U11A v Grosvenor Won 8-2

Three goals in six minutes after half time - two, his first goals for S.Anselm’s, from Matthew N, decided the result of this fixture. Until then the plucky Grosvenor team, fresh from their recent victory against Ranby House, had put up a good fight. With Charlie S, playing his best match for S.Anselm’s, completing a hatrick they then caved in and we scored eight goals in total. 19th October 2003 was the last time our U11’s scored 8 (or more) goals – a 13-0 win against Shobnall HC from Burton. The last time we scored eight against a prep school was in a puple patch in January 2003 when we beat King’s, Macclesfield 8-0 and then Beech Hall 8-0 in a week.
It’s so important to point out the advantage we have on grass. Everyone else plays on astro. Grosvenor found it difficult to adapt – rather like us, perhaps, having to play a fixture on the surface of the moon! They had, by some distance, the best player in the match and it was fitting that he scored their second goal, a wonderful solo effort.
S.Anselm’s started well. With Grosvenor playing down the middle too much, we used the wings to good effect but after that early burst they battled back and apart from Charlie S’s opener, the game was closely fought. Indeed, Grosvenor had three short corners in the game to our two.
Lewis H added a second following a short corner and it was so good to see us put our attacking moves together so well after half time. Indeed, immediately after the break a wonderful move down the left wing saw Alex W and Matthew N combine in a six pass move which was all but converted at the far post. It was a sign of things to come. With Charlie S often in possession in the middle of the pitch and forwards and wingers running into space so well, Grosvenor had little idea where the next threat was going to come from and we continued to score. Mention too of Edward S who battled away so effectively – it’s rare our leading goal scorer, by some distance, has to wait until the 8th goal to get on the score sheet, but he more than played his part in many of the other seven. Edward was a very good captain today too.
We looked a little more stretched when in defence. Usually we have a few very commited defenders – unfortunately, in some ways, our present three (and Ollie R, absent today) all like to get forward – it can leave us exposed at the back and despite Isaac S again clearing effectively, Harvey W’s one-on-one’s, Theo H’s promising debut for the ‘A’ team, and Nick P’s calm assurance in goal (it’s not easy to go 20 minutes without touching the ball, then have to make a crucial save in the cold!) we again leaked a couple of goals. It’s important we always have a defender with their centre forward, closely marked, plus an extra player in reserve. It wasn’t always the case today.
Our substitutes, Lewis J and Bertie W played throughout most of the second half and Lewis J held the ball up well on the left wing to set up some of the goal scoring opportunities whilst Bertie W started to cross the ball better as the second half progressed which was so good to see. On the fringe of the team last year, I’d certainly expect this from you – time to push for a regular place in the starting line up after half term.
The lasting memory of the match, however, will be Charlie S or Lewis H going forward in midfield with options left, right and centre – no wonder we scored eight. Being defensively minded, however, I’m still looking forward to that first ‘clean sheet’ … we’ve let in eight goals in three matches, about five too many … successful teams are built on a sound defence. We have a number of areas to work on after half term. Well played!