GEDLING SOUTHBANK U11 v WEST BRIDGFORD U11 TORNADOES
Saturday 23rd November saw GSB U11 play host to West Bridgford Tornadoes at CLW. GSB knew a point would be enough to win the league title but also knew after losing 6-5 to Tornadoes at the end of last season they needed to be on their game to make it happen.
The boys started very brightly and were showing signs of confidence from the very beginning. Within the first 4 minutes, they got themselves a goal in front after some battling work on the edge of the box from Elliott ‘Els’ Hay saw the ball break to Carter ‘Pates’ Pateman, who finished in style with his supposedly weaker left foot.
3 minutes later and GSB were 2-0 up. This time the ball was played across the defence by WB but James ‘Planty’ Plant nipped in and raced through to coolly slot home. His first goal of the season and a real confidence booster for him too.
After 13 minutes in a similar vein to the 4th minute, Els broke into the box and unfortunately for him slightly mishit his shot but Pates was on hand to tap the ball in to make it 3-0.
As usual after 15 minutes, half way through the first half, all 4 subs came on which meant a whole new midfield and striker. It wasn’t long before they made an impact as Drew ‘Chappers’ Chapman beat his man and swung a cross in from the left. Haydn ‘H’ McCaughey arrived late into the box and slide the ball into the back of the net.
On the stroke of half time, Billy ‘Houser’ Housden won the ball in midfield and played a delightful through ball for Ben ‘Mozza’ Morris to race through and slot the ball past the keeper.
Half Time: GSB 5 WB Tornadoes 0
During the past 3 seasons from U8 to U10, I have always ensured all the players had equal playing time including equal times starting as sub or on the pitch. This often meant that many players were played in different positions in the same match but made sure the boys all had the equal time to play and develop.
This season the boys have asked to play in certain positions more. So we have had 1 player ask to play in goal, 3 players ask to play in defence, 2 players ask to play up front and 7 players ask to play in midfield. So this has meant the defence and goalkeeper have been playing the majority of the matches from start to finish, whilst the attackers and midfield players have shared the playing time – 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off each half.
As the boys were looking very confident and were in danger of running away with a silly scoreline, they wanted to try and make it a little more equal in terms of playing time between them.
So it was decided the 3 defenders would come off, together with our holding midfield player. This meant that Pates and Mozza would play up front together, something they were both very excited about. Jacob ‘JB’ Burley and Planty volunteered to go in defence so we started the 2nd half with a 2-4-2 formation – a first for the boys.
The formation appeared to leave the boys a little vunerable at the back and WB Tornadoes got a goal back early in the second half after a good through ball from their midfield.
Midway through the second half, Chappers got his name on the scoresheet for the 10th game this season out of 11. A cross came in from Mozza on the right which the keeper unfortunately dropped and Chappers tapped in.
A change of players midway through the half saw the 3 defenders come on, Malachi ‘Ky’ Gregg, Kieran ‘KP Nuts’ Parrott and Ashton ‘Ash’ Graham and JB went up front. He got himself on the scoresheet towards the end of the game after a great pass from Planty saw him battle against the WB defender and then slot home.
The final whistle soon followed and after the post match handshakes and 3 cheers, the boys all celebrated with the big following who had turned out to watch the game.
Final Score: GSB 7 WB Tornadoes 1
So the boys have won Divison 4, having played 9 games (even though one has been wiped from the history books due to Attenborough Colts leaving the league half way through the season) winning 7, drawing 1 and losing just one. They have scored 47 goals and conceded 19. A great start to their 9-a-side development phase. Their start to their 7-a-side development phase saw them play 9 games, lose 9 games, scoring just 5 times and concede 52. Not a bad turnaround for a great bunch of boys.
So the day finished with the countdown completed as follows:-
7 goals for GSB;
6 different goal scorers;
5 consecutive league wins;
4th Division Title Won;
3rd Division up next;
2 players now on 9 goals this season (Pates & Mozza)
and finally 1 League Title!
A well earnt rest next Saturday will be followed by a cup game against Division 5 champions Calverton MW Red, who this week conceded their first goal in 9 matches this season – an outstanding achievement at any level of football.
Well done to all the boys and I look forward to our “Champions Celebration” next Saturday afternoon.
