Under 9s Match Reports

Mid Glos Mini Soccer League
Saturday 25th March 2006

Abbeymead continued their relentless quest for the league title with a convincing win over pluckly Brockworth. Early on Joe Wilton and Jamal Lawrence forced good saves from Brockworth keeper Nick Bates. The deadlock was broken when Wilton skilfully chipped the keeper following an Elliott Obee pass. Elliott Basford fed Wilton who put Lawrence through on goal - Bates pulled off a good save but Ben Langworthy followed up to make it two nil.

A fantastic move should have been rewarded with number three - goalkeeper George Hall rolled the ball to Basford who switched play to Langworthy, who fed Obee who switched back to Lawrence who fired a cross-shot across the face of the goal. Lawrence picked up a weak clearance, beat three players to fire home goal number three. Bates was kept busy making several saves from top scorer Clayton Dee and at the other end Hall had to make some smart saves. From a Brockworth corner, Obee broke and fed Dee who scored from distance. Another Wilton chip from a long Hall clearance made it five before half time.

Abbeymead re-organised in the second half and Elliott Basford was pushed forward as he searched for his first goal of the season. He did not have to wait long - within a minute Langworthy fed Josh Cannon whose shot was saved but Basford was on hand to force the ball home. Cannon and Langworthy again combined to set up Lawrence who forced Bates into another fine save. Dee set up Basford for his second before Laawrence scored the goal of the game - another great passing move which started at the back with Hall, Dee, Obee, and Basford all involved in the build up. Cannon went close, Lawrence forced another save, Dee hit the post twice before Lawrence completed the scoring from close range.

Abbeymead Player of the match - Jamal Lawrence
Brockworth Player of the match - Nick Bates

Abbeymead Hawks - George Hall, Elliott Basford, Elliott Obee, Josh Cannon, Joe Wilton, Jamal Lawrence, Clayton Dee, Ben Langworthy

Mid Glos Mini-Soccer League
Saturday 18th March 2006

Ashelworth came to face the league leaders with a lot of confidence after some good recent results. Their record shows that they are a hard team to break down and they proved this again. The first fifthteen minutes was very tight. In fact Ashelworth caused defenders Josh Cannon and Elliot Basford some problems and they looked quite threatening but the pair defended well. Clayton Dee broke free from his marker and put over a lovely cross which Ben Langworthy nearly converted. Elliot Obee's pass found Dee and his strength took him clear from the defence only for his shot to be saved, but Jamal Lawrence was on hand to put away the rebound. Abbeymead grew in confidence, Brodie Goddard-Jones and Obee dominated the midfield and made things tick. Obee's pass found Joe Wilton whose effort was blocked and Goddard-Jones fired the rebound just over the bar. Obee again won the ball and found Goddard-Jones who put Dee through to score the second.

In the second half Dee was a constant threat and had several shots just wide. Ashelworth still looked a threat on the break and George Hall had to make an excellent save low to his left. The third goal was superb and eased the pressure - Basford won the ball and passed to Cannon who fed Wilton. He passed down the line to Lawrence who switched play to Langworthy who passed to Obee whose cross was turned in by Lawrence - what a team goal. Obee and Langworthy again combined well to allow Lawrence to score his third. Before the end Langworthy again fed man of the match Lawrence for his fourth. For Ashelworth, Harry Benfield was strong in midfield and their player of the match Isaac Townsend made an excellent debut.

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 - Jamal Lawrence
Ashelworth player of the match - Isaac Townsend

Mid Glos Mini-Soccer League
Saturday 11th March 2006

Hucclecote made their intentions clear by lining up with three defenders. Abbeymead were also not at their best in the first half as they could not get their normal free flowing passing game going. The game was often congested in Hucclecote's final third but with very few clear cut chances. Abbeymead did threaten when Clayton Dee picked up the ball on the half way line and ran directly at the Hucclecote defence, before shooting only for his shot to go narrowly wide. Brodie Goddard-Jones was having another solid game marshalling the midfield and putting in some strong challenges. Elliott Basford, Joshua Cannon and Elliott Obee had little to do defensively, but when required dealt comfortably with the few Hucclecote offences.

Abbeymead started the second half much better and showed great determination. Five minutes into the second half Abbeymead finally made the breakthrough. Following some good wing play by Joseph Wilton, his cross was not dealt with by the Hucclecote defence and the ball broke kindly for Dee to smash home. Abbeymead were now dominant and playing their best football of the game. A great corner delivered by Goddard-Jones was met perfectly by Dee who sent a controlled header into the far corner giving the Hucclecote keeper no chance.

Now trailing two-nil Hucclecote were then forced to play more expansively. Sam Akester and the influential Matt Emmett combined well to fashion a good chance for Akester who drew George Hall before shooting narrowly wide. Abbeymead then provided the best move of the game. Obee won the ball in defence, before releasing Langworthy. Langworthy then found Jamal Lawrence who ran at the retreating Hucclecote defence. Lawrence cut inside before laying a perfect pass for Wilton to tap into the empty Hucclecote net and give a hard fought three-nil victory.

Abbeymead player of the match: Brodie Goddard-Jones
Hucclecote player of the match: Matt Emmett

Abbeymead: George Hall, Elliott Basford, Joshua Cannon, Elliott Obee, Brodie Goddard-Jones, Ben Langworthy, Jamal Lawrence, Joseph Wilton, Clayton Dee

Cheltenham Youth League
Saturday 4th March 2006

This was again an open passing game from the Falcons with Kieran Bird and Adam Reade making strong runs causing problems for the Thunders. The opening goal came from Kieran Bird who picked the ball up just inside the penalty box from a cross and drove the ball into the back of the net. The Thunders were also making breaks with strong runs down the middle, but the Falcons defense and keeper Tom Claxton worked well to keep the Thunders out.

In the second half the Falcons continued to push hard and the Thunders defended well. With the Falcons pushing forward the Thunders again had several breaks, but Sam Ashmead read the game well making critical tackles to keep them out. The second goal came from a strong run through the middle by Dan Lutman who shot from just outside the box into the corner of the goal. It was an outstanding performance from the Thunders defense, in particular Shane Davis and goalkeeper Ieuan Lavender, that kept the Falcons out for most the game - well played.

Overall the referee commented how well all three teams had played with the Falcons playing a good passing game and all three defenses keeping the games close. Well played to all three teams on this cold day.

Falcons overall player of the week - Sam Ashmead

Cheltenham Youth League
Saturday 4th March 2006

The air was cold and the sun was bright with both teams taking time to get going. Abbeymead were playing a good open passing game causing the Charlton defense problems. Alex Vye and Adam Reade making strong runs down the flanks, but Abbeymead just couldn?t get a head or boot on the crosses. Dan Lutman and Jack Ashmead had several chances well saved by the Charlton goalkeeper who was key to Charlton keeping a clean sheet.
As Abbeymead continued to push forward Charlton made a few breaks, but the Abbeymead defense were still alert with Jack Boyce making a few crucial saves.

Falcons man of the match - Alex Vye