JPL U16s NL 2023/24 Team (Junior Premier league) - Rayners Lane FC
Not the best performance, for sure not a fair final score, but also we didn´t do enough to conquer 3 points.
This match was important, mainly for the fact of in a case of a win, we would only depend on us to finish second. Unfortunately, knowing that only the first of each division would go to the national playoffs in Coventry, plus the fact of the previous match against the first, that we deserved to win, but we didn´t and no doubt superiority in the away match against this team (6-1), might have had an impact in our players heads.
In the first half, the game was even, however, we had a Pen, and we scored. The moments of the game are key. Unfortunately, we dropped our levels of intensity and tried to play too much individually, and the opposition started looking for the equaliser. They had a penalty, and our keeper made a brilliant save. This could have been a moment of the game, a moment for a wake up call, and try to score the second. Didn´t happen. In the last minute of the first half, the opposition has free kick, shorter corner with more angle, they crossed, we managed to clear the ball, and create a counter that got our striker receiving the ball completely alone in the middle area, maybe with 20 meters to the box, and their closest defender behind the ball. The referee, decided to finish the half.
In the second half, the match didn´t change much, the opposition has shown that even being technically and tactically inferior than us, they played with heart and mutual help. They get the equaliser, from another penalty, if I have doubts in the first one, but accept it because at least there was contact, despite if it would be enough for their player to fall or not, the second Pen reminded me the OSCARS, the player drove the ball into the box, gives a longer touch, loses the ball control, and dives. The Ref was well positioned, still pointed to the 12 yard dot. Our keeper, couldn´t save it. Moment of the game, they started believing more, to be fair they deserved the equaliser for what they played until then. They boost their confidence and started thinking they actually could win the match, whilst us, we looked like a team with no ideas, time to time we woud create some danger, but the definition in the last third wasn´t there. They scored the 2-1. Then we had a massive chance, to do 2-2, with one of our players dribbling the keeper, and when he shoots into the goal, their defender sliding near the goal line, intercepts it and clears it. With that came the hailstones in the game, the Ref came to speak with coaches to check if we wanted to continue playing. This broke the pace of potential the best momentum we had. That they were clever, started wasting time, players with cramps, etc,. In the last 10 minutes they scored two more. Final score 1-4. I accept the lost as we didn´t perform as we should, we could blame the pitch, weather conditions and any other reasons. But the truth, is that despite all the constraints we had and faced, doesn´t justify the lack of passion, support and mutual help between our players. Is not only about technique, or tactics. The social and psychological part of the game have a massive impact in the game too, and this match we lacked on that.
One last match, to try to bring the team together, but mainly to see my players enjoying to play, as I know they can. No pressure with final score. Last match of the season is about enjoyment, maybe if we all enjoy, we might get a good result or not. But I just want to see our players putting in the match what we do in practice and focus on the positive things I know each player as an individual and as part of team can do!!
lets go EFA!!!
