Reports 2009/10 Season
Invicta Primary League
Vinters
Park U-9’s – 3
Park Regis Rangers U-9’s – 0
Regis were simply outclassed by Vinters Park who came into the match with the only 100% record in the league. However, Regis made it easy for the hosts in the first half as they seemed content to admire their opponents’ neat passing without putting them under pressure. The first goal came when a Regis goal kick was won by Vinters and a long range effort beat keeper Joe Steadman. When Regis did get the ball they struggled to make headway against a well-drilled defence, and while Ollie Lake and Nathan Jones both made good runs with the ball, a lack of passing made it easy for Vinters to win the ball back. The second goal came when Regis failed to clear a corner and it became 3-0 when the Regis defence was sliced open by some incisive passing.
After stern words at half time Regis came out and began competing with the hosts, Bert Waller and Nathan Barnard in defence making some fine tackles and keeper Joe Steadman showing good handling in difficult conditions. Skipper Ollie Lake had been moved back into central midfield and he led by example with his relentless work rate, helped out by Toby Murrell and Mitchell Deadman on the flanks. With Sam Waller in attack hounding the Vinters defence, they were not able to settle on the ball and while Regis were unable to create any clear cut chances, they did enough to prevent any further goals and the match ended 3-0.
Vinters
Park U-9’s – 6
Park Regis Rangers U-9’s – 0
Having played so well in the second half of the first match Regis continued to show an appetite for the contest, with Toby Murrell getting forward well and Nathan Jones adding solidity to the defense. However, Vinters still took the lead when a cross from the left wing took a fortunate deflection and crept in at the far post. Regis looked to get back into the game and striker Sam Waller managed to force a corner. However, in search of a goal they left gaps at the back and when the corner was cleared a lightning break left keeper Joe Steadman exposed and a good finish made it 2-0 at half time.
Regis
were now tiring as their opponents continued to pass and move to great
effect and scored their third after a good run into the area. Regis
still looked for a way back and a superb run by Ollie Lake was only
halted by a fine last ditch tackle. A fantastic long range strike made
it 4-0 and then a fine passing move again saw Regis sliced apart to
make it five, before a good cross and finish made the final score 6-0.
Regis can take a lot of credit from the game in the way they continued
to battle, and the man of the match awards from the parents and manager
went to Sam Waller and Nathan Barnard respectively.
Holtwood
Rangers Colts U-9’s – 0
Park
Regis Rangers U-9’s – 3
Regis enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges and managed to create a couple of early chances for Toby Murrell who did well to get forward in support of striker Ollie Lake but saw his shots blocked by a scrambling Holtwood defence. At the other end defenders Bert Waller and Wesley Stockbridge looked to be in control with the former’s clearances helping to launch Regis attacks. From one such attack the pressure finally told when Nathan Jones threaded a pass through to Ollie Lake who forced the ball in at the second attempt to make it 1-0 to Regis. Holtwood then raised their game to come back at Regis and a free kick was well cleared by Mitchell Deadman, while strong defending ensured a couple of Holtwood corners did not threaten keeper Joe Steadman’s goal.
Holtwood continued to attack at the start of the second half and managed to force a succession of corners, but again Regis defended well to deny any clear cut chances. Regis eventually broke out and Ollie Lake chased a long clearance and harried the Holtwood defenders into conceding a throw near their area. The ball was only half cleared and when it came out to Nathan Barnard his ball back into the area found Nathan Jones and his powerful shot gave the Holtwood keeper no chance. The benefit of hard worked showed again when Sam Waller on the left wing refused to give up on a long chase and eventually forced a corner for Regis. A good delivery by Nathan Jones was met by a classic near post header by Ollie Lake to make it 3-0. Before the end Holtwood finally managed to get clear of the Regis defence but keeper Joe Steadman made a fine one on one save to deny hem even a consolation goal.
Holtwood
Rangers Colts U-9’s – 2
Park
Regis Rangers U-9’s – 1
The second game was a much more competitive affair and an early Holtwood attack was only broken up by a brilliant tackle from Nathan Barnard. He laid the ball off to Toby Murrell who managed to release Ollie Lake into space and his powerful run forced a corner for Regis. Mitchell Deadman’s centre was too hot for the keeper to hold and Sam Waller reacted quickest to smash the loose ball in from close range to make it 1-0 to Regis. The visitors went in search of a second and Sam Waller crossed for Toby Murrell but his shot went just wide. Mitchell Deadman then played a neat one-two with Ollie Lake but could not get his shot away, while Sam Waller saw a good effort saved. Just before half time Holtwood won a freekick on the edge of the Regis area but a fierce shot was well-saved by Joe Steadman.
Regis
were forced onto the back foot at the start of the second half, with
Sam Waller working hard to get back and help his defenders. An early
Holtwood shot hit the side netting, but eventually this early spell
of pressure told when a couple of ricochets fell fortunately for the
hosts to give them a clear sight of goal and a powerful shot made it
1-1. Regis looked to hit back and Ollie Lake was unlucky not to convert
another Nathan Jones corner. However, against the run of play Holtwood
took the lead when Regis failed to clear the ball and a goalmouth scramble
ended with the ball creeping over the line. Before the end Regis had
a chance to take a point when Ollie Lake intercepted a goal kick but
saw his powerful shot go just the wrong side of the post to leave Regis
taking nothing from a game they could and perhaps should have won. The
Regis parent’s player of the match award went to Ollie Lake and
the manager’s award to Joe Steadman.
Park
Regis Rangers U-9’s – 0
Maidstone United Rangers U-9’s – 3
Regis started brightly and were soon on the attack with Sam Waller firing just wide from a Nathan Jones corner. The visitors were forced onto the back foot as Regis came forward again, and the next attack saw Sam Waller hit a speculative shot that came back off the bar, and Toby Murrell’s follow up shot was well-saved. With Bert Waller and Nathan Barnard looking untroubled at the back, Regis laid siege to the United goal, with Toby Murrell seeing a good effort go just wide before Mitchell Deadman was again denied by the keeper who was having a tremendous game. Sam Waller then had a mazy run down the right wing before crossing for Toby Murrell, who was denied by a great point-blank save. Just before half time United managed to launch a rare attack but keeper Joe Steadman made a comfortable save and the half finished 0-0.
There then followed the worst half of football Regis are likely to play all season, as they lost all their rhythm and composure. United came forward at will and their first chance of the half came after a Regis throw-in was intercepted, Joe Steadman being forced into a sharp save. Regis attacks were sporadic and individual efforts as there was no sign of the teamwork that had created so many chances in the first half, and it was no surprise when the visitors opened the scoring with a good run and shot. A long range effort from United was well-saved but a lack of communication meant that the ball was not cleared and it was stabbed into the net to make it 2-0 to the visitors. Regis tried gamely to make a fight of it with Ollie Lake working hard but a lack of passing made it easy for the visitors to break up their lone attacks and a swift break and neat finish made it 3-0 at the final whistle.
Park
Regis Rangers U-9’s – 5
Maidstone United Rangers U-9’s – 1
Knowing they could not play as poorly again, Regis went into the second game much more positively, with Ollie Lake up front taking the game to the opposition and winning a throw in. Nathan Barnard’s long throw found Toby Murrell in the area and he swept the ball in with a left foot shot to open the scoring. Regis came forward again and after a corner was cleared, Nathan Barnard played it forward to Nathan Jones and his cross-shot curled into the far corner to double their advantage. This early onslaught stunned United into action and they managed to get a goal back when a long shot looped over Joe Steadman, giving him no chance. Back came Regis and after a good run Sam Waller found Ollie Lake but his shot went just wide. Regis had rediscovered their passing game and a neat move saw Sam Waller play a good ball into Ollie Lake whose clever lay off set up Toby Murrell but his shot was tipped over.
Having
been denied at the end of the first half, Toby Murrell continued to
pose a threat, latching onto a Bert Waller long ball but his shot went
just wide. However, Regis were now buzzing and they re-established a
two goal lead when a goal kick from Mitchell Deadman found Nathan Jones
and his neat through ball was forced in by Ollie Lake. Toby Murrell
then saw a great shot hit the bar after a good run before more neat
dribbling from the same player created another chance, and when his
shot was parried Ollie Lake was on hand to tuck in the rebound to make
it 4-1. Still Regis were not finished and more good passing saw Nathan
Jones link with Mitchell Deadman and the latter played a through ball
for Ollie Lake and he made no mistake with a good finish to complete
a second half hat-trick and make the final score 5-1. The Regis parents’
player of the match was Ollie Lake and the manager’s award went
to Nathan Jones.
Park
Regis Rangers U-9’s – 2
Bearsted
U-9’s – 0
Park Regis Rangers went on the offensive from the first whistle with Nathan Jones and Mitchell Deadman proving a solid partnership in midfield and supplying a steady stream of possession. This allowed Toby Murrell to break forward and he duly grabbed the opening goal after linking well with striker Ollie Lake to find the corner of the net with a well-struck shot. Bearsted gradually got back into the game but strong defending from Wesley Stockbridge and Nathan Barnard ensured that there was no way through. Mitchell Deadman went close to doubling the lead with a fine shot which went just wide, before Rangers did indeed make it 2-0 when Toby Murrell turned provider, setting up Ollie Lake whose powerful shot gave the keeper no chance. Before half time Rangers’ keeper Joe Steadman was called into action, making a sharp save to keep out a fierce drive.
In the second half Rangers appeared content to sit on their lead, with Bert Waller coming into defence and working hard to nullify the threat from the visitors. Rangers still posed a threat to the Bearsted goal, notably through the pace of Sam Waller who saw a fine effort go just the wrong side of the post. However, while the hosts always looked to be in control, they were unable to add to their tally and the match ended in a deserved 2-0 win.
Park
Regis Rangers U-9’s – 2
Bearsted U-9’s – 1
The second match saw a different approach from the visitors as they laid siege to the Rangers goal and the hosts had to ride their luck as the ball twice came back off the frame of the goal. Rangers were struggling to get the ball clear but defenders Nathan Barnard and Bert Waller stood firm and, with the aid of keeper Joe Steadman, managed to keep Bearsted out. Eventually they managed to impose themselves on the game and at the other end Mitchell Deadman was unlucky with a good effort from long range, and Bearsted had their own slice of luck when Ollie Lake’s cross-shot came back off the post and Mitchell Deadman couldn’t quite force the ball in.
Relieved to still be drawing after being on the back foot for much of the first half, Rangers opened the scoring early in the second when a great run from Sam Waller created space for Ollie Lake and he made it 1-0 with a crisp finish. Bearsted continued to apply pressure but left gaps at the back and Rangers made it 2-0 when Wesley Stockbridge played the ball out of defence to Toby Murrell and he dribbled into the penalty area before deftly clipping the ball over the keeper. To their credit Bearsted continued to come forward and deservedly got a goal back with a good strike, but Rangers made sure it was no more than a consolation as they stood firm to see out a plucky 2-1 win. The manager’s man of the match award went to Wesley Stockbridge while the parents’ award went to Ollie Lake.