Derby Jnrs 0 vs 2 Bootle FC U16s

After having 4 wins out of 4 in the league, the committee had now decided to split the league into three and reset the points, so we went into today’s game with Derby Jnrs with no points in a newly revamped six team league.

The games that we’ve had with Derby over the last four seasons have been tight affairs, with no winners from either side since early U13s but both teams knew that a good start to the league would set a marker down for the newly tightly contested A division.

The lads were on the back of a good performance against Dynamo last week and a well worked, happy training session on Monday, so where full of confidence going into the game. The team talk was of winning our battles, respecting our opponent but not to fear them, the team was set up initially slightly different than we do against Derby to get us on the front foot.

The game got underway and in the opening 10 minutes it was Derby having most of the attack but our defenders stood firm and thwarted any attack. Within five minutes of each other Jack put two through balls into Tom and Callum who were unlucky not to score through great defending from the Derby defence.
This gave us confidence, it was now us dictating play and creating chances, Bryn, Tim and Ell started winning more balls in midfield, Jack was coming deep and creating space for Callum and Tom to move into, this was causing all kinds of problems with marking and it was giving us joy as we then created two or three good chances with Tim, Jack and Tom all being thwarted.
Derby, a good side as they are though were still causing us problems, Matty made a good low save and Joel and Sean were alert to any danger, protected by Ell sitting in front.
HT 0-0
A few changes were made at half time but the talk basically remained the same, except for to request more movement from the front three especially Jack as this was were we getting success. Within minutes this was noticeable with Jack picking up the ball deep and running past his opponents then feeding Cal on the right hand side whose shot was saved by the keeper, was this a sign. Derby were trying to get in our right side by Sean was alert and kept them at bay when they did Joel was standing firm either heading crosses away or clearing his lines, the game was finely balanced. Around the 55th minute we stopped a Derby attack, the ball was fed into Jack who spun his man but was fouled as he turned just inside the Derby half, Charlie then floated a lovely ball which landed just in front of the keeper and Sean stooped down to head home, one nil to the Bucks.
Derby responded well to this and had a good spell of pressure but again we stood firm, Matty making a good save from a long range effort, Matty C heading away a clearance and Joel, Sean, Tim and Ell winning balls in our third to get us back on the ball. The next goal was vital and we thought it had come after Jack went past three men in the middle of the park, fed Tom on the left but a great tackle was made just before Tom could pull the trigger. Two similar passages of play were made soon after with Jack sending a great cross from the right which just evaded Glen but the same move occurred soon after, with shouts of drive on and shoot to Jack but he ignored this and put in a delightful cross to Glen, who steadied himself to blast the ball into the net, two nil to the Bucks. The celebrations told of a great team spirit with the subs running on the pitch to celebrate with the players.
Again though Derby came at us looking to get back into the game but the lads were not going to let this drop, the level of mature play now witnessed by us was a joy with us staying compact all over and helping each individual out and not stretching our formation at all. This made it difficult for Derby to push through us and we saw the game out in adult way.
It now become a midfield battle and when the ref blew, the lads knew they had set down a marker but were humble with our win.
FT 0-2

This was a great mature performance from the team against a very good side but it will make teams want to step up against us now and we have to manage that. It should give us confidence and one that we take into another difficult game against Redrum next week, we’ll done boys.

Goals: Sean x 1 & Glen x 1

MOM: The two CBs of Joel and Sean were colossal, alongside Callum who worked hard all game to find an opening but it goes to Jack who was outstanding, he ran the Derby defence and CDM ragged, created numerous chances and space for his team mates and was unplayable at times, well done.