The Royals fail to Search & Destroy
Mike shines at right back before switching to attack
S&D 3 Netley Royals 2
A fantastic game of football ended with the Royals going down 3-2 to S&D at Doncaster Farm in Chandlers Ford. The game started with both teams working hard with chances at both ends. S&D were working very hard and attacked in small packs. Netley played the better football and kept the ball well with good close passing football. It was S&D who made the first breakthrough. Netley were on the attack down the left hand side, but the attack was broken up after the ball was intercepted and launched long and high. As the ball travelled 60 yards towards Ollie's goal, Ollie came out to gather it but realised he had misjudged the flight of the ball and as he scampered back, the ball bounced and flew up over his head and into the net. 1-0 Netley went back on the attack but that was soon broken up. Mike and Sam got caught out down the right hand side which meant they had to get back and give chase. Mike turned on the after burner and roared back to catch the S&D winger, robbing him of the ball. Mick picked up the ball and passed it forward to Sam, who turned with it and strove forward. He looked up and thread a beautiful ball threw to Sol who outran the defence and was bearing down on the goal. As the keeper came out, Sol shot and the keeper could only parry the shot to Nudge who followed up and slotted it in to the back of the net for 1-1 The rest of the half was areal tussle with both sides playing some good football at a high tempo. The second half saw S&D win a free kick just inside the half way line. The ball was launched into the box and Ollie cold only block the ball off to an S&D forward who converted the chance for 2-1. Back came the boys in Blue stringing together some good passes and applying pressure to the S&D goal. On one attack S&D tried to clear the ball but Josh charged it down, rode a tackle into the box and coolly finished for 2-2. S&D came back with a strong attack down the Netley left hand side and a lovely chip on the run saw S&D edge ahead again 3-2. Netley weren't finished and they poured forward with wave after wave of attacks. S&D couldn't get out of their own half for a while as Netley kept pinning them back. Chances fell for Sol, Nudge, Adam, Josh, Mike and Lewis but the ball either flew over, flew wide or was shot straight at the keeper. It was a magnificent performance but it was still a defeat at the end of the day and Netley dropped a place in the league. |
The Royals go down fighting
The Skipper fought tooth and nail
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We are sorry for the technical fault on the sound
Redbridge 7 Netley 2
2 league matches in and no points.
After a fighting display against the favourites for the league (Redbridge) The Royals still find themselves with no league points. Although the lads had the majority of the ball it’s what you do with it that counts!
Redbridge got the ball forward quickly and attacked in numbers. Their first goal came from an attack down the Redbridge left. A lofted ball into the box caught Ollie unawares and he was helpless but to palm the ball up into the roof of the net. 1-0.
The boys battled back and a lovely move starting with Dan on the right finding Macca and then Jake the ball was shifted out to the left as Netley stretched the game. Some good interplay with Kieran, Nudge and Josh saw Netley get round the back of Redbridge. Josh put in a good cross but the keeper claimed then set the right wing for Redbridge away. He got a deep cross in to our box and was met by the head of the number 9 at the back post and we were 2-0 down.
Netley got the ball down and played some lovely football, putting pressure on the Redbridge back four who were forced into just clearing their lines. Netley got a free kick on the right hand side. The ball was delivered in by Jason and Josh challenged the centre back and the keeper. The ball fell behind the keeper and Sol rushed in to tap home from 6 yards. 2-1
Straight from the kick off the boys stood off and a ball down the right found the marauding winger who crossed and again a header at the back post gave Redbridge another 2 goal cushion. 3-1
Back came Netley with Mick and Jason now controlling the strikers for Redbridge and Dan and Kieran pushing on down the flanks.
Macca picked up a ball from Dan and turned it inside. He played the ball left to find Kieran linking up well with Nudge. A ball into Josh and a neat return to Nudge, set him galloping down the left. He cut inside past the full back and found Sol running across the centre back. Sol flicked the ball on and running in at the back post was Sam who tapped it in for 3-2. BUT the linesman had his flag up and the ref gave offside. Sam swears he was onside when the ball was flicked on and only arrived in the offside position when he touched the ball home!
The boys went in 3-1 down at half time but had Redbridge on the run.
The second half saw Mike give way to Sean and Lewis came on for Josh.
The half started well with Netley back on the attack. Good link up play down the left with Sean and Sol saw a lovely ball from Sol forward to Nudge, now playing up top. Nudge outpaced the centre backs and coolly lobbed the keeper on the run and Netley were right back in the game! If the goal before half time would have stood who knows how the game would have turned out?!
But as soon as we got back into the game, we then threw it away. A move again down the Redbridge right saw the winger cut back the ball to the number 9 lurking on the edge of the box and he drilled the ball across Ollie and into the far bottom corner. 4-2
The boys attacked again, keeping the ball well and putting pressure on the Redbridge back four with the Redbridge manager screaming at his midfield to get a tackle in, but the ball broke and Redbridge swept forward again with a ball into the box. Ollie saved well and as the ball span free he dived bravely at the feet of the striker only to get kicked in the shoulder for his troubles.
The big pitch was starting to sap the energy of the boys and Redbridge swept forward. Good defending from Jason and Mick saw an attack snuffed out for a corner. The ball was delivered in deep and over Ollie’s head just right for the Redbridge striker to head firmly in for number 5.
Boyed by another goal Redbridge swarmed forward and another cross from the right was an easy tap in for the incoming winger from the other flank
.6-2
Heads down. Netley knew the game was up! But give up?....never!
The lads kept plugging away and forcing Redbridge back. Redbridge couldn’t get out of their half for a few minutes then finally a long ball through found the big number 8, suspiciously offside, but he controlled it and coolly slid it past Ollie who had rushed out to close the space down. 7-2
The final few minutes saw a battle on the left where Sol and Josh were determined to batter down the Redbridge defence and with the referee blowing the whistle with the ball still in the Redbridge half the boys had lost the battle…..but not the war. We still have Redbridge to come to Netley yet and the rest of the league to play and pick up some points.
2 league matches in and no points.
After a fighting display against the favourites for the league (Redbridge) The Royals still find themselves with no league points. Although the lads had the majority of the ball it’s what you do with it that counts!
Redbridge got the ball forward quickly and attacked in numbers. Their first goal came from an attack down the Redbridge left. A lofted ball into the box caught Ollie unawares and he was helpless but to palm the ball up into the roof of the net. 1-0.
The boys battled back and a lovely move starting with Dan on the right finding Macca and then Jake the ball was shifted out to the left as Netley stretched the game. Some good interplay with Kieran, Nudge and Josh saw Netley get round the back of Redbridge. Josh put in a good cross but the keeper claimed then set the right wing for Redbridge away. He got a deep cross in to our box and was met by the head of the number 9 at the back post and we were 2-0 down.
Netley got the ball down and played some lovely football, putting pressure on the Redbridge back four who were forced into just clearing their lines. Netley got a free kick on the right hand side. The ball was delivered in by Jason and Josh challenged the centre back and the keeper. The ball fell behind the keeper and Sol rushed in to tap home from 6 yards. 2-1
Straight from the kick off the boys stood off and a ball down the right found the marauding winger who crossed and again a header at the back post gave Redbridge another 2 goal cushion. 3-1
Back came Netley with Mick and Jason now controlling the strikers for Redbridge and Dan and Kieran pushing on down the flanks.
Macca picked up a ball from Dan and turned it inside. He played the ball left to find Kieran linking up well with Nudge. A ball into Josh and a neat return to Nudge, set him galloping down the left. He cut inside past the full back and found Sol running across the centre back. Sol flicked the ball on and running in at the back post was Sam who tapped it in for 3-2. BUT the linesman had his flag up and the ref gave offside. Sam swears he was onside when the ball was flicked on and only arrived in the offside position when he touched the ball home!
The boys went in 3-1 down at half time but had Redbridge on the run.
The second half saw Mike give way to Sean and Lewis came on for Josh.
The half started well with Netley back on the attack. Good link up play down the left with Sean and Sol saw a lovely ball from Sol forward to Nudge, now playing up top. Nudge outpaced the centre backs and coolly lobbed the keeper on the run and Netley were right back in the game! If the goal before half time would have stood who knows how the game would have turned out?!
But as soon as we got back into the game, we then threw it away. A move again down the Redbridge right saw the winger cut back the ball to the number 9 lurking on the edge of the box and he drilled the ball across Ollie and into the far bottom corner. 4-2
The boys attacked again, keeping the ball well and putting pressure on the Redbridge back four with the Redbridge manager screaming at his midfield to get a tackle in, but the ball broke and Redbridge swept forward again with a ball into the box. Ollie saved well and as the ball span free he dived bravely at the feet of the striker only to get kicked in the shoulder for his troubles.
The big pitch was starting to sap the energy of the boys and Redbridge swept forward. Good defending from Jason and Mick saw an attack snuffed out for a corner. The ball was delivered in deep and over Ollie’s head just right for the Redbridge striker to head firmly in for number 5.
Boyed by another goal Redbridge swarmed forward and another cross from the right was an easy tap in for the incoming winger from the other flank
.6-2
Heads down. Netley knew the game was up! But give up?....never!
The lads kept plugging away and forcing Redbridge back. Redbridge couldn’t get out of their half for a few minutes then finally a long ball through found the big number 8, suspiciously offside, but he controlled it and coolly slid it past Ollie who had rushed out to close the space down. 7-2
The final few minutes saw a battle on the left where Sol and Josh were determined to batter down the Redbridge defence and with the referee blowing the whistle with the ball still in the Redbridge half the boys had lost the battle…..but not the war. We still have Redbridge to come to Netley yet and the rest of the league to play and pick up some points.
Man of the match
Macca had an excellent game
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QK deliver the knockout blow
A fantastic game of football, end to end stuff and a lot of goals…….unfortunately most were against us, but the balance of play I believe was with us.
QK were rivals in Division 6 last year and came up with us to Division 5. They have made 5 new signings including a new centre back and new centre forward. These two players I believe were the difference between the two sides. The centre forward was quick and direct, had good control and chipped in with 2 goals as Netley suffered a 5-1 defeat.
He was signed from Division One side Pace and showed the class a player has at that level. Jason and Mick really had their hands full especially in the first half, but in the second they kept him much quieter.
The best player on the pitch for me, was the QK Centre back. He was quick and strong and read the game very well. We have some of the best strikers in the league and a supply of bullets from a great passing team……but we could not get passed this lad and will need a cunning plan next time around when we face them in the league.
Ollie had another exceptional game and proved to us that we believe he is the best keeper in this division. He made some brilliant one on one stops including one early on when he saved brilliantly at the feet of the striker and as Jason tried to clear the danger a QK striker blocked the clearance with his body only for the ball to cannon off him into our net!!
The second goal was a penalty. A corner kick came in, Ollie thought it was going behind the goal and left it only for the ball to hit Mick on the hand and QK dispatched it for 2-0.
The third was another run on goal from the quick striker. As he bore down on Ollie’s goal, Ollie came out and made himself as big as he could and pulled off a brilliant save, the ball bounced back out to the striker who sent another crashing drive that Ollie did brilliantly to stop again, but as the ball bounced away from goal it fell straight to another QK striker who slotted in for 3-0.
Mike who had troubled QK with his strong runs, pulled up after a challenged where he twisted his knee. It was first thought he would be going to hospital for an x-ray on his cruciate ligament, but after a while, the pain subsided and although will be sore for a while should be back with us soon.
Kieran had had another battling performance but was carrying a knock, so left the field in the second half. Dan switched to the left and had a great battle with the flying right winger. Dan has real heart and a will to win and that is why he has been with me since we started this team. He typifies the fighting spirit I love in a player but also his guile and finesse.
Sam did a good job when he came on, linking well with Adam and Sol down the right hand side and was always a threat coming forward. Jake was his usual tidy self, tenacious in the tackle and intelligent in his distribution.
Nudge had trouble getting in to the game in the first half, but when pushed further forward was elegant and quick and was a good foil for Sol and found Josh well marauding down the left. Josh was a real threat when he came on, dancing past the full back and whipping in crosses on a regular basis. Lewis linked up midfield with attack with deft touch and great vision and Sol toiled against the rock of a centre back, but when he got wide, got passed the full back again and again putting in good crosses and chipped in with our goal.
Adam was carrying a knock before he came on and struggled to inject the pace that his game usually possesses, but his touch and passing skills hadn’t deserted him and Sean showed some really nice touches and was the focal part of a delightful passing move down the left in the second hand, but man of the match for me and the two Dave’s was Macca. He was everywhere on the pitch. Strong going forward, tough in the tackle, always available, always willing…… a really classy, gutsy midfield performance.
So, we look forward….not back…..to the upcoming battle with Redbridge next week!
Hatrick Heroes
Josh and Sol both grab hatricks
| The Royals ‘Up for the Cup’
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After crashing out of the Cup last season to fellow North Hants Youth League Side Hook Utd, The Royals travelled in trepidation to North Hampshire still smarting from an 11-3 defeat but now faced Div 2 side Wey Valley Knights.
The match started well for the Royals with some sick passing and excellent movement off the ball. This lead to the first throw in of the game down the Royals left side. Jake’s throw found Macca who slipped the ball right to Lewis who sidestepped his marker and smashed the ball into the net from 25yards out. 1-0
Netley got hold of the ball from the resulting kick off and Sol galloped off down the right before sliding Josh through, who looked up and chipped the keeper from 20 yards out to bring the second goal. 2-0
The third came when another Jake throw in found Adam who looked up and crossed the ball from the left. The keeper came out to claim and fumbled the ball to Macca, who made no mistake firing hard and low to the keepers right. 3-0
Soon after it was four! A short corner routine between Sol and Lewis resulted in Sol curling the ball over the keepers head from the left hand side. 4-0
Another raid down the right found Sol linking up with Sam. Sol took the ball on past the defender and crossed into the box to find Josh running in and taking the ball on the volley to make it Five! 5-0
The Knights had a rare venture into Netley’s half and a throw in found the Knights number seven who took the ball on his chest, turned and smashed the ball passed the diving Ollie and into the net. 5-1
Back came Netley, now all over the Knights. A measured long ball from Ollie sailed over the Knights defence to the advancing Josh who was bearing down on the Knights goal. This time the keeper saved brilliantly only for the ball to bounce back into Sol’s path who cooly slotted home for number Six. 6-1
The last raid of the half resulted in goal number seven. Josh moved on to another ball from Ollie, shot, but had his shot saved again, but this time it came back to him and he sent the keepr the wrong way for his hatrick! 7-1
Half Time – Sol, Josh and Sam made way for Mike, Nudge and Kieran.
The second half started much the way the half ended. Great link up play between Dan and Adam, saw a beautiful chip into Mike’s path and he slotted in #8. 8-1
Back came the Knights and Kieran was in for a torrid half as the Knights #7 started to get more on the ball. He ran onto a long ball and slotted into the net passed a diving Ollie, who hadn’t had much to do apart from setting up a couple of goals. 8-2
Another rare raid down the right and the Knights number seven chips over Ollie’s head into the net for his hatrick! 8-3
Netley still had the lion’s share of possession and slick passing and movement again, resulted in a great move involving Dan, Mick and Jason playing their way out of trouble and moving the ball through Jake and Macca before Mike picked up the ball ran at the goal and the keeper pulled out a magnificent save.
A passage of play starved us of a goal for a while, but soon Ollie sent another long ball forward and Nudge outpaces the defence to run in goal number nine. 9-3
After a brilliant game Macca and Lewis were rested with Sol and Sam returning to play in midfield. Another very slick passing move between Dan and Sam found Sam playing a lovely ball down the channel inside the left back for Mike to run on to and delicately chip the keeper on the run for number ten. 10-3
Jake who had been magnificent again in midfield, was sent upfront to try and score a goal he deserved and although he got a lot of the ball and knitted passes together it was Sol, playing in Jake’s position that scored the final goal when a ball from Kieran on the left found Sol 30 yards out, he sidestepped a challenge then launched a rocket from 35 yards that the keeper couldn’t even move towards. 11-3
A fantastic effort from all 14 lads meant all 14 collected MOTM and the ghost of last season’s cup exit was exorcized!!
The match started well for the Royals with some sick passing and excellent movement off the ball. This lead to the first throw in of the game down the Royals left side. Jake’s throw found Macca who slipped the ball right to Lewis who sidestepped his marker and smashed the ball into the net from 25yards out. 1-0
Netley got hold of the ball from the resulting kick off and Sol galloped off down the right before sliding Josh through, who looked up and chipped the keeper from 20 yards out to bring the second goal. 2-0
The third came when another Jake throw in found Adam who looked up and crossed the ball from the left. The keeper came out to claim and fumbled the ball to Macca, who made no mistake firing hard and low to the keepers right. 3-0
Soon after it was four! A short corner routine between Sol and Lewis resulted in Sol curling the ball over the keepers head from the left hand side. 4-0
Another raid down the right found Sol linking up with Sam. Sol took the ball on past the defender and crossed into the box to find Josh running in and taking the ball on the volley to make it Five! 5-0
The Knights had a rare venture into Netley’s half and a throw in found the Knights number seven who took the ball on his chest, turned and smashed the ball passed the diving Ollie and into the net. 5-1
Back came Netley, now all over the Knights. A measured long ball from Ollie sailed over the Knights defence to the advancing Josh who was bearing down on the Knights goal. This time the keeper saved brilliantly only for the ball to bounce back into Sol’s path who cooly slotted home for number Six. 6-1
The last raid of the half resulted in goal number seven. Josh moved on to another ball from Ollie, shot, but had his shot saved again, but this time it came back to him and he sent the keepr the wrong way for his hatrick! 7-1
Half Time – Sol, Josh and Sam made way for Mike, Nudge and Kieran.
The second half started much the way the half ended. Great link up play between Dan and Adam, saw a beautiful chip into Mike’s path and he slotted in #8. 8-1
Back came the Knights and Kieran was in for a torrid half as the Knights #7 started to get more on the ball. He ran onto a long ball and slotted into the net passed a diving Ollie, who hadn’t had much to do apart from setting up a couple of goals. 8-2
Another rare raid down the right and the Knights number seven chips over Ollie’s head into the net for his hatrick! 8-3
Netley still had the lion’s share of possession and slick passing and movement again, resulted in a great move involving Dan, Mick and Jason playing their way out of trouble and moving the ball through Jake and Macca before Mike picked up the ball ran at the goal and the keeper pulled out a magnificent save.
A passage of play starved us of a goal for a while, but soon Ollie sent another long ball forward and Nudge outpaces the defence to run in goal number nine. 9-3
After a brilliant game Macca and Lewis were rested with Sol and Sam returning to play in midfield. Another very slick passing move between Dan and Sam found Sam playing a lovely ball down the channel inside the left back for Mike to run on to and delicately chip the keeper on the run for number ten. 10-3
Jake who had been magnificent again in midfield, was sent upfront to try and score a goal he deserved and although he got a lot of the ball and knitted passes together it was Sol, playing in Jake’s position that scored the final goal when a ball from Kieran on the left found Sol 30 yards out, he sidestepped a challenge then launched a rocket from 35 yards that the keeper couldn’t even move towards. 11-3
A fantastic effort from all 14 lads meant all 14 collected MOTM and the ghost of last season’s cup exit was exorcized!!
.....Our performance was outstanding...
Personally I think that our performance was outstanding and that we played really well, against a team who statistically should have wiped the floor with us.
From the beginning of the second half we knew that we pretty much had won the game, however we kept it cool and stayed far in front of our opposing team.
The whole team played well however personally I think that Sol, Josh and Nahiyan all stood out and played exceptional.
Hopefully this is the first of many wins to come throughout this season! - Mick
From the beginning of the second half we knew that we pretty much had won the game, however we kept it cool and stayed far in front of our opposing team.
The whole team played well however personally I think that Sol, Josh and Nahiyan all stood out and played exceptional.
Hopefully this is the first of many wins to come throughout this season! - Mick
