Under 10s Match Reports:
26-01-08 AWAY V TWYFORD SPARTANS MILAN & INTER
KNOCKOUT CUP, FIRST ROUND
TWYFORD SPARTANS MILAN 1 HYFC COMETS 0
Typical full blooded commitment to the cause, and good positional play from both teams allowed the Comets and Twyford to defend well, Twyford probably having the better of the opening exchanges, but high levels of energy saw the Comets put in plenty of timely tackles. When the Comets did break out they did not find each other at the crucial moment and tracking back by Twyford ensured that after normal time the match remained mysteriously goal less.
The teams resumed for extra time, with more of the same commitment, however a long throw into the box was not cleared at the first attempt, and as the ball bounced up a Comets player instinctively raised his hand to the ball. From the resulting penalty Twyford scored the only goal of the match to progress to the second round.
HYFC COMETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH: CURTIS HOLWELL.
EXTRA FRIENDLY
TWYFORD SPARTANS MILAN 0 HYFC COMETS 2
Another evenly contested match that saw Twyford pass the ball well and force Curtis Holwell to palm the ball away to safety from a fierce shot. Good approach play saw Jack Hodge & Jonathan Kirk both fire wide for the Comets. The outstanding Holwell in the Comets goal was then forced to make a save a the oncoming Twyford strikers feet. In the second half the Comets seemed to get the upper hand, and when Jonathan Kirk fired across the goal, the ball crept in at the far post just as Jack Hodge showed excellent commitment to follow in and ensure the ball stayed firmly in the net. Late on another good through ball from Hodge found Kirk clear and he made no mistake with a well struck shot into the far corner.
HYFC COMETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH: DANIEL FOSTER
EXTRA FRIENDLY
TWYFORD SPARTANS INTER 4 HYFC ROCKETS 2
A fairly even start to the game, however the first goal proved decisive, and going to Twyford it boosted their confidence, they began to open up the Rockets defence and scored three more interspaced by the Rockets replying when a good through ball from Max Mortimore found Zac Lee who in turn found Jack Conway who scored on his debut. The other Rockets goal coming straight from a Jack Moxey bullet corner.
HYFC ROCKETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JACK CONWAY
EXTRA FRIENDLY
TWYFORD SPARTANS INTER 1 HYFC ROCKETS 0
A battling performance from the Rockets meant they had the lion's share of possession, but a lack of fire power & finesse in front of goal meant they could not take advantage and eventually one goal was enough to settle the match.
Regards,Darren McKenna, Heavitree Youth FC, Under 10s, Head Coach
HYFC Rockets Under 10s Matchday Reports, 19/01/08
Heavitree Rockets 2 - 1 Cullompton Tornadoes
The game started with the Tornadoes looking like a very strong side and it was clear the Rockets were not going to have an easy game. The first real attack came from the Rockets with some good play to get the ball into the penalty area where Elliott Murch, Jack Williams and Max Mortimer all managed to entangle their legs allowing the Tornadoes to clear the ball which should really have been in the back of the net. Tom Scrivens was playing some great defensive football that was both preventing the Tornadoes from scoring whilst ensuring that Elliott, who was today's captain, could lead by example from the mid-field with an excellent work rate. The Tornadoes eventually broke down the Rockets' defence with some great skills from their front man Ollie Wilkins, which eventually culminated in Euan Tinley scoring to make it 1-0 around the 10 minute mark. The first half finished 1-0 and was a really well and evenly contested half.
The second half began with the Rockets setting their stall out early with wave after wave of attacks, but not getting the lucky break they needed for some time. Ben Howkins, Max Mortimer and Elliott Murch continued to play some superb link-up football which saw Murch narrowly miss the target, Ben Howkins have a shot deflected and Max Mortimer push it wide. The constant hard work and team effort was rewarded when Elliot Murch fed the ball into the penalty area for Ben Howkins to slot in the equaliser. It would be fair to say that a draw was looking likely and would have not been unjust. However, Ben Howkins single-handedly from his own half decided he was going to take on the Tornadoes running through all comers to coolly slot home a fantastic ball to make it 2-1, which was how this game ended. Well done Rockets.
Man of the match: Ben Howkins
Heavitree Rockets 3 - 0 Cullompton Hurricanes
The Rockets lived up to their name, taking the lead after little more than 30 seconds of play. Zac Lee took the ball down the line, threaded it through to Jack Williams who crossed the ball to Ben Howkins who rifled home his third goal of the day into the bottom corner, giving the Cully keeper no chance. It was only 2 minutes later that the Hurricanes had a fantastic opportunity to equalise with their striker stood in front of an open goal a few yards out. Unfortunately for him and his team the ball somehow managed to creep wide of the post. The Rockets went 2-0 up with another sublime individual effort by Jack Williams that saw him spring from his own half to unleash a lethal shot from the edge of the box that would have been more suited to a senior player wearing a shirt with Gerrard on the back. The next phase of play for me was probably the best bit of individual footballing I had seen all morning, when Ben Howkins received the ball over his shoulder when he was running down the left wing, to lob it over head of the oncoming defender, meeting it on the other side of him, and then with his first strike hitting it into the area, where Zac Lee, Jack Williams, and Ben Howkins could not get the reward of the third goal after getting tangled up with one another.
The second half was all Rockets and after having a great game Zac Lee was rewarded when Ben Howkins threaded the ball to his feet in the box to finish the game off by making it 3-0. The Rockets from start to finish and back to front were a constant threat, showed the desire to win and had a fantastic work rate that any senior club manager would be proud to see in his team.
Man of the match: Nick Middleton
Match Report By: Russ Murch
HYFC Comets, Under 10s Matchday Reports, 19/01/08
Heavitree Rockets 4 - 0 Cullompton Hurricanes
The Comets got off to a good start when pocket dynamo, Daniel Foster crossed from the right for Louis Phillips to touch on into the path of William Gregory who made no mistake for the opener. Louis Phillips then had a hand in the Comets second when he set up Daniel Foster to run from the half way line and fire in convincingly. Matthew Preece then latched on to a pass out wide from Daniel Foster, he made good progress up the wing before cutting inside and firing into the top corner to give the Comets a 3-0 half time lead. In the second half an exchange of passes led to Louis Phillips bursting through to get the goal his performance deserved and the Comets fourth. The Comets played well as a team, working hard for each other and felt that they could easily have had a few more had it not been for resilient Cullompton defending and the things also breaking down in front of goal. Cullompton should have got on the score sheet as well but when the ball was played over the Comets keeper Edward McKenna got himself back on the line to take the ball on his chest, and recover well to clear and maintain Curtis Holwells clean sheet.
Man of the match: Louis Phillips
Heavitree Comets 0 - 1 Cullompton Tornadoes
The Comets made a slow start and conceded a soft goal to go one down. The Comets came alive and pussed forward in numbers, with Christian Ellis firing narrowly over the bar. The mobile Daniel Foster seemed to setting his team mates up time after time but in turn Jack Hodge missed, and then William Gregory spurned a glorious chance with only the keeper to beat from eight yards he snatched at the shot and it curled wide. Lack of composure in front of goal was spreading when Louis Phillips also shot wide. A spell of several corners only resulted in Christian Ellis shooting over the bar once more. As the Comets played good football, looking up when receiving the ball and using the width well, Jonathan Kirk was producing some thoughtful tricky wing play and when he did finally get the ball across Jack Hodge was on hand, but his shot hit the post, the Comets were playing really well and getting closer, but not close enough. As they pressed forward in numbers, the occasional gap started to appear and it needed two smart saves from Curtis Holwell, and a couple of timely interceptions from Edward McKenna to keep the Comets from going further behind, even if it did seem completely against the run of play. Finally time ran out for the Comets, lack of composure in front of goal and sometimes one pass too many over complicated things as they chased the equaliser. However a lot of encouragement for the future could be taken from their performance even in defeat.
Man of the match: Daniel Foster
Match Report By: Steve Cobley & Darren McKenna, HYFC Under 10s Coach
05-01-2008 HYFC UNDER 10s AWAY v ST MARTINS & NEWTON TOWN
ST MARTINS 0 HYFC COMETS 3
Hard work, tough tackling & discipline earned the Comets a hard fought win, in a fairly even contest it was always going to be who could score first, and it took a fine strike from William Gregory to set the Comets on their way. Edward McKenna marshaled his defence well and made some timely tackles as well as using his body well to shield the ball when he needed to. The all action Christian Ellis produced another fine display making sure he was at the heart of most things. This allowed man of the match Jeff Angila to spring forward from defence on several occaisions. It was one of these mazey runs that found Jack Hodge in a forward central area, and his through ball was latched onto by Louis Phillips who coolly slotted home to give the Comets a two goal advantage at half time. St. Martins had some good possession in the second half and came forward in numbers, but timely blocks and interceptions meant the Comets limited them to only a few half chances or long range shots that were expertly dealt with by Comets keeper Curtis Holwell. Late in the match the Comets forced a string of corners, and it was from one of these that Christian Ellis delivered a quick low ball and good movement in the box from Daniel Foster (on as half time sub for William Gregory), caused an off balance clearance from a St. Martins player to fall at the feet of Louis Phillips at the far post, and he made no mistake in scoring his second of the match.
HYFC COMETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JEFF ANGUILA, FOR GOOD DEFENDING AND TIRELESS RUNNING
NEWTON TOWN 1 HYFC COMETS 6
On a slippery surface the Comets produced some good attacking play, using the better ground out wide on the wings where the tricky Jonathan Kirk kept cutting inside to set up team mates time & time again as well as helping himself to a hatrick, the best of which was a good pass & move link up play, with Matthew Preece who was now fit and returning to action after several weeks out of football with a broken metatarsal. Also on the score sheet was Daniel Foster whose tireless hardwork should have been rewarded with more than just the one goal. Other Scorers were Christian Ellis, and a hotly disputed goal that saw Edward McKenna, (a defender on as an out & out Striker), at last get one of several efforts on target, only for Matthew Preece to get the final touch as it rolled over the line. However as the Comets poured forward they became a bit tired and were caught out a few times, leaving Curtis Holwell in goal make some fine stops as he came out well at the feet on Newton Towns attackers. Newton Town did get a well deserved goal for their efforts, as they plugged on, a long range shot was treated a bit casually by the Comets keeper, it dipped just in front of him and skidded on the wet surface staying low the ball found the bottom corner.
HYFC COMETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH JONATHAN KIRK FOR HATRICK & TRICKY PLAY WIDE ON THE RIGHT.
NEWTON TOWN 1 HYFC ROCKETS 1
The early moments of this game saw scrappy play from both sides and the first real chances went to the Rockets with Connor Goldsmith and Jack Williams both hitting the woodwork early on. The Rockets throughout the first half applied constant pressure and when needed, which was not often, defended very well. Jack Williams had some outstanding moves in the first half with some Ronaldo-like footwork which culminated in him scoring a superb individual goal around the 10 minute mark, which was how the first half ended.
After starting the second half in a much more positive way both sides looked like that they would be able to score but the equalizing goal came from a speculative, if not somewhat bizarre, punt from the half-way line which lobbed Kieran the goalkeeper and left everybody wondering what had happened. That was the only real attack on the Rockets' goal and the highlight of the match for me was watching Nick Middleton and Ben Howkins run from their own half, playing some great interlinking balls between each other which finished with Ben Howkins firing the shot, which was only denied by the woodwork yet again.
A great first game back after the Christmas break for the Rockets and a superb team effort. Well done lads.
HYFC ROCKETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JACK WILLIAMS FOR WELL TAKEN GOAL & TIRELESS EFFORT.
ST MARTINS 8 HYFC ROCKETS 0
By contrast to their first game, the scoreline indicates their second game after the Christmas break was not such a good one. The first kick of the game was a shot from St Martins who were very quick of the blocks and clearly looking to avenge the 3-0 defeat the Comets inflicted on them in their first game. Within a couple of minutes St Martins had taken a hold of the game and went 1-0 up with a wonder strike that was closely followed in the next minute by an equally great shot, making it 2-0. Five minutes later a rare mistake for Kieran Renton in goal allowed St Martins to go one goal further ahead and the first half finished with one more goal to make it 4-0 after the Rockets seemed to be giving St Martins the luxury of far too much time and space to play.
The second half started better for the Rockets with a change in formation that saw them with three at the back and it took St Martins until half-way through this half before their broke down the defence once more to make it 5-0, then twice more and thrice more within the next 3 minutes, making it 7-0. The final goal came after a lapse in concentration for the Rockets at the back which saw a goal mouth scramble come out in favour of St Martins, who finished the game deserved winners.
HYFC ROCKETS PLAYER OF THE MATCH: DANIEL BENNETT FOR NEVER GIVING UP.
Regards,Darren McKenna, Heavitree Youth FC, Under 10s, Head Coach