Posted by R Cherry on February 11, 2008, 5:11 pm, in reply to "U11s vs Crowmarsh"
nice one robin 
--Previous Message--
: Oxford City Colts U11 Match Report
: 10th February 2008
:
: Crowmarsh 2 - Oxford City Colts 2
:
: It is often said that the mark of a good
: side is its ability to get something out of
: a match in which they did not play well. And
: so it was for Colts on this Sunday lunchtime
: fixture away at in-form Crowmarsh. However,
: with Colts unbeaten in the league since
: October, this game was always going to be a
: close affair. But in the end both sides will
: regret not have taken chances to win the
: game, although on balance it will perhaps be
: Crowmarsh who will feel more unhappy.
:
: Recognising Crowmarsh’s strength, Colts'
: Coach Roger Cherry started with only two up
: front, preferring to play four across
: midfield. Luke Holt made his debut for the
: Colts, playing on the left side of midfield.
: The game started in bright sunshine with
: neither team taking an early advantage.
: Colts looked nervous lacking composure on
: the ball and they failed to play the passing
: style which has seen them perform so well in
: recent weeks. Indeed it was Crowmarsh who
: settled faster and soon the home side were
: well on top. They controlled and passed the
: ball well, allowing their attack the
: opportunity to pressurise the Colts’ goal.
: After 12 minutes Crowmarsh’s domination
: produced the opening goal. A well-placed
: through ball found one of their strikers who
: with quick feet rounded the keeper before
: placing his shot firmly into the net.
:
: Following the early setback, Colts struggled
: to raise their game finding it difficult to
: hold onto the ball. Every time they cleared
: from defence the Crowmarsh midfield were
: first to the ball, creating another attack.
: Colts rarely put pressure on the Crowmarsh
: defence but on one of the few occasions they
: did get forward, it was predictably Bradley
: Rowbotham who helped the visitors back into
: the game. He stunned the Crowmarsh keeper
: with a riffling drive into the top corner to
: equalise on 20 minutes. However, there was
: precious little more for the Colts strikers
: in the rest of the half which was dominated
: by Crowmarsh. The home side re-took the lead
: a few minutes later after another good
: passing move opened up the Colts’ defence
: allowing one of the Crowmarsh strikers to
: slot the ball into the corner of the net
: unchallenged. Things could have been worse
: and it was only a good low save from keeper
: Joe Russell that prevented Crowmarsh from
: extending their lead from a corner just
: before the break.
:
: Strong words were needed from Roger at half
: time to lift the boys who looked low on
: confidence. The team talk and a couple of
: tactical substitutions appeared to make a
: significant difference as the second half
: started. Colts competed for every ball, and
: although they still rushed some of their
: passes, they certainly let Crowmarsh know
: that they were in for difficult match. The
: reward for Colts’ hard work came with an
: equaliser on 43 minutes when from a poorly
: cleared corner, Bradley thumped another long
: range effort into the roof of the net.
: Crowmarsh responded with a number of swift
: attacking moves but at the centre of the
: Colts defence Harvey Comely looked assured
: and denied their strikers a good shooting
: opportunity.
:
: With five minutes to go Bradley again forced
: his way through the Crowmarsh defence. His
: fiercely struck shot looked bound for the
: back of the net but the Crowmarsh keeper
: produced a spectacular save to deny Colts
: the lead. The ball came straight back to the
: other end of the pitch where, following a
: collision between striker and keeper,
: Crowmarsh appealed in vain for a penalty.
: And so shortly after with the final whistle
: the points were shared. This truly was a
: game of two halves. In the first we saw
: Colts without the spark that has led to an
: excellent run in the league in recent weeks,
: but after the break the boys played with far
: more conviction and were the equal of a
: quick and well-disciplined Crowmarsh team.
: Despite not playing well for the entire
: game, the boys deserve credit for getting a
: draw, twice coming from behind. Finally our
: thanks go to Clive for his enthusiasm as
: linesman.
:
: Team: J Russell, L Williams, H Comely, A
: Martin, M White, G Cherry, T Walker, C Wood,
: L Holt, B Rowbotham, D Dennis. Subs R
: Horwood, B Muinami, J Roberson, W Beechers.
:
: Man of the Match: 1st half J Russell, 2nd
: half H Comely
:
:
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