Merley Allendale YFC

Stars Under 12   2007 - 2008

League: Dorset Youth League Under 12 Division 2

Final Position: 8th out of 9 teams

Sponsor: ITW DeVilbiss

Training will be on Saturdays at Merley First School 10.30 to 12.30.

Date	Opponents	Venue	Comp	Result	Scorers	Man Of Match
09-SEP-07	Poole Town Colts	H	League	2 - 3	M.Higbee, M.Timmins	George Bartlett
23-SEP-07	Okeford United	H	League	3 - 3	J.North, A.Shenton, M.Page	Alexander Shenton
30-SEP-07	Dorchester Panthers	A	League	2 - 3	M.Higbee 2	James Naylor
07-OCT-07	Dorchester Raiders	A	D.Cup	0 - 4	-	Ben Simmons
14-OCT-07	Portland United	H	League	0 - 1	-	Gareth Griffiths
21-OCT-07	Shaftesbury Rockies	A	League	3 - 4	M.Higbee, M.Timmins, J.North	?
11-NOV-07	Wareham Rangers	A	League	0 - 5	-	Gareth Griffiths
25-NOV-07	Poole Town Colts	A	League	4 - 0	M.Higbee, S.Walon	Michael Higbee
16-DEC-07	Okeford United	A	League	1 - 2	M.Timmins	Jason North
06-JAN-08	Dorchester Panthers	H	League	0 - 2	-	George Bartlett
13-JAN-08	Portland United	A	League	1 - 3	M.Timmins	Ben Simmons & Timothy Barker
27-JAN-08	Hamworthy Lions	A	League	2 - 3	M.Higbee, M.Timmins	Sam Walon
03-FEB-08	Wareham Rangers	H	League	0 - 2	-	Max Timmins
10-FEB-08	Dorchester Stars	H	League	2 - 1	B.Simmons 2	George Bartlett
24-FEB-08	Hamworthy Lions	H	League	0 - 3	-	Kieran McCutcheon
09-MAR-08	Dorchester Stars	A	League	1 - 3	?	?
16-MAR-08	Shaftesbury Rockies	H	League	2 - 2	J.North, O.G.	?

Stats

League: Played 16, Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 12, Goals For 24, Goals Against 40

Cup:      Played 1, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 1, Goals For 0, Goals Against 4

Players Awards

Ceremony held at AFC Bournemouth on 17th May 2008

Player's Player Of The Year:             Ben Simmons

Most Improved Player Of The Year:  Timothy Barker

Manager's Player Of The Year:          George Bartlett

Match Reports

Sunday 9th September 2007 - Match 1   Merley Allendale 2  Poole Town Colts 3
      Sometimes you wonder ……you score 3 goals out of five and lose….two wonderful finishes and you lose to a “bagatelle” goal from a yard out. This was a game which left us scratching our heads in disbelief.
      Starting with a front pair of Kieran McCutcheon and Michael Higbee, the Stars came out of the blocks like the greyhound in Trap 2, pinning Poole back from the first whistle. Within 10 minutes the boys had carved out 4 opportunities, but were unable to convert them. On 12 minutes, Michael Higbee burst through, one on one with the goalkeeper, only to see his shot pass agonisingly past the post. It was like Arsenal – brilliant and just awaiting the goal! Then it was like Arsenal!! – a hopeful cross from Poole with their first real attack and unfortunately deflected past Ben Simmons into the far corner. (Don’t worry lads, even the Boss has done it – at least three times!!). However, the pattern of the game didn’t change – all towards the Poole goal. Matthew Page and Alex Shenton were carving out chances from both wings, with Kieran and Michael both going close – the pace from the team was ripping Poole to shreds and both Harry and Sam were providing good support to both wings. Finally, Michael was given some space on the right hand side on 28 minutes, and from outside the penalty box, bent a fierce shot to the top right hand of the Poole goalkeeper to equalise – blinding stuff!!. 1-1 at half time.
      For the second half, Michael returned to his normal midfield position as both Max Timmins and Jason North, came on for the second half. Sometimes, you wish half-time didn’t happen…. The break probably took away the concentration as Poole came out and began to string more passes together. The boys were still playing well, but even at this level a small lapse can cost. With three defenders drawn to the left, Poole laid a ball back to their No.9 just outside the box and he had the time and skill to bend it around Ben Simmons. No complaints, well worked and well taken. From this point on the match became more open - both sides pushing on, with Matthew, Michael, Jason, Alex, Max and George Bartlett all having attempts on goal. Eventually, Max got on the end of one of the numerous through balls and cheekily chipped the ball over the advancing keeper. 2-2, with 3 minutes left – points to be shared perhaps? Unfortunately, not today. A corner from Poole bobbling around in the box, boots and touches everywhere and it ends up in the back of the net. Ten seconds from the end! Final score 2-3.
      All in all, a good performance on which to build, and no disgrace – we lost our first game by the same score last year and finished fourth. I counted a total of 18 attempts at goal – no complaints there. The boys coped well on a very warm afternoon and the experience will only have improved their fitness.
      Man of the Match – George Bartlett - for consistent, decisive defending, taking command when required, popping up on the edge of the Poole box for a couple of shots and giving his all even when suffering from the heat.

Sunday 23rd September 2007 - Match 2   Merley Allendale 3   Okeford United 3
For the second week the Merley stars play a team off the park only to fail to win…… As against Poole two weeks previously, Merley started quickly, knocking the ball around and playing some good football. For the Okeford boss, Chris Pike, things looked ominous (and Chris was the first to agree!! ?). The moves were flowing and the chances were being created regularly, and after 6 minutes, Jason North got himself on the end of a corner to put Merley ahead. The chances continued, but we just could not put them away. Then after 12 minutes, the inevitable happened, Okeford had their first sight of goal from around 20 yards out and took a speculative shot – looping over Ben Simmons head and ending in the back of the net. As before, the game continued in the same manner, with Michael Higbee having four chances and Max Timmins and Matthew Page two apiece. At this point there was only one team in it! …..and then half-time arrived……
      It was a repeat of the Poole game – for the first ten minutes of the second half, the boys dropped in their intensity, and Okeford scored only for the goal to be ruled out. Then we witnessed a moment of quality. Taking a ball across from the right hand side of the box, Alex Shenton brought the ball under control and hammered it beyond the Okeford ‘keeper from just outside the box . 2-1. From this point the game started to open up. Whether it’s just practice or fitness, Okeford began to get more space in midfield and eventually crafted a good goal from the right wing, slotting in at the far left post. But it wasn’t over….. Improving gradually, week by week, Matthew Page followed an attack into the box, didn’t give up and got the rebound into the net (I don’t know if it was his head, leg or what, but they all count!!) However, tiredness began to take its toll and again space in the midfield allowed Okeford to take another long range shot past Ben. 3-3 was how it ended but not before Alexander Shenton tantalised us with a delicate lob resulting in “oohs” from the crowd.
      So another good creative performance. We just need to work on controlling the midfield at later stages of the game. Michael Higbee had a particularly frustrating afternoon seeing chances slip away, but just keep going Michael – the goals will come!
      Man of the Match: Alexander Shenton, for some scintillating wing play, neat passing and a superb goal!.

Sunday 30th September 2007 - Match 3   Dorchester Panthers 3   Merley Allendale 2
      There are times when there is no justice…… and so far this season it appears that we are not getting any!! This was a game against the top team in the division and whilst I may be accused of bias, we were again the better team (fractionally) over 60 minutes.
      Unlike previous games, we started slowly, giving away two corners in the first minutes. Then after 2 minutes, the Dorchester right winger got away from Samuel Walon and shot from the edge of the box. Ben got his hands to the ball but the pace beat him, just dropping behind him over the line. From this point on, the first half was an even match, with chances being few as defences on both sides were effective. Then after 11 minutes, following a fast, straight, through ball, Michael Higbee kept his cool and slid the ball under the advancing keeper. 1-1. For the remainder of the first half, both teams went at it with no quarter being given, but all done without any malice, and credit must go to Dave Mansley and his boys for making it a good competitive atmosphere. As half-time approached Merley began to edge the play with Michael narrowly missing from a very tight angle and following some sustained pressure, Max managed to find some space in front of goal, but his shot drifted wide. And then half-time arrived……. Oh, I wish it wouldn’t!!!
      That half-time break is proving to be something of a problem for us. Our concentration goes. As in the previous matches, the first few minutes of the second half would cost us dear. After 3 minutes of the half, Dorchester had a chance on the right and put away a good finish. However, encouragingly, Merley heads didn’t drop and we went close again from a corner and Jason had a near miss. Even a third Dorchester strike didn’t dent the confidence in the team and it was pleasing to see the boys working hard to get back in the game. Following an attempt by James Naylor, on 48 minutes Michael Higbee took hold of a ball on the right, burst into the box and from a ridiculously tight angle hit the back of the net. 2-3. For the remainder of the half, Merley edged the game, with pressure being exerted on the Dorchester goal from both wings – Matthew Page having a driving run with a good cross on the end, Alex and Sam combining well to attack the left and Jason being unlucky to see his long shot narrowly miss the post. Final Score 2-3.
      A game where the boys can honestly say that they were not outplayed and where they produced their best performance of the season to date. The defence played well, even though Dorchester scored three times (they were just good at shooting!). Equally, the midfield improved over the previous matches and in attack we are starting to show much more purpose. Somebody, at some time, will be on the end of a pasting from these boys!
      Man of the Match: James Naylor, for leading by example – working between both penalty areas and showing the improvement in midfield play that can be made simply by playing and learning from your mistakes.

Sunday 7th October 2007   Dorset County Cup   Dorchester Raiders 4   Merley Stars 0
      Let’s get the painful bit out of the way first we lost 4-0. A bit of a drubbing perhaps….? Well it has to be said we were not the best team, but there is more to the story… This was a cup game against the team currently ranked second best in the Dorset Under-12 league. To put this in perspective, in their last three victories, Dorchester had scored 5, 8 and 7 goals respectively. (The 8, without reply, being against our competitors from last season, Parkstone Hawks).
      So how did Merley do? For the first half the boys competed well against a strong and quick Dorchester side. Honours were even for the first part of the game but then fate took a hand when Ben’s clearance in a 1-v-1 situation rebounded to a Dorchester player who was able to hit a shot into an empty net. 1-0. Thereafter we had our fair share of possession and pressure on the Dorchester goal, with Michael going close, Kieran and Jason providing good support and Matthew proving to be rejuvenated in a right wing role. Dorchester proved worthy of their status, attacking rapidly and constantly keeping the defence on its toes. Ben Simmons was being kept busy, culminating in a very good save from a curling free-kick from the edge of the box.
      The half-time curse returned again….. Two minutes into the second half a good wide ball cut the defence open and Dorchester were able to add to their lead. From hereon, the boys refused to let their heads go down, with two of the smallest players, James and Gareth continuing to get about the midfield, challenging for everything. We continued to pose a threat on the Dorchester goal with Michael having two trademark runs and narrowly missing along with a clever reverse pass from Kieran splitting the Dorchester back line and just reaching the keeper before Michael could get his shot in. However, on a warm afternoon, the strength and pace of Dorchester began to tell and in amongst their attacks two further goals followed as tiredness affected the boys and their concentration dropped momentarily.
      However in amongst all this were some notable performances - Gareth, performing well on his first full appearance in midfield; James, climbing out of his sick bed to put in another good performance in midfield; Matthew, improving rapidly at right wing and Kieran showing steady improvement in the attacking role.
      Man of the Match: Ben Simmons for an excellent display in goal, combining bravery with agility, anticipation and a command of his area which was very impressive. (Ben’s performance was singled out by the Dorchester manager as being “the best he had seen in a long while”).

Match 5 – Sunday 14th October 2007   Merley Stars 0   Portland United 1
      I was asked before this game if it was frustrating being a coach. My answer was yes – because sometimes I want to get on the pitch and help and sometimes the match results don’t match the performance!! This was one of those days.
      For the first time this season the boys had a poor start to a game, with Portland taking the initiative and penning the team back for the first quarter of an hour. Michael and Kieran were virtual spectators as the ball kept coming back towards our goal and but for a bit of wayward finishing and good goalkeeping from Ben, the boys could have been buried within a few minutes. The team gradually began to get into the match, but it was not until around 20 minutes in that we created our first chances; Michael going close on a through ball. Thereafter, we began to play more fluidly and created another four chances before half-time – Max picking up the ball outside the box and drifting across the area before putting a shot across the keeper and just past the post – Matthew putting a shot over the bar and Michael being unlucky not to get one goal from two attempts. In amongst all this Portland were playing well and whilst not getting too many shots in, the back four were holding up well against a quick side.
       The boys listened carefully at the break and the Merley half-time curse didn’t appear today. It became a very close game and the feeling grew that there would be few goals. After 4 minutes of the second half Max had another shot saved and the Portland keeper made simple work of a corner from the left. Thereafter, Portland pressed forward and after one attack broke down, a Portland player got to the ball first and planted a shot into the top left hand corner of the Merley net. 0 – 1. The boys continued to press forward setting up Michael for another opportunity which clipped the post and rippled the side netting – James followed shortly after with a shot which missed. Jason was moved into midfield to provide some solidity when Portland threatened to overrun this area and Kieran returned to support Michael. Portland began to isolate Kieran and Michael upfront and Max returned in a more forward position to provide a different problem for Portland which looked promising, but the final whistle arrived before we were able to obtain results. On the balance of the play, Portland shaded the game, but a draw would not have been unfair on either side.
       From this result, and looking at the other results in the division, some things are clear:
       i) We have a relatively solid defence – only one team has conceded fewer goals than us.
       ii) We need to score more goals and develop the ruthlessness to take chances when they appear
           rather than look for another touch of the ball. This was something practised at this week’s
           training, but we need to be more confident in the application.
       iii) We need to improve our midfield play to avoid other teams overwhelming us later in matches.
Man of the Match. Whilst Ben Simmons gave another excellent performance in goal, today’s Man of the Match was Gareth Griffiths. Gareth didn’t want to play as an emergency left back, but knuckled down to the task and up against taller and faster Portland players put in a sterling display. Well Done!!