Merley Allendale YFC

Boys Under 9   2004 - 2005

League: Mid Dorset Youth League Section 3

Current Position: ? out of 11 teams

Sponsor: Canford Drains

This is the second Under 9 seven-a-side team, this season they play in the Dorset Youth League Section 3. See the match reports below the Stats section.

Stats

League: Played 11, Won 2, Drawn 4, Lost 5, Goals For 14, Goals Against 28

Cup:      Played 0, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 0, Goals For 0, Goals Against 0

Match Reports

1-9 Vs Wareham Rangers (A) 19 September 04
A tough start to the season playing against what is perceived as the strongest team in the division. Took a while to get going in the first half, with a new defensive pair of Ben Simmonds and Sam Wallen learning to work together. Wareham played well and went in 4-0 up. In the second half, the boys began to gel as a unit, with Max Timmins showing progress in being able to hold the ball up while playing on his own. Wareham were restricted to shooting from distance for a time, but gradually, better technique showed and combined with tiredness on the part of the Merley team, Wareham scored a further 5. However, Merley continued to work hard and were rewarded with a solo goal from Max Timmins a few minutes before the end. Final score 9-1. It doesn’t get any harder than this!!

3-0 Vs Rossgarth (H) 26 September 04
Merley boys began this game slowly, but within a few minutes began to exert consistent pressure on Rossgarth and their efforts were rewarded with two goals from Ben Simmonds, the first a tap in from a cross, the second a well taken shot. Performing well, Merley were held at bay by the brilliance of the Rossgarth goalkeeper. Kieran McCutcheon and James Naylor showed signs of getting used to their roles in the midfield, with Sam Wallen again showing his understanding of how to defend. Up front Max Timmins played well, providing a focus for the ball to be passed forward. His efforts were rewarded late in the second half when a clearance came to him mid-way inside the Rossgarth half, only to be knocked up and volleyed back over the keeper’s head. Final score 3-0.

0-4 Vs Poole Borough (A) 3 October 04
Sometimes you just have to hold up your hands and say well done to the opposition, and on this occasion, it’s for Poole Borough, or more specifically for their No. 9, a step above the players at this level. Merley began well and matched Poole for the majority of the first half. However, No.9 made the difference, dropping off the defenders and planting three shots from outside the penalty box into the top right corner of the goal. No fault, no blame, no argument. Just good goals. Poole also added a streaky fourth. For Merley the score of 4-0 hides the excellence of the performance, all the boys showing good composure and concentration, with Kieran McCutcheon and James Naylor providing the lead with strong tackling, commitment and control of their play. The performance was there, just a shame the result wasn’t!! Final Score 4-0

1-1 Vs Broadstone Colts. (H) 10 October 04
Playing against a team reckoned to be of similar ability, Merley were shocked when Broadstone took the lead in the early stages of the game. This could have been a taste of things to come, but the boys rallied well and began to push Broadstone back, with strong tackling and being able to retain the ball. Merley’s work was rewarded when Ben Simmonds kept up his frequent scoring with another important goal. From this point on Broadstone were hemmed in and were lucky not to concede further goals hanging on for the draw. Chances were created by Merley, but a mixture of poor finishing and ill luck combined to keep the score at 1-1.

2-2 Vs Poole Harbourside (A) 17th October 04
A team shorn of players (Max Timmins, Sam Wallen) and with a newly signed defender, Merley set off at a good pace generating chances on the Harbourside goal and their efforts paid off with two goals from Ben Simmonds, the second a model example of following up with the initial shot coming back from a post only to be calmly slotted in. Harbourside escaped further punishment through their goalkeeper and the wet conditions slowing one shot from dribbling over the line. In the second half, Merley were slow to get to grips with a tactical change by Harbourside, pushing one man up on an inexperienced defence. Their efforts finally paid off with two goals, although the second had more than a little luck as Matthew Page was blinded by the ball sliding off the greasy surface. With limited resources for this match Merley continued to perform well and showed good progress in developing wing play and following up. This was a result which could have been a win, but it was just not to be. Praise goes to James Naylor for another strong performance putting in a committed display.