Tranent Colts 7 - 4 MYS Black Strtipes (25Oct08)
The wind and rain definitely played a part in today's match as the Black Stripes team suffered its first defeat since the summer holiday. In a slight change to the normal set-up, the Tranent team wanted to play 2 x 30 minute halves (which meant the Youngstars were fighting against the wind for the first half hour). This proved to be quite a challenge against a strong Tranent side.
Ross joined the squad today and played extremely well in his first game. Without Mark and Josh in today's side, Ross was heavily relied upon to make some strong tackles in defence. As Lewis was playing with Hearts FC at lunchtime, he played in goals for the first half hour to preserve some energy (and avoid any injuries!) and made a few brilliant saves. There was little he could do about the Tranent goals, though, as they capitalised on their wind advantage - scroing 4 goals in the first half. Jason and Harvey were unlucky not to score with a couple of efforts each at the other end, whilst Morgan battled hard as usual up and down the right wing.
Tranent scored their fifth goal early in the second half, which prompted a change in tactics. Innes replaced Lewis in goals, allowing Lewis to move into midfield - and this move paid off almost immediately. Ross had a great strike from just outside the box and the deflection fell kindly to Lewis who curled it past the keeper into the net. Innes then made a couple of cracking saves as Tranent piled on more pressure... but it was the Youngstars who scored next thanks to an outstanding shot by Lewis. He thumped the ball from well outside the box and it found its way into the top corner. Tranent played some great football against the wind, however, and soon managed to score a sixth goal. Then, straight from the kick-off the Youngstars struck back when a good pass from Lewis found Harvey on the right of midfield. He took the ball past the defender, and slammed it past the diving keeper. The wind began to get wilder, and a kick-out from the goalkeeper soon fell right into Harvey's path - he wasted no time in finding the bottom corner for his second goal of the game. The Youngstars had a great spell of pressure after this, with chances from Ross, Calum and Jason all being blocked. But Tranent scored another before the final whistle, when their striker managed to get clean through on goal. Innes made a great diving save from the shot, but the ball deflected back to the striker who passed it into the net. Some good covering from Sam allowed him to win many tackles in defence, preventing any further Tranent goals.
Overall this was a tough test for the kids today against a decent team, and they can all be proud of how well they played in the conditions.
Teamsheet: Innes, Lewis, Ross, Sam, Morgan, Havey, Jason, Calum
Goal scorers: Lewis (2), Harvey (2)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
DEPLETED SQUAD AT HADDINGTON
Haddington Ath Sky Blues 1 - 7 MYS Black Stripes (11Oct08)
The Youngstars squad was down to a bare minimum today, with only seven players turning up for the game. Although this resulted in some tired legs, it did allow all the kids to get one hour of match-time which will undoubtedly help their development. The first 15 minutes was very evenly contested with both teams playing some good football. Harvey and Lewis were each unlucky to score thanks to some great saves from the Haddington keeper. With both defences on top form, there were no goals scored in the opening spell.
In the second period, the Youngstars stepped up a gear and it wasn't long before they broke the deadlock. Harvey took a kick-in deep in his own half, playing the ball up the line to Jason who then played a superb through-ball, cutting the Haddington defence in half. Lewis latched on the pass and squeezed the ball past the keeper at his near post. A few minutes later, the Youngstars went two goals up after a weak kick-out went straight to Lewis. He blasted a shot towards goal, and the ball went right through the keeper's legs. Haddington then began to pile on the pressure, forcing some fantastic tackles from Mark to keep them at bay. A quick free kick from Haddington resulted in a swerving cross into the box, which Innes managed to safely collect in his hands as he again relished the opportunity to play in goals. Calum scored with the last kick of the second period, after Jason and a Haddington defender had been fighting hard for the ball. Calum charged in and won the ball, before turning and firing a shot into the bottom corner.
The Youngstars scored their fourth goal early in the third period, following a fantastic pass from Mark. Lewis collected the ball and fed it to Jason, who blasted it into the top corner past the keeper's out-stretched hand. A few minutes later, Lewis scored his hat-trick and the Youngstars were comfortably in the lead. Josh played excellently in defence during this period, and created the team's sixth goal. After a fantastic run, dribbling past two Haddington midfielders, he slotted the ball through to Harvey who (as cool as ever) passed the ball past the diving keeper into the net. Harvey then scored his second into the bottom corner, after a great pass from Lewis.
We shuffled the team around in the last quarter, with Innes playing up front and Lewis taking a turn in goals. Innes played well, laying off a few good passes to Josh, but the Haddington defence played really strongly and kept the Youngstars out. Lewis was forced to make a brilliant save near the end, but a Haddington striker was first to react to the deflection and managed to fire it into the net for a late consolation goal. Another great game for the team, and all the kids deserve credit for lasting the full 60 minutes.
Teamsheet: Innes, Mark, Josh, Harvey, Lewis, Jason, Calum
Goal scorers: Lewis (3), Calum, Jason, Harvey (2)
The Youngstars squad was down to a bare minimum today, with only seven players turning up for the game. Although this resulted in some tired legs, it did allow all the kids to get one hour of match-time which will undoubtedly help their development. The first 15 minutes was very evenly contested with both teams playing some good football. Harvey and Lewis were each unlucky to score thanks to some great saves from the Haddington keeper. With both defences on top form, there were no goals scored in the opening spell.
In the second period, the Youngstars stepped up a gear and it wasn't long before they broke the deadlock. Harvey took a kick-in deep in his own half, playing the ball up the line to Jason who then played a superb through-ball, cutting the Haddington defence in half. Lewis latched on the pass and squeezed the ball past the keeper at his near post. A few minutes later, the Youngstars went two goals up after a weak kick-out went straight to Lewis. He blasted a shot towards goal, and the ball went right through the keeper's legs. Haddington then began to pile on the pressure, forcing some fantastic tackles from Mark to keep them at bay. A quick free kick from Haddington resulted in a swerving cross into the box, which Innes managed to safely collect in his hands as he again relished the opportunity to play in goals. Calum scored with the last kick of the second period, after Jason and a Haddington defender had been fighting hard for the ball. Calum charged in and won the ball, before turning and firing a shot into the bottom corner.
The Youngstars scored their fourth goal early in the third period, following a fantastic pass from Mark. Lewis collected the ball and fed it to Jason, who blasted it into the top corner past the keeper's out-stretched hand. A few minutes later, Lewis scored his hat-trick and the Youngstars were comfortably in the lead. Josh played excellently in defence during this period, and created the team's sixth goal. After a fantastic run, dribbling past two Haddington midfielders, he slotted the ball through to Harvey who (as cool as ever) passed the ball past the diving keeper into the net. Harvey then scored his second into the bottom corner, after a great pass from Lewis.
We shuffled the team around in the last quarter, with Innes playing up front and Lewis taking a turn in goals. Innes played well, laying off a few good passes to Josh, but the Haddington defence played really strongly and kept the Youngstars out. Lewis was forced to make a brilliant save near the end, but a Haddington striker was first to react to the deflection and managed to fire it into the net for a late consolation goal. Another great game for the team, and all the kids deserve credit for lasting the full 60 minutes.
Teamsheet: Innes, Mark, Josh, Harvey, Lewis, Jason, Calum
Goal scorers: Lewis (3), Calum, Jason, Harvey (2)
Saturday, October 4, 2008
DUNBAR DOWNPOUR!
Dunbar Colts White 5 - 10 MYS Black Stripes (4Oct08)
Winter is definitely upon us. The weather was terrible for today's match with driving rain and a freezing cold wind - all the kids deserve great credit for putting on such a strong display. Jason opened the scoring after dribbling round a few defenders and slotting the ball past the diving keeper. A few minutes later the Youngstars went two up after Josh headed a crossed ball towards goal and Harvey nicked in to glance a header over the keeper. Dunbar did well to fight back though and manged to score two goals before the end of the first period.
Lewis scored a great goal at the start of the second period, and demonstrated a cool head as he passed the ball into the top corner (following a superb pass from Calum). However, Dunbar stepped up a gear and scored a quick equaliser, and then swiftly took the lead. Morgan had yet another strong match in midfield and seems to be relishing the opportunity to play further up the pitch. As usual, Calum ran the opposition defence ragged, and was unlucky not to score with a shot that went narrowly over the crossbar.
Sam and Mark also had an excellent game today, and are starting to form a fantastic partnership in defence. Sam won his usual fair share of tackles, and Mark's positioning helped him steal the ball from the Dunbar forwards and make some brilliant passes up the left wing. In goals, Innes showed his increased confidence by bravely diving low to smother the ball on a number of occasions. The Youngstars kept Dunbar at bay in the third period, and scored four goals at the other end (one from Lewis, two from Harvey, then another by Jason) to make the score 4-7.
Harvey scored his fourth of the game early in the final period, but Dunbar quickly scored another. Then a good shot from Lewis was blocked by the keeper and the ball fell kindly for Josh who stroked it into the empty net. Jason rounded off the scoring with his hat-trick after some skillful ball control, ending a great match for the Youngstars. The kids were freezing and soaking at the end, but they can take great pride from their performance in such treacherous conditions.
Teamsheet: Innes, Mark, Sam, Morgan, Josh, Harvey, Lewis, Jason, Calum.
Goal scorers: Jason (3), Harvey (4), Lewis (2), Josh.
Winter is definitely upon us. The weather was terrible for today's match with driving rain and a freezing cold wind - all the kids deserve great credit for putting on such a strong display. Jason opened the scoring after dribbling round a few defenders and slotting the ball past the diving keeper. A few minutes later the Youngstars went two up after Josh headed a crossed ball towards goal and Harvey nicked in to glance a header over the keeper. Dunbar did well to fight back though and manged to score two goals before the end of the first period.
Lewis scored a great goal at the start of the second period, and demonstrated a cool head as he passed the ball into the top corner (following a superb pass from Calum). However, Dunbar stepped up a gear and scored a quick equaliser, and then swiftly took the lead. Morgan had yet another strong match in midfield and seems to be relishing the opportunity to play further up the pitch. As usual, Calum ran the opposition defence ragged, and was unlucky not to score with a shot that went narrowly over the crossbar.
Sam and Mark also had an excellent game today, and are starting to form a fantastic partnership in defence. Sam won his usual fair share of tackles, and Mark's positioning helped him steal the ball from the Dunbar forwards and make some brilliant passes up the left wing. In goals, Innes showed his increased confidence by bravely diving low to smother the ball on a number of occasions. The Youngstars kept Dunbar at bay in the third period, and scored four goals at the other end (one from Lewis, two from Harvey, then another by Jason) to make the score 4-7.
Harvey scored his fourth of the game early in the final period, but Dunbar quickly scored another. Then a good shot from Lewis was blocked by the keeper and the ball fell kindly for Josh who stroked it into the empty net. Jason rounded off the scoring with his hat-trick after some skillful ball control, ending a great match for the Youngstars. The kids were freezing and soaking at the end, but they can take great pride from their performance in such treacherous conditions.
Teamsheet: Innes, Mark, Sam, Morgan, Josh, Harvey, Lewis, Jason, Calum.
Goal scorers: Jason (3), Harvey (4), Lewis (2), Josh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)