MR U16s NL 2023/24 Team (Market Road league) - Highbury Wolves
Who doesn´t love a clean sheet?
Last match of the League season, we were forced to win to guarantee the second place in the League.
We faced Highbury Wolves, the team that we will be facing in the Cup Final (17th May). For me, this was only a league match, where winning and if possible promoting good football as the main aims.
In the first half, even though we controlled and managed the game, we weren´t moving the ball quick enough, and time to time, we were forcing individual play, and taking less accurate decisions. In the middle of the first half, we had 2 minutes that we lost the control of the game. In those 2 minutes the opposition had 3 shots. Our keeper was there, and avoided something that no one was expecting, their goal.
Then we went back on track and started moving the ball better at right time, right spaces, and had two or three very good chances to open the marker. One minute to the end of the first half, we managed to score, and what a goal, a missile touching the crossbar.
In the second half, the opposition after conceding that late goal, started misbeliefing. On the other hand, we put our foot in the accelerator by scoring 7 goals in 25 minutes. The only story of this second half, was related to the fact of us not slowing down, and keeping the same mentality, criteria and simple plays, that originated in 7 assists out of the 8 goals scored. Several players didn´t get the assist on the record, however, all participated in the goals. This say the success, of using each individual towards to a collective play.
A very good performance and way to finish the league. We all wanted to win the league, nevertheless, finishing second is better than third or fourth. Next season we will try to win again. One match left, a Cup final, against this team. Importance of not becoming complacent, for the fact of having defeated them 7-2, and 8-0. Each game is different. Finals are to win!! And that is what we gonna try to do !!! Well done Lads, and big thank you to all parents that came to watch the match!!
