One of the benefits of keeping comprehensive game stats is that you can identify patterns over time.. Whilst not an exact science, (and a match report is not the best place to air my algorithms!) Sometimes these patterns can help in preparing for games.

‘Big wins’ (a win by more than 6 clear goals) are not entirely random, but are hard to call definitively, what is much clearer though is the result of the game following a big win. Historically, we only win 20% of the games we play after a big win like we had last week. We lose 6 out of 10. This effect is even more pronounced if the game following a ‘big win’ is away, we lose 75% of these games. This is perhaps contrary to what one might think would be the effect of a confidence-boosting ‘big win’. I believe that there are several reasons why this occurs and, after our first ‘big win’ for a while, we set the team up today to mitigate these and to try and break the pattern. We spoke about this with the boys before the game.

We last played Eversley & California 4 seasons ago at U10, Our previous record against them is P4 W2 D1 L1

First Half

The first half started keenly with purpose and drive from the Falcons. The game was reasonably open with both teams having early chances. The Californians almost opened the scoring with a great corner that was deflected off a Falcon head and onto the cross-bar, a close call! At the other end our midfield were creating numerous chances with Eadoin, Alastair and Marcus all going close with good efforts. As the first half progressed, the Falcons began to take control of the game, the balance of possession shifted to us, along with the majority of chance creation.

Apart from the early corner scare, our defence of Liam, Gabriel, Ioan and Cameron dealt really effectively with every Californian attack. Jack was finding a lot of attacking space on the left wing, with a number of skilful runs, slipping passed defenders and playing in great balls. Similarly on the right Marcus was probing, pushing and pressuring the Eversley defence.

Eversley though proved to be good tacklers and were managing to hold out against our combined midfield and attack…. just. After 24 minutes Chris had a goal bound effort deflected off the line and just one minute later an overhead-kick was again punted off the line by a Californian defender… one final attack for the Californians before half-time saw Max make a confident save from a dangerous cross.

0-0HT

Whilst the first half performance was solid, we didn’t manage to get our passing game going that well. To be fair to Eversley, they were breaking it up well at times, but, eager to break the deadlock, we also were playing a little bit too individually at times and not looking for the pass. We spoke to the boys about this and asked for more passing and more control of space in the second half. We knew Eversley would the more delighted team with the 0-0 score line, so it was important to not allow them to get the opening goal….

Second half

Before the game, I’d asked Ioan playing at Centre Back to make judgements around when he should venture forward and have a long range shot, to add extra variety to our offence, and to keep the Californian defence guessing on where the next attack was coming from. He judged this really well and unleashed 5 or 6 absolute rockets during the game, one effort right at the start of the second-half came crashing back off the crossbar…which was a signal of our intent !

Six minutes later, we got the lead that our possession and chance creation deserved, Max threaded the ball to Chris who shimmied left past a defender before slotting the ball past the Eversley ‘keeper. (0-1).

Whilst we endeavoured to capitalise on this lead, we again couldn’t quite convert our chances, Chris, Stanley and Raphael all went close. Marcus and Liam putting in some really dangerous balls, we couldn’t quite convert.

With a slender lead, we were always at risk of a mistake or break-away leading to an equaliser. Eversley had a few chances, most of which were comfortably dealt with by our defence, although Alastair in goal for the second half, was definitely a bit busier than Max in the first half, making 3 or 4 vital, but assured, saves. Our defence were keeping the pressure forward too, turning over Eversley attacks with some excellent forward
play from Frankie and Cameron on the right and Gabriel on the left.

We had to wait until 5 minutes before the end to make the game safe. Liam played a super ball in from the left wing, which Raphael dummied, flummoxing the Eversley ‘keeper, and leaving it to run to Stanley on the right, who played a deftly cushioned shot into the goal, for his 5th of the season. (0-2).

Stanley had another chance a couple of minutes later, with a super turn and shot on the half volley, which drew an equally good save from the ‘keeper.

0-2 FT

A two-nil win, away from home, after a ‘Big win’ the week before is a great result. It is the first time the Falcons have won three games in a row since April 2018 (U10s), which is so hard to do in youth football, (unless you are playing at the wrong level). Interestingly, the third game in that 2018 sequence was against….Eversley & California…spooky!! I am even more delighted with the clean sheet today. Back-to-back clean sheets after last week too. We’ve conceded 1 goal in 3.5 hours of football.

You all know how much I love a strong, focussed and miserly defence. It is the foundation upon which all successful teams are built and our improved results recently have been based on consistently excellent displays from our back 5. The fact that we can maintain this level, utilising 9 different players over the last month, is brilliant. Well done team, let’s keep it up.

Ioan’s forward runs added another dimension today, which was great to see, but it was another defender who was our player of the week this week, Gabriel was simply immense in defence. Nothing got past him and his positioning, tackling, turnovers and forward play stood out even in a very good all round defensive performance. Well done.

We have no scheduled game next Saturday as it is a cup weekend, Our next league game is in two weeks against Spencer’s Wood Trojans, which should give me just enough time to build a giant wooden horse….
COYF!!
Phill

Match details

Match date

Sat 04 Dec 2021

Kickoff

15:00

Team overview