Unbeaten Start to the Season Continues

On another sunny Sunday morning the U11s looked to build on last week's opening victory with a game against Marlow Royals, who spent the second half of last season playing in a division higher than us.

We lined up in our usual formation and the first twenty minutes of the game were extremely tight with little goalmouth action. This soon ended when Kaelin Shaw's shot was fumbled by the visiting keeper and Andrew Carr gambled and was on hand to prod home the opening goal.

Marlow soon equalised when our defence fell asleep (the only mistake they made all half) to allow a Marlow attacker to score with a well taken close range header.

With half time approaching the boys regained the lead. The ball sat up nicely for Elliott Behan around 20 yards out and he thundered a strike into the top right hand corner of the goal for our second long range goal in as many weeks.

After a little half time tinkering the boys went two goals ahead early in the second half, substitute James Gibson broke on the right and played the ball to Kaelin Shaw whose slide rule cross was put home by Josh Harrison.

Marlow then reduced the deficit from the penalty spot before goalkeeper Oliver Foster pulled off 2 or 3 excellent saves to keep us ahead.

Marlow did however equalise from a free kick with around 5 minutes left at which point manager Lee made a few tactical changes in order to see the game out and secure the draw.

Manager Lee commented after the game:-

"Another pleasing performance and a game that we would have won on another occasion. Marlow are a strong, well organised side and I was pleased that we coped very well against them. I thought our defence was magnificent today, the trio of Charlie Davis, Nathan Bosworth and Aqib Zahir were very rarely beaten and if they carry on developing at the rate they are will all turn into top class defenders. To think we were missing three players today who would have performed just as well in defence shows how good a squad we have.

I am also pleased with our options in the middle of the pitch today. In the middle we had Josh Harrison and Elliott Behan who both work tirelessly for the team for the entire 60 minutes. On the right we had Josh Cotton and James Gibson who are completely different players and enable us to switch the style of play down that side if required. Josh is strong and physical and can deliver the ball well when he wants to whilst James is a quick pacy player who loves to get full backs on the back foot. Down the left we had the ever reliable Andrew Carr who is just every manager's dream with his commitment, attitude and talent.

Another special mention also has to be made for our lone frontman Kaelin Shaw who hasn't yet scored himself this season but set up all three goals today and is willing to work hard and drop back to help defend when an attack breaks down. As is the case with all good strikers once that the first goal comes the rest will no doubt follow!

Our two other subs today - Nelson Nkanzei and Jack Rollins both came on and performed very well. Nelson's game is a mix of the skilful and physical which is great and Jack is progressing into a solid defender who always does what I ask of him and is looking more and more confident with every game he plays.

As for our goalkeeper Oliver, he just gets better and better with every game and has now started specialist goalkeeper training in the week which will be brilliant for both him and the team.

This coming Sunday we travel to Seer Green United in another tough encounter and I hope to have a few of the boys that were missing today available as it makes me proud and excited to see every member of the squad performing in the nine a side version of the game how I knew they could before the start of the season."