Date	Sunday 16th December 2012
Match	Knebworth Youth v Royston Town Youth
Competition	Royston Crow Youth Football League U15 Division 1
Result	Won 0-6
Royston Scorers	James B 2, Rhys, Ben, Bradley

An away fixture at Knebworth always a tricky affair on their day they are a match for anyone in the league so we had to be at our best to get the points today. We once again only had thirteen to chose from and one of them James R was not 100% but he showed how committed he is. It was a good surface and with very little wind was a good day to play football. We warned the boys that we had to match there physical side as for the second week running we were up against a bigger side also they are a team that never gives up so we had to be committed for the whole eighty minutes. As we remind them every week we wanted them to be more vocal and the key this week was that we stay focused and relaxed on the ball but be aware of our surroundings.

We won the toss and decided to defend the slope first half, the game started and from the first minutes you could tell both teams were up for it. In the first ten minutes we created two good chances but failed to hit the target on each occasion, then some sloppy play from us resulted in a glorious chance for Knebworth to score but Robbie made an excellent save. Both teams looked vulnerable at the back which is so unlike us so it really was any ones game. On twenty minutes Callum who was playing really well won a tackle in his own half before playing a pass into AJ he carried the ball before playing a delightful pass in side the full back for Bradley to run onto he looked up and played one of those balls into the box which the keeper does not know weather to come or stay and Ben reacted quickest to give us the lead a great team goal. This settled us down and within minutes we were two up, if the first goal was a brilliant football goal the second was more route one but just as affective, Robbie’s huge goal kick was headed on by AJ and Rhys got on the end of it he still had plenty to do but as he has done so often finished confidently to put us 2-0 up. We nearly added a third when from us defending a corner we cleared our lines, Rhys held the ball up and then spotted a lung bursting run form Richard but he just failed to find him. For the rest of the half both keepers made excellent saves as both defences were guilty of losing concentration or bad decision making on our part. The half came to an end with us 2-0 to the good.

We warned the boys this game was far from over, attacking wise we were excellent but we had to stop the silly mistakes defensively, our decision making had to improve at the back and we had to stay focused the next goal really could decide this match.

We started the half really well and some of the football we played was excellent we just could not find that third goal as the Knebworth keeper was in excellent form although we were guilty of two bad misses. Once again a mix up at the back allowed a Knebworth striker a run on goal but Robbie made another excellent stop to maintain out two goal cushion. We continued to have a lot of pressure and on sixty minutes won a corner, AJ’s delivery was excellent as was Bradley’s movement as he run across his marker and planted a header into the net despite the best efforts of a home defender to clear on the line. We gave Ben a rest as once again he had worked tirelessly up front and brought James B back on and pushed him up front in his place. It was not long before James B made an impact from a poor goal kick he won the ball and as it fell onto his left foot he hit an unstoppable shot for our fourth. We were now in total control and dominating and playing some really good football the feature being our movement off the ball. The fifth and final goal came courtesy of a move down our right which ended with Bradley putting over another teasing cross James B got between both centre half’s and planted his header in the back of the net for another great team goal. James B was unlucky not to complete his hatrick when he was put through late on only for the Knebworth keeper to make another excellent save, down the other end Robbie was called upon one more time but again was equal to it, and Richard showed just how hard he worked today when another lung busting ran this time stopped a dangerous Knebworth attack. the final whistle went and we had won this game rather more comfortable than we really could have imagined.

A mixed bag from us today our decision making in our defensive third was not the best and I cant remember the last time I said that it certainly was not down to lack of effort just not staying focused but one thing I do know is they will all work hard to put that right, attacking wise we were excellent some of the football played was just outstanding we looked comfortable on the ball and the first touch which they all work on so hard in training is starting to bear fruits, and the movement was also a joy to watch which enabled the boy on the ball to have different options.

I am going to mention two boys today who had there best games of the season, firstly James B he played well in the first half in midfield but it was when he went up front we saw another side of his play he was excellent and I think we might have found ourselves another option up front, then Callum who was outstanding today from the first whistle to the last playing with confidence which we know can be such a difference to some of the boys. I hope both boys can now build on these displays.

We have said it so often as good as we were today at times ,we still all know we can do better and I know the boys will come back to training and work hard on all aspects of there game to keep improving, well done today.