ASC Strikers u10s vs Southwick Rangers u10s - Sunday 18th September 2011

The ‘A’s
 

Joe W [GK], Ryan, Rhys, Caldé, Ross, Finn, Sam and Joe G. took to the hallowed turf at Buck Park for their afternoon fixture with near rivals, Southwick Rangers.

As the teams familiarised themselves with each other and the expanse of the ASC pitch, early assaults on goal were at a premium. SR broke the deadlock with the first attack of the game; a close range effort that skirted the outside of the ASC post.

It was Southwick that continued with the pressure, Joe W. executing a fine save in a 1-on-1 attack. His drop kick out to Finn on the right wing saw the young dynamo too much to handle for the SR right back. A short sprint to the by-line and a pinpoint cross to Sam on the far post saw ASC take a lead against the run of play. Great goal. ASC 1 SR 0

With tails up, the pattern of play turned and ASC threw everything at the SR defence. Joe W. remained calm as he took on the role of sweeper on more than one occasion, passing the ball to Sam on the left wing to kick off yet another onslaught. Balls came in from high but the boys always won the ball, heading back toward the SR danger area. Finn and Joe G. linked up with spectacular precision and were unlucky to increase the score-line earlier.

SR still showed promise at this stage with a close range attack stifled in quick succession by Joe W. and Caldé. The resultant break saw great skill by Ross from midfield as he head-juggled the ball and sliced it through the SR defence to Joe G. As we know, he doesn’t normally miss those. ASC 2 SR 0

As the SR keeper kept things respectable, Sam & Joe G. continued in their desire for goals. Another loose ball ended up at the feet of Rhys who slammed a left foot shot through the advancing SR players; the keeper’s fine save saw the ball drop to Caldé who slotted it into the bottom left corner. Poach-tastic. ASC 3 SR 0

Would there be time for another before half-time? You betcha! SR’s confidence was rather low now and mistakes began to creep in; it was Sam who showed them that a soft pass across the front of your own area is not a good idea. Jensen Interceptor. ASC 4 SR 0

Half time: ASC 4 SR 0

Southwick showed their spirit in the early stages of the second half and looked threatening in all areas. Once again, the desire to get a goal left things slightly open at the back and Ryan saw a stinging drive hit the post and zip across the front of the SR goal. It was now real end-to-end fare as SR became strong in the tackle and ASC looked to extend their lead. The SR keeper was having a great game and his bravery was a joy to behold as shot after shot was dealt with.

Sam then stepped things up for ASC; his skill on the ball a great asset, as well as his ability to play to the whistle. After another attack had apparently gone away from us, it was Sam who noticed the ball hadn’t gone out. Players on both sides were ambling back expecting a goal-kick, but Sam saw his opportunity and chipped the SR keeper with aplomb. A wonder-strike and [hopefully] his first hat-trick for his new club. ASC 5 SR 0

SR’s collective heads dropped now and Sam finished off his master-class as he knocked in a parried shot from Ross; the latter letting fly after another power-run through midfield.
ASC 6 SR 0

A great result after the frustration of last week with players across the park doing their jobs well; a clean sheet, midfield supremacy and clinical finishing [3 footballing clichés in one sentence there] – what more can you ask?

Final Score: ASC Strikers 6 Southwick Rangers 0

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The ‘B’s

Charlie [GK], Fraser, NLB, Henry, Max, Sharpy [Fonz], Joe W and Sunny found themselves involved in a very cagey affair in the opening stages of their game. I looked through the local news archives and couldn’t find anything about a surge in the birth of twins in the Southwick area around 2001/2. Strangely enough though, the Southwick B team looked remarkably like their A team counterparts. #spookycoincidence? [One for all you tweeters there].

Henry found himself with the first real opportunity for an ASC goal and it took strong defending from SR to stop THE Buck Park hosts taking the lead. Sunny then cut through the SR defence with a death-defying run and had not one, but two shots saved well by the SR keeper – his doppelganger from the A team had better watch his back.

It was Joe, Henry and NLB who posed the next threat for ASC, linking up well with the latter coming very close to opening the scoring. Max then crafted a skilful one-two with NLB and zinged the ball just over. It was starting to look promising.

Against the run of play, SR found themselves with a free-kick at the edge of the ASC box and the resulting power-drive almost took the back of the net out – a great strike. ASC 0 SR 1

ASC responded well with Joe both forcing a corner and finding himself on the receiving end of a somewhat ‘agricultural’ tackle just outside the box; his resulting blaster of a free-kick only just skimmed the bar. So close.

Half time: ASC 0 SR 1

The early skirmishes in the second half saw cool defending by Sharpy [Fonz] and good pressure by Max keep SR away from the ASC goal. Our visitors were applying all the pressure. Sunny and Fonz avoided the temptation to hoof the ball away in panic which is very rewarding to see and helped ASC keep possession; SR were restricted to long range efforts for the bulk of the second period.

Henry was very unlucky in not nabbing an equaliser, as he did well to ward off some strong SR defending and get in a shot that skimmed just wide. Joe also fell foul to a bit o’ ‘SR Body-Checking’ and was able to win a corner. A short ball out to Max, enabled NLB to latch on to a pass but as his momentum carried him forward he found a red-bibbed brick wall in his way. Ooph!

Charlie came out top in a brave 1-on-1 and was quick to react when that save fell to the feet of another SR forward. Unfortunately, a bit of a melee not long afterward left him unsighted as a shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner of his net. ASC 0 SR 2

As the clock wound down SR found new spirit in their moves; a stunning passage of play through midfield enabled their forward to convert a simple tap-in to make it 0-3.

ASC reacted well, albeit too late as they lay siege on the SR goal. Unfortunately, time waits for no man and the Southwick Rangers A Team pulled off a well-deserved victory.

Final Score: ASC Strikers 0 Southwick Rangers 3

ps – did I just write Southwick Rangers A Team? Sorry, I meant B Team of course . . . silly me.

Hove Park Colts u10s vs ASC Strikers u10s; Sunday 11th September 2011

The ‘A’s

So, after a long, hot summer [who’s that laughing at the back?] we return to the welcome routine of seeing the apples of our eyes running up and down a muddy field and kicking a leather[ette] bag of air about. Yes – it’s . . .

ASC STRIKERS u10s SEASON 2011/12!

The summer tournaments seem so far away [we won one of ‘em, by the way] as we sat huddled from the cold in Worthing, only to return a week later to come down with sunstroke. We’ve said goodbye to a few; Finn, Nathan, Max B. – all of whom decided that playing for professional football clubs was better than dodging the dog dirt in Buck Park [fools] – as well as Tom and Alfie who’ve gone to show the younger Strikers how it’s done.

We also welcomed some new players – Charlie, Finn, Max, Ross, Henry and Samuel – to further compliment a healthy looking squad

As the outskirts of Hurricane Katia gave us a hint of things to come, the boys arrived at Hove Park Colts with a spring in their step. Matt has had them working on their fitness with some much beloved runs round our new and mahoosive pitch at home and that, coupled with a brand spanking new kit saw both teams looking the part and no mistake.

Joe W [GK], Ryan, Rhys, Caldé, Ross, Finn and Joe G. lined up for the first time as a competitive outfit and things look very promising already. Early pressure from the boys gave HPC an idea of the ASC intent, but our local rivals had clearly done some work on their defence as they soaked up wave after wave of ASC attacks.

Ryan and Caldé saw good attempts go wide and Finn looks like he’s going to be a real problem for opponents this year with the first of a number of mazy runs; the ball sticking to his feet. Lionel Messi anyone?

The first half was ASC all the way but HPC’s defence held strong and they grew in confidence as they looked to attack on the break. Joe made a great save with his feet and Ross was a tower of strength as the nippy HPC strikers began to get a foothold.

A thumping free-kick from Samuel saw the HPC keeper only able to parry the ball into the path of Caldé who poked it just wide. As the first half wound down to a close, Joe G. received a pinpoint drop ball from Joe W. and forced the HPC keeper into a fantastic save. It seemed our opponents confidence was on the up.

Half time: HPC 0 ASC 0

Ryan came out with clear intent and made sure the keeper had some work to do with a stinging shot immediately at the start of the second half. Ross made a ‘Bobby Moore-esque’ saving tackle after a beautiful through ball from the HPC midfield. Finn continued with his head-down runs, scything through the HPC defence like a big, yellow, scythy thing. Once again, the HPC defence had their work cut out and, fair play to them, they kept ASC out.

A corner at the other end saw ‘Braveheart’ Rhys head a blistering shot off the line, only for it to return from whence it came and get slotted into the bottom right hand corner. HPC 1 ASC 0

This was their last meaningful attack as their excellent defence remained stoical against the tide of ASC pressure. Joe G hit the bar, not once but twice; both from his left foot! His link up play with Finn was of the highest order and it’s clear that once they get more match-time together our attack is looking very healthy indeed.

As the HPC goal resisted yet another attacking surge [Joe W even came up for a late corner] the final whistle blew on a frustrating, but high potential, game of Association Football. Onwards and upwards!

Final score: Hove Park Colts 1 ASC Strikers 0

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The ‘B’s

It was up to a COMPLETELY CHANGED ‘B’ TEAM – that’s a COMPLETELY CHANGED ‘B’ TEAM [just in case anyone from HPC is reading :-)] to bring things even. Charlie [GK], Fraser, NLB [wounded that morning in a freak tea-making incident; no shirking from this boy], Henry, Max, Sharpy, Joe W and Sunny have not really played together before and as a number of familiar faces turned out against them, the task was going to be a difficult one.

Unfazed, they took to their task with aplomb. HPC soon found themselves 2-0 up after some strong pressure on the ASC goal. Charlie and Sunny both played their part in keeping things respectable in the early stages as the nippy HPC no.15 laid siege to the ASC goal.

Joe W looked to change things with a great through ball into the path of Max, only to see the way through blocked by more stalwart defending. HPC added to their tally not long after following a slight mix up in the newly formed defence. HPC 3 ASC 0

Charlie showed real bravery diving at the feet of the oncoming attackers and closed things down in and around the six yard box. However, a deft chip from the edge of the penalty area saw the boys end the half four goals down. Undeterred, a much better second half would see them leave with pride.

Half time: HPC 4 ASC 0

Joe and NLB came out with all guns blazing and passed the ball through the middle; what’s known in the trade as a ‘speculative lob’ followed from Joe, but things were picking up. Sharpy’s coolness in defence was a joy to behold; even a severe lip injury couldn’t hold him back and HPCs previous dominance was kept in check throughout the second half.

Max and Joe formed a dangerous partnership on the left and look to be a pairing to watch. As HPC struggled to find a way through, NLB and Joe found themselves with space in attack; NLB’s pass from the right to Joe needed a good response from the keeper who produced the goods from Joe’s shot. A lovely passage of play from ASC.

Fraser got in the action and forced yet another great save from the keeper. A switch with Sharpy saw him then take on defensive duties with ease, as ‘the boy with the swollen lip’ moved forward and was unlucky in converting a great through ball from Max.

Max looked to emulate Finn’s Messi-esque run and fell just short of getting the killer ball through to Joe W. Very exciting to watch though; his tenacious play is bound to cause opponents problems this season.

Of course, as ASC applied pressure things opened up slightly at the back. An HPC corner saw an unstoppable header hit the back of the net for their fifth of the afternoon.

With only minutes to go, Charlie pulled off a magnificent double save and Henry’s clearance ensured the second half performance was one to be proud of.

So, a big score belied a great second half performance from the boys. This is a new team who are bound to ‘bed-in’ and things look very promising for the season ahead.

Final score: Hove Park Colts 5 ASC Strikers 0