Under 11s Saturday Team: 2007-2008
Match Reports:
Under 11 Division A Cambridge Mini League
Wilbraham Warriors 1 Saffron Walden 13 Under 11- 8 a-side
Saffron Walden created an early Christmas present for themselves with an excellent display of team work. The first 15 minutes saw the ball move effortlessly from player to player, ironically it also took this time to break the deadlock with their first goal. As usual Jack Inkley and George Brignal, were the engine of the team helping create many chances for the team, many of which were saved by Wilbraham’s impressive goalkeeper. In defence Harry Webb was in good form whose defensive skills and distribution were very good. Also Charlie Passfield won every tackle and headed well, including a header at goal. Saffron went in 4 goals up half time. Again the second half saw further quick passing often instigated down the right by Man of the match Luca Ripa and Brandon Bowden in the centre. At the other end Wilbraham never gave up and had a few half chances, Ben Russell in goal was equal to them, including a near own goal. However, he was left stranded when a long ball which Wilbraham’s Toby Brooker tucked away calmly with a low shot in to the corner.
The goals were distributed through half the team, leading Saffron scorer Jack Inkley lead the way with 5 goals. The others coming with 2 each from George Brignal, Brandon Bowden, Luca Ripa (his first for the team) and second half substitute Franco Almedia.
Finally sympathy for Callum Clarke, who nearly capped off a fine performance in the last few minutes when he hit the post followed by the bar only to see a team mate score the rebound.
Haverhill Rovers 0 Saffron Walden Town 4 (Under 11 8-a-side)
17 November
Town’s 8-a-side team continued their good run with a further win at Haverhill. From the start Town attacked the hosts goal creating four chances in the first five minutes. Callum Clarke and George Brignal going closest. At the other end there were few attacks from the lively Rovers centre forward, although Josh Charge in goal made an excellent save from him after he broke through the visitors defence. Saffron nearly took the lead when Charlie Passfield’s hard low shot could not be converted as the keeper parried the ball back to the attacking side. Eventually half way through the half persistence paid off and Brignal put Town in to the lead with a shot that the keeper failed to hold. Shortly after Jack Inkley’s hard work was rewarded when he added a second when a defensive clearance rebounded of his body in to the Rovers goal. Town put the game beyond Rovers’ reach when Brignal’s non-stop running culminated in to a third and decisive goal just before half time.
The second period saw a similar pattern, although Rovers did play some better football and forced two very good saves from Charge. Inkley confirmed Town’s superiority by added his second and Town’s fourth. Town could have added further goals, with Ben Russell, Luca Ripa and man of the match Callum Clarke all going close. However, Town were happy to keep a clean sheet and extend their unbeaten run to three matches.
Mike Passfield
November 10 2007
Saffron Walden Town 2 Whittlesford Warriors 2
Town and Warriors carried on from where they left off two weeks ago from The Cup tie that Warriors won 1-0, with an equally competitive match, which saw the spoils shared this time.
Town started the stronger with some great passing play, but failed to capitalise with a goal, mainly thanks to good saves from the Warrior’s keeper. However, as the match progressed the visitors became stronger and forced a fantastic save from Town’s goalkeeper and man of the match Josh Charge. However, a little later Warrior’s did score after a goalmouth scramble. Town hit back with some near misses from George Brignell, although at the other end only the post and goal line clearance by Harry Webb denied Whittlesford from adding to their lead.
The second half continued very evenly and Town eventually equalised after 10 minutes from a well hit Jack Inkley free kick 18 metres out. Warriors responded by putting Town under pressure, but Charge in goal kept them at bay until 10 minutes from the end when the defence failed to clear and they reinstated their lead. With time running out Town showed great character by coming back a second time when George Brignell superbly ran and controlled a long ball and steered it passed the Warriors keeper to give them a well deserved draw.
Mike Passfield
Saffron Walden Town 7 Balsham Colts 2
Under 11 8-a-side Mini League
Saturday 3rd November
In their first home game of the season Saffron Walden convincingly beat a Balsham team who had won 3 out of their previous 4 league games.
The first half saw Town carry on their good work from last week by playing a good passing game and took an early lead through Franco Almedia. They continued to press and two further goals arrived through man of the match George Brignell, one being a powerful low shot. Balsham, to their credit picked up and replied before half time to keep themselves in the game following a good passing move.
The second half followed a similar pattern, but Town did miss a few opportunities before making the game safe. George Brignell added a further two goals and Brandon Bowden scored his first one of the season following some hard work to bring the score line to 6-1. However, there was a twist in the tale. Franco Almedia bravely stretched to connect with a ball to stop it going to a Balsham striker who would have an easy chance to score only to see the ball unluckily loop in to his own net. However, within in two minutes the same player ran to Balsam’s end to score his second goal of the game to provide a final score of 7-2 for Town’s first win of the season.
Mike Passfield
Whittlesford Warriors 1-0 Saffron Walden
Cambridge Mini League Under 11 (8-a-side) Cup
Saffron came into the game without a win, whilst Whittlesford in contrast had won all of their previous games well. This was therefore surprisingly an evenly fought cup-tie, in which both teams produced enough chances to win the game.
This relatively new but improving Saffron side produced their best performance of the season with hard work from every member of the team. The visitors started stronger with some excellent passing, producing attacks that saw Brandon Bowden, Franco Almedia and Luca Ripa go close to scoring. At the other end Saffron defended resiliently and Josh Charge in goal was his usual reliable self. Although Whittlesford did hit the underside of the bar from a long range shot.
The second half continued in the same vein with some great running and hard work from both Jack Inkley and George Brignell who created further chances. In defence Charlie Passfield’s heading ability broke up many of Whittlesford attacks and Harry Webb stood firm against the home side busy forwards.
The only goal of the game followed a good passing move by Whittlesford, which resulted in a shot flying into the corner of the Saffron net. However Saffron to their credit never gave up and almost equalised when George Brignell out paced the Whittlesford defence only to see his shot brilliantly saved by the Whittlesford keeper’s legs.
Mike Passfield