MR U8 EFA Knights 26/27 - Crouch End

Perfect comback

We started the game with only four of our players against five opposition players, which put us at a numerical disadvantage. We conceded three goals early on, and I think we lacked a little concentration and organisation during those first few minutes while things were still settling. Once all of our players arrived, after around 10 minutes we started to find our rhythm again. The players settled into their own positions, became more organised, and gradually took control of the game.

One of the biggest positives was our defending. Our defender today was very active in winning the ball back and were not afraid to clear the ball when needed, which helped prevent us from conceding more goals. At the other end, our wingers worked very hard, helping us win second balls and create more space. This gave us a lot more 1v1 opportunities. We have also been working a lot on 1v1 situations in training recently, and it was great to see the players bring that confidence into the game. They were brave enough to take on defenders, beat their opponents and create goals.

It was a tough and intense game, but I think we won because we showed more energy and a greater desire to fight for the ball. That mentality was a huge part of our comeback, and I will continue to work with the players to help us maintain that attitude in future games.

One area we can still improve is our defensive shape. At times, the distances between our defenders were too large, which gave the opposition too much freedom and allowed their players to move into space too easily. If we can improve our defensive distances and stay more compact, I believe we can reduce the number of goals we concede.

See you all at training, and thanks everyone for coming today