Today we were up against the best team in our league and wanted to show them that we our boys are no pushover and can compete against them, and boy did we make them work hard today.

Today, Jude, was given the honour of leading our boys out today. This was as a reward for all his hard work so far this season. He may be one of the quieter boys in the team, but he gives his all in every game and he was given the task of playing in a slightly different role within the team today too.

Knowing that the Bulldogs were going to create chance after chance today, Kurt and I decided to set the team up in the same 2-3-1 formation, but using our central midfielder more in a holding role and our captain took on board our instructions and was pivotal for us today. He didn’t venture away from his task and ensured that if Bulldogs broke, he was in position to try and win the ball back, and if he couldn’t, our defenders were there to support meaning that our wingers and striker had a lot of running to do today.

The boys did amazingly in the first half, especially as they were playing on a bigger pitch than they would normally be used to, but even so they were all getting stuck in to Bulldogs. It was great to see how they were all defending as a unit from the front back in the first half. Leo and Charlie were amazing as our last line of defence with very little get passed them, if the midfielders had not managed to stop Bulldogs in their tracks before it had even reached them.

We were unlucky to have conceded a goal just before half time to make the second half more challenging, but it showed us that we could get in amongst them and catch them with quick counter attacking play.

The second half, we decided to try and be more attack minded, and expose their defence as this was their weakness. It didn’t look like it was going to be our day as early in the second half, Jack and Max linked up nicely with both having quick successive shots on goal that their goalie and defenders managed to stop and the loose ball coming out to Jude who toe poked a shot under their goalkeeper only for a defender to clear it off the line. But the boys didn’t let this stop them and finally a deserved goal finally came.

Thomas picked the ball up in our own half and drove in to space on the left before passing a lovely ball in behind their defender for Max to run into. Taking the ball in his stride, Max rounded their keeper before coolly slotting the ball in to the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season - cue the madness as players ran over to the corner flag to celebrate (and coaches Mourinho style for Porto against Man U all them years ago in the Champions League) to celebrate a goal they really deserved.

The players kept pushing, and again were rewarded with another goal. This time Leo picked the ball up on the left and drove into space before curling a lovely ball around their defender for Max to run onto again. Max picked the ball up and using the outside of his left foot curled the ball round the goalkeeper towards goal. It looked for a moment as it wasn’t going to be as a defender managed to get back and clear the ball after it had crossed the line and the referee wasn’t in the best position to make a decision and I think the celebrations from the coaches on the side line convinced him it had gone in. (It had by the way!)

Unfortunately the boys could not manage anymore goals, but they all deserve to be mentioned today:
Sam - what a penalty save
Brooke - bone crunching tackles
Thomas - Mr Composed
Leo - The beast at the back with a great left foot
Jude - Mr Reliable
Jack - non stop running
Oliver - covered every piece of grass
Max - 2 goals

Man Of The Match today was awarded to The Beast At The Back. Very little got passed him today, and what did had him breathing down their neck straight away not letting them get any shots on goal. Well done today Charlie.

A massive well done to all the boys. We competed amazingly today, we could have used Power Plays like we had in our previous games against them, but felt that your efforts wouldn’t have been truly reflected if we did. You have managed to prevent them scoring as many goals as they have in previous games and also scored more too.

Kurt and I are so proud of you - well done.