U9s 'Utd' REPORTS
United 2-2 Stoke Hill
United earned a well deserved draw in this game between two closely matched sides. United started brightly, with an interchange between Caleb Roberts, Sam Skinner and Keenan Paver, producing the first corner of the match. At the other end Josh Maunder was forced into a couple of smart saves, smothering shots from the lively Stoke Hill forwards. Joshua Phillips then produced an excellent tackle to prevent a Stoke Hill player being clean through on goal. However it was United who took the lead in the ninth minute when shots on goal by Roberts and Skinner were blocked. The loose ball ran to Tobias Francis who shot on the turn past the outstretched arm of the Stoke Hill keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Stoke Hill fought back strongly and the excellent Josh Maunder in goal again blocked several goal bound efforts to deny the opposition. United then had a double let off when successive Stoke Hill Shots thumped the post and bar before being cleared by Jake Sharp. United went close to extending their lead when Keenan Paver shot just wide from a good throw in.
Stoke Hill equalised early in the second half when a corner kick evaded everyone in the box to allow a simple Stoke tap in. A brilliant Josh Phillips tackle then prevented Stoke taking the lead. However from Stoke’s next attack they scored a second when a powerful run and shot beat the advancing Maunder. Utd stormed back and had several opportunities to score. With time running out Utd equalised with what turned out to be the last kick of the match when a long Jake Sharpe clearance out of defence found Jack Wall in space, he very coolly slotted the ball past the advancing Stoke keeper and into the far corner of the net.
Scorers: - Francis; Wall:
United 0-4 Westexe
A brilliant first half by United saw them more than a match for Westexe. In the first minute Caleb Roberts played Sam Skinner through with only the keeper to beat. But the excellent Westexe keeper spread himself well and blocks the resulting shot. Caleb Roberts then had two further one on one chances, but again the heroic Westexe keeper kept his side in the game with further saves. Westexe slowly started coming into the game and produced two chances to take the lead. The first a long range free kick brilliantly tipped over the bar Josh Maunder and the second a close range shot after a goal mouth scramble which clipped the outside of the post. However Utd deserved more from the game as the goalless first half came to a close.
In the second half Utd continued to dominate and right from the restart had a further chance to take the lead when Jake Sharpe won the ball in midfield with a crunching tackle before releasing Roberts. He skipped past two Westexe defenders but again was unable to find a way past the Westexe keeper. A good run involving Tobias Francis and Kenan Paver kept the pressure up in the Westexe half. Jack and Elliott Wall who replaced Skinner and Francis worked hard as Westexe began to pose more danger. As Utd began to tire from their efforts Westexe took advantage of the extra space in midfield and only a great block by Joshua Phillips stopped Westexe having a clear shot on goal. Westexe then had an great opportunity to score but with only Josh Maunder to beat, the shot was slashed wide of the upright. However seven minutes from time Utd’s resistance was beaten. A goal mouth scramble and shot being deflected off a Utd player and into the net. Within a minute it was 2-0 as a powerful run and shot beat Maunder at the near post. Utd then had an opportunity to reduce the arrears as yet another one on one for the unfortunate Roberts saw him first beat Westexe’s last defender before an unfortunate bobble took his shot just wide of the post. With the game now very open chances followed at both ends before Westexe made certain of the victory with 2 further late goals to produce a very flattering score line.
Utd can be very proud of their performance, which deserved far more than the score line suggested.
Report
by Nigel Skinner
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Cullompton 3-2 (AET) United (Cup)
It took a goal in the first period of Extra Time of this exciting second round cup match to separate these two evenly matched sides. Jade Bamsey and Keenan Paver were called into action early on to break up Cully’s first attack with some good defensive work. Josh Maunder also got an early touch of the ball making a smart save from a snap shot by a Cully attacker. After 5 minutes Cully took the lead with a close range shot beyond Maunder and into the bottom left corner of the net. Cully also had the next chance as another shot flashed just wide of Maunder’s left post. The next passage of play saw United slowly get into the game as man of the match Tobias Francis started winning important tackles in defence and surging forward with the lose ball to help exert pressure in the Cully half. Paver and Sam Skinner then exchanged passes before Paver shot just wide in Utd’s first attempt on goal. From Utd’s next attack they equalised. Paver worked his way down the left wing before playing the ball forward to Caleb Rowland. Rowland then ran across the edge of the box before laying the ball off to Skinner who took a touch before firing a shot past the Cully keeper and into the net. With confidence at full flow, Utd dominated their opponents. Another unstoppable run by Francis saw Cully happy to hack the ball away for a corner on the left. Francis’s then delivered a dangerous corner kick into the near post as Cully scrambled the ball away for the first of three consecutive corners for Utd. At the other end Francis was again in the thick of the action breaking up a Cully attack with an important challenge. Then right on half time Utd took the lead. A good ball by Bamsey saw Rowland take the ball into the box before being tackled for another Utd corner, this time on the right. Francis then took a perfect in swinging corner kick which sailed over everyone and into the top corner
Cully hit back right at the start of the second half with a well taken goal, as the Cully striker found time and space to advance on goal before burying a shot into the bottom corner past the advancing Maunder. Jack Wall then made a smart interception to prevent Cully from having another clear shot on goal. Francis then won yet another fifty-fifty ball before surging forward, his pass finding Elliot Wall who in turn fed Paver on the edge of the Cully box. But Paver’s effort on goal was blocked by the outstretched leg of a Cully defender. Sam Skinner then worked his way down the right wing before playing Rowland through, but again the danger was cleared for a Utd corner. With Francis and Wall winning everything at the back it looked like only time before Utd would find a winner. But following a quick Cully break, Maunder made a brilliant save diving bravely at the Cully player’s feet to block the shot, then quickly rising to clear the ball up field. The game was flowing from end to end as both sides had chances to win the game before the referee brought proceeding to an end and start Utd’s first experience of a Cup Extra time.
Unfortunately for Utd it was Cully who broke the deadlock in the first period of extra time with a spectacular goal out of nothing. As Cully worked the ball across to the right the Cully forward struck a half volley cross stroke shot which sailed over the retreating Maunder and into the top left hand corner of the net. Utd continued to press and the second period of extra time saw Utd virtually camped in the Cully half. As time ticked away first Bamsey and Skinner exchanged passes before Bamsey‘s route into the box was stopped by the massed ranks of the Cully defence, then Rowland found a way through only to be forced too wide to get a shot in from an acute angle. This proved to be the last chance of the game as Utd bowed out of the cup with a brave performance the team can be proud of. The quality of Utd’s passing and team work really does bode well for the future and with a touch of luck Utd will achieve some good results from the games ahead.
Scorers:
- Skinner; Francis:
Squad: - Josh Maunder, Jack Wall, Tobias Francis, Elliott Wall, Jade Bamsey,
Keenan Paver, Sam Skinner, Caleb Rowland
Report
by Nigel Skinner
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Hemyock
7-1 United
United
playing their first match for two months found the going tough against a
physically strong Hemyock team. United started brightly, with strong defensive
work from Josh Maunder and Jake Sharp keeping Hemyock out. However United were
rocked within the first two minutes when Jake Sharp injured his leg and had to
be replaced by Jade Bamsey who slotted into United’s defence. Hemyock
continued to pressurise the United defence and Joshua Phillip’s in the United
goal came quickly off his line to clear the danger. United’s first attack saw
a long range looping shot from Tobias Francis well saved by Hemyock’s keeper.
The
second half saw Josh Maunder replace Joshua Phillips in goal and Jack and
Elliott Wall start. Despite the score line United continued to work hard and
produced the early chances. A Sam Skinner pass resulted in a Caleb Rowland’s
shot flashing across the Hemyock
goal. This was followed by a good midfield tackle by Elliot Wall, the loose ball
was taken forward by Tobias Francis whose pass to Caleb Rowland resulted in
another good shot on goal.In defence Jack Wall battled hard to prevent a Hemyock
attack down the left wing with a well timed tackle. However
it was Hemyock who added to the scoreline with a strong shot after United lost
possession on the half way line. This was quickly followed by a sixth goal as a
Hemyock shot looped into the top corner. United refused to give up and their
next attack saw Caleb Rowland score from close range after good work by Keenan
Paver and Sam Skinner. The score line was completed when Hemyock were harshly
awarded a penalty which the Hemyock forward despatched into the top corner
giving Josh Maunder no chance in the United goal. United worked hard in
this game, and they will point to their long lay off from a competitive match
plus a number of unfortunate injuries as the main contributors to this defeat.
Scorer: - Rowland:
Sidmouth
1-2 United
United played superbly in this tough match against strong opposition. United attacked purposefully from the kick off as a good Sam Skinner cross caused problems in the Sidmouth box before being cleared. A further United attack saw a strong surging run from Keenan Paver, whose pass to Caleb Rowland resulted in a good shot which was well saved by the Sidmouth keeper. United continued to dominate, and when Rowland’s was fouled on the edge of the Sidmouth box the resulting free kick saw a good Tobias Francis shot again go close to producing the first goal. In defence, the assured Joshua Phillips stopped a rare Sidmouth attack with a well timed tackle. Jake Sharp also used his strength to break up Sidmouth attacks and linked up well with the United midfield and attack. With Tobias Francis and Keenan Paver winning everything in midfield United deservedly took the lead when a strong Francis run found Rowland free in the box. Rowland with his back to goal turned and lifted a good shot over the advancing keeper to score. United immediately started searching for the second as first a surging run by Sharp was blocked on the edge of the Sidmouth box and then a Paver run down the left wing resulted in a shot from an acute angle which flew just wide. At the other end a Sidmouth attack was well blocked by Phillips who controlled the loose ball well before finding Sam Skinner who launched another attack on the Sidmouth goal. In defence Josh Maunder was rarely troubled and his strong long goal kicks helped maintain the pressure on the Sidmouth goal. United ended the half in the Sidmouth half as Sharp and Skinner linked well to set up Rowland for another good shot on the Sidmouth goal.
United
started the second half by continuing to dominate the play. Tobias Francis again
harassed the Sidmouth midfield into a mistake and he took the loose ball
forwarded before shooting just wide. Keenan Paver also ran rings round the
Sidmouth defence, taking the ball down the left wing before a strong tackle
stopped his run and resulted in a United corner. The next attack saw Jake Sharp
again bring the ball forward out of defence and his pass found Sam Skinner whose
shot was well blocked by the Sidmouth defence. United were now committing men
forward at will, but a sudden break by Sidmouth out of defence saw Joshua
Phillips outnumbered three to one as he tried desperately to keep Sidmouth out.
As Phillips superbly tackled the Sidmouth forward, the loose ball ran to another
Sidmouth player whose long range shot beat Maunder in United's goal. Fortunately
for United the ball thumped the post and ran across the United goal line before
being cleared by the retreating Sharp.
Jade Bamsey replaced dynamo Keenan Paver and immediately cut out a Sidmouth
attack with some good tackling and pressurising of the Sidmouth midfielders.
Sidmouth were now pressurising
the United goal in search of an equaliser. A good save by Josh Maunder diving to
his right kept Sidmouth at bay. But from the next attack Sidmouth levelled the
score as a scramble in the United box saw Sidmouth bundle the ball into
United’s goal. United’s strength
of character was now being tested, as Sidmouth gained in confidence. But United
didn’t let their heads drop and a Sam Skinner pass to Tobias
Francis saw Francis’s long range shot fly just wide of the Sidmouth
goal. United had not given up hope of securing
a much deserved win and with less than two minutes
to go another United attack saw Bamsey, Francis and Rowland have shots blocked
in a packed Sidmouth box. As Sidmouth attempted to clear the danger, the ball
looped out to the edge of the box where Sam Skinner thumped a strong first time
shot through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner of the net This
sparked wild and well deserved celebrations by the United team. Sidmouth had no
time to respond and United secured their second win of the season.
This
result spoke volumes for the character and commitment of all the United players
and will provide them with much deserved confidence ahead of their second round
cup match in two weeks time.
Scorers:
- Rowland; Skinner:
Report
by Nigel Skinner
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United 0-3 Beacon Knights
With confidence high after their first win of the season last time out against Central, United started brightly. A Russell Williams clearance cut out the Knight’s first attack of the game. However in the second minute a harsh penalty awarded to the Knights for an alleged trip in the box saw United fall behind, as the penalty was dispatched into the top corner. United these days are a much stronger unit and they recovered well from this early set back. A long through ball from Russell Williams initiated United’s first attack which was cleared by the Knight’s defence. From the resulting throw in, a shot from Keenan Paver was saved by the Knight’s keeper as Ryan Ellis closed in anticipating a rebound. United were now starting to dominate the game, passing the ball well with Keeper Shaun Harrison using Russell William and Josh Maunder to good effect to build attacks from the back. In the sixth minute good work from Keenan Paver and Ryan Ellis put Caleb Rowland through for a shot on goal and the first of three goal line clearances to deny United a deserved equaliser.
A typical driving run by Keenan Paver from midfield fed Sam Skinner who was fouled on the edge of the box. From the resulting free kick whipped in by Ryan Ellis panic set in for the Knights defence as they struggled to clear the ball, but United just could not find the finishing touch and the ball bounced around invitingly 6 yards out.
Despite dominating proceedings United had to remain alert at the back as a strong Knight’s shot saw Shaun Harrison make a fine save, diving low to his left to turn the ball around the post for a corner.
As United pushed forward in search of an equaliser a quick Knight’s break saw a Knight’s forward bearing down on goal in a one on one with defender Josh Maunder. However Josh remained calm, and dispossessed the forward with a fine tackle to avert the danger.
This clearly wasn’t going to be United’s day as good build up play by Skinner, Ellis and Rowland set up Paver for another shot which was cleared off the line by a Knights defender. A further interchange between Skinner and Paver led to a United penalty for a foul in the box. A well struck penalty by Ryan Ellis flew just wide of the post as luck continued to deny the hard working United.
United were defending well in numbers and another fine save by Harrison diving low to his left prevented Knights from extending their lead.
At the other end the Knight’s goal continued to lead a charmed life as first another dangerous Ryan Ellis free kick pinged around the box as both Paver and Skinner had shots block. Then from the next attack a through ball from Williams found Rowland free as he dashed into the box only to see yet another shot blocked on the line by the keeper and scrambled around the post for a corner.
As the half time whistle blew, United could be forgiven for wondering just how they were still behind. Far from feeling sorry for themselves however, United started the second half just as they finished the first, dominating the play. Sam Skinner fed Caleb Rowland for another smart shot on goal. Another attack stemmed from a strong driving run from midfield by Keenan Paver, who again fed Caleb Rowlands whose shot was turned away by the Knights goalkeeper for a corner.
United were not having it all their own way, as again Josh Maunder tackled superbly when outnumbered three to one to prevent a certain Knights goal. Russell Williams doing well to get back in support and clear the resulting loose ball. In another dangerous Knight attack Shaun Harrison saved bravely smothering a point blank shot.
With United beginning to tire, Manager Mark Murrin made his first substitution bringing on Tobias Francis for Josh Maunder. Tobias immediately injected fresh impetus into United, with the first of several strong runs from the back. With most of the action in the Knight’s own half, United continued to press for an equaliser. A break down the left wing by Ryan Ellis led to the first of a series of United corners. But despite blocked attempts on goal by Paver , Skinner and Rowland, United could not find a way through.
With time running out Russell Williams first set up Rowland for another good shot, deflected behind the Knights goal. From the resulting United Corner, Knights broke quickly but the ever dependable Williams held off the Knights forward with a good tackle and Tobias Francis again mopped up the loose ball to launch another attack with a surging run into midfield before being tackled for a United throw in.
Skinner and Williams were replaced by Elliott and Jack Wall as manager Murrin again replaced tired legs to seek the deserved United equaliser.
With 4 minutes left to play and against the run of play Knights went 2-0 up as a long cross found a Knights forward free at the far post with time to pick his spot. A series of Knight’s corners followed as United tired further. A goal mouth scramble from one of these corners led to a third Knights goal and a score line which flattered the hosts.
United
can take great heart from this performance as the team worked hard, showing
great team spirit, good on-field organisation and considerable skill.
United 2-4 Alphington
United made a strong positive start to this game and carved out the first real chance of the game in the second minute when a Paver shot was turned around the post by an Alphington defender. However from Alphington’s first attack, they took the lead with a strong shot past Shaun Harrison.
Keenan Paver powered his team back into the game with a series of strong runs from midfield. From one such run United equalised as Paver fed Caleb Rowland inside the box. Rowland held off the surrounding Alphington defenders before shooting low into the net.
United buoyed by the goal then dominated the play. Skinner, Francis , Rowland and Paver all linked well to carve out a number of chances, but again good defending and bad luck prevented United from taking a deserved lead. At the back Josh Maunder cleared a rare Alphington attack with a good long clearance which set up United for 2 corners resulting from a Paver break down the right wing. A short corner between Francis and Skinner saw a Francis cross flash across the box as Paver and Rowland just failed to get the vital touch.
Further chances followed with both Rowland and Francis forcing the Alphington keeper into good saves when through one on one.
It was again against the run of play that Alphington regained the lead turning in a shot at the far post. The game now flowed from end to end. Good work between Rowland and Skinner led to a United corner which was well defended and cleared by Alphington. At the other end persistent defending from Josh Maunder and Russell Williams kept Alphington at bay.
In the second half Ellis replaced Williams as United continued to give as good as they got, although chances became harder to come by as Alphington began to get the upper hand in the midfield battle. Alphington then made the score 3-1 from a goal mouth scramble.
Jack Wall replaced Josh Maunder as United attempted to find a way back into the game. With Jack Wall linking with Ryan Ellis in midfield, a long mazy Ellis run from his own half led to another United Corner. It was Alphington though who were finishing the game the stronger and they extended their lead with a further goal 3 minutes from time.
United refused to allow their heads to drop and one final attack saw Sam Skinner turn in a low shot from a tight angle to reduce the arrears and add much deserved respectability to the score line.
At the end of another excellent United performance the team could be forgiven for feeling their efforts deserved more from both games. However with the hard work being put in by the team at training and the great support from manager Mark Murrin to promote good team spirit, on-field organisation and confidence in their ability, results will start to come for United from the games ahead.
Squad: - Elliot Wall, Jack Wall, Russell Williams, Ryan Ellis, Caleb Rowland, Josh Maunder, Keenan Paver, Shaun Harrison, Sam Skinner & Tobias Francis.
Report
by Nigel Skinner
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