Year Group News - Under 10's

More match reports, from October 2009

25 October 2009 at Lakeford (Eaton Park)

Lakeford 2 v 0 Hillside Rovers U10's

Bit of a breezy day but dry. Tom in goal, Haixin and Niall in defence, Sam, Cameron and Alex D in the middle with Adam up front. A change to the normal starting line-up due to Haixin proving himself in defence and therefore the opportunity to push Alex into the middle. The game started with Hillside taking the game to Lakeford. There were some excellent passing moves between Sam, Alex, Adam and Cameron with Niall and Haixin dealing with anything at the back. As the half went on it was anyone's guess how on earth we were not only in the lead but by how many! Chance after chance fell and was duly missed. The second half kicked off 0-0, with Finn now up front and Rayne in for Adam. Again we pressed but just when you needed some luck, it went down the other end and we let in a goal. We continued pressing, and hoping, and watching as again we didn't take any of our chances and then Lakeford did it again with arguably their second chance, 2-0! It's a frustrating, cruel sport. Despite all our best efforts the game finished there. Everyone watching agreed we played some great football and were amazed we didn't win. Next time, eh?  

Poringland 2 v 0 Hillside Rovers U10's

Away we went with a change, now Sam was up front with Adam in the middle. The game had hardly started when a hopeful ball in by Poringland hit their attacker on the knee and in it went, no luck again! So we kicked off and within another minute we were 2-0 down! What's going on? We then woke up and again we started to play. The game was more evenly balanced although Poringland had some good players. The second half continued with Finn up front & Rayne trying but nothing was working for us. Chances came and went and it the end the coach (Dave) was left kicking the grass and bemoaning what might have been. Surely a win will happen soon?? Overall, the boys played excellently, all we need is some one with their goal scoring boots on.

Dave Carson and Eliot Barker

Sunday Cup: 18 October 2009 at Drayton

Hillside Rovers U10's 0 v 2 Old Catton

We lined up with Tom, Alex D, Niall, Sam, Adam, Cameron and Finn with Haixin as our sub. We knew how hard it was going to be as Old Catton won both the League and Cup last year and even though they had lost a couple of players they were still going to be strong. Straight away Catton's passing was slick and we had to be on our guard. But as we've said before, Hillside is now a different team and our defence was resolute. Tom, as usual, was not letting anything pass and Alex and Niall were forming a great defensive partnership. Sam, Adam & Cameron were working hard with Finn finding space up front. However eventually we succumbed to a goal which took a terrible deflection to beat Tom, unlucky but 0-1.

The second half started with a change; Niall now had Haixin as his partner in defence and Alex was now our striker! After a few minutes it was obvious that this was not working so Alex dropped back into midfield, Finn returned to attack and both Adam and Cameron had a little rest. Although we played some very good football with good link ups, eventually Catton made the game safe with a second and it finished 0-2. A brilliant effort against a very strong squad.

Dave Carson and Eliot Barker

Hillside Rovers in orange bibs

Sunday 11 October 2009 at Hillside School 

Hillside Rovers U10's 0 v 1 Thorpe Rovers

The game kicked off at 10am with Tom in goal, Haixin and Alex D in defence, Niall, Adam and Jack in the middle with Finn up front. It didn't start the way we hoped with a 'soft' goal being conceded very early on. That put us under pressure but long gone are the days when Hillside collapses! There were some excellent tackles, some strong defending and with 'England's no. 1' in goal that was all we let in. Haixin was on the top of his game, reading the ball very well and making brilliant tackles. Alex D was everywhere and with Adam and Niall holding the midfield, Thorpe were finding it difficult. Tom was also playing well and one save in particular he made to his right was top class. Ross came on in the second half and we changed it a little but it finished 1-0 to Thorpe. Well done guys.

Hillside Rovers U10's 1 v 1 Hethersett

The game started with Tom in goal, Haixin and Niall this time at the back, Alex D, Adam and Cameron in the middle with Finn up front. Hethersett had just beaten Thorpe so they were riding high but it was all one-way traffic as Hillside took the game to them. Chance after chance fell to our boys but it just wasn't quite happening. Alex D, in his new midfield position, was running the show ably supported by Adam and Cameron as Hillside went looking for that goal. But after all that hard work, Hethersett picked the ball up and took it towards our area, then with a speculative shot which went through three or four boys the ball just rolled into the net: 0-1. 

The second half started and it was much closer now. Hillside won a corner, Cameron floated it in and there was Finn to slam the ball into the net! 1-1. Finn could have made it two but was just unlucky when the ball rolled just passed the post. It finished that way with Hillside getting our third point of the season. A fine effort by all.

Dave Carson and Eliot Barker

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

More match reports from September 2009