U15 Stingers
Stingers' recent good run of results came to an end this weekend when they visited high flying FC Holyport. Having lost the toss, the Stingers defended into a very strong headwind at kick-off and to be honest, despite their best efforts, found the conditions and the direct style of their physically stronger hosts too much to deal with, going in at half time 4-0 down. The team were asked at half-time to compete a little more with our physically stronger hosts, but also to keep playing "our" brand of football, sharp passing with plenty of movement. Soon after the re-start, Holyport again capitalised on yet another defensive mistake in the Stingers' back line to score their 5th goal of the game, but to be fair to the Stingers team they then dominated the rest of the match playing some great football, which won lots of praise from the Holyport management and supporters.
The team were rewarded in the second half when Liam Painter finished off a great cross from Danny Court, giving the team a goal which is the least their good football and hard work deserved. The game was a good test for the Stingers who in other weeks would have crumbled going behind by so many goals at half time, but I think all the boys know that possibly four of Holyport's goals were down to basic defensive errors and hopefully this is something we can put right in training over the coming weeks.
MOM - Luke Priest - Excellent performance in defence from a player that always gives 100%
Squad
Waters, Biddle, Cross, L Priest, Saunders, J Priest, Bean, Court,Grant, Barton, Painter, Foster
The Stingers entertained table topping Sandhurst Saracens at Bishopswood on Saturday morning. The Stingers team was again much changed, and started the game a little bit slowly and on the back foot. The players competed well during the first half but were punished on three different occasions as the excellent Saracens side capitalised on the mistakes the Stingers were making. Sandhurst are without question the best footballing team the Stingers have ever played, they perhaps will not win the league, but if you let them play they will punish you.
At half time, the Stingers slightly changed their formation and set about unsettling the Saracens by closing down the space in the middle of the park, and by pushing up on the Saracens full backs, who were mainly being used as their out-let during the first half. The tactics brought instant success with Brett Barton finishing off some good work from Liam Painter within a couple of minutes of the re-start. This set the tone for the second half in which midfielders Danny Court, Tom Bean, Josh Priest and Joe Grant all excelled. The Saracens where still a big threat on the break, and goalkeeper Joe Waters had to be at his very best making a number of excellent saves to keep the Stingers in the match. James Cross and Jack Biddle broke several times down the flanks for Stingers causing much concern within the Saracens defence, the Stingers were now totally bossing the game.
Half way through the second half the Stingers pulled the game back to 3-2, when Joe Grant finished well from the edge of the box, game on... The Stingers kept up the pressure and just as time was running out were rewarded with a late equalizer with Brett Barton scoring his second of the match, after great play involving Luke and Josh Priest, Court Painter and Bean. This result is perhaps the best of the season for the Stingers, who came back well against such a good footballing team.
MOM - Joe Waters - possibly his best performance ever in a Rotherfield shirt.
Squad
Waters, Biddle, Cross, Saunders, Middleton, J Priest, Grant, Court, Bean, Painter, Barton, L Priest.
The Stingers continued their recent good form with an exciting win over a well drilled and dangerous Ascot Racers team who now sit just above them in the East Berks youth league Division 2. Racers were stunned when the Stingers scored within moments of the match starting with Andy Shotter converting Liam Painters excellent cross. Stingers then had to weather wave after wave of Racer attacks, with the back four of Joe Grant, James Cross, Jack Biddle and Brett Barton standing firm and defending well. Skipper Joe Waters was outstanding for Rotherfield in goal, making many good saves and setting up numerous counter attacks with his excellent and much improving goal kicks. Waters was beaten shortly before the break, when the Racers drew level finishing off a well worked team goal, making the half time score 1 - 1.
Special praise at this time must go to Archie Smith who was only starting his third game of the season. Archie ran his heart out for the team up front and was replaced at half time by the equally hard working Alex Jackson. Almost from the restart the Stingers fell behind when the Racers capitalised on some poor defending in the Stingers back line, and it looked like an up hill task for the boys to get back in to the game. But this Stingers team, have developed a stronger back bone since the turn of the year and responded in tremendous fashion.
Midfielders Liam Painter, Danny Court, Josh Priest and Josh Foster took the game by the scruff of the neck and played some excellent football, with Painters passing and throws almost impossible for the Racers to deal with. Four goals in a ten minute spell from Priest, Barton, Foster and a second goal of the game from the hard working Shotter, raced the Stingers in to a 5 - 2 lead with 15 minutes to go. The team then started to defend a little to deep and were punished as the Racers scored 2 late goals, both excellently finished by the dangerous Ascot team. Stingers managed to see out the final few moments well and were rewarded at the final whistle with the points, which in truth they really deserved for their second half display.
MOM - Liam Painter - The little magician was at his very best today, he was almost unplayable.
Squad
Waters, Biddle, Grant, Cross, Barton, Shotter, Court, Foster,Painter, J. Priest, Smith (Jackson)
The Stingers returned to winning ways this week, with a very good team performance against a strong Burghfield side, who sit just above them in the East Berks youth league Division 2. Rotherfield were on the front foot from the kick off, with Liam Painters having the post in the first minute of the game. The Stingers then pinned their opponents in and were rewarded when striker Brett Barton finished off some great approach play from Danny Court and Liam Painter,netting at the far post. Stingers could not force a second despite their dominance and were duly punished from a corner, when a unmarked Burghfield player equalised from close range. Skipper Joe Waters then made a vital stop in goal, as the Stingers struggled to come to terms with Burgfields shock equaliser. James Cross then started a great five man move involving the outstanding Court, Tom Bean, Josh Foster and Josh Priest which resulted in Liam Painter finishing from close range to restore Stingers lead just on the stroke of half time.
After the break the Stingers played some excellent football with the industrious Court pulling all the strings in midfield. Luke Priest was outstanding at the back and was well supported by Jack Biddle, John Middleton and Cross, who between them closed out everything Burghfield could throw at them. Brett Barton added his second and Rotherfields third, half way through the half, running on to Josh Priest's excellent defence splitting pass. Rotherfield then tried to close the game out. The industrious Barton was replaced by Archie Smith and came off the pitch to a well earned round of applause for his goals and overall good team play during the match. Alex Jackson replaced Tom Bean, and gave the manager a couple of things to think about winning some good tackles and setting up a few attacks. Just as the game was ending Burghfield scored their second, but in truth finished the game well beaten.
MOM - Danny Court simply sensational.
Squad
Waters, Biddle, Cross, L. Priest, Middleton, Court, Bean, JPriest, Foster, Painter, Barton, Smith and Jackson