BOUNCEBACKABILITY

Ian Dowie once described Palace as having bouncebackability. Today a full strength Maroons showed they have it as well.
Joined by Little League newcomer William, the Maroons played very much as a team and stuck to their task.
Thanks to all the boys for welcoming William to the league and for their support of him on the pitch and by rolling on and off as subs. Josh deserves a special mention here for his generous words and actions.



In a tough first half Josh scored an early goal but Maroons found it hard to break down a well organised and solid Yellows defence. Jack D was making a nuisance of himself in their box, while at the other end Kole, in goal was well protected by a defence of Jack B and Riley who defended well, keeping pressure on the ball.
Towards the end of the half the Yellows had a great spell of pressure which was relieved when a great shot by Dorrell was deflected beyond the Yellows keeper. The dubious goals committee (parents) awarded it to the striker and he certainly deserved it for his efforts.
At half time a number of players comments on how hard it was to get through on goal with the yellows playing so well.
After half time Kole started to make things happen in midfield, alongside a hardworking Jack D, while new boy William made some excellent stops playing alongside Josh in defence, as did Dorrell in goal.
Then came two goals in quick succession, which were mirror images of each other. Playing up front together first Jack B saw the keeper off his line and chipped the ball  perfectly for Spencer to tap home, minutes later Spencer turned provider as he played in Jack B in similar fashion for another tap in. Both showed great awareness and fantastic timing.
Jack B then seemed to have scored again with another tap in from an exquisite long shot from Kole, but Jack quickly pointed to Kole to indicate the midfielder's shot had already crossed the line. Josh then got his second taking his time to line up the perfect shot, before Spencer bagged his brace. Josh then made it his second hat-trick of the season with the last goal of the game.

The Man of the Match went to Jack B for his great defensive work, an assist and a goal and for his sportsman like attitude today.

Despite the score line the Yellows have clearly come on in leaps and bounds since the start of the season and many of the Maroons commented on how well they were playing.

Well done to William on his Little League debut, he grew in confidence and was a real asset in defence in the second half and hopefully he will become a regular in the league, if he does all the Maroons can take some credit for how they welcomed him today.

ROCKY HALLOWEEN

 Well done to Mark who worked a halloween warm up and a Rocky 1,3& 4 themed game into training. It's just a shame he didn't get everyone shouting "Adrienne!" Great to see all the Maroons squad there, especially Josh who is back from injury, despite sporting the worlds biggest bandage on his finger. See you all tommorow at 10:45ish GMT.

FUNDRAISING AND SPONSORS

I've just got back from a meeting of Wallington LL offficials and managers and in the next meeting we are looking to take back some fundraising ideas. Katie's pass the bag is a really popular idea with the Junior age group and with some explaination of how it works its hoped we could roll it out to all teams. If anyone else has any good fundraising ideas or if you'd like to help with fundraising then let any of the mangers or Esther know.

If you know any one or any business that might sponsor a team or a whole age group or a page on the website, either by giving the league some money or by providing a strip, similarly let someone know.

CLOCKS GO BACK- KO AT 11:00am

 

DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCK BACK ON SATURDAY NIGHT!!!

And see you all 10:40ish for an 11:00 KO. Or turn up an hour early!

COYM

TRAINING ON SATURDAY

See you all there at 10:00am.
Mark reckons he'll stick with the 80s film theme for the parents while introducing a little halloween for the kids- looking forward to it.

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END

Last week Charlton, undefeated in twelve games and sitting top of League 1 lost 1-0 to newly promoted Stevenage Borough. On Sunday Maroons lost a game for the first team for more than a year.

I wasn't there so this report is a summary and from second hand infomation. (Thanks to Jane for the notes)

Royal Blues started strongly and an early free kick was defended well by Riley, Royal Blues then shot wide as Jack B came off his line to put the attacker under pressure.

Soon afterwards the Royal Blues went 1-0 up.

After some end to end stuff, Dorrell latched onto a ball and was unlucky to put wide under pressure from the Blues keeper.

Jack B then parried a Blues' shot which fell dangerously but Spencer pulled off an amazing goal-line clearance. Jack B then made amends with a good save.

The second Royal Blues' goal came by way of Riley's hand. (It is worth explaining to the boys, it was certainly worth explaining to my son, Jack, that if there is a foul in the box it is not automatically a penalty and the ref can see what advantage comes.)
The half finished 2-0.

At the starrt of the second half Jack B opened the scoring for the Maroons. I only have his and his Mum's word for it but it was apparently quite good.

Kole was unlucky soon after, after an excellent save by the keeper. Soon after Jack D and then Kole again came close. The last good chance fell to Kole who had an excellent long range free kick well saved by the keeper.

Spencer won man of the match, which is no suprise after some excellent recent performances.

Thanks to Elijah who filled in for the injured Josh who was on the sidelines supporting his team embodying as he often does the Maroons excellent team spirit.
What's the difference between Charlton and Maroons?- The Maroons lost to worthy opposition.

Royal Blues are an excellent team with several players who have been together for at least a season like Maroons and now they're the team to beat.
Oh, and Charlton won their next game 4-0 and are 2-0 up at half time as I write this.

It's worth bearing in mind that last season opened - win-draw-lose, this season started - win-win-win-win-lose. So we've started better than last year and look how well that went.

and COYM.

GET WELL SOON JOSH

We heard today that Josh injured his finger and that he needed stitches. He won't be able to play tomorrow and we'll miss him. We all wish you well Josh-get well soon.

GHOSTBUSTERS & TOMORROW'S GAME

Another imaginative training session today from Mark, who is clearly a fan of 80s Sci-fi! The ghostbusters game went down well and the inspired 3 goals vs 1 matches were excellent as the boys thought about finding space, marking and passing.

Tomorrow, Paul will take sole charge of the Maroons for their clash against the Royal Blues- kick off is at 10am so be there for 9:45am.
I am away with the cadets so will post a report as soon as I can, from what I am told. Good luck and COYM.

TACTICS BOARD & TRAINING

Is it sad that I've just bought a tactics board app for my phone?
Looking forward to seeing you all at training tommorow.

BLOG ARCHIVE & A LATE REPORT

Sorry for the late report. It's the first chance I have had today.
I have also added a blog archive so that Esther can find the old reports!

EVERYONE OFF THE MARK

Today's game could be described as the "new signings" game as two of our closed season newcomers bagged a hat-trick in each half.
In the first half Jack D opened the scoring in virtually the first move of the match, on his way to a first half hat-trick.
The second goal came from a quick break following an excellent save by Josh, as the Light Blues looked to get back into the game and was finished by Spencer, with what is becoming a trademark low drive off the outside of his left foot. 
The two remaining first half goals came from Jack D. The first after another smart stop by Josh and the second after a pinpoint through ball by Jack B, who was a rock at the back alongside Riley.
Dorrell continued to provide excellent service into the box from the wing.
At half time Riley, despite two and a half fine performances, remained the only Maroon not to have found the net, but in the second half he made amends- and how!?!
He scored early on and his celebration left the spectators in no doubt how pleased he was to get on the score sheet. Kole then chipped in with a customary strike, putting him on eight for the season so far, before Riley scored two more. One was from a mazey dribble and the second, sweetly hit on the volley. The scrappy final goal was nearly put down as Riley's forth but (almost) everbody was sure that Josh got the final touch.
This left the difficult decision as to who would be named man of the match. On another day Jack D's hat-trick or Jack B's first half or Spencer's second half defensive displays would have won the day but the manner of Riley's second half hat-trick could not be ignored.

Thanks to Light Blues whose contribution to the game is belied by the score and who could have got back into it a couple of times, but for Josh's keeping. Thanks to the ref who had a great game and to Marcel who was ready to jump in when we thought we'd be one short. Also thanks to Spencer's mum for getting the fantastic MOTM medals.

MAN OF THE MATCH MEDALS

Thanks to Katie (Spencer's Mum) we now have a set of Man of the Match Medals. So Dorrell, Kole and Josh can pick one up at the beginning of the match and one of the team will pick one up after tomorrow's game.

Note to parents: don't feel you have to, but if you could contribute a couple of quid towards the cost of the medals for the first half of the season, that would be great.

TRAINING TODAY

Everyone enjoyed the excellent Star Wars themed training this morning and with the Imperial bibs taking on the Rebel Alliance non-bibs in a series of games that worked on dribbling, marking,  tackling and shooting. Thanks to Mark for running the session and thanks to the Maroons that were there for their excellent behaviour and participation.
11:45 for a 12:00 kick off tomorrow, against the Light Blues. See you all there and COYM.

TRAINING

Look forward to seeing you all at training next Saturday from 10:00-11:00ish. Please encourage the lads not to worry too much about playing together on Saturday-as we saw today they can play together on Sundays: What a team performance!

A REAL TEAM EFFORT

Everyone played their part in a in match which saw five Maroon players score fourteen goals. The eventual man of the match, Josh, scored a first half hat-trick including a wonder goal that involved most of the team with a flick on from Spencer finding Kole who delivered a precise through ball for Josh to slot home. Spencer got a goal of his own in the first half with a very cool finish, and had he not had such a quiet time in goal, in the second half would have been a contender for man of the match himself with another fine display. The third goal of the first half came from Jack D, who deserved his reward after tirelessly leading the line. Dorell put in a very disaplined half in defence and despite being untroubled in goal Riley made his presence felt with his vocal support and encouragement.
In the second half Kole scored two of the goals of the season so far, one a long range effort and another from what looked like an impossibly tight angle. These were divided by an own goal, forced by great pressure from Riley. Jack B then got on the scoresheet for the first time before Josh set the bar higher by become the first player this season to score four in a match. Not to be outdone Jack B , put himself in the right place at the right time three more times to join Josh on four. In the meantime Jack D bagged his brace after excellent and unselfish work by Riley. Dorell, despite not getting on the scoresheet this week remained disaplined and provided a lot of great balls from the right wing and broke up the Reds' advances in both halves with his determined tackling back.

LAST YEAR'S TEAM PHOTO

I found last years Bantum team photo on The WLL site and added some of my own to this site  Let's hope the Joes are doing well at Waddon Wanderers. Remember for most of last season we only had six players until Michael joined. It's nice to see we have a larger squad now, with Dorell, Jack D and Riley joining the team. We should be able to field at least seven each week.

SUNDAY 8th OCTOBER VS REDS

Great to see so many Maroons at training.
Looking forward to the match tomorrow. See you all there at 1145 for a 1200 kick off against Reds.
It'll be colder than last week so bring a warm top for before and after the game.
COYM

MATCH DAY 2

We welcomed another debutant today. Riley pulled on a Maroons shirt for the first time and made an impressive start.
Man of the Match, Kole, who scored a hat-trick, opened the scoring and followed up quickly with the second. Jack B slotted home the third and Dorrell made it four before half time. Spencer put in some noteable through balls and worked well up and down the pitch in his box to box midfield role and Jack D put the goalies gloves to good use with some fantastic saves.
Josh opened Maroons second half account before Kole scored a screamer from outside the box to claim his hat-trick. After Greens gained a very well deserved consolation goal Jack D wrapped it all up with Maroons seventh.
Thanks to the Greens, who will undoubtedly get stronger and stronger this season if they show the spirit and ability they did today. Also to Spencer, Dorell and Josh who willingly spent time on the  bench and to Ben who stepped in to give the Greens seven players that meant we could stop rolling subs on and off.