Poole Town Rovers

What a muddy game!
Today saw the visit of Poole Borough, currently sitting on equal points as us. This was always going to be a good test of where the boy’s season was heading. Poole Borough are a good physical side - equally us in many ways so i for one was really looking forward to the game. Last season we lost 1 and drew 1 with this team.
The weather was not going to stop this game going ahead and the boys were relishing getting wet & muddy (sorry parents!)
Kick-off saw Borough immediately put us under pressure and soon let it be known why they have won 4 already this season - a corner in the first few minutes saw an home goal flash in and we were quickly 1-0 down.
Another trait that has become obvious with all the boys is there willingness to fight - whereas last season heads would of dropped - this season it just lit the touchpaper. From our kick-off the boys were gunning for the equaliser and it soon came via a great volley courtesy of Oliver Allen’s right boot. The boys were back in it! As the boys settled down and gained confidence the passing started flowing and soon a further 2 goals were added to the score - both via George Saxon linking well with Wesley and Harry Hill. Jack Audrain making some fine saves towards the end of the half and Harry Thompson’s awesome job of stopping everything! Half-time 3-1.
Harry B and Harrison were added to the mix for the second half with Borough making a very spirited start via their terrifically fast and tricky forwards. The defencive partnership of Josh and Ollie is starting to gain in strength with both boys making huge interventions both with feet and head (if Josh remembers! after one huge headed clearance.)
A much grittier, closer half saw Borough pull one back and up the tempo - again Rovers rallied back and soon restored a great lead via well taken goals from Harry Bates and Oliver’s 2nd. Goal of the game honours again go to George for a thunderbolt of a goal for his hat-trick and our 6th, with Borough grabbing a late 3rd. Final score 6-3 to Rovers. Man of the Match was the tenacious Harry Thompson. The boys met this physical challenge head-on and discovered a new tool in the armery today - true resilience. Well done

This week Rovers were visiting Swanage for their 4th away game in 5 matches. Harry T and Joshua were rested this week and starts were given to Harry Hill and Mikey - both of whom had fabulous games showing great tracking back awareness and both producing unbelievable blocks when needed. Well done boys. Having no prior knowledge of Swanage it was always going to be an interesting game.
Very shortly after the start of the game Rovers scored their first goal - a well worked passing goal with Harry B the scorer. Rovers continued to take hold of the game ans soon a second followed - again courtesy of Harry B’s boot. Swanage are a good passing side and always pressed hard when they attacked. Oliver at the back did a sterling defensive job in clearing the danger and using width with his telling passes. The side really are starting to look like a very good side!
Wesley Knight picked up a well deserved ‘poachers’ goal being exactly where any striker should be when the ball whizzes across the penalty box. 3-0 was looking like a good scoreline. Then came, for me, the current goal of the season. Charlie in goal throw the ball to an unmarked Oliver out wide - a deadly raking pass up the line was met by George who in turn hit a thunderbolt into the opposition top corner. Pure class! 4-0 and the boys took their foot off the peddle for first time this season and Swanage capitilised with a scrappy but deserved goal. 4-1 half-time.
2nd half and Swanage were ready to go from the whistle - quickly pulling another goal back for the hosts, Rovers had to show character now and not let this slip away. They re-formed and with Harrison, Ali and Jack coming on gave us the new leg power to defend with confidence and attack with speed. Ali capping a fine passing move with a well taken goal.
The boys made hard work of the game today - but it is games like this that they learn from. Overall another strong team performance and another place in the league climbed. It is worth noting that the boys have now scored more goals in the opening 5 games then in the WHOLE of last season. Now that is something to be proud off. Well done again. MoM today Oliver Allen for a seasoned display and overall presence.

Our first home game of the season saw the current champions visit us. This is a team having put 16 goals past us in our last three matches together, with none in return.
The boys were nervous but of the back of the last two wins have started to believe in themselves and that in turn breeds success.
From the outset it was obvious the boys were up for a match of strength, having to be first to the ball each and every time and winning lost balls without fail.
They knew that they had a chance to inflict the first league defeat on Heights in a year and a half. Strong defending from both Joshua and Oliver ensured any attack against us constantly broke down and tracking back from Harry Thompson, George, Ali, Wesley, Harry Hill, Harrison & Charlie all doing a wonderful effort in tracking back with their opposite numbers and never letting the opposition settle. A typical dogged performance saw a well deserved goal taken by George and we were off the mark. Half-Time 1-0
The second half was always going to be a tense affair with both teams capable of stealing the game - Josh again being our last man of defence several times making the crucial tackle and when needed the ever reliable Jack in goal tidying up the loose balls.
A wonderful interception lead to a break from defence - several flowing passes later and a wonderful cross from oliver saw Ali grab the important 2nd goal - 2-0. In fairness to Heights their heads never dropped and they pushed Rovers right to the whisltle but in the end Rovers held on to another clean sheet and our 3rd consecutive win. Well deserved. MoM - George.

Win 10 - 0

Fresh off of last weeks win all the Boys were really fired up for this fixture, training had gone very well on Saturday morning with the whole session dedicated to passing and moving.

This game was to be a real test for us to see if what is being practiced could be converted into match day. Boy oh Boy could it!

A fairly slow first 5 minutes saw both teams size each over up, but Rovers went up a gear and soon were rewarded with a goal. From here on in Rovers controlled the game. Everyone knew their positions and patrolled them excellently. The ball hardly leaving Lychett’s half. A typical dogged display by Harry Thompson ensured that any stray balls were dealt with quickly and easily.

Half time saw the boys come in 4-0 to the good.

The boys were really determined to bag some more and the constant pressure of ensuring the reds were first to the ball almost 100% of the time was beginning to tell as the goals started to come thick and fast. Four from Harry Thompson, 3 from George, 1 from Ali, 1 from Harry Hill having a very spirited 2nd half and one from just inside the oppositions half by Oliver presented a very well deserved 10-0 scoreline.

The team was the man of the match today - they played all 50minutes with gusto and it really showed what hard work can produce. If the manager was to single anyone out to day it would be Mikey for a fantastic all round display of determination, concentration and pressure.

WELL DONE, I’M PROUD TO BE YOUR MANAGER!

Win 7-3

A new edition entered the side in the shape of George. A new friend of Olivers and Jacks from Baden Powell. And boy did he make an impact!

In what was undoubtedly the best team performance for a long time. The Rovers started out very strong and determined to win from the whistle. The first 15 minutes saw a fierce pace with both sides creating chances resulting in an incredible 3-3 at half-time. Standout performance from Josh at the back ensured that Rovers had the upper hand and when breaking from defence seemed to be able to score at will.

With George scoring a brace, Harry Thompson also scoring 2, Ali, Harrison and Wesley all grabbing one it seems the shooting practice is starting to pay off.

A rousing round of applause from the Rovers parents was well deserved to each and every lad today.

Final score 7-3

Man of the Match - Josh Williams for a stella defending effort (by himself at times) and George for a remarkable debut.

19th October Away win - 5-2 against Swanage

The start of the new season. And a tough first game, away to a strong and organised team in Wimborne. Having played them in a cup game some weeks earlier and holding them to a draw we had confidence in building on this.

Wimborne’s facilities were superb, and all the boys were keyed up to play what has become somewhat of our bogey team.

Unfortunately for us Jack Audrain pulled out of the game at late notice leaving us without a keeper. Oliver Allen was the volunteer to replace Jack but we soon found that losing him in defence was to prove our undoing, conceeding 3 very quick goals from the start.

A quick re-shuffle saw Oliver and Charlie change places and from here Rovers settled down and started to give Wimborne a game. Half-Time 3-0. A little pep talk gave the boys some gusto for the start of the second half resulting in dozens of chances and a well taken goal by Oliver Allen assisted by Harry Bates. The pressure on Wimborne was starting to tell with chances going begging several times, a quick break however saw Wimborne regain their 3 goal advantage.

Overall the boys should be proud of there comeback and never say no approach to the game. Mikey showed some great footwork losing two players in a single deft flick, and Charlie ‘the cat’ finding his new home when Jack is unavailable.

Man of the Match: Oliver Allen