U14 Boys finish 2009-2010 season as Runners-Up!

Well done lads!!
After starting the season with a squad of 15 we were unfortunately left with just 13 in January and, as many fellow managers will appreciate, that made several games extremely tight for personnel.
However the boys excelled themselves, gaining more points pro-rata than in previous seasons and achieving a notable Runners-Up spot in the Bournemouth League first division, their highest ever finishing position.
This compensated in some way for the boys relinquishing their hold on the Dorset Cup, where, despite reaching the final 'against all odds' having had just 11 players for the Semi-Final, they encountered a considerably strengthened Chickerell side and had to be content with being runners-up.
Team selection for the final proved just how much of a tightrope we were treading in terms of a squad, with injuries effectively leaving us with just 11 yet again.
With this in mind I sought to bolster the squad for the few remaining league fixtures and found the opportunity, with the much appreciated cooperation of their manager Alan Millward as well as their parents, to sign up Callum and Connor Corbin from the U13 Colts.
In summary, the boys have done fantastically well this season, playing adventurous football, albeit on occasions causing more than a little consternation on 'the bench', one game in particular excelling as the come-back of all come-backs, trailing by 3-0 at the break, only to turn the match on its head and triumph by 5 goals to 3 at the final whistle! This was not the only time that the boys demonstrated their character and resilience, having recovered from 1 and 2 goal deficits several times.
Meet the team:
Adam Eyres - Goalkeeper; Edd Hammond - Right Mid; Mark Newey - Left Back; Liam Kelly (Captain)- Centre Mid; Ben Wilson - Sweeper; Josh Keets - Left Back/Mid; Aidan Cuddy - Centre Half/Right Back; Andy Power - Centre Forward; Jacob Wood - Forward; Charlie Groves - Left/Right Mid/Back/Forward (yes really!); Callum Ross - Left Mid; Matt Swindlehurst (Vice-Captain) - Centre Mid; Elliott Pike - Right Back; Connor Corbin - Centre Half; Callum Corbin - Forward.

Broadstone Braves Vs Weymouth Wyke Victoria

Braves 6 - Weymouth Wyke Victoria 1

10 Players and no substitutes....what a game!

Every member of the team played their heart out today despite being reduced in number, what a fantastic effort by all the lads...

The defensive lineout from right to left of Mark Donachy, Sam Klein, Tristan Jalie and Ben Blades proved to be formidable, very rarely were Weymouth able to break through and when they did our defenders covered off each other and won back possesion. Clearing the ball forward to our wingers Ben Stocker (left) and Luke Woodhouse (right) they were assisted by Alex Sharp who played alone in mid-field and put in a brilliant performance filling in the gap.

Ben and Luke monopolised the wings and fought hard to gain ground demonstrating some superb control and passing moves...at last, control the ball, head up, look for space, pass and move; the drills came together we'd been practising in training. Working with Josh Powley and Chris Birrel our attacking force proved too much for Weymouth, some excellent through balls demonstrated by all four players meant our opportunities at goal just kept coming.

Luke Woodhouse scored 2, Josh Powley scored 2, Ben Stocker 1 and Chris Birrell 1...a great team effort by all made these opportunities at goal possible. The 'Braves' should all feel very proud of themselves.

That's three great wins in a row despite dwindling player numbers...brilliant! The final match of the season will be against Lytchett at their home ground in Upton on the 9th May 2010 ( I'll let you know the details nearer the time). It would be good to think we can get all the team together for the last match...but failing that then hopefully we can all meet up at the end of season tournament on the Saturday 8th May 2010.

Alan Millward has contacted me concerning the R&T Tournament next weekend. He has yet to receive details of the event itself and is unsure of how many he can register. It may be that he is limited as to numbers and so I have left it to him to select what will hopefully be 6 players from our team to join the Colts for the event. I shall contact the parents of those boys that he would wish to take part as and when I'm notified who he has selected...please don't be disappointed if you aren't given the opportunity because we've still got the most important match to attend to and that's against Lytchett in two weeks time!

Excellent effort...very proud!

Broadsone Braves Vs Ringwood Town (Away)

Braves 7 - Ringwood 3

Within the first minute of the match the braves had put one in the back of Ringwoods net! One of the Ringwood parents was over heard saying "Don't worry, those that score first often lose"....how wrong they were.

Despite the end result our defence was tested by the attacking Ringwood players who monopolised on the free kicks awarded as we'd been caught off-side a handful of times. We soon realised that a hefty Ringwood free kick usually meant Alex Sharp and Matt Lonnen had to recover some ground, so a cleverly placed Tristan Jalie blocked that line of attack nicely. The defence worked hard to hold 'em back and a particular mention should be made of Tristan and his efforts..even Ringwoods Manager commented upon what a skilled defender he was.

Ben Stocker performed well in goal putting in a number of excellent saves, getting down and dirty laying hands on the ball when able and making some good 'one touch' clearances the ball having been passed back to him on a number of occasions by Matt and Alex in defence, a superb effort by all three!

All in all the first half was fairly evenly matched, with Ringwood putting in a good performance...

The boys motivation during this match really shone through in the second half...

Despite the fact that they were tired (only 11 players again meant no substitutes) and extremely hot in the soaring temperatures at Midday (what was that about mad dogs and Englishmen...?), they delivered and then some! The defence started to push out in good time when Ben cleared the ball out, on the odd occasions Ringwood one back possession in the second half Sam Klein worked well as right back to clear the ball from under them.

Josh Powley took advantage of some great forward balls from our midfielders; Luke Woodhouse and Jack Williams. Demonstrating skill and determination Josh took it around the Ringwood defence a number of times to score a well deserved hatric...excellent!

Luke Woodhouse and Chris Birrell scored two goals a piece...Luke continues to gain more and more confidence when under pressure demonstrating some excellent finishing. Chris used his unbelievable staminar and pace to great effect in order to drive up his goal score for this season...great work !

Ollie C-J and Ben Blades played on the wings and showed some real grit in the heat, battling their way down the outer field and creating numerous opportunities for our attackers...outstanding!

The team effort demonstrated by the boys today was first class. I am in no doubt that with the combined skill of Joe Jordan, Mark Donachy and Aston Wright who were unavoidably absent from todays match, the Braves can go onto win the next to matches they play against Weymouth Wyke Victoria and Lytchett Red Triangle.

Onward the Braves...!!!

Man of the Match: Ben Stocker for his 'bravery when under fire'...some real courage demonstrated today by Ben whilst playing in goal.

Broadstone Braves Vs Blandford United

Broadstone Braves 3 - Blandord United 1

Half time and Braves were down 1 nil to Blandford who were clearly used to performing well on their altogether dodgy home pitch...the Braves rolled up well on time and were looking forward to playing on a well groomed, flat pitch! We should have known better really. Despite the opposing team manager giving me the sat nav coordinates to the pitch were we ended up it clearly wasn't to be.

Rock hard ground, uneven playing surface and a concave bend which peaked at the centre spot so that each of the goal lines weren't visible to one another when stood in opposing goals...unbelievable but this was the pitch that we ended up on despite the fantastic pitches being a stones throw away...still, better that the under 11's played on the good pitches so that that didn't get hurt I guess!?

Blandford played a good game the first half and for some reason we struggled to get into the game...each and everyone of the Braves looked as though their durecell batteries had completely run down. Not good...The half time whistle blew and it was time for the manager to blow some steam out of his ears...the rocket was launched neatly up each of the Braves posteriours.

The second half saw a completely new team...it never ceases to amaze me...the coaches and I had flicked the 'on' button and within seconds of kick off we'd driven the ball forward, a neat one two between Ben Blades and Josh Powley led to a cross from Josh which was finished superbly by Ollie Cornellius-Jones...we were back in the game! 1 all! The pressure was piled on by Blandford who sensed that we'd decided that we had given them enough chances and now it was time for pay back...Our defence remained stead fast (albeit a little gobby to our linesman on occassion...you know who you are) and held them off, Tristan Jalie and Sam Klein working well to take back possession and clear the ball forward.

Matt Lonnenn and Jack Williams eventually decided that it'd be a good idea to join in on the game and put some good tackles in pushing the ball up and over the Blandford defence...I do wish they'd stop trying to volley the ball when its coming in from on high though, I lost count of how many times we swung a kick only to miss and give away possession! Control and pass, control and pass...Matt showed really determination taking a shot at goal with great force so that it shot off the goalees hands into a Blandford player and then into the back of the net....2-1!

The last twenty minutes were nail biting to say the least, Blandfords defence were putting in some hard tackles sensing another defeat and conceded some foolish free kicks...the Braves monopolised on this and Josh Powley slotted our final goal into the corner of their net...3-1!!!

As I said to to the boys at the end of the match...if they'd of played like they did during the last fifteen minutes for the whole of the match it'd have been another 6 - 1 Victory to the Braves...enough said.

Man of the match: Sam Klein for putting in some good tackles and waking up sooner than any other team member during the match.... :-)

Thanks to Dennis CJ for doing the line (and putting the mouthy ones in their place).

Well done 'fellas' ...we're away to Ringwood next week. Ollie, Aston, Mark and Joe can't play so we need everyone else to turn out and give 100%...see you Saturday.