Central U11s Xmas Social - Saturday 14th December - please tell us if you'd like to come along!

We are delighted to announce that we will be holding a joint Central City & United U11s Xmas Social on Saturday 14th December at 12.30pm! This is open to all players and family of Central U11s. We have provisionally booked The Long Room at On The Waterfront (by the Quay) and decided that the best option was to go for a set buffet (you can see details of what is included by following the link at the bottom).  The cost is £9.95 (adult) and £6.95 (child) which includes the buffet (but not drinks or a dessert).

To help with planning, at this stage we need expressions of interest for anyone who'd like to come. We will then need payment in full by the end of November (this will cover the deposit and mean you won't have to pay for anything else on the day apart from drinks and dessert).

Please could you let Jonathan know if you'd like to attend and, if so, how many tickets you'd like (jonathan.d.lippman@gmail.com or 07809 829452 or in person at the match tomorrow!). We will ask for any special dietary requirements once we have an idea of numbers.

We hope that as many of you as possible will be able to come along and help us celebrate Xmas. Siblings are very welcome too!

Central City & United U11s

Pizza Party Buffet Xmas Social

On Saturday 14^th December @ 12.30pm,

The Long Room, On The Waterfront

9 The Quay, Exeter, EX2 4AP

Tickets:  £9.95 per adult or £6.95 per child

(excludes drinks and dessert, for details of buffet see

http://www.waterfrontexeter.co.uk/buffet-options

Starting team for Saturday

Hello everyone, 

Such a positive training session last night, thank you for all coming and working so hard. 

I am writing this on my phone so the presentation and layout might not be as good as normal -  sorry. 

We are playing away at West Exe on Saturday, their pitch is at Cowick Barton Fields (link on the fixtures pages)

It's a 10:30 a.m. kick off so if we could get there for 10:00 a.m., that would be great. 

So the starting team will be: 

Goalkeeper - Sam P

Defence - Sam R, Cameron & Oscar

Midfield - Joe, Dan, Will P & Julen 

Striker - Alfie W. 

Starting subs:

Teo, Alfie R, Will A & Ryan 

Cameron has been handed the captain's armband for the next three matches. He has played consistently well this season and has also been really helpful setting cones out and getting to training and matches early. Well done Cameron. 

See you all on Saturday. Be great to get back to our winning ways!!

Mark 

Training focus - positional play in attack

Hello everyone, 

Hope you are all well and rested after our tough game on Saturday. You really should all be proud of how we played on Saturday and the effort that you all put in. 

Training tomorrow will focus on positioning in attacking formations. John will be helping us to create space and confidence in the way we set ourselves up for attacking play. 

Callad will also be joining us and will start with a warm up at 6pm. 

Look forward to seeing you all tomorrow 

Regards

Mark 

Battling City fall to cup defeat

Central City fell at the first hurdle in the Cup despite a battling performance in a bruising encounter against an Alphington side who are riding high in Division 1. Having more than held their own in the first half in the face of their opponents highly physical approach, City were ultimately undone after the break by some clinical finishing. Despite scoring two cracking goals in the game of their own, City went down to a 2-6 loss.

The early stages of the game were very even, City winning a flurry of corners and Cameron having a goal-bound free-kick blocked by a defender. Ten minutes into the game, however, and the visitors were a goal up, winning the ball on the edge of the City goalmouth and firing a low shot past the keeper to make it 0-1. Having taken the lead, Alphington continued to press and had 3 chances in as many minutes, with Will A called into action to make an excellent save from a shot from distance. City refused to lie down, however, and some persistent wing play by Ryan saw Alfie W rise to bullet a superb header past the keeper and make it 1-1. With the teams evenly matched, there were few further chances and the sides went into the half-time break level.

The visitors took the lead 5 minutes into the second half with a well-delivered cross from the left being met by an unstoppable header. Minutes later, though, City dragged themselves back into the game. With Alfie upended when bearing down on goal, it was left to Cameron to rifle a fantastic free-kick past the wall to make it 2-2. At this stage of the game, both sides were still in with a chance but the visitors finally made their superiority tell with four further unanswered goals, the final scoreline somewhat flattering the visitors. 

Cameron cracks an unstoppable free-kick past the Alphington wall to level the game at 2-2

There were many positives to take from the game. As in last week's match against Bideford, City were playing against a very well-organised team who are physically strong. It is to the team's credit that City remained so competitive for large stages of the game and there is no shame in losing to a team who play in a Division above. City can take great heart from both their performances and will certainly be wiser and stronger for the experience.

Man of the Match went to Teo for his battling display, tireless running and for always looking to use the space on his wing. Well done Teo!

So, City's name will not be on the Cup this year, but we wish Alphington all the best in future rounds.  It's back to the league next weekend for City and a chance to build on the spirit and 'never say die' attitude which they have shown against strong opponents in the last 2 games. 

Starting Team for Saturday's Cup Match

Sorry boys I made a mistake this evening with the weather!! The forecast last night was for heavy rain all evening but as it transpired it was okay!! It was a poor call on my part sorry I hold my hands up!!

Okay so Saturday's match is a cup game against Alphington. 

They are in the division above us and are having a good season so it will be a tough test again. 

As before we will play a 3-4-1 formation, with players pushing up when we are in attacking phases as before. 

The starting team will be:- 

Goal Keeper: 

Will A 

Defence 

Sam P Cameron & Julen 

Midfield 

Teo, Dan, Will P & Ryan 

Striker:

Alfie W 

Starting Subs: 

Sam R, Joe, Oscar & Alfie R 

Note to Parents - The club have informed me that for the first time in their history all pitches at King George are being used on Saturday and that this will make the car parks heavily used. If at all possible if you could park outside of the ground that would be appreciated to give space to visiting players and their families.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, sorry again about the mix up with the weather tonight!! 

Cheers, 

Mark

** Mid Week Training Cancelled **

Hello everyone Just to confirm that we have cancelled training for this evening due to the heavy rain that is forecast! Sorry about this but think it is the right thing for players and parents!! I will post a message in the next day or so about the cup match on Saturday against Alphington. Thank you Mark

Valiant Central City run Bideford mightily close

A gutsy, battling performance saw Central City fall to a narrow 4-2 defeat at the hands of table-topping Bideford Blues today at a blustery King George V. 

Both teams came into the match with unblemished 100% records, the visitors having won most games by substantial margins, meaning this highly anticipated match really was a clash of the titans. After a highly promising opening period in which City matched their opponents and came to terms with their physical approach, the visitors took the lead on 17 minutes and went on to add two further goals, giving them a 3-0 half-time lead. The game had been played almost entirely in driving rain but the scoreline by no means reflected the balance of play, with City testing the opposition keeper and winning a string of corners without being able to make them pay.

The second-half, however, witnessed an outstanding comeback by City. The tone was set by intense City pressure from the off which lead to a goalmouth scramble which Bideford somehow managed to clear. The pressure soon paid off and following yet another City corner, the ball broke to Will Pye wide on the right. From there he delivered a powerful cross which deceived everyone and flew into the net, making 1-3. With the momentum very much with the home team, City poured forward, Alfie W testing the 'keeper. Moments later and it was 2-3, an in-swinging corner causing confusion in the Bideford defence and the ball nestling in the back of the net via the goalie. An unfortunate own goal, perhaps, but one which City's determination fully merited. With nearly 25 minutes remaining, it was very much a case of game on.

The ball is in the back of the net as City fight back against Bideford!

What followed was an enthralling encounter, with both teams having good opportunities to score. City went agonisingly close to an equaliser on several occasions, notably when Alfie W was one-on-one with the 'keeper and when Ryan flicked a cross from Alfie which was cleared off the line. However, City were unable to fashion the equaliser which their all-round play deserved and with 5 minutes remaining, Bideford made the game safe with a fourth. There was still time for City to almost claw back a third goal, Alfie R firing past the post from a corner.

So, a first defeat in the league this season, but on another day and with a bit more luck on their side, City would undoubtedly have got something out of the game. Indeed, Bideford had to defend resolutely throughout the match in the face of some fantastic moves from City, who combined excellent all-round inter-play and passing with grit, determination and athleticism. Bideford certainly knew that they had been in a real game and there are so many positives which City can take out of the game, not least being the first team to score more than one goal against Bideford this season. City had matched their well-organised, strong opponents at every step and can be hugely encouraged by this performance.

Yet again, it was very much a team performance with outstanding play across the pitch from back to front. Man of the Match, as chosen by John Plumer, went to Julen for his determination, flexibility in playing in midfield and defence and eagerness to bring team-mates into play with his passing. Well done to Julen, and well done to everyone for running a very good Bideford team so close.

Next week sees the league take a break, with Central City hosting Alphington in the Cup. On the back of this display, we can look forward to another excellent performance.