Archive: Under 10's, 2009/2010

Hillside Rovers U10's, October 2009

Match reports, 28 March 2010 at Hillside

Hillside Rovers U10's 1 v 2 Diss

It was our final game of the season against a strong Diss side. We lined up with Tom, Alex D, Callum, Cameron, Niall, Adam and Finn with Sam as sub, as he had had a busy Saturday with his birthday and was very tired. We had only just got underway when Diss took the lead due to some indecisive defending when one of three players could have cleared the ball. However we then settled down and over then next ten minutes played some of our best football of the season. This resulted in an excellent goal scored by Niall but created by Alex (who has really developed in midfield) when he picked up the ball, took it past one player, stormed down the right wing and crossed to a well-placed Niall. The first half finished at 1-1, with all to play for.

The second half kicked off with Sam coming on for Finn and although we ran around a lot we didn't get back to the passing that we did in the first half. Eventually, even though we had a couple of half chances and Sam had two strong shots, it was Diss who forced the ball over our line from a corner to make it 2-1, and that's how it finished.

As so many of our matches this year, we lost by the odd goal. So now we have next season to look towards and 11 a-side. Well done boys, for all your efforts (and well done coaches from your web editor and noisiest touchline parent).

Dave Carson and Eliot Barker

Match reports, 14 March 2010 at Thorpe Recreation Ground

Hillside Rovers U10's 0 v 4 Thorpe Rovers

Hillside Rovers U10's 4 v 1 Hethersett

Our first match was against local rivals Thorpe Rovers. It was a fairly even contest in the first half, with a shot from Niall clipping the post, and Hillside was just 0-1 down at half-time. But Thorpe’s all round strength caught up with us in the second half and they deserved their 0-4 victory.

We then watched Hethersett achieve a battling 1-1 draw with Thorpe. Would this inspire or tire Hethersett for the bottom of the table clash to come?

Hillside lined up – as against Thorpe – with Tom in goal behind the new defensive partnership of Adam and Callum, Alex D, Cameron and Sam in midfield, with Niall upfront. Hillside was passing well, probably better than they have ever done before, pressing Hethersett hard. A long ball forward from Adam took one high bounce on the firm pitch, Niall got his head on it and we were leading 1-0. Would we be plucking defeat from the jaws of victory? That looked possible when a firm Hethersett corner slipped out of the usually secure hands of Tom and inside the post for 1-1. The lead was restored with a long shot from Sam where Niall did enough in the box to confuse the goalkeeper, and it was 2-1 at half-time.

Spot the ball

Finn came on replacing Niall upfront and the second half was all attack-attack-attack from Hillside. Alex D was controlling the game from midfield, linking well with Sam and Cameron, all passing across the field and onto the wings. A shot from Alex was parried and Finn, with his knack for getting in the right places, was there to bundle the ball home for 3-1. A long shot from Cameron hit the crossbar. Finally, Alex twisted and turned past opponents before shooting firmly into the bottom left corner of the net and it was 4-1.

Tears, shouting and hugging followed the realisation that Hillside Rovers had at last achieved their first victory this season. And that was just the parents: perhaps having several mothers watching on Mothering Sunday had helped? Really, it was a reward for hard work and applying all those skills practised in training. Well done boys!

Victory is sweet. The winning team, plus coaches Dave Carson and Eliot Barker. Match report and photos: Chris Durdin

Match reports, 7 March 2010 at Hillside

Hillside Rovers U10's 0 v 1 Toftwood

Hillside Rovers U10's 0 v 2 Costessey

Two closely fought matches today, with changes in the team adding some extra spark.  In front of Tom in goal were Callum and Adam, teaming up well for the first time in defence, a strong partnership that allowed Alex D and Sam to add some creativity by combining in midfield. Niall was up front with Jesse and later Rayne. For a change, we put lots of pressure on both teams, Toftwood especially, with several shots – mostly from Niall and Sam – on target or just wide. It was still 0-0 at half-time against Toftwood and we were unlucky to lose by a single goal. Legs were getting more tired for the second game but as the score shows, it was still a closely fought game against Costessey.

Today's team: Tom, Callum, Adam, Alex D, Sam, Niall, Jesse and Rayne. Match report and photo: Chris Durdin.

For Under 10's fixtures 2009/10 click here. 

More match reports from February 2010, December 2009, November 2009, from October 2009 and from September 2009