Hill engage the Treasurers Cup EJA U14

CODICOTE FC  u14 - 1

BUCKHURST  HILL  u14 - 9

On a cold a wet morning Hill find themselves feeling like Liverpool, knocked out of the Champions league and playing Thursday night football in the Europa! but like Jose the gaffer wanted a professional performance and to progress in the competition.

The boys didn't switch on for the first five minutes and if you don't focus you will get punished. The home side started brightly and on their first attack after Hill had given away possession they found acres of space in the box which left the forward with time to find the  bottom corner. 0-1

In many ways it was probably what Hill needed as they showed why they are a good side. Immediately they started to win tackles and play with the ball. Brookes who had a good game and seems to be enjoying his free role picked up the ball from the home side's goal kick and run straight through the defence but sees his shot hit the side netting. Grace from the next goal kick does exactly the same and his shot flashes across the goal. Hill are now on top and it feels like only a matter of time before we are level.

A few minutes later Ewing picks up the ball just in his own half and plays a ball over the top for Bolton to chase, he shows good strength out muscling the centre half and coolly lobs the keeper. 1-1

Now the turn of Harris to play it forward, Grace shows strength and pace and slots home. 1-2

The home side have been on the back foot but break away only for S Barrett the save well and quickly release King down the right. He finds the feet of Harris who shows a deft first time touch into the feet of Dackombe who picks it up in his own half and takes off on a amazing run beating five players and going through on goal only to see the ball bobble past the post after chipping the keeper.

Brookes then gets the goal his play had deserved, picking the ball up 35 yds out beats the defender and buries the ball in the bottom corner. 1-3

Brookes again is involved in the fourth. Showing lightening pace from the halfway line leaves the fullback standing and gets to the byline where he cuts the ball back to the penalty spot. Ewing who had started his run just outside his own box arrives to side foot the ball first time into the bottom corner, very Lampard esque! 1-4

Just before halftime a Brookes corner finds Harris a yard out and he volleys home. 1-5

Halftime 1-5

This is also an appropriate time to mention how the ref complemented one of the coaches for taking the ball out of the sky with snow on it with the outside of his foot killing it dead. Gazza you know that won't be the scouse coach!!!!

The second half gets under way and immediately both subs on at halftime have a big influence in the game (the gaffer was very quick to point out where the credit should go, rightly so too) H Barrett plays the ball upfield to Bolton who again shows good strength and determination to win the ball and then hold off the centre half. He plays in Swan who with his fist touch of the match hits the bottom corner. 1-6

Hill who are now totally in control break at will and see several efforts go narrowly wide. The home side although down but are not out and S Barrett makes a good save to tip a very good shot around the post.

H Barrett again plays the ball forward and this time Grace is hand to burst clear and hit a pile driver into the roof of the net. 1-7

Within a minute Grace is away again, this time the keeper gets a hand to it but the power is too much and the ball settles in the back of the net. 1-8

Grace now running at will gets his fourth of the game when unleashing from the edge of the box giving the keeper no chance. 1-9

A game played in good spirit and we thank all involved from Codicote for their hospitality.

Another little nugget for Gazza as a certain coach and no names mentioned but I used to play against him often and nothing has changed, tried a few keepie upies and typically hit his shin and knocked it 20yards onto the pitch whilst the game was in play.... At least now he keeps it on the pitch!!!

Just one more thing and I think it has been mentioned to a few if not all of you and that is we would like a couple more volunteers to be hacks. The pay isn't very good. The  need to know about football is limited,all those that have spoken to Paul about Liverpool will understand what I mean....  On a serious note it would mean one report about every four games and some different views would be welcome.

Please drop Russ an email if you are interested (which means we do need somebody)  

From Russ,Dean,Darren and the three hacks have a great Xmas and see you in the New Year.

London Cup U14 3rd Round, 14-12-14

Teviot Rangers FC 1-11 Buckhurst Hill FC (Royals)

I think all the fans, players and managers were just pleased to have a game today after a run of postponed matches and waterlogged pitches. Despite the ground being a bit on the frosty side the game went ahead and Hill ran out comfortable and well deserved winners. Clearly the hunger of no games in recent weeks had whetted their appetite and Teviot took the brunt of that.

Hill started really brightly and could have been 2 up inside 3 minutes. Firstly in the opening minute some good pressure in midfield released Redhead whose shot was deflected narrowly wide. From the corner a chance fell to Brookes who hit it well but again just wide. In the 3rd minute Dackombe had a strong run down the right got behind and round the fullback and cut it back but that was cleared. 

It looked like Hill were going to steamroller the opposition, but a shock after 5 minutes put us one down. A long throw from Teviot was headed into the box and Barret came out to collect on the corner of the 6 yard box..but a fluke googlie like bounce turned the ball straight past him into the net 0-1.

Hill took a few minutes to recover from that punch to the belly but on 10 minutes got level again When Brookes went on a great run down the left and hit a superb cross which REDHEAD finished from close range. 1-1.

Hill nearly went ahead 2 minutes later when Grace released Dackombe with a super cross field diagonal ball. The winger again got round the back of the fullback and beat the keeper on the near post, but the ball spun off the inside of the post and somehow bounces across the lijn and out. We didn’t have to wait much longer though. 1 minute later and a corner falls to BROOKES on the edge of the box and the little wizard slams in from 20 yards 2-1.

Amazingly the score stays at 2-1 to half time. Despite Hill having the better of the pay the scoreline is a bit tighter than it should be. The gaffer makes a subtle change. G. Johnson just playing a little too deep is asked to step a touch forward and get on the ball more to play shorter passes in midfield as opposed to the longer ball we had been playing.

Start of the 2nd half and the change makes an immediate impact. After 3 mins of the half. Johnson wins the ball in a bit more of an advanced position, plays a nice ball out wide to REDHEAD who cruises forward and fires home from 18 yards. 3-1 and Hill looking good for the score now.

2 minutes later and we make it 4 when Redhead strikes a powerful effort that the keeper just can’t hold and BOLTON is very sharply onto the rebound to slot home. 4-1.

Hill looking more confident on the ball now and playing better controlled passing. Half way through the half Brookes plays a nice ball out to Redhead, he plays the ball over the centre half and HARRIS in a good position and having a really strong game volleys home from 15 yards to deservedly get on the scoresheet. 5-1.

At this point Cheviot seem to capitulate unfortunately. They had been game all the way through and played some decent football but they now start to look a little ragged and Hill accelerate away. REDHEAD makes it 6-1 on 16 minutes after beating a couple of players and calmly finding the corner from 18 yards.,

On 17 minutes Redhead fires another shot in that the keeper just can’t hold and BOLTON is on hand again. 7-1. 3 minutes later and it’s 8-1 after Brookes win a brave a strong header despite a strong challenge from a couple of Teviot midfielders. BOLTON capitalises on it runs onto the ball and lifts it wide of the keeper on the angle from 12 yards.

Hill then leave their final flurry for the last few minutes. On 28 minutes Grace drills a great cross to the far post which finds Harris who plays a great header back across goal and BOLTON who now firmly has the taste for goal, reacts quickest, leaps onto the headed cross and heads home from close range. 9-1. 2 minutes later and we reach double figures when HARRIS gets another deserved goal 10-1 and finally GRACE makes it 11-1 with just 3 minutes left to play.

So a very comfortable win in the end and some great finishing. Clearly Hill will face more difficult assignments if we are to reach the final, but you can only beat what’s in front of you and they did it with menacing efficiency today.