Cranfield Colts FC

The Keepers Report

Sunday 31^st August

Cranfeild Colts U16- 2 -v- Bedford Park Rangers U16-3

Referee-Craig Freestone

It was a typical English summer afternoon, the sun was not to be seen and it had just started to drizzle. This was to be the setting for newly managed Cranfield Colts to get their first taste of under 16 football. With almost all of the old faithfull’s and four New players; Dom, Alex, Graeme and James, Cranfield had a squad of 15 and were looking to give BPR (Bedford Park Rangers) a good game.

The game started, and the first half was a very open half of football. New boss Tony Freestone was experimenting with his new squad so substitutions were a regular occurrence. BPR had the most possession but they failed to make any penetrative attacks. BPR’s best chances came from free kicks half way into the Cranfield half, BPR had 3 or 4 big players and they loaded Cranfield’s box. Central defenders Jack and Dom headed most away but BPR did have 2 close shots and one saved. Towards the end of the half Cranfield started to come back into the game, notably Rob and Nick started to put some passing moves together down the left which created chances. The highlight of the first half came from debutant Alex. The ball was laid back to him from inside the box and he let rip a powerful and accurate left foot belter from 25 yards which was brilliant tipped onto the crossbar by BPR’s goalkeeper, this then resulting in Andy laying the ball back across the box for Mark to have shot which went just wide. By the end of the 40 minutes neither of the two sides had scored and left the pitch to listen to what their coaches had to say.

The second half started just the same as the first it stayed open with BPR having more of the chances but still not getting the vital first goal. Eventually the first goal did come, and it went the way of BPR. The ball was played out from right back into the centre of midfield to BPR’s lively forward, who had been substituted on at half time. He then ran at the defence but was tackled by defender Dom. The ball was then picked up by BPR’s left winger who beat Tom, Cranfield’s right back, and put a hanging cross into Cranfield’s six yard box, where it was met by BPR’s right winger who headed the ball into the back of the net. Goalkeeper Jack and left back Michael will be disappointed that the ball even reached the goal’s scorer. The game restarted and Cranfield showed positive intent by trying to get back into the game. Mark had a shot that just went over the bar and Nick had another shot saved. But it was all to no avail as BPR struck again. This time the ball was just hoofed forward by one of BPR’s centre backs towards the edge of the 18yard box. A misjudgement by both of the Jacks let BPR’s other forward get the ball and score. Again the game restarted and Cranfield really started to get forward, James up the right wing was putting good balls into the box and Graeme was show great skill to make run through BPR’s midfield. It was one of these brilliant runs by Graeme that gave Cranfield a glimmer of hope. He broke through the midfield beating two players and placed a perfectly weighted pass to Mark who brilliantly placed the ball to the keepers left and into the bottom corner. Things were starting to look better for Cranfield and suddenly they had a way back into the game. Shortly afterwards they drew level with a penalty kick. James received the ball from a through by the keeper, he ran into space and put a wonderful cross to Nick, who controlled it but was then fouled. The resulting penalty was placed low to the keepers left by Nick. The game restarted with about 5 minutes left, Cranfeild searching for a winner. BUT in the last minute disaster struck! BPR’s Right winger had the ball, ran through the midfield and had a shot, it rebounded of Jack Sharps face and out for a throw. However the ref had seen differently and thought that it had hit Jacks hand in the penalty box so he gave a spot kick. After Jack had had his face treated and had been yellow carded for arguing. BPR’s skipper stood up to take the penalty. Keeper Jack guessed the right way but was beaten by the accuracy and power of the shot.

Joy for BPR’s as they had snatched the game with the last kick. Leaving Cranfeild gutted at losing a game they had shown character to get back into.

Sunday 7th September

Cranfield Colts U16- 1 -v- Heath Panthers U16-5

Referee-Craig Freestone

The two previous days had had some of the worst rain ever and most of the games through out Milton Keynes had been cancelled due to water logged pitches. It was a very humid day and it was spitting, but nobody minded because this was Cranfield’s first game of the season, a chance to get their first season in division two off to a flying start.

The game started off with two or three half chances at both ends. But the first meaningful chance feel to Cranfield and it turned out to be the first goal. Cranfield won a corner on the left hand side and Nick stood waiting to float it into the box. He did so and his cross was met by James on the edge of the six yard box. He headed hard into the back of the net. One-nil, what a brilliant start. Unfortunately Cranfield couldn’t capitalise on this lead, Heath fought back and gave Cranfield’s defence a work out. Centre halves Jack and Dom made several brilliant goal saving tackles and goal keeper Jack saved a one on one. Jack and Tom also made goal line clearances to keep there team in the lead. But eventually the gates were opened by a lack of communication between keeper and Tom who let Heath’s sticker through to score. After this Heath’s attacks kept coming and the Cranfield back four had to be on top form to stop Heath running away with it. After a gruelling first 40 minutes Cranfeild were relived to hear the half time whistle.

After hearing the inspiring words of their manager Cranfield’s players walked out for the second half with renewed spirit. But it was to no avail. Heath’s attacks kept coming and coming. Cranfield only playing one upfront had no get out clause. Eventually, Cranfield’s gates did open. The ball was put into the Cranfield box. It was met by one of Heath’s strikers who controlled the ball. He pushed the ball out onto his right foot and unleashed a rocket, beating keeper Jack. Cranfield showed some good character and tried to stay in the game. Some good work up the left by Rob but the final ball was not quite there. Heath’s attacks wouldn’t stop coming and more goals where inevitable. They scored again, a deep cross was put into the box and Heaths attacker got to the ball before both Dom and Jack, leaving him an open net to slot the ball into. The score now at 3-1 Cranfield had to chase the game. Manager Tony had a tricky decision to make sacrifice a defender for an attacker and hope not to fall further behind or sit and wait for a chance to appear. He chose the earlier of the two. Cranfield went to three in defence. Unfortunately this move didn’t pay off and Cranfield conceded two more goals to put the score at 5-1 and the end of the game.

Cranfield left the pitch having been out muscled and out paced by one of the stronger faster teams in the league. A bad result, but not without some positives for Tony to consider ahead of next weeks meeting with Wolverton.

September 14^th 2008

Wolverton Tiger Moths U16 -5 -v- Cranfield Colts -4

Referee- Paul Stannage

For the first time it actually seemed like late summer. It hadn’t rained in a whole 4 days and the sun was shinning. So hopes were high, even after the disappointing effort last week, that Cranfield could get their first points of the season. It was off to Wolverton for Cranfield Colt’s second game of the season

The game started off at a good pace with both sides sharing equal amounts of possession. The first real chance of the game fell to Nick. The ball was played to him on the edge of the box. He turned onto his left foot but scuffed his shot straight at the keeper. The game carried on at the same tempo. Then the ice was broken. A ball was put over the top and Nick got a chance to show his real pace. He pounced on the ball and showed great composure to chip the keeper and put the ball into the Wolverton net. And for the second time in two games Cranfield had taken the lead within 15minutes. Could Cranfield do what they failed to do last week? Wolverton started to get their act together, they put a few attacks together but some good sweeping by Trotty and intelligent tackling by Dom kept Cranfield in front. Despite this Cranfield kept pressing. Eventually their second goal did come. Just like the first goal, Mark sent a ball over the top to Nick who again took the ball under control. This time Nick slide the ball to the keepers left and into to the goal. 2-0 within the first twenty five minutes, could Cranfield have had a better start. Unfortunately that was as good as it got. As the half went on Wolverton got better. A break forward by a one of Wolvertons strikers forced a brilliant one on one save from Jack. 2 minutes later the same thing happened but with a different result. Wolverton’s same striker broke forward. The linesman flagged but was ignored by the referee. Wolverton’s striker took it around Jack, who dived at his feet, and he placed it into an open net. It got worse 3 minutes later when 5 Cranfield defenders plus keeper Jack missed the ball and it went straight, via Tom, from a corner. Disaster, just two minutes from half time and the game was level. The Cranfield parents and players could hardly believe it when Wolverton’s third went in one minute later. Another long ball over the top which beat the Cranfield defence sent the scorer of Wolverton’s first goal through to score again. What a catastrophe. From 2-0 up with 5 minutes to go, to 3-2 down at half time.

With the words ‘don’t worry you’ll slaughter them this half’ still fresh in their minds Cranfield walked out with high hopes for the second half. But their hopes where smashed by another early goal. Jack pulled off a good save to put the ball out for a corner. The following corner resulted in a goal mouth scramble and the ball went in. Cranfield had conceded 4 goals in 7 minutes and found them selves having to chase the game. Cranfield did create chances but Nick and James shot agonisingly wide. Wolverton looked dangerous and Jack had to save a one on one. On 67 minutes Cranfield got back into the game. A well worked move that ended in Nick squaring a ball across the box let James in to slot the ball past the keeper. Now with just one goal in it the game heated up as Cranfield pushed for that all important equaliser. But again Cranfield where thwarted. Another ball over the top. Cranfield failed to clear and the ball was again scrambled into their net. Cranfield had again failed to make the most of a good opportunity. But Cranfield kept pressing. Sachin had a cross shot saved and Cranfield kept throwing men forward. And it finally paid off. A long ball was hit forward and James headed pass the jumping keeper. It was 5-4 and this now made for a tight finish. Cranfield through everyone forward but it didn’t come off and the game ended 5-4 and another disappointing loss for Cranfield.

After 2 defeats things could only get better for Cranfield as they travelled to Water Eaton next week looking to pick up their first points of the season

21^st of September 2008 Watereaton U16- 8 -v- Cranfield Colts U16- 0

A hot day, would you believe it, had stuck the area of Milton Keynes so it was all smiles as Cranfield Colts Trudged all the way to West Bletchley to Play Watereaton. The Cranfield players knew this was going to be a tough test but with the right effort and application they could well get something out of this game.

All hopes of pulling off something miraculous were smashed in the fourth minute when the Cranfield defence and keeper failed to win the ball from a corner and the ball was crisply headed in from a corner. Not the start that Cranfield’s players and manager were looking for. It wasn’t the end of the world though, because Cranfield did start to show some resistance. Some good defending by Dom and Jack kept the deficit to just one. And at the other end Nick and Andy started to link up. But on 19 minutes disaster struck. A goal keeping error by Jack let the ball fly lamely over his hand s and into the back of the net. Cranfield had just started to find their feet in the game and then another set back. Again Cranfield did start to come back into the game. Andy was through on Goal but hit his shot straight at the keeper. And Nick came close three times in four minutes. It looked like it wasn’t going to be Cranfield’s day. And it wasn’t. Cranfield then concede three goals in 15 minutes before half time. The first was a through ball and the sticker finished past a diving Jack. The second was a free kick that was put into the six yard box and slotted past Jack, who probably should have saved it, at his near post. And the third was another through ball that Jack made a good half save to. But unfortunately the ball trickled in. That rounded off a fairly poor half as far as Cranfield were concerned.

The Cranfield boys returned to the field playing for pride more than anything. And they did. Watereaton scored two early goals, but that was the end for them. The score know at 7-0 the Cranfield players decided to switch on and play football. Nick and Andy both had very good chances and anything that did come down Cranfield’s end was snuffed out by their defence and goalkeeper. Watereaton scored another late goal. But the second half was all about character. Cranfield out played Watereaton in the second half and had some pluses to take into next weeks game against New City Saints.

28^th September 2008

Cranfield Colts -3 -v- New City Saints -4

Referee- Craig Freestone

The sun was out and the wind had stopped blowing so the weather was perfect for Cranfield colts to Play New City Saints. Last year this fixture had been a Division 4 game, with Cranfield winning the first 4-2 and loosing the second 2-0. Let’s hope this game would emulate the first and not the second!

But unfortunately the game started off on the wrong foot. New city saints took kick off and their striker ran through the Cranfield defence and had his shot well saved. The resulting corner led to a goal mouth scramble, and Cranfield did get the ball away. Some more pressure and New City Saints and the first goal came. A long ball was played over the top that beat the Cranfield defence. That was slotted past a helpless Jack in Goal. 1-0 not the perfect start! And it got worse ten minutes later when a mix up between keeper and stand in defender James let the scorer of the first goal to double his tally. At this point Cranfield could have just crashed and burned, but they didn’t. A couple of good runs form nick nearly made opportunities and Andy had one or t chances to pull the trigger. Cranfield were doing everything but scoring. The first real attempt on gaol came with just 5 minutes left in the first half. A snap shot from Mark just out side the box saw the ball fly over. A disappointing first half but some real positives to work on for the second

Cranfield came out for the second half with some real belief that they could get at least a point out of this game. Cranfield started to apply some real pressure on the Saints goal and it nearly paid off Nick, Mark and Rob all had shots that went just over. For the first time this season Cranfield were playing proper football and with confidence, and this lead to the first goal. After some good passing football nick was fouled on the edge of the Saints penalty area. Nick took the kick quickly and slotted it into the top corner. 15 minutes of hard work had paid off and know Cranfield had a real way back into the game. Could Cranfield capitalise on this. New city saints did come back into the game. Richard, making his first start for Cranfield, cleared a cross away and Dom and James battled hard to keep their team in front. Eventually Cranfield did equalise. A real training ground move. Mark made a good run to the by-line and cut it back. Andy dummied it for Rob who launched the ball into the saints net. A well deserved equaliser. The attacks kept coming and to minutes after Cranfield found them selves in front. Nick had his shot brilliantly saved but Andy was their to slot the rebound home. Cranfield couldn’t believe It two nil down to three two up what a turn around. Could they hold on to it? No! A few minutes later and the scores were level. Another long ball over the top which was again slotted home. Disaster Cranfield were again level. But Cranfield kept pushing forward Rob headed over the bar and some more good attacks led to nothing. While Cranfield were pushing forward so where New City Saints. With only three minutes to go they Hit the bar. Deep into stoppage time disaster stuck, Cranfield concede a third goal from another long ball over the top.

Again Cranfield had lost by such a narrow margin to teams they had out footballed. The county cup beckoned Cranfield next weekend as they look to create a cup upset.