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| Under 10 Hawks - 2007-08 Season |
Saturday 29th March 2008
MK&DJ7’s Division 3
Deanshanger Colts 6 : 2 MK Wanderers Hawks
Hawks travelled to high-flying Deanshanger without Michael Lant, so it was Jake Barter and William Pollard that started in front of keeper Mattie Kholi. In midfield, Ryan Kelsey, Jordan Aquah and Ben Arnold lined up behind Daniel Stephens who was the lone striker.
This pitch was very uneven and causing all the defenders problems, and this played a part in the first goal of the game. Hawks fell behind in only the second minute when a cross from the left was turned into his own goal by Ryan Kelsey. The Hawks defence was being stretched by the very quick number 9 for Deanshanger, but Jake Barter was having a good game making some important challenges.
Ben Arnold had the first Hawks shot, well saved by the keeper, before Ryan Kelsey sent in a wicked corner that nobody was able to get a head on. Shortly after, it was 2-0 as a neat Deanhanger move allowed their left winger to poke the ball past Mattie. Liam Shortland replaced Ben Arnold before the re-start, but it was not long before the score was 3-0 as a long ball split the Hawks defence and allowed the lively number 9 to score.
With only 15 minutes gone, Hawks were up against it, but the players stepped up the work rate and started to play their own game. Another Ryan Kelsey corner caused problems in the area but the ball was scrambled clear. A neat move between Ryan and Jordan ended with Daniel having a shot on goal that was smothered by the keeper. Liam Shortland picked up an ankle injury that ended his game early and he was replaced by Jospeh Pollard. Hawks continued to press forward, Ryan Kelsey smacking an effort against the bar, the ball then bouncing to safety. Just before half time, Hawks conceded again, against the run of play to end the half 4-0 down.
During the break, Ben Brandon replaced William Pollard in defence, while Brandon Carter was brought on in place of Daniel Stephens. Joseph Pollard was pushed up front, and his efforts were rewarded soon after as he got on the end of a low cross from Ryan to score. Great goal!
Jordan was having a great game in midfield, winning lots of tackles and making plenty of runs into the heart of the Deanshanger defence. It was one of these runs that resulted in the second Hawks goal, Jordan firing a low shot past the keeper into the bottom corner of the net.
Another unlucky own goal, this time from Ben B, eased the pressure on the home side, and they scored again late on to record a 6-2 victory. The score was a bit harsh on the Hawks who battled well throughout the game. The two own goals summed up our luck, but the team left the field rightly proud of their performance. Jake Barter and Joseph Pollard had great games, but were pipped to the man-of-the-match award by Jordan Acquah. |
Saturday 8th March 2008
MK&DJ7's Div 3
MK Wanderers Hawks 1:0 Brook End Colts
There was great anticipation in the air for this one, last time these two met the scores were tied at three a piece. Hawks have been improving week on week and they saw this one as a chance to get their first win on the board. Sadly captain Jake couldn’t make this one, but the other eleven were all present and up for the challenge.
As usual Hawks started the livelier of the two with an early corner and shot from a fired up Ryan. Liam was spreading the ball around well getting in some good early passes to Ben B and Ryan up front. Ben A was literally battling his way up the right wing trying not to let the Brook End players get the better of him. Not easy as they were nearly twice his size, but he gave as good as he got.
Michael and William were comfortable at the back with Michael even able to get up field on 8 minutes and get a shot away from the right wing. William was a constant thorn in the side of the visitors not letting them get a sniff at goal. Brook End did get a chance on 11 minutes with a great long range shot, fortunately the Maestro Matty was back in goal. Great save!
Liam picked up a pass from Michael on the quarter hour mark and ran straight at the Colts getting away his shot on target but saved. Daniel came on with the bit between his teeth, fired up and causing all sorts of problems for the Colts. Ben A was steamrolled again buy a clumsy challenge from the Brook End number 2. Free kick Hawks. A great shot from Daniel well saved with the rebound falling to Ban B who just couldn’t get the ball in the net.
Half time and the boys had the bit between their teeth. They looked like a winning team.
Second half started as the first finished with the hawks terrorising the Colts goal. Ryan, Joseph and Daniel were all making good runs and creating chances, but still the Colts defence was holding out. Ben B and Michael still had to keep calm in defence as the visitors mounted the occasional attack. The boss was starting to wander if the Hawks were going to get the goal they so deserved. Brandon was starting to struggle with the Colts forwards as they were growing in confidence, but he stuck to the task.
Another corner played short by Ryan to Ben B running in and trying that big shot, but just not coming off. Daniel picked up the ball on the left and charged down the line crossing in to Jordan whose shot was just past the post. Still Brook End Colts came running back with a strong run straight down the middle ending with a great shot, this time Matty needed to catch as there were other strikers baring down on him, so catch he did.
Just over half way through the second half a throw in from Ben A found Daniel who was quickly set on, but got his pass away to Ryan. Determined as ever Ryan ran passing two on the left before cutting inside and releasing his shot from 10 yards. It was so sweet as the ball flew through the air and into the back of the net, GOAL!!!!!
“ONE NILL TO THE WANDERERS”
It was a scramble now as Brook End threw everything at the Hawks. Colts striker hit a great volley from just outside the box; again Matty was there to save the day. The Hawks managed to calm the nerves of the supporters by getting hold of the ball and passing it around. Daniel on the wing to Ryan to Ben A in the centre then to Jordan up front who got his shot away. This was good team football. Another shot from Ryan rattling the top bar of the Colts goal.
Finally the whistle went for full time. We’d done it, our first league win.
There wasn’t a man of the match this was a team effort and also great support from the manager, the parents and from the Kestrels. |
Saturday 16th February 2008
MK&DJ7's Div 3
Old Stratford 6 : 2 MK Wanderers Hawks
Well this is it, the first game of the second half of the season, the boss away leaving the team in the hands of a rookie and facing a team who a week ago beat us 3:0. The boys were up for it as usual on this sunny but cold February morning.
A slightly different line up for this one with Ben in goal, Michael and Jake in defence, Liam Jordan and Joseph in mid field and Ryan up front. As last week it was a good start by the Hawks with Liam, Jordan and Joseph working hard to get the ball through to Ryan up front. On 4 minutes Liam collected the ball from Jake on the left rode a tackle and got a great pass through to Jordan who just couldn’t manage to get his shot away. The ball was cleared up field to the Old Stratford forwards who charged at the Hawks goal, Michael had got caught up field so it was down to the captain Jake who came in with a crunching tackle to clear the ball. The Hawks were up for this one.
Old Stratford were struggling to get out of there own half, every time the ball was cleared it would come straight back through a well organised mid-field. On 10 minutes Ryan and Jordan combined again only for Jordan’s shot to be thumped away by the Old Stratford goalie. Out it came again only to be picked up by Joseph who got in a quick pass to Ryan who got off another shot pushed behind. Old Stratford struggled to deal with the resulting corner and could only clear the ball for another corner.
The quarter hour mark came and Hawks were causing Old Stratford all sorts of problems. The home sides defence was on top of it’s game so too their awesome goalie. Every now and again Old Stratford would get around our mid-field leaving it up to Jake and Michael to get the ball clear which they did with great skill and determination. William then came on for Jake and continued in the same gutsy vain as did Daniel coming on for Liam.
Hawks were playing some of the best football I’ve seen them play this season. The team were starting to gel and the movement and passing were as good as any team in the league. At the half time whistle you could tell by the look on the boys faces that they were pleased with what they had achieved in the first half.
As much as the first half was good, the start of the second half was bad. Within two minutes of the restart the home side took the lead through a great header unopposed in the middle of the box. Three minutes later Old Stratford won a corner and again Hawks seamed unable to clear it, 2:0. Another three minutes and the Old Stratford forwards found Jake at the back on his own; he did his best but, 3:0. Hawks were loosing the ball far too easily and just 60 seconds later the Old Stratford forwards combined again in a great move to make it 4:0.
Things were looking bad but, to the hawks credit they regrouped, Michael and Jordan came back on and they started to push forward again as they did in the first half. Again Jordan and Ryan combined up front with assistance from Joseph and Liam on the wings. The passing was slick from the Hawks, Michael to Jordan running straight at the Old Stratford defence passing to Joseph who found Ryan on the right, BANG bullet shot bulging the back of the net GOAL!!! 4:1
Every Hawks attack now seemed to spur on Old Stratford and from the kick off they pushed forward with good ball control and passing, finishing the move with a great shot 5:1. On 50 minutes William and Daniel came back on for one last push at the home team. And push they did Daniel winning the ball in mid field and getting a quick pass away to Ryan who ran towards the Old Stratford goal squaring the ball to Jordan who only had eyes for the net, SHOT , GOAL 5:2
In the last 6 minutes Old Stratford did not stop attacking the Hawks goal, only some heroic last ditch goal keeping, by Ben kept the final score down to a respectable 6:2.
Man of the match was a tough decision but for his tireless running, and of course the goal, it was Ryan. |
Saturday 9th February 2008
MK&DJ7's Div 3
MK Wanderers Hawks 0: 3 Old Stratford
First League match of 2008 and the Hawks were in good spirit, if not a little sleepy, for the 9:15 kick-off. The boss started with Brandon in goal Jake and Michael in defence, Ryan, Liam and Ben in mid-field with Daniel up front. Hawks looked comfortable from the kick-off with good runs from Liam and Daniel mostly set ¡Vup by the accurate passing of Ryan and Ben. On 4 minutes Ben picked up a pass from Jake, turned and ran straight at the Old Stratford defence unleashing a great shot at the giant goally. This seamed to wake up the opposition.
Old Stratford started to press and probe with a few long shots on our goal testing out debutant Brandon. Things then got worse as our opponents grew in confidence, running at Michael and Jake forcing the team back to defend. Hawks soaked up the pressure until 14 minutes when Stratford¡¦s number 9 and 10 combined to make it 1 : 0.
Hawks were stunned by the goal but did well to put it behind them and carry on. Ryan pushed hard to find a way through the Old Stratford defence, again and again he made probing runs only to come up against a wall of defenders every time. A monster goal kick from Jake released a frustrated Daniel on 22 minutes only for his shot to be smothered by a quick reacting Stratford goally.
Jordan, on for Daniel, made an instant impact riding tackles and playing in Liam who dwelt on the ball for just too long allowing the tackle to be made. On 27 minutes Jordan once again combined with Ryan to set up Joseph, on for Ben. With just a few minutes of the half remaining Michael limped off making way for William who was straight in the thick of the action in the Hawks defence.
The second half started as the first finished with Hawks soaking up pressure from the two Old Stratford forwards. Brandon growing in confidence made two good saves to deny Stratford a bigger lead. Jake and William were finding it tough at the back but stood firm. Jordan and Ryan continued the second half as they finished the first.
On 40 Minutes Ben, back on for Liam, picked up the ball in his own half, rode a tackle and put in Jordan for a great run passing the ball to Ryan who couldn¡¦t quite get his shot away. This was an attacking formation pressing Old Stratford but also giving them gaps to exploit. One such gap opened on 45 minutes for the Old Stratford number 9 to bury the ball in the middle of the goal, unfortunately for them there was a gap in the net which the ball passed through. No Goal! The away team took this decision very well and credit should go to them.
3 Minutes later Old Stratford broke again but this time their reward was a corner. The corner came in like a bullet and unfortunately caught Ben on the hands whilst trying to shield his face. Penalty! The penalty kick was text book, low and straight, Brandon got a hand to it but just couldn¡¦t stop it from crossing the line. 2:0
Again Hawks pick themselves up dusted themselves off and got back on with it. Ryan and Jordan again combining to trouble the Old Stratford defence, but the finish was just not there. William picked up a long forward ball from Old Stratford and passed it to Michael, back on for Jake at right back, who went on one of his charges up field, he rode two tackles and sent in a wicked cross (or was it a shot). The goally just managed to gather it up. Unlucky!
Old Stratford kept up the relentless pressure and on 55 minutes had another shot at goal from 15 yards. 3:0. The visitors kept trying to push forward for the remainder of the game only to be smothered every time by the Hawks.
Final score 3:0
On the balance of play the score was a fair reflection off the game. There was a lot of hard work and some good performances by the hawks, but non more so than ¡§the man of the match¡¨ Jordan. In my opinion he changed the game when he came on and struck up a good partnership with Ryan. |
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