U10 Vipers
On this windy autumnal day, the Vipers extended their unbeaten streak in division two with a convincing win over the Hawks. The Vipers exerted some early pressure, with Marcus Martin & Morgan Green carving out early chances for Liam Ruiz & Kenny Watson, but both shots going just over the bar. Green continued to be a menace down the flank and was in the thick of the action when Kalhan Shah played a ball out of defence to Watson, who played a sweet ball to Green; he in turn whipped in a glorious ball, giving Martin a good chance to get the boys on the score sheet early doors, and he made no mistake : 1-0.
The Vipers were at stages playing fantasy football with some excellent interplay between the boys. Some good work between Shah & Ruiz saw Ruiz provide the ammo for Martin, but his guided attempt on goal narrowly went wide. After some severe Rotherfield pressure just prior to half-time which was instigated by Jack Williams’ strength turning defensive to attack, the Vipers ended up earning a corner. This was taken by Green who whipped in a frenzy of a ball which caused panic in the Hawks ranks; a slight deflection saw the ball in the back of the net with Green laying claim to goal! (H/T 2-0)
The second half started with more excellent interplay and the Vipers were looking the most likely to add another goal to the score sheet. A quick Martin throw-in played into Ruiz, he passed the balled to Green, he touched the ball giving him a yard of space, then Green swung his left foot at the bell letting rip with a glorious shot, giving the keeper no chance as it nestled into the corner of the net, 3-0! No sooner than the Vipers had scored than the Hawks were looking dangerous, they carved out a fantastic opportunity from one end of the pitch to the other and slotted the ball home, making the last few minutes difficult viewing for the fans (3-1).
Isaac Hylton who until then had had a quiet game was called into action again, making a good reflex save in a packed box and saving the Vipers from giving up further ground. The Vipers were defending a corner themselves late in the second half when they finally sealed the Hawks' fate! When Williams cleared the ball it was met by Ruiz who tussled for the ball with a Hawks player, who got the ball away and outpaced the on-rushing Hawks team, it left Ruiz with a one on one with the keeper who narrowed the angle, Ruiz squared the ball unselfishly to Martin who was on hand for the tap-in and made no mistake.
The effort award went to Kalhan Shah for a super solid defensive display!
Venue : Reading College, Attendance : 26
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Kalhan Shah, Jack Williams, Kenny Watson, Owen Lowe, Morgan Green, Liam Ruiz, Jack Stevens, Marcus Martin
This week’s game saw the Vipers entertain another unbeaten team in this top two clash at Reading College. Both teams were working hard from the start and looking to gain a strangle hold, Kalhan Shah in defence was showing good composure and linking up well with Morgan Green; Green carved out an opportunity following some good play, but his shot went over the bar.
The boys at times were fizzing the ball around the pitch really well and Liam Ruiz, Kenny Watson, Green & Nick Swan were looking in charge in midfield and in attack. Although the play did not always go the Vipers way, the defence was also looking as good; on one occasion Jack Williams shackled his man well and timed his challenge to perfection to snuff out a Celtic attempt. Good pressure and penetration from Watson lead to the Vipers being awarded a corner. A perfect floated ball from Watson was met in the box by Marcus Martin, who just had to slot the ball home, 1-0! Life-saver Williams was on hand once again with some inspirational tackling, to halt yet another Celtic challenge. Ruiz, Martin & Green were giving a good account of themselves with some good positional play and running, but all the hard work was undone when a long range speculative effort by a Celtic midfielder managed to somehow find its way into the net. (H/T 1-1)
The second half started with some real vigour from the Vipers, Owen Lowe & Green were giving a good show of themselves with some great hassling and interruptive play as the boys wanted to take home all the points. Isaac Hylton pulled off a cracking save, when it seemed as if Celtic were going to take the lead. Hylton provided the initial start of a move that led to Green pressuring the Celtic defence, but Green’s determination gave away a free kick. Their keeper took the free kick, but this went straight to the right foot of Green who slotted the ball back past the keeper into an unguarded net. (2-1)!
Watson, Williams & Shah worked hard to keep Celtic at bay and Hylton produced a save out of the top drawer at full stretch, pushing the ball out for a corner. The corner was whipped in but played out for another corner by the Vipers. Another corner was whipped in, but the Vipers, with seven men behind the ball managed again to clear the ball for yet another corner. There were about twenty one seconds to go.. As Celtic continued to pile on the pressure with yet another floated corner, it seemed as though Hylton had done enough to clear the ball but, unfortunately, with such a packed goal mouth, the ball ended up in the back of the net, finishing the game 2-2.
The fair play award went to Kenny Watson for an all-action hard working display!
Venue : Reading College, Attendance : 22
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Kalhan Shah, Jack Williams, Kenny Watson, Owen Lowe, Morgan Green, Liam Ruiz, Jack Stevens, Marcus Martin
Saturday saw the Vipers maintain their unbeaten start to the winter league. Early exchanges seemed positive from the boys as they controlled the play in midfield with some exquisite play from Marcus Martin, Nick Swan, Kenny Watson & Liam Ruiz. Despite the Vipers domination & super solid defence of Kalhan Shah & Jack Williams, they almost went a goal down but for a fine save by keeper Isaac Hylton. He in turn changed defence into attack, when he rolled the ball out to Shah, Shah found Ruiz who controlled well and returned the ball to Shah who overlapped, ran to the bye line, whipped in a fizzing cross which was met with a one touch connection from Swan; that was followed by the keeper picking the ball out of his net, as he stood no chance with such a great move.
Owen Lowe & Morgan Green were brought onto the field and worked hard, like the whole team had, and between them both nearly carved out another opening. This time it was the Trents' turn to quickly move from defence into attack, when their keeper kicked out of his hand reaching their player over the halfway line; he controlled, cut in from his marker, shot with a long range effort and gave them an equaliser! (1-1)
The second half continued, Swan nearly added to his tally after a good interchange of play between Watson & Lowe, which saw Swan latching onto the pass, but his shot went wide. Martin was next to go wide with a lovely move of two-touch football starting at the feet of Green, to Lowe, Lowe found Swan who played the ball to Ruiz, Ruiz crossed the ball over to the waiting Martin but his shot went wide after a good connection. The boys, the like the big bad wolf were knocking on the door, Ruiz huffed with a great corner, Lowe rose, headed and the keeper pushed the ball out of play for another corner. Ruiz huffed and puffed again with another near perfect delivery, Lowe for the second time rose like a phoenix out of the ashes and his deft deadly touch saw the Vipers extend their lead 2-1 as he blew the goal down (no more than they deserved!). This was quickly followed by a third when a deflected Swan cross was met by Green, who dodged a tackle after controlling the ball well and riffled home a powerful shot, 3-1. Lowe almost added a fourth but his shot blazed wide and the game ended 3-1!
The fairplay award went to Liam Ruiz for an instrumental, committed and nonstop midfield display!
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Kalhan Shah, Jack Williams, Kenny Watson, Owen Lowe, Morgan Green, Liam Ruiz, Jack Stevens, Marcus Martin
This was the opening fixture of the new season in Division 2; both the teams had previously met in Division 1 with some close fought encounters. The Vipers goalie Isaac Hylton was in fine form from the off and made a great point blank save in the opening minutes. Although the game was quite scrappy the Vipers did try to link some passing together but this was proving difficult. Despite the early scare, Jack Williams & Kalhan Shah were working well in defence to soak up any of Wanderers surges into Vipers country!
The breakthrough came from a poor goal-kick from an injured Wanderers keeper, which was intercepted by whippet Kenny Watson, who had no trouble in riffling the ball home 1-0! Nick Swan & Marcus Martin were introduced halfway through the 1st half and showed good awareness and linked up well with midfield dynamos Liam Ruiz & Morgan Green who were playing some excellent football, but going into the break, with the game going a bit stale, the score line remained 1-0 to the Vipers.
The Vipers nearly extended their lead early on in the 2nd half after a corner whipped in by Ruiz was met by the glancing head of Owen Lowe, but it flew just wide. A shot from Swan followed but this was comfortably saved by the keeper. For the next few moments, the teams cancelled each other out until a mammoth goal kick from the Wanderers keeper bounced over the Vipers defence and was met by a chancing Wanderers player, who slipped the ball past Hylton, 1-1.
Despite the setback the Vipers continued to pressure the Wanderers goal. Shah took a quick and trademark long throw which was controlled well by Ruiz, he still had some battling to do and with his back to goal, he turned and unleashed a screamer of a shot which beat a fully stretched keeper into the bottom corner of the net, 2-1!
Watson, Green & Swan all continued to have sorties up front but by now the pressure was mounting and as soon as the Vipers attacked they would have to defend. Martin was on hand to assist Shah & Williams and made a critical block on what would have been a goal scoring opportunity for the opponents.
The Vipers almost extended their lead further with a powerful shot from Green. He then crossed the ball which was met by Watson but he headed just wide. The Wanderers, who would not concede defeat, battled the ball into the Vipers area, the ball seemed to ricochet before they managed to tuck the ball into the goal, giving the unfortunate Hylton little chance. 2-2 Final Score.
The fair play award went to Morgan Green for a committed and hard working display.
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Kalhan Shah, Jack Williams, Kenny Watson, Owen Lowe, Morgan Green, Liam Ruiz, Jack Stevens, Marcus Martin