Saturday 12th October KO 10AM at Syresham Sports And Social Club

Our first home game after 4 weeks was played on a slightly wet and muddy pitch with chilly temperatures.

Kick off 10:00
After a small delay before the match, Mcdonald started the game from kick off for the black and white against an ex Division 3 side of Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas who were in blue bibs after a suspected kit clash.

Goal: Halse United U14s 0 - 1 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
With less than 2 minutes after the first whistle, the opposition found the lead after an incoming miscalculated ball from the defence fell to the feet of the attacker who managed to poke the ball in despite applied pressure from Baillie and Snelgrove. This is the earliest goal that Halse United U14s had conceded this season.

Offside: Halse United U14s 0 - 1 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
After the early positive start from the away side, the black and white looked to respond immediately after some good passing and build up from Jenkins. She layed the ball off towards Mcdonald on the right hand side who's shot hit the side netting with the keeper having fingertips on it. However, the linesmen deemed the player to be just offside. Brilliant worked up play for the chance!

Goal: Halse United U14s 0 - 2 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
5 minutes after their first, Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas extended their lead after a through ball met the attacker with time on his hands. After positioning himself, the player finished emphatically with a powerful shot into the top left hand side of the goal. A brace for the visitors attacker and another task made harder for the home side.

Chance: Halse United U14s 0 - 2 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
With 16 minutes on the clock, Halse United U14s once again made the ball up towards the edge of the box after some good build up from Mcdonald through balled to a darting Ayres from the right flank but the shot straying wide of the post. Promising from the black and white!

Saves: Halse United U14s 0 - 2 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
A minute later, the boys in blue looked to get a third but their chance was cancelled out after a powerful high shot was met with a remarkable, strong hand from Baillie force the ball out for a corner. The corner was then swung in from the right hand side of the goal but once again led to nothing after a brilliant collection from the keeper.

Goal: Halse United U14s 1- 2 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
With 15 minutes left of the first half, the ball travelled through each phase and the result of the repeated good build up similar to the other chances was a penalty. The referee made the decision after the Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas player chose to stick a dangling leg out which met Stokes, who did well technically inside the box, instead of the ball. After a while, the black and white penalty taker, Mcdonald put the ball on the spot, stepped back, did his run up, and slotted home to the opposite direction of the visitors keeper into the right hand side of the goal to half the deficit. A composed penalty to maintain his 100% record of the season and a way back for the home side which was deserved.

Goal: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
With 10 minutes left before the end of the first half, the opposition got their third of the game after winning the ball down the right and managed to find the net after another powerful shot from the same player who scored Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas other goals to nab his hat trick. An unfortunate event after a promising start from the hosts with so much momentum.

Sub: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
On 28, the Halse United U14s gaffers made a change with a straight swap of left backs which included Monk making way for the fresh legs of Parker.

Chance: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
With 33 minute gone, another chance arose for the leading Halse United U14 goal scorer with space and time the effort unfortunately went over the bar.

Half Time: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
After another chance sailing just wide for the black and white, the referee blew the whistle to announce the end of the half. A half which meant that amount of chances meant little with the only clear cut chances from the away side led to goals and despite us having more efforts, we only had scored the one. Despite the score line, there is still plenty to play for with the game still tight and the deficit narrow. Another 35 to play.

Start of Second Half: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
After the break, both sides came back onto the pitch to play the remainder of the second half. A double change and switch in numerous positions occurred for the hosts. One of them was Snelgrove being the player to come off and Lovelock to come on to play on the wing with Jenkins going into the Centre Back role alongside Mitchell. The other change was our top assister, after an incorrect call from the writer in the last game, Elmer making way with attacker John coming onto the pitch.

Defending: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
From the 35th to the 55th minute, nothing much had happened on the pitch apart from some brilliant defensive play from the Halse United U14s across the length of the field, a high amount of desire to win the ball from attacker Lovelock limited the oppositions chances and some more progressing build up from the hosts which unfortunately was dealt with from the backline of the away side.

Sub: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
After 56 minutes, Elmer made a second appearance onto the pitch after another change involving the departure of last seasons coaches player of the season, Greasby.

Sub: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
With 5 left to go, Monk, who was scheduled to come on, had to replace Cafe after the forward had to be brought off with injury after a hard challenge. The attacker was walked off with applause from both sets of supporters after his hard work and bravery to get back up onto his feet.

Chance: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
The last opportunity of the game came to Olney Town Colts U14s Orcas with the attacker launching a shot across goal but was collected calmly from keeper Baillie.

Full Time: Halse United U14s 1 - 3 Olney Town Colts U14 Orcas
And that was that! Defeat for the black and white means that the opposition go 3 points ahead of us at the bottom of the table but there are loads to take from this game. In my opinion, there were more positives than negatives to learn from the match. One of the key negatives was confidence in front of goal and prediction of taking the shot at the right time but can easily but learnt. A massive positive is that the second half was the first one of the season where we didn't concede a single goal! Another positive is the advancement towards the oppositions box which caused us to have more chances and more passes and possession in the second and final third. Every player had a positive impact on the game, did their rotating roles brilliantly and thought harder for the ball more than they had all season. Each player should be happy with their performance and have improved and adapted brilliantly to a new formation. The POTM was the most difficult to choose as every player had a reason to get the reward. This weekends award has been awarded to Alfie Lovelock due to working hard in the second half and having the most desire to get to the ball and win it especially when the visitors tried to gain momentum from even throw ins. A good and progressing performance from Halse United U14s with a potential win looking more likely than ever this season. On to the next one! (Apologies to Jaden Elmer about the assist, it has now been awarded from the game against Tattenhoe Youth U14 Tigers, I have also given Louis Cafe an assist against MK Royals U14 Yellows after winning a penalty).

What's Up Next?
Halse United U14s have their final game of the month and the before the 2 week long break with a game away against Aspley Guise U14s Panthers. The match will commence on the 19th Saturday October.

Goal: George Mcdonald
Assist: Riley Stokes
Player Of The Match: Alfie Lovelock