We started the warm up very well and it was obvious the talk we had during the training session about our attitude prior to kick off had been understood, for the first time this season both groups completed the task of 50 first time passes at the first attempt, well done now we must do it every time. Going into the game we felt confident of getting a result and we started very brightly with both Tom and Ben causing early problems down both flanks and getting in those important early crosses. The defence looked solid with Bav and Scott controlling the middle, Scott once again played in defence to combat their long ball over the top tactic that undid us in the first cup game against Kader when we lost. Conor was holding his position well and putting in some good solid tackles. Matty F is getting better every week in goal and was there with good communication to sweep up at the edge of his box. Sean the current holder of the Billingham Trophy started like a house on fire and was excellent again throughout the match. James was winning his very physical midfield challenges and breaking up their attacks time after time, Kieran was picking up the ball after James was winning it beating players and passing the ball out to the wings. Ashley and Matty B were linking up well and getting into the box. We were doing ok, then we conceded that controversial goal and our heads went down a bit, which was a bit disappointing. While we were still licking our wounds we had two or three excellent opportunities to clear a Kader attack which we failed to do, a long shot came in giving Matty no chance lessons to be learned there. HT: 2-0

Joe came on at Half time and after a shaky start put in a good performance so Scott could move into Midfield to give us more attacking options, Kieran once again excellent all match moved to the right with Tom going up front. We played some good attacking football and if it wasn't for their excellent No. 3 who made 5 or 6 last ditch tackles mainly on Tom we would have scored. Our best chance fell to Tom but he just couldn't put enough power in his shot and their keeper made a good save. Our defence had a couple of minor scares but kept Kader to long range shooting and Matty F had a quiet second half. James was having a battle and a half usually against 2 or 3 Kader to allow us to push forward near the end he had taken one kick to many and had to come off injured. The second half got a little disrupted due to injuries which did not help us but well done to Matty B and Ashley for coming on and off the pitch as required, well done to all the players for standing up and being brave something that hasn't always happened this season. Scott was pushing forward when an excellent tackle caused him to fall awkwardly on his wrist, after treatment he bravely carried on, but a visit to hospital later shows he has badly sprained his right wrist and is very doubtful for next weeks visit to Cargo Fleet Juniors. All in all the result was wrong but we gave a better performance than we have done in recent weeks.

Warm up routines went well again by all accounts well done we know you have the skill its all about attitudes and getting your mind prepared for a game of football. Decided to play Scott at the back at the start to try and counteract the long ball over the top, having checked the TJFA website Cargo Fleet has the top two scorers in our league and other coaches have told me the ball over the top was their main attacking weapon, it was a hard decision as Joe had looked his normal self when coming on as sub last week.
Well what an excellent start, Sean won the ball looked up and played a lovely ball through to Ashley who beautifully chipped the keeper our first goal in 2007, well worth waiting for, then it went pear shaped, there are three main ways to stop the long ball over the top from hurting you, 1,close down the man making the pass in the first place 2, Defenders giving themselves a yard on the attacker so they do not get into a straight race with the attacker and 3, keep the space between the defenders and Goalkeeper as small as possible, we did none of them and before we knew it we were 3 – 1 down. Something had to be done, on came Joe who for the rest of the match played brilliantly and scored as well, this allowed Scott to go back into midfield to help James and also Kieran was asked to hold back his forward runs for a few minutes to settle things down at the back. This had the desired affect and we started playing football and creating chances of our own Ben Young and Tom were working hard on the wings and getting crosses in, unfortunately having had to take Matty B off to put on Joe we were found short in the box, what a strike from Matty B for his goal, it was one of his best ever games not only scoring but the amount of hard work and closing down he did, as we say defending starts from the front and he did his fair share of defending. We had another couple of scary moments but Matty F’s handling shot stopping and bravery were first class, leading up to the other manager nominating him as man of the match and presenting him with a trophy. Well done Matty, Bav was using his coolness and superb left foot well and when the ball had to be out it went out, was it Joe who kicked it onto the road whoever it was well done in the circumstances it had to go, don’t think the car driver who went by was to impressed though.
Conor was under a lot of pressure but did superbly making a lot of important tackles, his throw ins are getting better as well. Sean playing on the wrong side was excellent, the rest of the team need to take note on how he looks up before passing, his tackling was also good as he plays more games and gains confidence he will get better and better. Had to calm him down at one point he was wanting to punch one of their big lads, not wise, if you get upset on a football field the best way of hurting them is to beat them, let your mind wander or get upset then mistakes will be made.
Kieran, James and Scott got took control of midfield, James stayed on his feet a lot more which then gave us more possession his tackling and work rate were first class, his cool finish for his goal was class. Kieran ran forever, tackled well and created lots of chances for other players, his support of the front players was fantastic, Scott played some beautiful passes, played better when he got angry and stopped moaning came close to scoring from a couple of corners with headers ( he gets a fiver if he scores a headed goal, I would have happily paid him ), we need to get him involved around the opponents penalty area a lot more. Ben Young worked hard and got in some great early crosses and did his fair share of coming back to help the defence also got into scoring positions himself. Tom works tirelessly on the right wing, again some good crosses put in, I saw him head the ball twice ( both times with his eyes closed ) and always working back to help Conor.
Ashley scored a super goal, linked play up well and didn’t get caught offside to often
Some of the football we played in-between our second and fourth goals was of a very high standard.
They were all over the place then a lack of communication at the back resulted in a corner of which we all know they scored. Disappointing to concede 3 goals from corners, o.k. the delivery was excellent, it makes no difference if we man mark or play zonal defence if we don’t attack the ball as it comes in.
As said at the end of the game a tremendous performance from everyone against one of the better sides in the league, why can’t we do it against lesser teams.

Positives to take from the game:
The way the first goal was created and executed
The willingness to battle for possession
Some excellent passing football ( we can do it )
Coming out in the second half trailing by 3 goals and not giving up
( lets remember that one )
Scoring 4 goals
Matty F coming well out of his box to clear the ball
Tremendous vocal support from the parents
Everyone enjoying the game even though we lost

Negatives to think about and work on:
Lack of communication throughout the team
Taking to long in our decision making
Not getting early attempts on goal ( specially after the last training session )
Arguing / disputing referee’ s decisions
Defending at corners
Movement at throw ins and corners

Super, brilliant, fantastic, just some of the words I overheard from the parents after the match had finished and the fact that the Billingham Town manager admitted we were the better team, shows what a good performance we gave. Results are important but not as important than the way we play, if we had played any other team this Sunday we would have beaten them, I will not accept that they had an off day our team work, passing, tackling etc made sure that they were not allowed to play. The Billingham Trophy winner has already been picked and will get the trophy on Thursday but everyone of the 12 players on Sunday put in 100% effort. Missed the start of the first half but on arriving everyone said we had made a good start and were more than holding our own. Summer must be coming as Matty F was in shorts, the flying save he made in the second half was superb, we created a lot of chances one of the best fell to Ben Young who’s shot just narrowly missed, this was Ben’s best game of the season by far he took people on when the time was right, most pleasing of all was his passing, he and Sean are doing some good stuff down the left hand side both attacking and defending.

Excellent defending by Sean in the second half when under pressure he passed back to Matty who cleared well, lets not be scared to pass backwards. Joe had a good solid game even though he was injured, in the end was substituted so as the injury got no worse.
I enjoy seeing nothing better than Bav sliding in to win a tackle, his timing is perfection, Mr Consistent another great performance.
Conor had an excellent game, his concentration levels have risen, good accurate throw-ins, super tackling, keep it up well done.
James “the terminator “ Graham, stopped nearly everything, listened to what had been said, stayed on his feet more to not only win possession but then be able to make a pass. Excellent game.

Some of Scott’s passing was superb, sometimes the through ball was intercepted but the idea was right, excellent goal kicking, takes the pressure off the defence, better performance with regards to back chatting the Ref.

Don’t have the words to describe Kieran’s performance, his energy levels are amazing, held onto the ball when he had to but also released the ball when the pass was on. scored a good goal.

Ashley also produced his best display of the season, working hard, linking up play and scoring a good goal created chances for other players and was unlucky not to score again.

Tom was on fire, what a game, he absolutely tortured their defence, good strong direct running with the ball, got a goal that his performance deserved.

Matty B came on as sub, straight in to the game, good hold up play, even headed the ball a couple of times, what impressed me was the amount of hard work he was doing when he didn’t have the ball.

What we have to remember is to not let our heads go down when we concede a goal, we have proved in the last two games that if our attitude is right we can always score goals. Well done to you all an excellent performance, lets do the same this week against Great Ayton, they have been the only side this year to give us a hammering, they have lost some key players, so lets get our revenge.

Another brilliant performance helped us come away with a point against the team second in the League, with a little bit more luck we could have had all three. Once again we showed an enormous amount of courage in what were awful conditions to play football. The determination we showed not to concede another goal after our early setback was excellent. Special mention about Matty F his performance in that first 15 minutes was exceptional, well done, he continued his great performance right through out the match.
The back four were solid, Joe had a great game and he nearly scored again, Bav was brave and his distribution was excellent, Conor was having a good game until his injury and Sean is just getting better and better. This first half performance against the wind and against such high flying opponents was terrific, the work done in midfield by Ben, Scott, James and Kieran not only in protecting our back 4 but then starting to create chances, each and every one of them were outstanding.

Ashley and Tom had very little service as we were getting pushed further back but once we got a foot hold in the first half they contributed more and more ending with Ash scoring a good goal in the second half. Another special mention to Matty B and Kieran, needed to shuffle things after Conor’s injury, Kieran kept his discipline while he had a stint at full back while Matty did well in midfield, then when swapped Matty was excellent as a full back. We also managed to play some good football, the last 4 performances have proved all the hard work and the "boring" stuff done at training is paying off.

Well done to you all.