Defensive errors cost CFY dear in narrow defeat

Warsash Wasps 5-4 Chandlers Ford Youth

Mid Solent Under-15 B Division – 20^th September 2008

Lineup: Kane Kellaway, James Parsonage, David Kilcoyne, Jake Beattie (c), David Smith, Ahmed Sfagsi, Michael Wall, Zak Pickett, Tom Ashton, David Bromhead, Jozef Montigue

Subs: Miles Hodge, Alex Evens, Ryan Chinn

In Chandlers Ford's first league game of the season, Richard's side went down by just a single goal in the end but really should have won the game.

The first half saw CFY dominate proceedings especially the midfield battle where Tom Ashton ran the show as usual.

In attack Jozef Montigue and Michael Wall were always looking lively and creating chances, whilst David Kilcoyne had an extremely good game at left back where he not only performed his defensive duties to a high standard but also bombed forward when the opportunity allowed him to, to add another dimension to Ford's attacking play.

Despite the positives, the defence were a little shaky in particular down the right hand side, were on a couple of occasions the ball should have been cleared. Instead the Wasps capitalised on one such mistake and punished their opponents with a goal.

Montigue put his side back on level terms after a good ball through from David Bromhead, staying on side and calmly stroking the ball past the keeper with a neat finish.

A freak goal from the Wasps followed as Kane was beaten by a high ball forward that bounced over his head and into the net as the hosts restored their lead.

Ford came back strong and were the better side for the remainder of the half, creating several chances and unfortunate not to be ahead going into the break.

Zak Pickett scored his first league goal for the club finding the net with his left foot to make it 2-2.

Ford won a couple of free kicks in quick succession and came so close, with Michael Wall seeing his 25-yard effort come back off the cross bar and Ashton also forcing a good save out of the goalkeeper.

David Bromhead can feel a little hard done by as he had a goal ruled out for a dubious offside decision towards the end of the half.

HALF TIME: Warsash Wasps 2-2 CFY

Into the second half, Ford completely lost their way, their shape and the upper hand in the game.

The Wasps immediately had the ball in the back of the net with a great header from a deep free kick, however the Blues defence stepped up well to ensure the 'goal' did not stand.

It wasn't long though before Ford found themselves a goal behind for the third time in the game when Zak, playing out of position at left back, failed to clear the ball into touch and instead turned inside and gave the ball away in a dangerous position in front of goal and was made to pay as there was no stopping the effort that followed.

Pickett's morning didn't get much better, despite his first half goal, as he let a weak ball from the left through his legs and into the box for the man at the far post to take full advantage and slam home the gift presented for him.

Now 4-2 down, Ford began to lose their heads even more as David Smith found himself in a scrap with an opponent that saw both players dismissed from the action and the remaining twenty minutes of football to be played out with ten versus ten.

Michael Wall gave CFY some hope that there might be a chance of getting back into the game after all, with another of his wonder strikes. Pulling the trigger from distance, the ball flew over the keeper's head and went in off the wood work. A great goal.

Another slip in concentration allowed Warsash to pull away again just as Ford were starting to get back into it, this time a powerful header whistled into the net, though the marking was poor to say the least.

With five minutes remaining Joe was brought back on, having been replaced by Miles midway through the half, and though it turned out to be too little too late, Montigue bagged his second of the game with another well taken goal striking across the keeper from the edge of the area and picking out the bottom corner.

A lesson to be learnt in defending from the costly mistakes that we made. That said the attacking football was a joy to watch at times and we will always create chances and score goals should we continue to play in this manner.

FULL TIME: Warsash Wasps 5-4 CFY

Man of the match: Michael Wall

CFY hit peak in extra time to seal cup win

Chandlers Ford Youth 2-2 Lee Rangers (CFY win 5-2 AET)

Hampshire Cup 1^st Round – 13^th September 2008

Lineup: Kelvin Bagot, James Parsonage, David Kilcoyne, Jake Beattie, Michael Sawbridge, Michael Wall, Zak Pickett, Tom Ashton, Alex Evens, Jozef Montigue, Ryan Chinn

Subs: Kane Kellaway, Miles Hodge

After a gruelling 110 minutes of football in the heat, Chandlers Ford eventually got the goals to see them through to the next round of the Hampshire Cup in this exciting cup tie.

Michael Sawbridge gave Chandlers Ford the lead firing home from the right flank, the power on the shot taking the ball past the Rangers goalkeeper.

Both teams were playing some impressive football and cancelling each other out for the most part.

Chandlers Ford were probably the better side, creating slightly more chances whilst the visitors were always looking dangerous on the break.

Sure enough, Lee Rangers' equalising goal came from one of their quick counter-attacking moves with the pace of their left winger just too quick to keep up with, who lobbed the ball over Kelvin to bring the scores level and that is the way it stayed at the break.

HALF TIME: CFY 1-1 Lee Rangers

The game continued in it's competitive nature with both teams going all out for victory and having a number of chances in this end-to-end encounter.

Ford eventually took the lead that their play merited and it was arguably the best goal of the game. Joe took the ball forward shrugging off his marker with good strength before bearing down on goal and rounding the keeper. Joe did extremely well to keep the ball in play to the left of the penalty area and was unselfish in playing the ball across for Michael Wall, who slammed home from close range to restore the lead.

Ford were looking slightly edgy as the game came to a close, especially vulnerable to the quick breaks down the wings and with just ten minutes remaining, Rangers had got themselves back into the cup tie with another equaliser in similar fashion to their first goal.

Kelvin was replaced in goal by Kane midway through the half, but Richard raised a few eyebrows as he chucked the goalkeeper back into the action, only this time as an outfield player!

Pleasantly surprising a fair few people, including his teammates no doubt, Kelvin came on and was a bright spark in the team. Full of energy and determination not to mention being unlucky not to have got himself on the score sheet. A great contribution.

No one could find a decisive winning goal in normal time, despite both sides coming close, and so the game went in extra time where the boys would continue their battle for a place in the next round with a further fifteen minutes each way to settle matters.

FULL TIME: CFY 2-2 Lee Rangers

Some legs started to tire, and understandably so, but the game was still fast-flowing and providing a lot of goal mouth action.

Michael Wall came close several times but couldn't quite find a way through, as did Joe, Miles and Alex who were all unlucky also.

FIRST HALF EXTRA TIME: CFY 2-2 Lee Rangers

It wasn't until the start of the second half that Ford began to really dominate and take charge for the first time in the game.

Their constant pressure on the Lee Rangers goal was more than enough to see them back on top, as Michael Sawbridge claimed his second goal of the morning directly from a corner kick with the help of a defender on the post who diverted the ball into his own net.

CFY were cruising to victory as Joe volleyed the ball home from a corner, Kelvin doing enough damage from the set piece by distracting the goalkeeper (completely legitimately) running a long the goal line and causing a diversion for the corner as it came in. Joe did all the rest however picking the ball up sweetly first time blasting the ball into the corner through a crowd of players.

Finally Tom Ashton was brought down in the penalty area by a late challenge leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty kick. Jake Beattie stepped up and made no mistake, though the goalkeeper was a little unlucky as he guessed the right way and got a hand to it. This goal well and truly wrapped up the win and deservedly put the Blues into the next round.

A great all round effort and display from the lads, which form must now be taken into their league games starting next week.

FULL TIME EXTRA TIME: CFY 5-2 Lee Rangers

Man of the match – Kelvin Bagot.

Winter hat trick inspires fight back

Chandlers Ford Youth 5-3 Winchester B

Friendly – 4^th September 2008

Lineup: Kelvin Bagot, James Parsonage, David Kilcoyne, Jake Beattie, David Smith, Michael Wall, Ahmed Sfagsi, David Bromhead, Daryl Winter, Zak Pickett, Jozef Montigue

Subs: Miles Hodge, Ryan Dennis, Ryan Chinn, Alex Evens

Chandlers Ford came from behind for the second friendly match running to complete an excellent come back in another high scoring game, just as they had done on Saturday against Itchen Tyro.

Daryl Winter was welcomed back into the team and certainly played a key role in the win netting a fine hat trick from the left of midfield.

Ford made hard work of it going down by a goal to nil early on before Winter made an excellent run from deep, into the penalty area and slotting across the keeper, into the far corner for a fine individual effort and with it, the equalising goal.

Without a number of key figures such as Josh Harrigan, Tom Ashton and Michael Sawbridge the team were by no means at their full strength and it showed as the visitors found themselves going into the break with a 2-1 lead.

HALF TIME: CFY 1-2 Winchester B

The Blues had a much better second half but only after going a further goal behind did they come alive and start playing at their best.

Now 3-1 down, Ford started showing character and determination and once Winter had grabbed his second goal of the game, it was all one way traffic with CFY taking full charge and looking not only like they would get their second equaliser of the game, but that they could go on and win it fairly comfortably.

Winter smashed one against the crossbar with a great header from a corner kick with the Winchester goalkeeper getting a great touch to keep the effort out and deny Daryl a hat trick, but only for the time-being.

With virtually the next effort of the game, Daryl had secured his hat trick with his third well-taken goal in an excellent performance from the left-sided player. Kelvin, who made some good saves at his end of the park, went route one with a long drop kick that the Winchester defender could only head back towards his own goal. Winter took full advantage racing through and putting it away.

Jozef gave Chandlers Ford the lead for the first time in the game, making it 4-3 as he slotted past the keeper following a good ball through by Alex Evens.

Making sure of the win, Michael Wall came back on the pitch having been rested for some of the second half, and scored with a fantastic strike from 25 yards that flew in off the post leaving the keeper standing. An early contender for goal of the season!

FULL TIME: CFY 5-3 Winchester B