UP FOR THE CUP & THE MANAGERS vs PARENTS MATCH

The draw for the Junior's Friendship Cup took place at the Harvest Home on Friday evening with Maroons first out of the hat. They will play Yellows on Sunday. Reds will play Greens while both teams in blue recieve a bye to the semi-finals. It is thought that both matches will kick off at 10am to allow the specticle of the parents vs managers game to take place as soon as possible after 11am. It is looking like an 11-a-side game now, both Paul and Chris have signed up for the Managers and one or two Maroon parents looked set to sign up for the Parents. If you still fancy a game I'm sure if you show up with some kit you'll get a run out. The match fee of £5 for all participants will go to the league.

See you there. COYM and COYM!

AN ADVERT FOR THE LEAGUE

It took a late goal from Josh to take a deserved share of the spoils from probably the best game I have ever seen played at little league.
The team insisted that I gave the man of the match to Josh but there were 7 Maroon men of the match today.
From what I saw of the Greens vs Light Blues game it was a tight affair and keenly contested and set the tone for the day.
The eleven a-clock kick off was much anticipted and played in a fantistic spirit. There were chances at both ends and the first half ended nil-nil, but not before Dorrell had struck a post, Josh headed onto the bar and Jack D had made some wonderful stops in goal.
Throughout the game Riley showed incredible work-rate, winning the ball infront of the back pair and carrying it box to box or slipping it to Spencer or Dorrell who were skillful and tireless on either flank. Despite playing in the unfamiliar lone striker role Willaim played his heart out and also worked back winning some notable interceptions and tackles in the heart of midfield.
In the swirling wind Jack B and Josh were like a brick wall in defence and on the few occations that their line was breached Jack D was a confident and safe keeper.
The second half continued in a similar vein with Riley's height making it difficult for the Blue's defence as he pushed up front as William contiued to break up play in midfield. Dorrell and Spencer started serving up more chances but nothing fell quite right and Blue's defended really well.

Late on it looked like Blue's had stolen it with a long shot which bounced awkardly infront of the excellent Jack D and crept underneath him. Adrian, the Blues manager had the grace to say it would be a sad way to end such and well contested game, and fortunately it wasn't as Josh scored the well deserved equalliser that won him man of the match, an accolade which could have gone to any one of the team today.

The thing that does the Maroons the most credit is that as a team so used to winning, they responded so well to what looked like a late winner by the Blues, their heads stayed up and they battled to the end, scoring when the referee had put his whistle to his lips and as I found out from him later, had three seconds left on his watch!

Thanks to Mark for reffing so well and Adrian and the Royal Blues for providing such a fantastic opposition, what a game, and what an advert for a league which is getting stronger all the time.

TRAINING, CUP DRAW, ROYAL BLUES AND THE MANAGERS vs PARENTS MATCH

Good training this morning with Mark developing some more complex skills.  I look forward to seeing some overlaps against Royal Blues tomorrow!

Tomorrow is an 11:00am kick off so see you all at 10:40am.

The following week we have been drawn against Yellows in the Friendship Cup quarter finals and after the cup games is a Managers vs Parents fund raising match so sign up tomorrow!

EVERYONE OFF THE MARK PART 2

The last time I used this headline William wasn't a Maroon and today I can use it again as he got off the mark with an rocket of a half volley which, along with his general confident display, won him a deserved man of the match.
Jack D scored an early first goal which was soon followed by a splendid solo effort by his strike partner Dorrell. Jack B and Riley formed a very strong defensive parntership, reading the game and communicating very well.
Jack D hit a second before, just before half time William broke from midfield and latched onto a loose ball and scored his first for the team. The grin on his face as he ran let us all know what it meant to him.

In the second half Spencer partnered Josh up front and that pairing yielded four goals first Spencer scored before Dorrell made sure of his brace after a surging run from defence and some good inter-play and a quality cross from Josh. Spencer then bagged his second before Josh scored two contrasting goals, one a hard low strike and the other cheeky flick into the net off the outside of his boot.
Riley then made sure he was also on the scoresheet with a powerfull shot.

A great team performance played in a sporting manner. It is a measure of how good a game William had and how strong the team spirit is, that three separate player insisted that he should be awarded the Man of the Match medal that he so richly deserved.

I'm already looking forward to training on Saturday and the Royal Blues game next week.
COYM

BACK TO BASICS WITH DANNY GREEN

Back to basics this morning, as Mark looked at heading,passing and shooting and then made my day by making me Danny Green, feeding the ball in for a shooting drill.

Great atmosphere today.

See you all tomorrow at 10:40 for 11:00 kick off against Light Blues.

COYM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

It's my 40th birthday tomorrow and all three of my teams triumphed this weekend (four if you count Sutton Utd). I got to see England and Charlton on the telly, but wasn't able to be present at the Maroons victory due to a commitment with the cadets so the report below comes courtesy of Jane's notebook.

Josh got the first with a solo effort after carrying the ball from half way line, setting himself up for another hat-trick which takes him clear in the scoring charts despite missing a game earlier in the season due to his finger injury.

Josh also got his and Maroons' second with a confidently taken shot. The third came from another mazy dribble from just inside the Reds' half, this time it was Dorrell's turn to slot home.

In the meantime Spencer was called upon to clear off the line to prevent the Reds getting back in it.

The second half opened with Josh's third after a good effort by Dorrell was parried by the Red's keeper.

Soon after Jack B nicked one with a tap in.

Jack D then pulled off a good save followed by a goal from his own box! A remarkable feat in a man of the match winning performance.  Jack B got his brace with a second poacher's goal and Riley wrapped it up with a surging run into the box and a fine strike.

William continues to grow in confidence as a Maroon and proved his worth up front and in defence.

Thanks to Bradley for taking charge and joining the Maroons ever expanding management team! See you next Saturday for training and the game against Light Blues on Sunday.



TRAINING & THE GAME

Mark continued training on the movie theme this week with warm up games being Pirates of the Caribbean themed. Even if we did occationaly all confuse our port and starboard!
Tommorow's game against the Reds will kick off at 12:00, so please arrive from 11:40ish. Bradley (Riley's Dad) will be in charge of the team for the first time so please help him out all you can.
I've seen England on the TV tonight and Charlton are on ITV tomorrow but I can't get to see my other favourite team this weekend. Good luck and COYM!

THIS WEEKEND

This weekend training will be at the usual time. We look forward to seeing you all there.

Like the England team I will be wearing a Poppy on this weekend, on my uniform as I have to parade in Croydon on Sunday, Paul is working so neither of the usual managers is avaliable. Riley's dad has said he will step in but I am sure he would appreciate some help from anyone who is prepared to offer it.

Kick off is at 12pm against the Reds so it would be good if the boys were there for 11:40ish.

WELCOME TO WILLIAM

He played for us last week and now William is confirmed as a Maroon. I think he was very pleased as he felt he already knew the team. He left today with his full Maroon's strip and the knowledge he'd taken part in another Maroon victory.
The first half started with Riley in goal sporting a Spurs keepers shirt. Whenever he was called into action he did his job well beating the ball away on a number of occations and keeping a clean sheet.
The Green looked the better team in the early exchanges, with Jack B and Kole making crucial tackles, until Dorrell scored his first on the way to a excellent hat-trick in a man of the match performance.
Our second was a fantastic goal from open play. Jack D always makes his presence known in either box and he made his height count today as he scored a bullet header, arriving in the box at the same time as a peach of a cross from Kole who had an outstanding first half in midfield. Spencer led the line well and was unlucky a couple of times before Josh, on as a sub, powered into the box to score a third. Dorrell's second and the team's forth was a fantastic effort with a mazey run and ending in a confident finish.
In the second half Dorrell scored his third with a thunderous volley to claim a splendid hat-trick. Josh's strength was proving a handful for the Green's defence and he scored two more to claim a hat-trick of his own.
Dorrell's man of the match award was not just for a great hat-trick but for a wonderful team performance, he was unselfish in his distribution of the ball, took his chances well and when called upon to defend did so with disapline and enthusiasm.

TOMORROW VS GREENS

Apologies for the brief post. I'm not that good at doing this on my phone and what with training, Charlton vs Preston and Carshalton Fireworks I won't see my PC until much later.
Great atmosphere at training this morning and Paul looked great in an xs bib!
See you all at 0940ish for a 1000 KO tomorrow.

SEE YOU THERE

See you all at training. Hopefully the rain'll hold off.