Ex Blues-Under 14s 2005-06 Season

November Report

Following the successful and polished performance at the end of October, which saw us run out 7-1 winners away to Stanhope ‘B’ in the league, hopes were high for our away trip to St Andrew’s. When the match kicked off, we certainly started as the brighter of the two sides, with most of the play for the first 20 minutes being in our favour. However, St Andrew’s had some strong and fast forwards, who managed to score a goal with a fast break out from their defence being played wide for the forward to latch onto. He pushed the ball forward into our box and hit a good shot to beat the keeper. The offside trap that St Andrew’s played continually caused a lot of stop and starting in the game which disrupted the Ex-Blues passing style. Having pulled one back to make it 2-1 at half time, we felt that we may be able to get back on equal terms if we could just beat there offside trap. However St Andrew’s hit two more goals early in the second half and we found ourselves chasing the game. An inspired performance from our on coming sub, in the number 16 shirt, saw us, through him, pull one back to make it 4-2 and we came close again through the same player. With new confidence we pushed for more, in an effort to gain something from the game, but this added the danger of leaving a gap at the back, which St Andrew’s exploited to push the game back out of touch and the final score was 5-2. 
The following week we played our first shield match at home to Addiscombe Corinthians from the Central Division, this was a much improved perform all round. We eventually won the match 6-3, with 6 different scorers. The highlight of the day being our Captain finally bagging himself a goal, with a well placed header into the top of the net. When this goal came we had all but won the game, so it was not surprising that the Addiscombe players and supports looked a little confused at the “other celebration” of that goal. The win put us into the next run of the shield, which will see us at home again on the 11 December against Biggin Hill from the South Division. 
The following week took us away in the league to Edenbridge Utd. With them at the top of the table on 10 Points and us in third place on 8. On the weekend that the whole of football paid its respects to George Best, following his death on Friday 25 November 05, both Edenbridge and Ex-Blues put on a match that was fitting for such an occasion. With players from both sides displaying skill, excellent passing, imagination and some humour. The final outcome was a 1- 1 draw, with Ex Blues leading from midway through the first half. Edenbridge applied a lot of pressure on the Blues defence in the second half and eventually got their reward in the final third of the second half. Blues seemed to take this as a wake up call, and with a second wind pushed to get a winner, and came close, only for a well stuck shot to be slightly too high. Both keepers should be commended for their efforts. But for me the performance of the day, went to the Ex-Blues number 7, he truly seemed inspired by the man most of us would say “is the greatest footballer of all time” (and will remain so!)

December Fixtures

4 Dec 05 – Home – Elite League match 10.30 Kick Off, Langley Sports.
11 Dec 05 – Home – Biggin Hill Shield match 13.30 Kick Off, Ex Blues
18 Dec 05 – Away – Chislehurst Arrows – League match kick off TBC. 

Andy Hammond 
Under 14s Coach

Current League Standings, Results and Fixtures.