COLTS U14 WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION 1

THE U14 'A' TEAM
 

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U14 A Team Match Reports

City did not fare well at the South round of this Championship. The draw, which meant that City had to play all their games without a break (15 minutes between games) and, with the exception of the first game, against teams that had a rest period prior to the match, put them at a severe disadvantage. Also City’s inability to score when dominating the game cost them dearly throughout the day.

St. Edward’s School (Oxford) 2 City 0

City opened their campaign well by putting St. Edward’s under constant pressure, but were unable to find the net. For most of the first half City bombarded their goal only to go 1 - 0 down when St. Edward’s launched their first attack - a quick counter was finished off by a shot which gave John Beswick little chance. Throughout the second half City still made the chances, but when influential skipper JJ Seager was hit on the knee and had to be carried off they soon went further behind from a harshly awarded penalty stroke.

St. George’s College (Surrey) 3 City 0

City started this match without JJ Seager against St. George’s who were playing their first match, and with little time to recover. City went 1 - 0 down very quickly from a penalty corner, and had to dig deep to thwart a very good hard running side. When St. George’s went 2 - 0 up shortly before half time City had a mountain to climb. City played better in the second half and took the game to St. George’s but again failed to score, and conceded a third late in the game.

Bradfield College (Berkshire) 3 City 2

Again a rested Bradfield side came at City strongly at first and were awarded a penalty stroke. John Beswick was equal to the task and made a fine save. City responded to this and took the lead when Ben Knight latched onto a loose ball to thrash the ball high into the net. City went further ahead in the second half when Richard Smith drove into the circle and unleashed another unstoppable rising shot high into the net. Unfortunately the toll of having no rest and the cold wet conditions was having serious effects on the City side and with ten minutes remaining JJ Seager limped off to retire from the tournament and Bradfield pulled a goal back. City also had Richard Smith and Gary Over suffering and could not find the answers to Bradfield’s final efforts, which saw them, grab the points with two late strikes.

Reed’s School (Surrey) 4 City 1

All of City’s players were really suffering now and could not find any answers to Reed’s attacks. They gamely tried to compete but exhaustion from having no respite from the wet and playing without a break was too much. Reed’s took a two-goal lead before City struck back with a fine goal by Robert Wilson. With Gary Over having to go off and Chris Boyland suffering an injury this meant that City had to reshuffle again and two further goals in the second half sealed City’s fate.

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City made hard work of progressing through to the semi-finals of the Hampshire Cup. Throughout the game City dominated but could not find the necessary touch in the circle to convert this into goals. In the first half John Beswick, in the City goal, was a spectator as Basingstoke had difficulty getting into the City half, let alone the circle. Unfortunately this constant pressure made City's task difficult as Basingstoke defended in numbers, and their defence were quicker to pounce onto the loose ball. Although Basingstoke conceded numerous penalty corners, poor injections meant that City were unable to capitalise. City's best chance fell to JJ Seager who made room for himself in the circle, but his rising reverse stick shot cannoned off the outside of the post. On the other occasion when Richard Smith's shot rebounded off the post City were too slow to react to convert.

After the interval City again kept the pressure on the Basingstoke goal but Basingstoke survived. When City did make shooting chances poor finishing coupled with unpunished crude tackling from Basingstoke did not help. With ten minutes remaining City took the lead from a penalty corner. Having frustrated the initial strike the ball was worked to JJ Seager who's rising shot went in just under the crossbar. Despite Basingstoke's protests the goal stood. City should have made the game save, but a poor 16-yard hit put City under pressure, and they conceded their first penalty corner. From this Basingstoke's shot was only half saved by John Beswick and the ball trickled into the net to set up a penalty stroke competition.

JJ Seager's stroke hit the post, and Basingstoke scored to take the lead. However, John Beswick did not concede another goal in and Richard Smith's effort put the scores level. After five strokes the score was still 1 - 1 and the competition went into sudden death. JJ Seager scored low in the corner, and when Basingstoke's effort was saved City were through to the semi-finals.

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City took the field without five first choice players due to Divisional and holiday commitments. However the side still boasted Eight County players. It did not take City long to stamp their authority on this match as they passed the ball around and made Petersfield chase shadows. However City failed to turn their initial pressure into goals until Charlie Upson found space on the right. Making inroads onto the back line the ball was pulled back to Richard Smith who thumped the ball into the net. Shortly after Charlie had to come off for a while after being hit by a clumsy tackle, but City continued to play with style. The lead was extended when Petersfield, were robbed of the ball on a rare attack and City swept forward on the counter. As the ball was passed forward to Robert Wilson he drove into he circle and committed the keeper before sliding the ball square to Ben Knight to run it into an empty goal. Robert Wilson then grabbed himself a brace of goals as City ran Petersfield ragged. Just before the interval Charlie Upson's cross eluded the Petersfield defence and Ben Knight had the easiest of chances at the far post.

Petersfield packed their defence in the second half to try and limit further damage, and City found it difficult to break them down. Ben knight was on hand to complete his hat trick, but with the game well won City could not raise their game sufficiently to increase the lead. As the game continued Petersfield had one or two chances but Chris Boyland and Matt Harper were more than equal to the task.

City now play either Bournemouth or Basingstoke in the quarterfinals on March 4th.

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City progressed to the South rounds of the National competition by eventually defeating a game Lord Wandsworth College side. City fielding a side completely comprised of county players should have won this game comfortably, and after the initial spell it was thought that the only it was only going to be a matter of how many. However somehow Lord Wandsworth College somehow survived the stern examination, as City were unable to find the necessary touch to put the ball into the goal. After surviving several penalty corners Lord Wandsworth College broke on a quick counter attack which resulted in a penalty corner. Against the run of play this was converted and City were 1 - 0 down. Again siege was laid on the Lord Wandsworth College goal, but to no avail. Several penalty corners were wasted by City, and worse was to follow. With no pressure City were caught in possession over elaborating in defence, and Lord Wandsworth College pounced to extend their lead. City wasted several chances and went into the halftime interval 2 - 0 down.

City continued to pound on the Lord Wandsworth College defence but their increasingly frustrated attacks lacked the necessary width to penetrate, and Lord Wandsworth College had a golden opportunity to increase their lead, but John Beswick managed to foil the chance. With twelve minute remaining City finally converted a penalty corner when Richard Smith struck a fierce shot which comprehensively beat the advancing keeper. City sensed that the game could be salvaged swept forward and when the ball was switched across the face of the goal Sam Sykes was on hand to convert. In the final five minutes City went for the winner, but Lord Wandsworth College held out to take the game to penalty strokes. JJ Seager put City 1 - 0 after John Beswick saved Lord Wandsworth College's first attempt. Unfortunately Ben Knight and Richard Smith missed their strokes, but Lord Wandsworth College also could not beat Beswick to take advantage. When Chris Batchelor converted, and Lord Wandsworth College missed their final stroke City were through to the South Finals on March 11th.

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City of Portsmouth 2 Southampton 1 (14/1/2001)

City progressed into the final of the Hampshire round of the English Schools Cup with a hard fought win against Southampton. City boasted Eleven County Under 14 or 13 players in their line-up, and Southampton nine. City were stronger in defence, but Southampton had the edge in attack, so the battle for midfield dominance was going to be very important. It had all the hallmarks of a tense match and the game lived up to the pre-match speculation.

City started well with Seager and Smith getting the better of the early exchanges, but City were unable to penetrate into the Southampton circle, and a period of dominance did not produce a single threat on goal. As Southampton settled their fast forwards stretched City's defence on more than one occasion and half chances began to appear. Beswick was busy covering his goal from shots that went just wide of his post. Twice he had to make fine saves as Danny Morgan, the Southampton centre forward, found room to send rasping shots towards the top corners of the goal. City were finding it difficult to relieve the pressure, as they were unable to get behind the Southampton defence. City, however, held firm until ten seconds before the interval. Southampton took a quick free hit at the edge of the circle and Danny Morgan got the smallest of touches to put the ball past John Beswick. It was no more than Southampton deserved after dominating large portions of the half.

City responded well after their halftime talk and immediately increased the tempo of their game to test the Southampton defence. Richard Smith shot high from the first penalty corner of the half, and City sensed that there was light at the end of the tunnel. Under the prompting of their midfield Ben Knight, Liam Green and Rob Wilson were finding room, and a series of crude tackles from Southampton resulted in further penalty corners. From their third City equalised, Richard Smith found himself just enough time to slam the ball just inside the post giving the Southampton keeper no chance. The tide had turned and City were now asking most of the questions in attack, and the defence competently coped with the Southampton counterattacks. City's pressure paid off when they took the lead from yet another penalty corner conceded by an increasingly ragged Southampton defence. This time JJ Seager worked an opening for himself on the right to smash his shot wide of the keeper. Just before the ball crossed the line DFOY Knight slid in to deflect the ball in just under the crossbar to steal the goal. Southampton threw players forward in search of the equaliser, but were continually thwarted by City's stout defence. Their best chance came in the final minutes, but the shot sailed so high over the bar that it cleared the safety fence behind. City now wait to find out their opponents in the Hampshire final on February 4th. The winners of the final will go on to represent Hampshire in the South rounds later in late February or early March.

Team Beswick, Laly, Batchelor, Boyland, Over. Batten, Seager, Smith, Sykes, Green, Knight, Wilson

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Havant 2 City of Portsmouth 3 (10/12/2000)

City started the match with a makeshift team due to having five players away at Divisional Trials and another unavailable. However contingency plans were made to get a carload back as soon as possible. City started in a determined fashion and the midfield was fiercely contested with Smudge and Ben working hard to forge a quick understanding. City made early inroads into the Havant defence, and went close several times, but were unable to get the ball into the net. Havant adapting to the difficult bouncing pitch grabbed the lead when they made room on the left, and the ball crept in at the near post with Chunky wrong-footed. City bounced back very quickly with Ben Knight getting space inside the circle to slot the ball just inside the post. Havant got the ball into City's goal on a second occasion from a penalty corner, but the shot was just outside the circle. City did not heed the warning and minutes later Havant regained the lead when they were left to shoot uncontested from the next penalty corner. The missing players from Divisional trials arrived to enable Chris Batchelor and Gary Over to came on to give the defence stability, and JJ Seager reinforced the midfield. The game slowly went City's way and Ben Knight put City on even terms as City put together a slick passing move from deep in their own half which tore the Havant defence to shreds.

In the second half the game lost much of its shape as Havant contested the ball, and City's players showed signs of fatigue. As the game was being stifled in midfield Havant managed some fast counter attacks down the flanks, but Matt Harper and Chris Batchelor were too strong and John Beswick was very rarely threatened in goal. City also found the Havant defence in a mean mood and were unable to fashion clear shooting opportunities as Havant massed their defence. City eventually took the lead through Chris Stone who was on hand to turn the ball into goal. Most of the remainder of the game was contested in Havant's half, but there was no further goals.

Man-of-the-Match: Matt Harper for his stalwart defence and cool play.

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Haslemere Under 14 2 City of Portsmouth Under 13 2 (26/10/2000)

As Haslemere had withdrawn from the league City took the opportunity to play a friendly match by fielding a young side of under 13s and below against Haslemere Under 14s. City started this fixture in a dominant mood and it was not long before their slick inter changing passing brought rewards. In a flowing attack down the left City suddenly swept the ball through midfield out to the right. Before Haslemere could reorganise their defence the ball was drilled back to Tom Newport to open the scoring. Haslemere were put on the back foot and ten minutes later conceded a second. Richard Smith shot beat the keeper, but rebounded off the post. However San Sykes was the fastest to react to turn the ball into the goal with his reverse stick. City were now calling all the shots, but could not find the finishing touch to add to their tally. The Haslemere keeper further frustrated the City forwards with several fine saves. Towards the end of the first half City’s concentration began to flag and they were slow to get back to cover a counter attack and Haslemere pulled a goal back.

The second half saw City continue to call the shots, but opportunities were wasted in front of goal. Sam Sykes made and missed several chances, and countless other shots went narrowly wide. Haslemere were reduced to smashing the ball out of defence and trying to hit city on the break. Chris Boyland and Matt Harper coped well with these attempts. With two minutes remaining City were made to pay dearly for their failure to convert chances into goals when a speculative cross from the left found an unmarked forward on the far post to give Haslemere an equaliser. It was a worthwhile run out for next year’s under 14 side, and, except for the finishing, they played good open hockey, which will bear fruit in the future.

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City of Portsmouth 1 Southampton 0 (29/10/2000)

Southampton came to Portsmouth with a 100% record of three wins out of three in the league. They were without their influential Hampshire player, Swinto, but City were missing three influential players -Gary Over, Sam Sykes and Chris Stone.

The game started with Southampton playing with the wind at their backs and applied early pressure, and City struggled to get the ball out of defence. Pinning City in the left hand corner Southampton were making all the attacking moves, but for all their possession and effort they couldn't penetrate into City's circle, and John Beswick did not have to touch the ball. Gradually City weathered the storm and battled their way back into the match. JJ and Smudger were finding a little more room and the siege was lifted. Steve Batten was getting more of the ball on the right wing, and he linked intelligently with Ben Knight and Rob Wilson up front. City still had to work hard to stifle Southampton's now occasional attacks, but more and more questions were being asked of the Southampton defence. With ten minutes of the first half left City had to battle a second storm, but this one was one that blew up from the Solent, and drenching rain dampened the spirits of both sides. Just before half time City took the lead when Smudger thrashed a wickedly dipping shot from a penalty corner which the keeper could only help into the net.

At half time coach Pete Atkins managed to get a better shape to City's play. Instead of battling down dead ends City moved the ball around the pitch with greater fluency and authority. Southampton were now being pinned further and further into their own half, and the chances were going City's way. Steve Batten, Ben Knight and Rob Wilson were getting behind the defence and City scorned several chances. JJ Seager had the chance to increase the lead from the penalty spot after a crude tackle, but his flick was well saved. However Southampton were unable to get the ball out of their own 25 yard line, let alone the half way, and unless City did anything silly at the back, the game was theirs. Eventually the final whistle went for City to record a well-deserved win, and they were only disappointed that the margin was not greater.

Scorer: Smith

Team: Seswick, Laly, Batchelor, Harper, Boyland, Batten, Smith, Seager, Green, Knight, Wilson.

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City of Portsmouth 3 Reed's School 1 (15/10/2000)

This was an extra game that the team did not need, but it turned out to be a stern test of the character of the side. City got on top early on and it initially looked as though City would be able to stroll through the game and leave a lot in reserve for the next game, a league encounter with Fareham. Unfortunately Reed's gradually settled and began to turn the tide of City's attacks to mount pressure themselves. City regained the initiative when City were awarded a penalty corner. Smudge "dummied" his first strike to side step the Reed's No. 1 runner and his pass to the far post was swept home by Ben Knight. Reed's tried hard to get back on even terms, but found City's defence in resolute form. Chris Batchelor was strength at the back and Jon Beswick marshalled the back four well. Unfortunately Reed's capitalised on a poor bit of defence when Jes Laly took his stick off the ball to clear; a forward was on hand to ram the ball home.

At half time the teams were on even terms and the game could have gone either way. Reed's pushed hard for the breakthrough but were continually thwarted, but City could not gain the initiative either in midfield. Both teams countered well stretching the opposition defence, but the difference was that City coped easier without conceding penalty corners whereas Reed\rquote s did not. The turning point in the game was when John Beswick turned a vicious shot onto his post for a long corner, and City scored soon after. From a penalty corner Smudger hit wide of the goal was turned in by Rob Wilson. As Reed's got more desperate City opened up their defence with dangerous counters and Jon Locke sealed the victory with City's third.

Scorers: Knight, Wilson, Locke

Team: Beswick, Laly, Batchelor, Harper, Boyland, Batten, Seager, Smith, Locke, Knight, Wilson, Over

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Fareham 1 City of Portsmouth 2 (15/10/2000)

With just 45 minutes travelling/rest break between the games City ran onto Fareham's pitch for another match. If we had realised that Fareham had beaten Trojans two weeks ago we might not have decided to play this double header. However City started brightly with JJ and Smudge getting early control of mid field, and City were soon applying pressure on Fareham's defence. Chances came but shot either went straight to the keeper, or went tantalisingly wide. Eventually Rob Wilson provided City with the first goal as he wriggled aplomb the baseline to lay the ball onto Ben Knight\rquote s open stick. Ben (deadly from one yard) Knight swept the ball home with aplomb. City settled but were unable to extend the lead, even though they had several more chances.

As halftime came and went City were visible tiring and their shape and pattern of play gradually broke down. Promising moves trailed off due to poor first touch, or the inability to make the decisive run. With twenty minutes to go City extended their lead from a penalty corner. JJ's flick was saved just under the crossbar, but Ben (deadly from one yard) Knight was again on hand to step in for his second. { In the last three matches Ben had scored eight goals - all from about one yard out} Fareham replied almost immediately with a well worked goal, but City were not in the mood to give up three points and held out until the end of another thoroughly entertaining match.

Scorers: Knight (2)

Team: Beswick, Laly, Batchelor, Harper, Boyland, Batten, Seager, Smith, Locke, Knight, Wilson, Over

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City of Portsmouth 10 Winchester 0 (1/10/2000)

Having suffered two defeats from Winchester last season when, arguably, we were the better team on both occasions. It was with great satisfaction that we demolished them today. Starting tentatively City were wary of Winchester's forwards, and several moves broke down because the midfield tried to force the ball through, and City's forwards were thwarted several times because they took too long getting their shots away. However, soon JJ and Smudge took control of midfield and released young Steve Batten several times down the right flank. There he quickly settled down to a neat understanding with Rob Wilson and Winchester's defence began to rock. Ben Knight took advantage of City's superiority and was there at the end of several fine moves to score. By halftime City were 3 - 0 up and Winchester were there for the taking. Only fine goalkeeping from the Hampshire number 2 prevented City from doubling their tally.

The second half saw no diminishing of City's supremacy with goals going in with regularity. City were moving the ball around so well that Winchester were reduced to chasing shadows and trying to pack their defence to limit the damage. City, however, continued to find gaping holes in the defence and scored another seven goals.

Scorers: Knight (5), Smith (3), Batten (1) and Locke (1).

Team: Beswick, Laly, Batchelor, Harper, Boyland, Batten, Seager, Smith, Locke, Knight, Wilson

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