Post by cookie on Dec 15, 2013 20:53:04 GMT
Eastbourne Borough Ryman 18s experienced the high and lows of football in 4 days this week with two away trips, one to unbeaten Worthing and one to league leaders Burgess Hill.
With bosses Mark Simpson and Nick Ducatel both working away the Acadamy boss Jay Lovett and clubman of the year Tony Carmody stepped in to help coach Cooke on the Monday night game at Leylands Park.
I bet they wish they had got lost in the fog on the way as Boro failed to do the basics and went 3 down in a hectic first 20 minutes with Hill, off the back of their brilliant FA Youth cup run, looking like they would score with every attack!
George Legg, back in goal after a toe injury, made save after save and the back four which included debutant from the Acadamy Matt Simpson were forced to defend resolutely as the midfield was overrun constantly. A change in formation stopped the home side for the rest of the half and 'Boro had a couple of attacks which came to nothing.
Unfortunately the second half started as badly as the first and within 15 minutes the lads were 5 down. Both goals avoidable again. To their credit, heads never went down though and no-one went missing which was a really good thing to come out of the evening at least. The reds could even have snatched a consolation at the end.
Hill added another late on, Dom Haward cleared one off the line and Mitch Light took his usual ball in the face/head/chest/stomach/midriff to keep the greens out.
Overall a massive lesson in concentration, discipline and game management and hopefully the boys took something out of it. I know the coaches did...
Anyway....Football's a funny old game as they say and with two more players unavailable and another ill 'Boro travelled to previously unbeaten Worthing with nothing to lose and Jays words of ''I want Cookie to be texting me with news of a reaction on Thursday night!'' still ringing in their ears from Monday.
The formation tweak stayed in place and 'Boro started well playing some good football on the deck as did Worthing. On 20 minutes a Josh Pickering flick was pounced on by Corey Wheeler who slotted coolly past the keeper to give the reds an early lead.
Stephen Turner picked up an elbow to the head which woke him up and along with George Carroll battled well in an increasingly physical midfield. The home side had a lot of possession but couldn't break down a much more disciplined and tighter back 5.
The second half started with Worthing camped in 'Boros half but the introduction of Bright Temba for James Stone and Harry Ducatel for the tiring Matt Simpson meant that the visitors could start to push a little higher up the pitch. Bright and Ryan Gilbert caused problems with their pace in behind and Josh and Corey never stopped running.
The last 10 minutes meant a final push for the equaliser and even after going down to 10 men Worthing threatened Leggys goal a few times late on. 'Boro held on though and ended the week with 3 points out of 6 which they probably would have taken on Monday morning and definitely on Tuesday!!
Squads
George Legg
Matt Simpson
John Reeves
Mitch Light
Dom Haward
Harry Ducatel
Stephen Turner
Ryley Tate
James Stone
George Carroll
Jacob Marsh
Jacob Merrick
Ryan Gilbert
Corey Wheeler
Josh Pickering
Bright Temba
With bosses Mark Simpson and Nick Ducatel both working away the Acadamy boss Jay Lovett and clubman of the year Tony Carmody stepped in to help coach Cooke on the Monday night game at Leylands Park.
I bet they wish they had got lost in the fog on the way as Boro failed to do the basics and went 3 down in a hectic first 20 minutes with Hill, off the back of their brilliant FA Youth cup run, looking like they would score with every attack!
George Legg, back in goal after a toe injury, made save after save and the back four which included debutant from the Acadamy Matt Simpson were forced to defend resolutely as the midfield was overrun constantly. A change in formation stopped the home side for the rest of the half and 'Boro had a couple of attacks which came to nothing.
Unfortunately the second half started as badly as the first and within 15 minutes the lads were 5 down. Both goals avoidable again. To their credit, heads never went down though and no-one went missing which was a really good thing to come out of the evening at least. The reds could even have snatched a consolation at the end.
Hill added another late on, Dom Haward cleared one off the line and Mitch Light took his usual ball in the face/head/chest/stomach/midriff to keep the greens out.
Overall a massive lesson in concentration, discipline and game management and hopefully the boys took something out of it. I know the coaches did...
Anyway....Football's a funny old game as they say and with two more players unavailable and another ill 'Boro travelled to previously unbeaten Worthing with nothing to lose and Jays words of ''I want Cookie to be texting me with news of a reaction on Thursday night!'' still ringing in their ears from Monday.
The formation tweak stayed in place and 'Boro started well playing some good football on the deck as did Worthing. On 20 minutes a Josh Pickering flick was pounced on by Corey Wheeler who slotted coolly past the keeper to give the reds an early lead.
Stephen Turner picked up an elbow to the head which woke him up and along with George Carroll battled well in an increasingly physical midfield. The home side had a lot of possession but couldn't break down a much more disciplined and tighter back 5.
The second half started with Worthing camped in 'Boros half but the introduction of Bright Temba for James Stone and Harry Ducatel for the tiring Matt Simpson meant that the visitors could start to push a little higher up the pitch. Bright and Ryan Gilbert caused problems with their pace in behind and Josh and Corey never stopped running.
The last 10 minutes meant a final push for the equaliser and even after going down to 10 men Worthing threatened Leggys goal a few times late on. 'Boro held on though and ended the week with 3 points out of 6 which they probably would have taken on Monday morning and definitely on Tuesday!!
Squads
George Legg
Matt Simpson
John Reeves
Mitch Light
Dom Haward
Harry Ducatel
Stephen Turner
Ryley Tate
James Stone
George Carroll
Jacob Marsh
Jacob Merrick
Ryan Gilbert
Corey Wheeler
Josh Pickering
Bright Temba