U14s Travel to Cheadle/Cheadle Hulme

The location of the Cheadle Hulme club, actually makes this the closest team we actually play, with a very short journey to their nice improved facility.
Surprisingly we only managed to get 10 out this morning, from our usual 15, but it did allow our newer players the opportunity to gain experience and play the entire game (some in unfamiliar positions), against a merged Cheadle Hulme/Cheadle team.  Maybe it was me, but if felt a little flat this morning, on a large Cheadle Hulme pitch, but nonetheless it didn't stop the players from entertaining us on the sidelines.
Quarter scores were 1-3, 2-4, 0-3 and 0-2 leaving us 3-12 victors on the day.
A couple of good fixtures to come over the next couple of weeks, requires the boys to keep on improving.
More photos on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/182853094@N08/albums/72157711937050273

Game time

Goal

Battling Hard

Charging Through

New Position Today

Our Friend from Cheadle

All Friends Again

U12s Stockport vs Brooklands and Rochdale

U12s Stockport vs Brooklands and Rochdale

Playing at home today against a joint team effort of Brooklands and Rochdale. We discussed the last time our young under 12s team actually looked physically bigger than any other team in the league, and today they actually did for once.

Brooklands and Rochdale arrived with with a good team of 12 players, including a girl and they all looked good enough during the warm up period to hold up a good game.

Face off time and Dan Teal rocked up liked he`d just come back off holiday and Stockport were off to a flying start by scoring 10 consecutive goals in the first quarter alone. Fighting for every single ball, the passing game is coming along nicely with 5 goals from Ethan, two from Tom, one from Lewi, Dan Teal and also Freddy too.

The Brooklands and Rochdale team never really got themselves into the game, with only with the occasional shot mopped up by Josh and the ball was back up the field again, the second quarter much the same way as the first with a further 5 goals for Stockport by Ethan, Lewi, Archie and two from Euan also.

At the end of Q3 it was 18 - 1 to Stockport, with Further goals scorers Dan Teal 3, Freddy and Tom  

Q4 A few changes needed to be made for the good of the game and so the teams were mixed up to improve the match play and enjoyment of the game, including an exchange of keepers also.  Brooklands great little number 8 player scoring four goals against his own keeper and Josh being tested by his own side too. 

Final Score 19 - 4 to Stockport 

U12s Stockport vs Mellor

Mellor v Stockport 16/11

Run to the hills!

The fixture today meant a trip to the spectacular foothills of the Peak District and the infamous slope of Mellor Sports Club, for this highly anticipated fixture. Thankfully, the weather was mild, with blue-sky emerging from behind the clouds at intermittent periods. Despite the previous week’s heavy and persistent precipitation, the pitch was in relatively good condition. The Stockport squad of 12 was feeling positive and with the welcomed return of our regular keeper, Josh, today’s captains Euan and Henry were ready to lead the team out.  Mellor had a visibly larger physical squad but Stockport wasn’t intimidated and the large amount of Stockport spectators became the 13^th member of the team. Game on!

Q1

The first quarter started off on a bright note for Stockport as Mellor scored an own goal 0-1. Following this initial disappointment, Mellor’s number 11 quickly got into his stride, scoring two quick goals to make it 2-1. A further two goals by numbers 13 and 18 made it 4-1 but Stockport showed no signs of giving up and this was turning into a cracking battle. Stockport’s Henry responded with a great low shot that beat the keeper to make it 4-2. More physicality followed from both teams and great work from Freddie should have seen Stockport get a goal back but that that did not prevail. Instead, Henry scored again to make it 4-3 at end of this quarter. A really positive team effort from the Stockport boys.

Q2

The quarter started positive for Stockport, as Jacob scored his first goal of the game with a scoop effort to make it all square (4-4). Mellor’s number 11 once again sprang into action and scored his third goal, taking his team into the lead once more. This quarter saw end-to-end action and there was plenty of ‘banter’ between the coaches, which heightened the atmosphere and spurred the players on. A rocket shot led to a goal from Ethan, propelling Stockport on and making it 5-5. Before this quarter ended, Mellor scored a further three goals (8-5).

Q3

Another positive start by Stockport enabled Euan to score, making it 8-6, but Mellor really hit their stride in this quarter, and the score extended to 12-6 with goals from players 11 and 6. Stockport finally won a face-off and Henry converted this to make it 12-7. Stockport’s physical intensity was showing no signs of waning and this was preventing Mellor from really getting on top of the game. Felix was doing all he could to get his name of the score sheet and was unlucky not to score on several occasions. A further Mellor goal and a goal from Stockport’s Freddie completed the quarter 13-8.

Q4

Stockport were again first out of the blocks and Jacob bagged his second goal of the game 13-9. The crowd intensity was palpable with plenty of encouraging shouts, which seemed to keep the boys fighting on even though the ground was now heavy. Mellor pushed on to make it 15-9 but a good combination between Tom and Henry put Henners on the score sheet again 15-10. Great defensive work from the battling Stockport boys kept the score as it was at the final whistle.

Mellor commented that this was really their first test of the season. A very strong team effort by Stockport made this bruising encounter a bit of a cracker. Well done both teams. A fine watch!