cannon and Basford had to defend well but James Wilce was causing them problems. He brought out two fine saves from George Hall in goal for Abbeymead who, yet again, kept another clean sheet.

Abbeymead player of the match: Jamal Lawrence
Mitcheldean player of the match: Tom Sime

Abbeymead: George Hall, Elliot Obee, Elliot Basford, Clayton Dee, Brodie Goddard-Jones Jamal Lawrence, Josh Cannon, Joe Wilton, Ben Langworthy