SUNDAY, 25 APRIL 2010
Nether Green Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 25th April 2010
Nether Green Under 11s 0 - 3 Norton Lees Under 11s
MATCH REPORT
A comfortable 3-0 away win on the final day of the season secured the all important runners up spot for the Under 11's and a deserved trip to the SDJSL league presentation evening on Tuesday 25th May. Nether Green had beaten Charnock in the week and would have been looking to finish their season on a high but the Norton Lads were well up for this game and keen to claim that 2nd position. Here's how it went:
Norton kicked off and soon began to dominate possession and territory. In fact its fair to say that we camped in their half for the first 30 minutes. Both teams were struggling on a rutted, bobbly pitch but with strong play on both wings and some accurate passing in midfield it looked like goals would inevitably come for Norton. Norton's best chances were coming from Kieran's superb corners and Anthony somehow contrived to head the ball away from the line from one of these when it looked like he couldn't miss. Some long range efforts from Tom and Joel came close but despite all the pressure the score remained goalless at half time.
Although the boys were playing into the wind in the second half the story was very much the same with Norton controlling the game and not allowing Nether Green any time or space on the ball. Early chances fell to Tom and Anthony but they rushed their efforts when both could have taken an extra touch and improved their chances. Another top class corner from Kieran led to a golden opportunity for Norton to take the lead when Anthony's goalbound header was handled on the line. Joel looked confident but his powerful penalty flew over the bar. It was beginning to look like it was going to be one of those days and Nether Green looked to capitalise on their good fortune when a couple of breakaways found the Norton defence too high up the pitch and struggling to recover. Freddie's positioning and timing was spot on though and we could breath again as the boys stepped up a gear and pushed for a winner.
Norton eventually took a deserved lead with Anthony continuing his good late season form. To be honest I can't remember much of how it came about. Sorry. Shortly after Anthony latched on to a fantastic defence splitting pass from Joel and raced away from his defender. He took a look up and placed the ball into the corner of the net. Tom completed the scoring following a typical surging run and gave the keeper no chance. With a couple of minutes left Norton pressed forward looking for a 4th that would bring their season tally (in league and cup games) to 100. Unfortunately they couldn't find another opportunity but who cares - the most important objective was achieved and the lads must have been delighted with the shift they put in and the end result. The enthusiasm they showed in showering me with a combination of water and Lucozade afterwards confirms how pleased they all were.
What a season. I'm so proud of the boys' efforts this year. They settled really well into the 11-a-side format and showed us that they can play some marvellous football. There is no doubt that they have been the best footballing side in our division (despite just missing out on winning it) and I am confident that they'll do really well in Div D next year.
Have a great summer lads and a great 2010/11 season. Its been a total pleasure.
Rob
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TUESDAY, 20 APRIL 2010
Beighton Falcons VS. Norton Lees
Tuesday 20th April 2010
Beighton Falcons Under 11s 1 - 3 Norton Lees Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
Promotion achieved!!!
A sunny but cold and very windy evening saw us take on promotion rivals Beighton. We knew this would be a difficult fixture but the nerves were clearly with myself, Jason and Steve as the lads seemed to be warming up like it was any other game or training session. Good on 'em!
Keeping the opposition in check was the name of the game this evening. Moving Tom back in to the centre of defence to replace the missing Jack Levick would ensure strength and commitment at the back even if this would blunt our attacking options. This was essential though. Beighton really had to win and their results showed that they tended to capitalise on early goals so strength at the back was essential. We might be criticised for taking a defensive stance but it really was our best option.
Kicking into a strong wind and with a low sun in their eyes Norton had a tough 30 minutes ahead of them. Chances to break came our way but, unsurprisingly, Beighton were taking advantage of the elements and starting to camp in our half. Goal kicks were not getting far enough to give us periods of relief and the lads were having to battle really hard to keep the opposition at bay. The tactics of a strong defence were paying dividends though and with James Stevens having a stormer of a game at left back we were looking solid under pressure.
Beighton looked to have taken the lead when a low shot crept under Freddie but a player in an offside position had run in front of him to get a touch to put it in the net. Relief as the whistle blew! The lead did come for the home side though after a long period of constant pressure but Norton had done well to resist for so long. Undeterred they fought back hard and with a minute or so to go before half time got a crucial equaliser. Joel beat the Beighton right back for strength and got a shot away that looked bound for the top corner. It came back from the upright and Anthony was on hand to smash the rebound into the net.
HALF-TIME: Beighton Falcons 1 - 1 Norton Lees
To go in level at half time was a massive bonus and we stressed to the lads that the game was now in their hands. Wind and sun behind them, all they had to do was keep playing the way they were and the result would surely come.
In fact it was Beighton who started the stronger and they were unlucky not to capitalise on 2 bits of pinball football in the box. On the other hand we should praise our last ditch, never-say-die defending and a very smart stop from Freddie to keep the score at level pegging. At this point I was having kittens and worried for my health!!
Norton then began to settle and took the game by the throat. A series of great corners from Kieran eventually lead to a goal when Joel beat his marker to get a glancing header on the ball. Not sure if it was going in but the Beighton defender could only deflect the ball in to the net. Shortly after a great defence splitting pass found Kieran on the left who stepped inside his marker and unleased a powerful shot that the keeper somehow manager to tip over. Great football all round. At this point my heart rate is beginning to slow but I'm still very nervous. I finally begin to settle when Lewis hammers home another stunning individual effort; this time off the underside of the crossbar, giving the keeper no chance. Still over 5 minutes to go and Beighton continue to fight back. Kitten time again! Stout defending from James Edwards and Tom in the centre and a season best performance from James Stevens repel all attacks though and the final whistle blows. Phew.
FULL-TIME: Beighton Falcons 1 - 3 Norton Lees
Man of the match: James Stevens. Superb all night.
All I can say is that the look on the lads faces when we told them that this ensured promotion was fantastic. Very proud of them.
Its not all over though. A draw or better on Sunday can give us 2nd spot, a trip to the league presentation evening, a runners up trophy and trophies for all the lads. Surely thats worth fighting for. Come on boys. One more big performance on Sunday. You can do it.
Rob
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Charnock Ridgeway Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 18th April 2010
Charnock Ridgeway Under 11s 3 - 1 Norton Lees Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
With a remote chance of winning the title we had to win this game. In the end it didn't matter as Clowne won their game and took the spoils anyway but nevertheless it was disappointing to come away from a game with local rivals with nothing. Here's how it went.
The pre-match warm up saw the lads in good spirits and a positive frame of mind and they took this attitude into the early exchanges. Norton controlled most of the play and created most of the chances but missed those that came their way. Charnock were not being totally outplayed though and were looking to play the ball out of defence rather than simply hoof it. They were also winning more than their fair share of 50-50 challenges and seemed desperate to get a foothold in the game. Against the run of play Charnock took the lead with a combination of good fortune and (probably) clever thinking. A loose ball in the centre of the park was controlled and then belted high and proud towards the Norton goal. Freddie was caught in no-mans land and the ball bounced high off the hard pitch over his head and into the net. 1-0 Charnock.
The boys looked a bit deflated but gritted their teeth, carried on and were soon back on level terms. Good battling in midfield saw the ball break to Tom Whitaker who was able to put the ball into an empty net while a number of Charnock players were looking for an earlier foul. It was difficult to see what they were complaining about.
HALF-TIME: Charnock Ridgeway 1 - 1 Norton Lees
The half time team talk focused on working harder at winning loose balls and clearing the ball before it bounced but the lads knew that they were on top and could go on and win this.
Charnock, however, kicked off the 2nd half a different side. The Norton lads did not heed our advice and failed to challenge with any desire or vigour in any part of the pitch and this allowed Charnock to take a stranglehold on the match. Loose balls were left for opponents to pick up and communication began to fail. This was a very different Norton side to the one we'd seen a week before. They were clearly trying but it just wasn't clicking. The Charnock defence played the offside trap consistently and time and time again our players were caught out - sometimes, inaccurately as on more than one occasion the whistle blew for an inactive player. Very frustrating. Charnock took the lead through some poor defending and extended it with a excellently taken goal that any team would have been proud of.
Norton were denied a penalty when Anthony was poleaxed in the box but despite this it has to be said that Charnock deserved their victory on the strength of their 2nd half performance. We couldn't match them.
So - 2 games to go and promotion still up for grabs. Today's result being pretty much irrelevent given Beighton's loss. Tuesday's away match at Beighton is crucial. A draw or better guarantees third and promotion. 4 points from our last 2 games guarantees 2nd spot.
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FRIDAY, 16 APRIL 2010
Norton Lees Vs. Beighton Falcons
Sunday 11th April 2010
Norton Lees Under 11s 8 - 1 Beighton Falcons Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
With only 10 players at our disposal and with Tom injured but wanting to play we had to shuffle the pack against the divisions form team and hope for the best. And thats exactly what we got from them! We did our best to inspire the boys beforehand and let them know that to get any sort of result today they'd have to be at their very best and show a never say die attitude for the full 60 minutes. They didn't disappoint.
For the first 10 minutes or so Beighton were very much on top and we feared the worst on the sidelines. They looked strong and attacked with speed and skill, especially down their right. They hit the bar and put one or two chances narrowly past the post after good build up play. It was great to see the lads keep their composure and shape despite the early pressure though and they fought their way back in to the game. Norton took the lead through a drilled shot from Anthony that showed he really did know where the goal was but Beighton clawed back an equaliser when a defensive mistake led to an easy tap in from 3 yards.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 1 - 1 Beighton Falcons
All we could do at half time was to praise the lads for the way they were playing, correct a couple of repeated errors and swap Cydrn and Joe over to opposite flanks at the back as Joe seemed to be struggling a bit on the left. Wind 'em up and let 'em go!
The 2nd half was literally one way traffic. I don't know what possessed the boys in those 30 minutes but I suspect that some onlookers thought that it could only have resulted from myself, Jason and Steve selling our souls to the Devil at half time. We'll let you know on that one!! It looked like we were the team with the extra man and dominated from the kick off. Beighton had chances to break but Tom looked assured in the centre of defence even though his right foot was very painful. Almost everything was cleared to a Norton player before Freddie was called into serious action. It's difficult to recount how the goals came, other than thick and fast. What can be said is that this result shows what can happen when the boys have their shooting boots on. I struggle to recall more than one missed opportunity. In addition the goals were all well taken. A well directed header from Harry, a super finish by Anthony from the edge of the area (that I think completed a well deserved hat-trick) and a very smart turn and shoot from Lewis that pinged in off the post whilst under lots of pressure (the pick of them all I think). Other goals came from Kieran and Joel (2 including a penalty).
FULL-TIME: Norton Lees 8 - 1 Beighton Falcons
A tremendous performance and that in the 2nd half must have been the best we've seen them play ever. I can't begin to say how proud I was of every single one of them. Hopefully we've hit some form at exactly the right time. Three tough games to come lads. Lets not get sloppy and do our very, very best to secure promotion.
Man of the match: All 10 of them. Impossible to pick one out today.
Rob
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Norton Lees Vs. Aston Juniors
Sunday 28th March 2010
Norton Lees Under 11s 8 - 1 Aston Juniors Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
Our second meeting with Aston in consecutive weeks and we hoped the lads had learnt their lesson from the previous week and that the strikers had bought some new boots with integral goal compasses!
The answer to those questions was both yes and no! 8 - 1 looks very comfortable and indeed it was. However, Aston could only muster 10 players and given the number of chances we had it could, once again, have looked more like a cricket score. Nevertheless, the lads played with considerable determination and looked much sharper than last week. They failed to make good use of the wings and on the whole played a bit too directly but the level of effort and desire was clear to see.
After a miserable run of form and an initial period in the game where he was looking more and more dejected after numerous misses Anthony finally found the target and relief on his face and in his celebration showed. Hopefully this is a turning point for him and the goals will come flooding back again. A rare goal from centre back Jack was well taken from a 1st half corner and further goals from Harry, Joel, Lewis (2) and Tom (2) improved our goal difference in what could be a tight finish to the season points wise.
Aston's keeper put in another blinding display to keep the score respectable and the oposition claimed a consolation goal at the death after a through ball found our defence too far up the pitch.
Overall - a good result but we still need to work on our shooting lads!
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Norton Lees Vs. Aston Juniors
Sun day 21st March 2010
Norton Lees Under 11s 4 - 0 Aston Juniors Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
The scoreline suggests a comfortable win for us but this was another of those games where the lads turned up expecting a walk in the park and only woke up after a bit of a talking to at half time. Up until that point it was anyones game and Aston looked likely to go on and secure their first win of the season. Thankfully the lads took heed and started to play a bit albeit squandering LOTS of chances in the process. Credit to Aston though - they battled hard and never gave up and their keeper was absolutely superb. He was always in the right place at the right time and made some super stops.
Goals from Tom (2), Harry and James Myers made the result safe and in the 2nd half I can't recall Freddie touching the ball apart from the odd goal kick. Jame's goal was the pick of the bunch and was finished from a full 25 yards out when he returned a clearance first time, with interest, into the top corner. Great finish and deserved the man of the match award for that alone.
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Hoyland Common Falcons Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 14th March 2010
Hoyland Under 11s 2 - 1 Norton Lees Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
If ever a game summed up the old adage ‘the best team doesn’t always win’ then this was it. Norton Lees were really up for this game and despite kicking into the wind in the first half all the best football came from our lads. Lewis on the right and Tom on the left were each making good runs down the wing and putting in good crosses and Anthony laid off several good passes as the lads continually pressed forward. At full back Cyrdn and James Stevens were giving nothing away and Jack and Maldini looked secure in the middle. It was clear that Hoyland had one plan and that was for the keeper to hoof the ball down the middle and hope their centre forward got on the end of it. Chances kept coming for Norton with Anthony unable to convert from a yard out and their keeper turning a shot onto the post before Joel hit a superb shot into the far corner to give Norton a deserved lead. Then late in the half a kick from the Hoyland keeper skidded off James Myers head, bounced through the defence and the Hoyland striker got a foot on the ball to send it over the advancing Freddie.
Half Time 1-1.
We told the boys at half time that there was only one team in it and the second half followed the pattern of the first. Harry, Joel , James Myers and Kieran were winning the midfield battles and the rare attack by Hoyland was dealt with by the defence or by Freddie coming out quickly. None of the fifty fifty decisions from the referee seemed to be going our way and still the attacks from Norton kept on coming. There was a spell in the second half that was all Hoyland goal kicks, Norton corners and shots at goal but as has so often been the case this season we just could not put the ball away. How we didn’t manage to score I really do not know. And then the sucker punch. A huge kick out from their keeper caught the defence out and the ball sailed over the advancing Freddie into the net. The Hoyland plan had worked. The look of shock and disappointment was clear on many of the lads faces but to their credit they kept on trying. The whistle blew on the stroke of thirty minutes and the most one sided game I’ve seen for a long time was over with an unbelievable result.
Full Time Hoyland 2 – 1 Norton Lees
I can’t stress how proud I was of the lads today for their total commitment and good football which was not reflected in the result. Football can be a cruel game and never more so than on days like today. My Sunday was ruined by the result but not by the performance.
Man of the match – All twelve players. They all did exactly what was asked of them and gave 100%. We couldn’t have asked for any more effort, just a little more composure in front of goal.
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Norton Lees Vs. Nether Green
Sunday 7th March 2010
Norton Lees Under 11s 3 - 0 Nether Green Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
I'll be honest and say I can't remember a great deal about this game apart from the fact that both teams underperformed and Norton managed to squander lots of chances. The scoreline reflected our overall dominance but could (and should) have been more. Our goals came from Anthony, Joel and Lewis. Nether Green had chances of their own but two top class saves from Freddie served to maintain another clean sheet for him. Norton's football was very scrappy for the first 50 minutes of this match and the lads only seemed to wake up and begin to pass the ball around in the last 10 minutes. Hopefully they'll take the performance of the last 10 minutes forward and keep that up for the rest of our games this year.
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Clowne Comets Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 28th Feb 2010
Clowne Comets Under 11s 2 - 1 Norton Lees Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
After the magnificent 8 – 0 win over Clowne in our last meeting expectations were high ahead of our third meeting of the season. The boys were told how important it was to start the game well but the message fell on deaf ears. Within two minutes Clowne had scored when the defence failed with several attempts to clear the ball. A scrappy goal to concede and scrappy summed up most of the Norton Lees play for the rest of the match. An equaliser from Lewis hinted that we might be able to push on and win but the flowing football we are capable of simply wasn’t evident.
Half time 1-1
The second half was more of the same with plenty of huff and puff and some clear chances but a lack of composure in front of goal let us down. It’s hard to say why the lads looked a bit lacklustre but at least we were competing. To be honest neither side were great. Then a ball across the box looked set to be cleared but was missed entirely and a Clowne player who probably couldn’t believe his luck tickled it over the line. Another scrappy goal to concede.
Full Time Clowne 2 – 1 Norton Lees
A disappointing display and result particularly after beating them so comprehensively only two weeks before.
Man of the match – Jack Levick. Worked his socks off, almost doing the work of two as his usual centre back partner (Maldini) was unable to play.
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Catching up with match reports
Sorry folks. Big catch up day. Thanks to Jason for the reports from the Clowne and Hoyland games (I was away).
Rob
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MONDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2010
Hoyland Common Falcons Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 14th February
Hoyland Common Falcons Under 11s 2 - 1 Norton Lees Under 11s
Back down to Earth this week with a defeat after another close game with Hoyland. Oh well, thats football and we can have no complaints about the outcome today.
Norton started the brighter and took the lead early on through Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas who capitalised on a mistake by Hoyland's keeper. The remainder of the half was relatively evenly matched but it was Hoyland who looked the more hungry. They took advantage of big gaps in midfield and won the majority of tackles but never really created many clear-cut chances other than what looked like a genuine penalty shout after 22 mins when a Hoyland attacker went down under a tackle from Joe Dineen. Norton had their own chances but couldn't take them. There were glimpses of what we were capable of with some neat through balls and both Harry Groombridge and Lewis Reynolds looking dangerous but nothing to show for it. At times in the first half we looked far too tentative and unwilling to shoot when the opportunity was there, preferring to try and walk the ball in to the net. So, plenty of effort perhaps but not the desire and commitment that we'd seen in previous weeks.
HALF-TIME: Hoyland Common Falcons 0 - 1 Norton Lees
The second half continued in much the same way as the first. Whereas last week it looked like 2 Norton players for every Clowne player, this week there seemed to be 2 Hoyland lads for every one of ours! Hoyland equalised 5 minutes in to the half. Freddie Cowen raced out of his area to try and clear a loose ball but always looked second favourite to the pacy Hoyland right winger who took the ball round him and finished very well from quite a tight angle whilst under pressure from the retreating defenders. The Norton lads tried hard to regain some control of the game and had plenty of possession but couldn't make it tell. The Hoyland number 3 looked very assured in defence and when we did manage get the ball in to the danger area the opposition keeper was always in the right place at the right time to prevent further Norton goals. A Hoyland counter-attack saw them take the lead and once again it came from strong, fast play down their right. Joe Dineen is quick but their player was just as speedy and was able to fight off the challenge before hitting a low drive from the edge of the area in off the far post. A very well taken goal indeed. Again we tried to get back in to it and switched to a more attacking formation with Cyrdn Read up front but Hoyland fought hard to defend their lead and eventually we were reduced to long range efforts in the final few minutes.
FULL-TIME: Hoyland Common Falcons 2 - 1 Norton Lees
Man of the match: Harry Groombridge. Worked incredibly hard and looked composed on the ball. A captains performance.
So, another reminder that:
1) if we don't compete then we won't get the results.
2) if we don't take our chances we won't get the results.
Today, Hoyland out-battled us and took their chances whilst we squandered ours.
Admittedly we had players feeling under the weather and a couple carrying injuries so there is no room for unfair criticism here. We can't also expect to play like we did against Clowne every week. However I hope that the lads don't just attribute the loss to not being at full strength (because it wasn't just down to that), reflect on the footballing reasons for todays result and come out hungry for victory again next week against a flying Beighton Falcons team. They'll need to be at their best and I'm confident that they'll give it 100%.
Rob
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MONDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2010
Norton Lees Vs. Clowne Comets
Sunday 7th February 2010
Norton Lees Under 11s 8 - 0 Clowne Comets Under 11s
No, that isn't a typo. In fact I'll type it again: 'Norton Lees 8 - 0 Clowne Comets'. The runaway league leaders had trounced us 6-3 earlier in the season and the Norton lads were keen to show that we were good enough to challenge for top spot in the division. The pre-match team talk focused on self-belief and the importance of a strong start to the game. We decided on a 4-5-1 formation in order to pack the midfield and allow us to make the most of our strengths down the wings. Here's how it went on a foggy Sunday morning.
Harry Groombridge hinted at a superstitious nature when he decided to play down the slope in the first half (on the basis that we'd played so well doing this last time). Norton immediately imposed themselves, looking strong in the tackle and unafraid to get stuck in at every opportunity. Just what we'd asked for. Lewis Reynolds on the right and Anthony Everest (supported by Tom Whitaker) on the left were putting early pressure on the Clowne full backs and Joel Hodgkiss was dancing past opponents in the middle. Clowne managed to repel the early attacks but were unable to counter-attack with any success. The midfield chased back for everything and the defence looked solid. Cyrdn Read and Joe Dineen at full back were able to use their pace to foil any Clowne advances down the flanks and James Edwards and Jack Levick were first to every loose ball down the middle. High balls were headed confidently away and at times it looked like there were 2 Norton players for every Clowne player on the pitch.
Norton took the lead following a goalmouth scramble. The ball eventually going in off a Clowne defender. A second came within 5 minutes and marked something completely unheard of in NLJFC U11's circles. A typically mazy run from Joel took him into the box and he finished with HIS LEFT FOOT. Where did that come from? We all thought that Joel only used that one for standing on!! Excellent stuff.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 2 - 0 Clowne Comets
So, a 2 goal advantage at half time. It could, and maybe should, have been more as we gave the Clowne stopper lots of easy catching practice and Clowne would be confident of getting back into this. They had the advantage of the slope in the second half and would come out looking for an early goal that would cause jitters for the home team. They didn't need telling but we made it clear that keeping concentration and carrying on playing the way they were would be good enough.
The boys proved their fitness and desire in the second half by almost completely dominating. Within a couple of minutes of the restart Norton were 3 up and the goals kept coming as the Clowne heads began to drop a little. Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas (2), Lewis Reynolds, Harry Groombridge, James Myers and Tom Whitaker found the net in the second half with Tom's being the pick of the bunch. He picked up the ball on the halfway line in the centre of midfield and his pace and strength enabled him to beat 3 or 4 opponents on a diagonal run before an accurate shot found the far corner.
Joel was immense in midfield. I can't recall a tackle or header he didn't win, sometimes when up against 2 opponents. Harry Groombridge and Mitchell French were linking up well down the right and it was looking very comfortable for Norton. Clowne counter-attacked when they could and had two good chances but Freddie Cowen was determined to keep his second consecutive clean sheet and got down really well on both occasions to deny the opposition.
FULL-TIME:
Norton Lees 8 - 0 Clowne Comets
Man of the match: Tom Whitaker. He gave their right back a torrid time, scored a cracker and showed tremendous pace and strength for the full hour.
What a cracking result! The boys did everything we asked of them and more. Clowne didn't perform at anything like their best but that was because the Norton lads didn't give them the chance to. On this day we wanted it more and it showed. Its great to be able to write that, as on so many occasions in the past it has been the other way round. There is no doubt that the boys can play good football and it is starting to look like they can also compete now too. However, its just ONE result. There is no room for complacency and the lads should go into EVERY game knowing that they have to fight hard to get a result. Enjoy the moment lads, take the confidence with you but remember that there is still a long way to go this season. Lets look to take this level of effort in to next week, the week after and so on.
Excellent today boys. Really proud of all of you.
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Norton Lees Vs. Maltby Miners Welfare
Sun 24th January 2010
Norton Lees Under 11s 6 - 0 Maltby Miners Welfare Under 11s
Our first league game for, well, ages. Our previous league opponents were MMW and Norton knew what a battling side they were.
For some reason I can't recall many details about this game so this report will be brief.
First half: we dominated.
Second half: we dominated.
In all seriousness, Norton looked a very well organised team today. The back 4 kept the line, communicated with each other and kept their concentration for the whole hour. James Edwards kept his instincts in check, stuck to his position and allowed Jack Levick to intercept, step up and play the ball out of defence. Neither looked troubled. I can't recall Freddie Cowen having to make a save in the second half. The full backs, and Cyrdn Read in particular, were making good overlapping runs. The midfield were winning every challenge, running past the opposition and making the Maltby defence work very hard. Anthony Everest and Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas up front were closing down and getting themselves into good positions throughout.
Man of the match: Cyrdn Read
It was good to see 100% commitment added to our usual speed and passing today. Maltby made things very difficult for us and threw themselves into every challenge. A few months ago a number of the lads might not have dealt with that very well and the result could have been so very different but now we see them wanting to win every ball, challenge for every header and run tirelessly for the full hour. If they continue to play like this then there is every chance that we will be fighting for that top spot come the middle of April.
Well played lads. Great performance.
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SUNDAY, 24 JANUARY 2010
Maltby Juniors Vs. Norton Lees (Trophy QF)
Sunday 27th Dec. 2009
Maltby Juniors Under 11s 3 - 2 Norton Lees Under 11s
The weather was very much touch and go but the league were strongly encouraging teams to complete cup games and so the match went ahead with patches of snow still on the ground. To be fair the pitch was in good fettle given the conditions and posed no dangers to the players. This was our opportunity to test ourselves against the Div D leaders and see how we'd fare should we be fortunate enough to gain promotion this season.
A Norton side missing a number of players kicked off and immediately looked the stronger, more attacking side. Within 2 minutes Norton took the lead when Tom Whitaker chased down what looked like a lost cause, took advantage of a spill by the keeper and crossed for Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas to tap the ball into an empty net. Norton continued to pressurise and played some super football down the flanks causing the Maltby defence all sorts of problems. Maltby only started to settle mid way through the half and equalised with just about their first attack. This gave them confidence but Norton continued to dominate. After 20 minutes Anthony Everest latched on to a midfield splitting pass and beat his defender for pace before slotting the ball low into the corner. Against the run of play Maltby scored again and had a further chance when a header from a corner fizzed over the bar.
Half time: Maltby Juniors 2 - 2 Norton Lees
Norton began the 2nd half in the same vein as the first. Lots of positive attacking football and some solid defending and goal line clearances too when Maltby were able to break forward. Chance after chance came for the Norton lads but the Maltby keeper was putting in a superb performance with one save from a Tom Whitaker piledriver drawing applause from all supporters. Maltby had a big let off with a missed Norton penalty but the Norton players made sure Joel's head didn't drop. Further chances came, and went and with only a few minutes to go Maltby took an undeserved lead albeit with a good finish. A strong shot from the edge of the area flew through the crowd of players and Freddie Cowen would have been completely unsighted.
Full time: Maltby Juniors 3 - 2 Norton Lees
Everyone knew that the best team lost but you have to take your chances. A bit deflating to lose when we had so much possessional and terratorial advantage but plenty of positives to take from the game. It was good to play so well against a team at the top of the division above and the lads know that the performance means much more than the result.
SUNDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Maltby Miners Welfare
Sunday 13th December 2009
Norton Lees Under 11s 6 - 2 Maltby Miners Welfare Under 11s
With the 2 previous weeks football being lost to the weather it was difficult to know whether the boys would be match rusty or raring to go after a fortnight off. We'd come a bit unstuck(albeit with a weakened squad) against a battling Maltby side just over a month ago and so not only did the lads know what to expect, they also knew that they'd have to up their game in order to get a result. Maltby could only muster 10 players this time (its funny how fortunes even out like that) but as I mentioned in the match report in the game against them playing with a man short isn't a massive disadvantage. Norton would have to make sure they didn't make the same mistakes again.
Norton kicked off and immediately took control of the game with some strong purposeful play. After 3 minutes Harry Groombridge gave an indication of what was to come when he received the ball in space, stepped inside his defender and put his curling shot well wide. When I say "give an indication of what was to come" I suppose I mean 2 things:
1. Harry's dominance in midfield and his ability to give himself scoring opportunities
2. The number of times we squandered goal chances
Hold on. That's 3 things isn't it? Its all getting a bit 'Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition' here. Anyway, you get the idea.
On 5 minutes, Harry did open the scoring with a clinical finish from the edge of the area. Almost immediately the Norton defence was caught too square and too far up the pitch. A through ball found a Maltby player one on one with Freddie Cowen. The shot looked good but Freddie's positioning and reactions were superb and he got down smartly to palm the ball away with an outstretched left hand. Probably the save of the season! Maltby did, though, equalise when a weak clearance was returned, with interest, into the box. This time the bounce deceived Freddie and he could only parry the ball into the path of Maltby's excellent number 10 who made no mistake.
Norton continued to look dangerous and regained the lead when a push on Anthony Everest in the box resulted in a penalty. Joel Hodgkiss hammered it home. Norton were, by now, dominating and excellent play down both wings led to numerous scoring opportunities that, as hinted at earlier, came to nought! Tom Whitaker rattled the post with a great effort from the left edge of the area and James Stevens hit the same post as he tried to squeeze a cross back across the face of goal. It has to be said though that the Maltby defence were resolute and some desperate last ditch defending coupled with a keeper who was always in the right place at the right time looked like they'd keep the deficit to just a single goal at half time. However, on 29 minutes Harry struck a well hit shot through a crowded area into the bottom corner to give Norton a comfortable lead at the break.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 3 - 1 Maltby Miners Welfare
The half time team talk reassured the lads that they were playing good football but were lacking commitment in clearing loose balls in midfield and, as usual, not talking to each other. Nothing new there but always good to remind the lads that there is something there to improve on.
The second half mirrored the first half in lots of ways - scoreline and missed chances galore coming immediately to mind - but it was good to see plenty of desire to win loose balls. Joel was, as usual, pulling the midfield strings with mazy runs and some classy balls out wide leading to lots of opportunities coming from both wings. However, Anthony Everest, Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas and Lewis Reynolds were somehow hitting every shot either within reach of the keeper or wide of the posts. Just one of those days! Only Harry seemed to know where the net was and bagged a further 3 clinically finished goals. Maltby's number 10 doubled his own tally with a super finish midway through the half but overall Norton should be delighted that they played most of the game in the opposition half. Credit to the Maltby back line though who threw their bodies into everything and defended like tigers.
FULL-TIME: Norton Lees 6 - 2 Maltby Miners Welfare
Man of the match: Harry Groombridge. An easy decision there. Five goals and a commanding performance. Perhaps if we'd left him on for longer he could have bagged even more!!!
So, a very comfortable win but it could have so easily been 16 - 2. I don't think I can recall a game where we had SO MANY chances. Barn doors, cows backsides and banjos are words that, this evening, are foremost in my mind. Still, I really, really don't mean this as undue criticism. The lads played some super football today and dominated the game. I'm delighted with their performance and so should they be. Its the quality of the football that counts far more than the scoreline. Really well played boys. More of the same next week please.
Rob
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TUESDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2009
Clowne Comets Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 22nd November 2009
Clowne Comets Under 11s 6 - 3 Norton Lees Under 11s
A top of the table clash between the only two unbeaten teams in the division and both Jason and Steve stressed to the boys before the game the need to compete if we were to win.
Straight from the kick off Clowne were on top and many of the lads looked hesitant and failed to challenge for the ball with the necessary commitment. A ball over the top caught our defence too square and Freddie hesitated on his line allowing Clowne to take the lead. As the half wore on chances for Norton were few and far between with only a good run from Tom leading to a chance for Kieran which he put wide from a few yards out. Norton allowed Clowne to dominate possession and the failure to compete coupled with long balls over the defence led to two more goals for the home side.
Half time; Clowne Comets 3 – 0 Norton Lees
Following a dressing down at half time and a slight wind behind us we hoped for a better second half but for the first five minutes nothing changed. Two more Clowne goals made it 5 – 0 and an embarrassing rout looked on the cards. The introduction of Raph up front signalled a change in fortunes with Raph holding the ball up well and playing some good balls wide. Lewis stormed down the right, crossed and Joel buried the ball into the back of the net. The commitment levels rose and suddenly Norton looked a different side. It was Clowne who struggled to get out of their half and several more chances went begging before Joel collected the ball on the edge of the area and hit a scorcher into the top corner. A better strike you will rarely see. Norton battled hard but a rare Clowne attack resulted in a goal when the defence thought one of their forwards was offside. As he wasn’t interfering with play he wasn’t and the shot from the player with the ball found the very top corner. To the lads credit they battled on and another shot from the edge of the area completed Joel’s hat-trick and ended the scoring.
Final Score; Clowne Comets 6 – 3 Norton Lees
Man of the Match; Joel Hodgkiss for yet another tireless display and a superb hat-trick.
A disappointing day, not just because it was our first competitive defeat of the season but also in the manner of the defeat. It’s almost impossible to let any team get five goals in front and expect to get a result yet for fifteen minutes in the second half we looked capable of doing just that. Some of the lads, not all but some still need to learn that when they go onto the pitch they need to give it 100% straight from the kick off. If we don’t compete we struggle (and against better sides we lose); if we compete as we know we can then we win. It really is that simple. Another tough match next week against Hoyland so heads up and let’s make sure it’s an improved performance.
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MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Chapeltown Juniors (Trophy round 2)
Sunday 15th November 2009
Norton Lees Under 11s 6 - 2 Chapeltown Juniors Under 11s
The 2nd round of the Trophy competition saw us entertain Chapeltown Juniors on a beautiful sunny morning. Ahead of the game we decided to try out a few different things ahead of 2 big league games over the next couple of weeks. In the end we ran out comfortable winners but not before Chapeltown had tested us. Here's how it went.
Norton started very brightly and looked the more dangerous with our speed on the wings troubling the Chapeltown defence. However, a few half decent chances came to nought and the away side gradually began to settle and took control of the game for a period of time. After 12 minutes Chapeltown had a goal disallowed as the ball had already gone out of play for a corner before being crossed. This and subsequent corners were not effectively dealt with by the home side defence and eventually Chapeltown did take the lead when our defence failed to attack an incoming corner letting it run through for an opposition attacker to smash home. If it wasn't for an absolutely amazing reflex save from Freddie Cowen Chapeltown could easily have been 2 up by this stage. The Norton lads coped with the period of pressure quite well on the whole however and managed to hit back with a great break away goal. Tom Whitaker ran on to a ball played into space, beating his marker for pace, to get one on one with the keeper. The keeper came out quickly but Tom was quicker and cheekily chipped the ball over him into the empty net.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 1 - 1 Chapeltown Juniors
The half time team talk reassured the lads that they were playing good football but needed to be stronger with their tackling and attack the ball more.
After a quiet start to the second half Norton began to take a stranglehold on the game and it was clear that the desire to win the ball was much stronger than was evident in the first 30 minutes. Norton took the lead when Lewis Reynolds received the ball in space and fire a low grass-cutter under the diving keeper. His first goal for the team! Shortly afterwards he got his second following some great work from Anthony who chased a ball down the right channel and was able to provide an accurate cross with his unfavoured right foot. Joel Hodgkiss was now pulling the midfield strings and putting in one of his typical workhorse performances. He almost scored when a powerful drive was deflected just wide. Chapeltown dragged themselves back in to the game when a free kick from wide right evaded a Norton defence who were more flat footed than Frankenstein trying to dance! An unmarked green shirt had enough time to control the ball, pick the loose mud out of his boots and sign autographs before hammering it past Freddie. At 3-2 it could have been very much game on but almost straight from the kick off Joel restored the 2 goal advantage after one of his trademark surging runs. A push on (I think) Tom resulted in a Norton penalty and a remarkable double save from the Chapeltown stopper. Not only did he get down well to his right to parry Joel's strike but he was up super quick to stop the rebound going in to the other corner. Cue applause from EVERYONE on the sidelines. The Chapeltown side were then somewhat overrun for the final 10 minutes with many more Norton chances. Joel doubled his own tally for the day before Lewis completed a well deserved hat-trick that he was obviously keen to achieve given that he had decided to play as an additional striker. Maybe he was on a bonus?
FULL-TIME: Norton Lees 6 - 2 Chapeltown Juniors
Man of the match: Lewis Reynolds for his hat-trick and constant hard work. Special mention also to Joel Hodgkiss for an excellent all round display that on any other occasion would have merited the man of the match award.
So, another good win that owed everything to a sparkling second half performance, and in to the third round draw. Before all that though we've got 2 very important league games against Clowne and Hoyland. Come on lads - keep up the hard work and lets give it everything for those 2 matches.
Rob
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SUNDAY, 8 NOVEMBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Nether Green
Sunday 8th November 2009
Norton Lees Under 11s 2 - 1 Nether Green Under 11s
After the slightly disappointing feeling last week of 2 points dropped rather than 1 point gained, a full strength Norton side were keen to get back to winning ways. In awful conditions the lads were forced to work hard but deservedly came away with all 3 points. Here's how it went.
In freezing rain and hail both teams respectively observed a minutes silence before Nether Green kicked off. The Norton lads were eager to stamp some authority on the game and the difference in effort compared to last week was obvious. The boys were playing good football in spite of the boggy pitch. Passes were spread wide to the wings and Lewis Reynolds in particular (who was tasked with giving it everything for 10 minutes) was giving their left back a torrid time with some strong purposeful runs. The Nether Green defence were just about coping with the early pressure and when they did break forward it was clear that they had plenty of guile and pace with which to trouble our own back four. However, despite the odd scare the lads were mopping things up comfortably enough and also looking to play the ball out of defence whenever possible. Norton took a deserved lead with a top-class goal. As Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas picked up a loose ball in midfield he was able to get past his man before looking up and playing the ball out wide into the path of the onrushing Harry Groombridge. His teasing cross was headed home at the near post by Anthony Everest who had timed his run to perfection. Excellent build up play and a great strikers finish! Norton continued to dominate for a period and extended their lead after more good build up play lead to some penalty area pinball. It looked like the Nether Green defenders would somehow stop the ball going over the line but it eventually fell to Joel Hodgkiss who, was able to blast it home. Nether Green had their own opportunities but Freddie Cowen was looking assured in goal and his handling was excellent, especially given the terrible conditions. Further chances came for the lads but desperate defending from the away side kept the score at 2-0 at half time.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 2 - 0 Opposition
Nether Green came out strongly in the second half but in the early exchanges were unable to capitalise. The midfield battles were still being won by the home side but the lads were beginning to lose their shape and many attacks were breaking down before they amounted to much. Nether Green were then able to take advantage of one or two Norton players being caught out of position and stole a goal back when they ended up with 3 against 2 at the back. Not long after they had the chance to equalise when a hopeful ball forward was chased down by the opposing forward. Freddie came quickly off his line but brought down the player as he tried to gather the ball, injuring himself in the process. After a lengthy delay for him to recover he made amends for his mistake by getting down low to his right to save the spot kick. This seemed to deflate the opposition somewhat and Norton dominated for the remainder of the game having numerous chances to put the game beyond doubt but just unable to make them count.
FULL-TIME: Norton Lees 2 - 1 Nether Green
Man of the match: Joe Dineen. A superb performance at right back with some strong forward runs. Special mention also for Freddie Cowen for a very assured goalkeeping display where, despite having to cope with a ball like a bar of soap, he made NO handling errors. And he saved a penalty!
So, a deserved win and although the scoreline suggested a close game Norton really could have won by 6 or 7. Take nothing away from the Nether Green attitude though. They defended like tigers and never gave anything up, throwing their bodies bravely in front of everything.
Today's victory was, however, tinged with sorrow as we heard of the sad death of Patrick Everest. Our condolences are with Lisa and it was perhaps fitting that Anthony, having wanted to play, scored such a fantastic goal.
Rob
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SUNDAY, 1 NOVEMBER 2009
Maltby Miners Welfare Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 1st November 2009
Maltby Miners Welfare Under 11s 1 - 1 Norton Lees Under 11s
An afternoon kick off was certainly a blessing given the torrential rain in the morning. We also had the knowledge that Clowne and Hoyland had drawn giving us the opportunity to go top if we could win. Holidays and illness meant we travelled to Maltby with only 10 players but in under 11 football this isn't a massive disadvantage and in any case Maltby only started with 11 so a lack of subs and tiredness was hardly an excuse for a lacklustre performance that saw us rather fortunate to come away with a point. Here's how it went (and I'll keep it relatively short).
With only 10 players we decided to play with 3 at the back and crowd the midfield in an attempt to win the midfield battles. However, Maltby's desire to win every ball was telling in the first half and they had the majority of possession and goal scoring chances. Our tackling was weak and the lads found it difficult to keep hold of the ball and string passes together. Chances did come when we were able to build attacks down the right but shots were rarely on target and the Maltby keeper was not really troubled at all in the first half. Maltby's opener came midway through the half as a result of some very sloppy defending and 1-0 at half time was a very fair reflection of the balance of play.
HALF-TIME: Maltby Miners Welfare 1 - 0 Norton Lees
The lads were a bit downbeat at half time but knew they'd have the wind behind them second half and so every chance to get back into it. The advice was to get stuck in to those tackles and go out all guns blazing and try and get an early goal.
Sadly the second half pretty much mirrored the first in terms of the quality of Norton's play. The lads probably had the lions share of possession and considerable terratorial advantage but were unable to make it tell. Maltby were battling really hard, defending in numbers and making life very difficult. This combined with a lack of the usual quality in attack was making it look like it was going to be one of those days. The equalizer came when a Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas corner was not dealt with by the defence and Anthony Everest was able to poke the ball home. Further chances to win the game did come but, as in the first half, were squandered. Maltby had a few chances of their own on the break and could easily have grabbed a win but, like us, were unable to capitalise.
FULL-TIME: Maltby Miners Welfare 1 - 1 Norton Lees
Man of the match: Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas
So, we scraped a draw when, on the balance of play, we probably didn't deserve it. Maybe the lads were guilty of looking at the league table and thinking this would be an easy day. Well, if this was the case then hopefully they will have learnt from it. Granted, we only had 10 players but I think all the lads knew they had a bit of an off day and know they can play so much better. Maltby Miners Welfare deserve enormous credit though. They battled incredibly hard, wanted the ball more than us, defended stoutly and looked dangerous on the break. If they had come away with all 3 points then we couldn't have suggested it was undeserved. Overall though, we'll take the point, regroup and look to play better next week. Expect a hard workout on Tuesday evening lads!
Rob
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SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Charnock Ridgeway
Sunday 25th October 2009
Norton Lees Under 11s 7 - 2 Charnock Ridgeway Under 11s
A much depleted squad faced our local rivals with Tom, Kieran and James Myers unavailable and Isaac unwell. James Edwards declared himself fit just before kick-off but was clearly suffering and we had no choice but to play one or two of the lads out of position. However, no worries. The lads showed we have got strength in depth and everyone put in a strong battling performance to ensure our unbeaten start to the season continued.
Charnock started well and looked to attack down the flanks but after a couple of dodgy moments the defence settled and began to look solid. Norton began to impose themselves in midfield and after 10 minutes took the lead, punishing Charnock's inabilty to clear the ball out of their area and Mitchell French made no mistake from 14 yards. This clearly buoyed the lads and a spell of sustained Norton pressure ensued with the home side striving to take advantage of a shaky looking Charnock defence. Anthony Everest missed the target when it looked easier to score but soon made ammends. He and James Stevens both found space to hit home from close range to give Norton a commanding 3-0 lead after less than 20 minutes. A stung Charnock were desperate to get back into it and were playing some nice football at times but the Norton back four were fast, strong, 100% committed and looked excellent. Charnock were eventually awarded a soft free kick on the edge of the area and as the ball cleared the wall it looked goalbound to all on the sidelines but somehow Freddie Cowen managed to grow 6 inches in a matter of milliseconds and claw it from underneath the crossbar. Joel Hodgkiss then almost got on the scoresheet. He picked up the ball inside his own half and sprinted towards goal, leaving the defender in his wake but somehow the referee then adjudged a Norton player offside as Joel continued his dribble and shot towards goal. Very strange. Joe Dineen epitomised the commitment of the home side by bravely challenging for a ball that was all but lost and as it broke free the ball was played through to Anthony who sprinted ahead of the Charnock defence and smashed it past the keeper to make the game all but safe at half time.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 4 - 0 Charnock Ridgeway
So a commanding lead at this stage but we hadn't necessarily played scintillating football. Charnock's defence had played too far up the pitch and whilst this had meant our lads were caught offside on numerous occasions it had also been their downfall. James Edwards was too poorly to carry on and need a rest and so another shake up with further players playing out of position was called for. The half time team talk then focused on one thing only - NOT CONCEDING AN EARLY SECOND HALF GOAL. So here's how the 2nd half went.
Within 60 seconds of the whistle, Freddie was picking the ball out of his net!!!!!!!!!!! Good work on the Charnock right and a cross towards the near post was finished well. This could have easily lead to the Norton lads' heads dropping but it didn't. They picked themselves up, brushed themselves down and came straight back. Good on 'em. Harry Groombridge and Joel Hodgkiss were both having a stormer of a game. Harry was everywhere and Joel was winning every midfield tackle, dragging more Charnock players in to mark him and therefore giving us space out wide that we could exploit. It was Harry that regained the 4 goal advantage with a cool finish and then extended it further as he latched on to a great through ball and easily beat the keeper. Charnock were then awarded two completely unfathomable penalties. The first for a challenge that was 'supposed' to have taken the legs from under the Charnock forward as he evaded Harry's challenge outside the area and continued his run towards goal. The penalty was well struck but rebounded off the bar straight to the penalty taker who then fortunately shot over when no whistle was forthcoming for a Norton free kick when it should have been (as no other player had touched the ball between the penalty and the 2nd attempt). Within a couple of minutes they had another go when a powerful drive just outside the 6 yard area hit a Norton defender immediately in front of it on the arm (apparently). The arm wasn't raised and there was absolutely nothing he could do to get out of the way but, hey, sometimes these rough decisions go against you. I was very proud that none of our players reacted or complained. They just looked bemused. As did we. Anyway, this time the penalty taker made no mistake. Freddie guessed right but a strong left hand couldn't quite keep it out. The home side made it 7 shortly before the end when Anthony reacted first to a bouncing ball inside the area to head home and complete a deserved hat-trick.
FULL-TIME.
Norton Lees 7 - 2 Charnock Ridgeway
Man of the match: Harry Groombridge just edging Joel Hodgkiss for a tireless midfield performance but there really was very little in it.
So, a cracking win. A depleted team stepped up and got stuck in when it mattered. Well done lads. Very proud of the attitude and performance today.
Rob
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SUNDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2009
Sheffield Spartans Vs. Norton Lees (Trophy round 1)
Sunday 18th October 2009
Sheffield Spartans Under 11s 0 - 4 Norton LeesUnder 11s
MATCH REPORT:
The first round of the trophy competition saw us pitched against one of the leagues new entrants and so we had no idea what to expect. In any event this was a chance to give some players who had spent a fair bit of time on the sidelines a start and let them show what they could do.
The lads were advised to play at a high tempo, move the ball around quickly and try and take an early stranglehold on the game, however lots of huff and puff in the the first half was amounting to very little. Although Norton were looking the more dangerous, the spark and fluency that had been so obvious in recent league games was barely evident. The midfield were struggling to make space for themselves and scoring opportunities for us were at a premium. Sheffield Spartans were battling hard and attacking every ball but never looked like troubling the Norton defence. Goals from Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas and Anthony Everest did see Norton take a 2 goal lead in to the break but it was clear that an improved 2nd half performance was required.
HALF-TIME: Sheffield Spartans 0 - 2 Norton Lees
Norton began the 2nd half with more urgency and easily looked the stronger side but, again, seemed unable to capitalise with Spartans often playing with 8 men behind the ball. Having said this, credit should go to Spartans for tackling like tigers and for being difficult to break down. Chances did come for Norton though and further goals from Harry Groombridge and Tom Whitaker doubled the half time lead. The occasional Sheffield Spartan attacks were mopped up well by Isaac Appleyard and James Edwards at the back who both looked comfortable.
FULL-TIME: Sheffield Spartans Under 11s 0 - 4 Norton LeesUnder 11s
Man of the match: James Edwards for a composed defensive performance.
So, a comfortable victory but one tinged with some disappointment as the team were definitely below par today. Maybe it was one of those games where they thought they could turn up and have it easy. Maybe it was just a bit of an off day. Still, the lads should be pleased that they won, take the overall performance as a bit of a wake up call and look forward to getting that sharpness back again next week where we'll be looking to continue our unbeaten run. Well done lads.
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SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2009
Beighton Falcons Vs. Norton Lees
Sunday 11th October 2009
Beighton Falcons Under 11s 4 - 8 Norton Lees Under 11s
MATCH REPORT:
After winning all of their 18 games last season Beighton Falcons were promoted and have made a very confident start to this campaign with a couple of victories and a narrow defeat to Hoyland who gave us such a tough test last week. We knew that this was going to be a challenge and our lads would need to be at their best to take all 3 points. Were they up to it? They certainly were! After a topsy turvy first half Beighton came up against a team at the top of their game and in the end we claimed a comfortable win. Here's how it went.
We started the game with a different formation (4-5-1) that we hoped would allow us to win the midfield battles and let our attacking midfielders support the attack. Deciding to kick in to the wind in the first half we got off to a flyer and set the tone for the game by playing some lovely passing football. After 7 minutes Joel Hodgkiss found himself tight up against the touch line on the left but somehow managed to get a shot away with the outside of his right boot that had enough power to beat the Beighton keeper. A great start but it was important to keep up the momentum. Shortly after the lead was extended when the Beighton goalie fumbled the ball and Anthony Everest was in the right place to stab it home. The next few minutes were very even but Beighton were starting to settle a little. The lead was reduced when the ball broke loose on the edge of the area and one of their forwards was able to hit a powerful shot into the roof of the net.
Tom Whitaker was working hard down the left but their number 3 was keeping him under control and so, for a change, a lot of Norton's best build up play was coming down the right hand side with Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas and Harry Groombridge linking up well. A corner from that side managed to evade everyone and Jack Levick managed to steal in towards the back post to side foot the ball home unchallenged from 6 yards. I think this was Jack's first goal for the club and it was well deserved. At this stage Norton were 3-1 up and looking comfortable. However, the Beighton heads didn't drop and they got back into it when a very long range shot crept under the cross bar to make it 2-3. Shortly after it was 3-3 when James Edwards was adjudged (correctly it has to be said) to have handled the ball and Beighton converted the penalty. Freddie Cowen got a strong hand to the ball but was just unable to stop it creeping into the far right corner. With seconds to go before half time Beighton took the lead in somewhat bizarre circumstances. A good cross from their right was met with a great header that looked goalbound but the ball rolled down the hill behind the goal and everyone (including the ref) thought the header had just missed the post. However, a number of our lads went to the ref and told him that the ball had gone in but went under the poorly fixed net near the post. and the goal was awarded. A bit of a sickener to go in to half time a goal down but I'm very proud of the lads for their honesty.
HALF-TIME: Beighton Falcons 4 - 3 Norton Lees
The half time team talk was all about getting the lads' heads up after coming in to the break undeservedly a goal down. We were certainly playing the better football and looking confident on the ball but we just needed to get an early goal back and take advantage of the tail wind in the second half.
The lads heeded the advice and some great work from Lewis Reynolds on the right wing allowed him to cut back from the defender and get a cross over which Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas volleyed home from close range. This was just what we needed and from here on in it really was one way traffic. A good shot from Kieran was only parried and Harry Groombridge was on hand to blast the rebound home. More good work from Lewis down the right and the lead was extended to 2 with a carbon copy of our equaliser; Kieran again able to beat his marker and volley home at the front post. Joel Hodgkiss was orchestrating much of the build up play in the centre of midfield and, as usual, working incredibly hard to win every tackle and header. Joe Dineen was also being strong in midfield and having one of his best games for the club. Beighton felt that they still had something to play for and tried hard to get the ball forward but the Norton back 4 were excellent, particularly Jack Levick and James Edwards in the centre who were both immense today.
Norton didn't sit on their 2 goal lead and continued to play the ball well out of defence and pressurise in midfield. Tom Whitaker was able to latch on to a loose ball and hit one of his typical low drives in to the corner to make it 7 and then Joel was tripped in the box and doubled his tally for the day by smashing home the resultant penalty.
FULL-TIME.
Beighton Falcons 4 - 8 Norton Lees
Man of the match: Jack Levick. It was difficult to choose between Jack and James Edwards today as neither put a foot wrong as centre backs but Jack's goal just swung it for him.
A superb performance today, especially in the second half when we were completely on top and could have scored more than we did. It was especially pleasing that some who had been starting games as substitutes came on as starters today and showed what they can do. James Myers and Joe Dineen were both excellent and it's going to be difficult to decide on starting 11's in our next few matches. A great win and the unbeaten run continues. Lets keep it going boys.
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MONDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Hoyland Common Falcons
Sunday 4th October 2009
Norton Lees Under 11s 2 - 2 Hoyland Common Falcons Under 11s
Both teams came into this game with a P2, W2 record and looking to continue excellent starts to the season. Its far too early to seriously judge promotion contenders but we knew that Hoyland Common Falcons would be stiff opposition with the potential to challenge for top spot in our division and so today's game promised to be an exciting prospect. We weren't disappointed. On a beautiful Sunday morning spectators were treated to a cracking game of football between two evenly matched sides.
Norton kicked off the first half and settled quickly but both teams were looking to play good passing football and take advantage of pacy wide players. Hoyland had some early chances but put them wide but overall everything was looking pretty even. After 10 minutes a typically surging run from Tom Whitaker down the left took him into the opposition penalty area where a desperate lunge from a Hoyland defender scythed him down in full flow. Joel Hodgkiss struck the resultant penalty well enough but put it past the post. What was great to see was his teammates stick an arm around him and get his head up quickly. This miss, and positive reaction to it, seemed to galvanize Norton who dominated for the next few minutes and took a deserved lead when Hoyland were unable to clear a corner decisively and Harry Groombridge was able to loop the ball back in to the top corner. The home team continued to play well particularly down the left hand side with Isaac Appleyard contributing some attacking full back play.
Hoyland soon came back into the game though and some sloppy defending allowed them to hammer home a loose ball to equalise and then almost take the lead when a shot from the edge of the area rebounded off the post and was scrambled clear. Hoyland soon did take the lead though after some good build up play and a smart finish. Norton continued to threaten and could have scored 2 or 3 more but managed to waste chances in front of goal.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 1 - 2 Hoyland Common Falcons
The half-time team talk was all about not panicking, continuing to battle hard in midfield, being aware of their pace up front and looking to be a bit smarter when in the attacking third rather than being too direct. Only one goal in it and everything to play for.
As in the first half there was very little between the two sides in the early exchanges and it was 50-50 in those crucial midfield battles. Goal chances were few and far between in the early part of the second half but Norton were looking the most likely to score. Harry came very close to equalising when a cracking 20 yard shot smashed into the crossbar and bounced down kindly for the Hoyland keeper to gather. Further pressure saw Anthony Everest tripped as he turned his marker and the ref had no alternative but to award another Norton penalty. This time Joel made no mistake and although the keeper got a good strong hand to the ball it was hit too powerfully for him to keep out.
Following this Norton seemed to sit back a little and the pendulum swung the other way as Hoyland began to dominate possession. However, despite their terratorial and possessional advantage they rarely tested Freddie Cowen in goal. Norton were looking to counter-attack quickly down the left hand side whenever they could but the Hoyland centre back (and skipper) was playing exceptionally and putting in some well timed tackles to thwart Tom's speedy runs.
Norton were struggling to clear the ball effectively from goal kicks and on another day Hoyland could have punished us severely for that but thankfully the defence managed to regroup. A number of Hoyland corners were well defended and in the final couple of minutes a further Norton counter attack saw Anthony one on one with the keeper but his shot was struck directly at the Hoyland stopper and the final chance of victory for either side came to nought.
FULL-TIME: Norton Lees 2 - 2 Hoyland Common Falcons
Man of the match: Isaac Appleyard for some excellent full back play and keeping their dangerous number 9 under control.
So, both sides continue their unbeaten start and everyone agreed that a draw was a very fair result. It was particularly pleasing to see our lads play with strength and aggression and yet give away no fouls during the game. We have a few things to work on in training and we will continue to improve so lets keep up the hard work boys and look to keep the good results coming.
Rob
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SUNDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Charnock Ridgeway
Sunday 27th Sept. 2009
Norton Lees Under 11s 3 - 0 Charnock Ridgeway Under 11s
The first of three 'derby' games against our closest rivals Charnock - a team we know well and are closely matched with. This was sure to be a tougher test than last week and one that we worked hard to get the boys focused and wound up for. The key was surely to be the quickest out of the starting blocks and show that we wanted to win every ball. Did the lads put this advice into practice? Here's how it went.
With Harry Groombridge unavailable this week, Joel Hodgkiss took the captains armband and after winning the toss decided to kick slightly uphill into the wind first half. Right from the whistle the lads got stuck in, fighting hard for every ball in midfield and not giving the opposition a chance to push forward. Good link up play was putting Charnock under pressure straight away with Tom Whitaker and Kieran Tetzlaff-Deas looking particularly dangerous out wide. A corner after 10 minutes was not cleared effectively by the Charnock defence and after a bit of 'penalty area pinball' the ball fell to Joel on the edge of the box and he was able to finish with a well struck shot. The lads kept their concentration and the defence was able to snuff out any Charnock advances. Soon the lead was doubled with Tom latching on to a loose ball and, beating the defender for pace, he was able to squeeze his shot into the corner past the advancing Charnock keeper. Charnock tried to push and came close when a goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Cyrdn Read. More chances were coming for Norton but the front two were beginning to get caught offside.
HALF-TIME: Norton Lees 2 - 0 Charnock
The half-time team talk made it very clear how imporant it was to NOT give away an early goal in the second half and to stay focused. We were winning our battles and it had to stay that way. The boys heeded the advice and looked really strong for the first 10 minutes. Some of the fluency evident from the first half wasn't there but that didn't matter. What mattered more was winning those 50-50 challenges and keeping our shape. The ball was skidding off the wet grass quickly and a few too many forward passes were consequently over hit but at least the Norton lads were looking to play the ball into spaces. A loose ball was almost latched on to by a Charnock forward but Freddie Cowen came out quickly and bravely to save at his feet. The lead was extended in fortunate circumstances when a speculative shot from Anthony Everest squeezed under the Charnock keeper and dribbled into the net despite a desperate lunge from one of their defenders. At 3-0 and with 10 minutes to play the game was now under Norton's complete control but Charnock kept battling. Their trick winger managed to dribble the ball round Freddie but his goalbound effort was again cleared off the line, this time by Jack Levick who positioned himself well. It was good to see this sort of commitment from the boys as it was something lacking for much of last season.
FULL-TIME.
Norton Lees 3 - 0 Charnock Ridgeway
Man of the match - Cyrdn Read for a very strong defensive performance.
So - another cracking win against relatively strong opposition. Granted, Charnock were not at their best and will come at us all guns blazing next time. However, we have not reached our own potential yet and all the signs are positive. Well played lads. Lets keep going and look to cement a place at the top of our division.
Rob
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FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2009
Aston Juniors Vs Norton Lees
Thursday 17th September 09
Aston Juniors U11s 1 - 8 Norton Lees U11s
After poor openings in our previous two seasons that left us fighting relegation battles before Xmas we were desperate for a positive start and a confidence boosting win that the lads could build on. My nerves were jangling ahead of the game but the lads seemed really up for it and were obviously keen to show what they could do.
Norton soon began to dominate as the match began and impressed us with some lovely football. The ball was moved around quickly and the team kept it's shape well. Our pace down the left and up front was exploited as balls were played into spaces, causing plenty of early threats to the Aston defence. Anthony Everest eventually opened the scoring after a spell of constant pressure and then was unlucky not to double it when he directed a good cross well over the bar. The Norton back four were mopping up any Aston attacks easily enough but Aston equalised when the defence failed to deal with a corner allowing the ball to be poked home. The lead was soon regained with a simple finish from Ant and a third was added when Tom Whitaker latched on to a poor clearance and hammered the ball home. Kieran Tetzlaf-Deas made it four and then Ant completed a deserved hat-trick before half time. Freddie Cowen was rarely called into action in goal but commanded his defence well, distributed well and had to get down smartly a couple of times to make good stops.
Half time: Aston Juniors U11s 1 - 5 Norton Lees U11s
At half time we made it clear that the lads couldn't become complacent. Aston would want to regain some pride and would undoubtedly play better in the second half. It was important to maintain their discipline and continue to battle hard in midfield. This was an opportunity to make other teams in our division sit up and take notice if we could post a big win.
Aston began the second half much more positively but it was Norton who were winning the midfield battles. It was clear that the home side had been advised to play further up the pitch and the Norton front two were regularly being caught offside as a result. However, Norton were able to move the ball quickly out of their own defence from the increasing number of Aston attacks and happy to play counter-attacking football for a while. When the breaks did come the Aston defence did well to chase back and defend stoutly but surely it was inevitable that we would score more. A sixth goal did come when Kieran got a toe to the ball that the Aston keeper was unlucky to palm into his on net. Kieran was then able to complete his hat-trick with a good finish and was unlucky not to make it four when adjudged offside after a low drive found the corner. Aston continued to look for push forward for some consolation and their heads never dropped but Norton made it 8 after a solo run from Joel Hodgkiss saw him beat 3 defenders and slot it past the advancing keeper.
Full time: Aston Juniors U11s 1 - 8 Norton Lees U11s
Man of the Match: Anthony Everest
A great performance from everyone this evening and hopefully good things to come from the rest of the season. Still a few things to work on and the lads DO need to keep their feet on the ground. It's only one game and things will get harder. We need to improve when defending corners and there were times in the second half when players got caught out of position. Still, these are things that WILL improve and it's perhaps unfair to be critical after such a cracking start. Well played lads, now lets keep it going!!
Rob
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MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2009
Norton Lees Vs. Wasps (friendly)
Thursday 10th Sept. 09
Norton Lees Under 11s 1 - 5 Wasps Under 11s
Man of the Match: Tom Whitaker
Our first game at the new home pitch and one we learnt a lot from. The result was disappointing but nothing to get too disheartened about as the aim was to try a few things out before it really mattered. Norton played plenty of good football and had a number of chances but 4 sloppy goals put the game beyond doubt before half time.
Norton started the game brightly with some good passing football, especially down the left side. Wasps were leaving spaces which the lads were able to exploit but a number of chances were squandered and all too often the front players strayed offside. As the half progressed Wasps started to dominate physically and punished Norton's lack of clinical finishing and a rather fragile looking defence with some soft goals.
A change of shape at half time saw plenty of improvements. The best of Norton's attacks were still coming down the left hand side but the goal came with Cyrdn playing a defence splitting ball down the centre that Anthony was able to run on to and coolly finish. Wasps converted a free-kick from the edge of the area to make it 5 but Norton had clearly had the better of the 2nd half.
So, despite the result we gained a lot from the game. Positions for certain players are starting to be cemented. James Edwards and Cyrdn both looked much stronger in centre back and full back positions respectively. Their left winger didn't have a sniff with Cyrdn at right back. Mitch and Lewis looked confident in midfield. Isaac looked solid at left back with some great balls into space for Tom to latch on to and Anthony is clearly a natural striker. The lads know that they need to be stronger in challenges and exhibit a desire to win every ball. I'm sure that when the league campaign begins they'll show us they can do it.
Here's to a good season boys. Lets get off to a great start against Aston next week.
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MONDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2009
Heeley Boys Vs Norton Lees (friendly)
Final score : Heeley Boys 3 - 3 Norton Lees
A tougher test against a team promoted from Div E to D this year and one that would give us a better idea of the quality we might expect in the coming season. Although we had a depleted squad through holidays etc. we decided to carry on with this fixture and the Heeley Boys manager was happy to play only 9 on the pitch at any one time. However, no substitutes meant that our lads would inevitably tire. With only 9 players we had to play a 3-4-1 formation with James Edwards, Jack Levick and Isaac Appleyard in defence; Tom Whitaker, Mitch French, Joel Hodgkiss and Harry Groombridge in midfield; and Anthony Everest on his own up front.
This was a good game to watch with both teams trying to play nice passing football and attack at every opportunity. Heeley took an early lead but Norton actually had the best of the play and certainly more shots on goal during the first half. Nevertheless we went in to the break 2-1 down. Freddie was unlucky with both of the Heeley goals - the first a deflection and the second an attempted cross that dipped just under the crossbar.
The second half saw us reduced to 8 men with Freddie having to leave early. A stunning long range shot from Joel in the first few minutes saw us draw level and this obviously gave the lads plenty of confidence as, despite, being a man down we looked the more accomplished. An equally good effort from a Heeley midfielder found the top corner and again we had work to do but the lads continued to threaten and the equaliser came after a spell of sustained pressure. From here on we looked the most likely to go on and find a winner, with Anthony going close with a good header, but gritty defending and some excellent goalkeeping from the diminutive Heeley stopper kept the final score to 3-3.
Overall, a very impressive performance with everyone contributing very well. They all gave 100%, kept their shape, worked tremendously hard off the ball and deserve loads of praise for their efforts. There are still plenty of things to work on however. There was still a great reluctance to make that simple pass backwards or sideways when under pressure. There were too many occasions where the ball could, and should, have been headed clear. Defending at corners looked dodgy at times. However, these are all things we can rectify before the season starts. Hopefully one or two more friendlies can be confirmed before then.
Man of the match - Joel. Was everywhere. Passed the ball well. Looked confident on the ball and scored a cracking goal.
Keep up the good work lads.
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Porter JFC Vs Norton Lees (friendly)
Final score: Porter JFC 2 - 9 Norton Lees JFC
The first pre-season friendly in the build up to the lads first 11-a-side season was always going to be a case of uncharted territory. We'd decided in advance to play an attacking 3-5-2 system taking advantage of the pace of Tom and Cyrdn on each wing and Harry and Joel controlling things in the middle.
In the first half we had the majority of the possession but somehow went in to the break 2-1 down. The usual problems of poor tackling and a general lack of tenacity were evident and a stiff talking to during the break made it clear that this had to change. Despite this there was some promise in the way that we were trying to use Tom and Cyrdn as much as possible. The second half performance was considerably improved and 7 unanswered goals meant an easy victory for us overall (although it has to be said that the Porter players' heads dropped as it became a bit of a rout).
I can't recall all the goalscorers. Sorry. Cyrdn Read was awarded man of the match for his tireless running and commitment to both attack and defence.
Clearly the result was a positive one and a good confidence boost for the lads. It was also good to see the lads try and make the formation work by spreading the ball wide as much as possible. However there is still plenty to work on. The team lost it's shape as the game became more one-sided and at times it almost resembled a playground kickabout. We'll drill this out of them :-). Seriously though, the importance of a solid defence that works well together as a unit can't be overemphasised. Rather too many goal scoring opportunities were spurned (although at least we were getting them) and too many corners were hit straight out of play. Most frustrating though was a tendency for individuals to hold on to the ball and try to dribble past 3, 4 or even more players when there was greater opportunity and advantage in playing an easy pass and moving into space. We'll try and work hard at getting the lads to play simple passes in the direction they are facing (especially when under pressure) and encourage them all to work hard off the ball in order to find/make space.
Good result lads but remember we've got to work hard.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Season 2009 / 10 Reports
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