U11 League Cup 1/4 Final – Worton & Cheverell 6 Bradford Town Youth 0

Worton and Cheverell progressed to the semi-final of the U11 League Cup with a comfortable victory against lower league opposition.

Pre-match news reported the withdrawal of Harry due to a bathroom malfunction resulting in a foot injury meaning some reshuffling of plans.

Starting the game with a packed midfield to ensure that we got a grip of the game whilst we established the strengths and weaknesses of the other team. For this game it did allow us to take a firm grip of the match, whilst we searched for that early breakthrough which duly came after 7 minutes.

A fast short passing interchange between Charlie and Franky led to ball being placed across goal where Alfie Miles-Hobbs was on hand to prod the ball into the net.

After 15 minutes, the lead was doubled when a corner taken by Jamo went high into the box, Charlie was able to bring ball down under control before shooting just inside the right hand post.

After 25 minutes, the lead was extended when the ball was laid off to Charlie, he shot and somehow the ball landed at Alfie Brinton to volley high into the net.

Soon after it was 4-0 when Charlie picked up ball in midfield before striding forward and smashed ball high into net from 18 yards.

Just before half-time it was 5-0 when another corner by Jamo was met with a Jake header, a good save by the keeper but Henri followed up to smash ball into the net.

After 42 minutes, it was 6-0 when Simon played a ball through middle to Jamo who chased the ball to corner of 18 yard box and his cross was met by Joseph at back post to round off the scoring.

The nature of the game allowed us to give plenty of opportunity to rotate players and test players in different positions and formations. Some great work throughout the game by Luke, Jack and Jake amongst others. Overall, a very good team performance and some outstanding performances by all the players – well done!

More importantly, thank-you to team for a clean sheet and to the team for the birthday card and cake – hope it was nice!!

Also, many thanks to referee Paul who donated his match fee to the team – will go to tour funds!!

Squad:James Black, Henry Luzi, Jake Thurlow, Simon Gale, James Francis, Franky Holdsworth, Alfie Brinton, Charlie Strickland, Jack Churches, Alfie Miles-Hobbs, James Stobbart, Adam Edwards, Josh Francis, Joseph Skinner, Luke Hatch

U11 – Warminster Highbury Reds 1 – Worton & Cheverell 3

In a return to the team we finished joint top with in U11 Green (what happened to playoff for title?), a determined team took to the field desperate to prove that they were the undeclared champs from last (1/2) season.

The game started well for Warminster shooting downhill with wind and sun, pressing back the Worton team but without creating any clear cut chances. Gradually though, we started to move the game forward and won a corner. A fast moving cross into the near post was met by the gracious elegance of Franky Holdsworth hammering home a volley with impeccable timing low into the corner. The view from the dugout differed from this in that the ball appeared to hit Franky and go in!! Nevertheless, 1-0 and some money owed to Franky by the Holdsworth household!

Warminster responded well to going behind, pushing Worton back and attempting to break through a resolute defence. Some balls ran through the defence but James B did well in clearing or shepperding off for a goal kick. They did have the ball in the net, however the referee after consultation from the linesman (yes linesman) came to agreement that the player was a yard offside – close escape!

Halftime came 1-0 Worton and the harder half played.

Second half shooting downhill, Warminster were unable to press forward and most attempts were stifled by the defence and midfield. Gradually more and more space came open and Worton pushed forward looking for a second goal. In 51 minutes the second goal came. Great break up the left side between Jamo, Brints and Adam led the ball to be played into the box. Some intricate sharp passing in the box between Adam, Joseph, Jamo and some Warminster players led the ball to breaking to Jamo who buried from 6 yards out. (Notice – 1st time shot!!)

This seemed to have an impact on the Warminster team as some heads started to go down. Worton sought to take advantage and attack down the left led to another corner. This time ball powered into the near post and Alfie Brinton rose like a swan to gracefully volley the ball past the helpless keeper. Once again the view from the dugout was that the ball came in and hit Brints on knee instead of foot – but hey 3-0!

Was this to be the day of the competitive match clean sheet – 60 minutes came and went, injury time being played!!! The ball was played up the Warminster left, their player did really well to keep the ball in play, played ball into middle of our box and everyone sort of stood and watched – nobody took control of the situation leaving the Warminster striker to place ball low past keeper 3-1!!!

So the whistle eventually went and it was a 3-1 win. Some good football played, some sharp passing, but mixed in with periods of scrappy play. Disappointing loss of clean sheet – fortunately it didn’t matter!!

A number of really good performances in the shirts today, a marked improvement for some – keep it going as games will get harder and everyone has to play well and work hard.

Team: James Black, Henri Luzi, Jake Thurlow, Simon Gale, James Francis, Franky Holdsworth, Charlie Strickland, Harry Davis, Alfie Brinton, Joseph Skinner, Adam Edwards, James Stobbart, Alex Boaler, Josh Francis