Draw for the new year

City were well matched and played out a competitive fixture against St Martins at home at KGV.It was the first league action since a draw at Sidmouth over six weeks before and the only match played between was a facile drubbing of the younger Central Redstar in a one sided friendly.

On a very heavy pitch,the fixture was probably in doubt right up to the last minute,and with longish grass as well to tire the legs,Citys’ training and fitness was evident as they kept going to the end.

St Martins stall was set out early,playing from the back and pressing forward with some fluency.City rode an early warning as a freekick sailed over the bar.Attrition seemed to be the apt descriptive word for most of the tight first half,Charlie getting some joy running the right wing from fullback and a series of throw ins often saw City gain ground.However,with little quarter given,it was a relief when Will P found some space and opened the scoring with a looping right footer in what was virtually the first real attack of the game.

Noah was once again called upon to be alert,showing great handling and kicking as City maintained the single goal lead to halftime.Tom O was subbed on as Dan limped off ,fortunately able to return to the affray in the second half.Sustained St Martins pressure was evident and the whistle blew to signal a welcome break.

City saw more of the play in the second half and started to put more passing moves together albeit under difficult playing conditions.Will P followed the Lee Holmes model,landing Citys’ first corner of the game inswinging onto the bar.But as City played slightly deep,St Martins came on to them and levelled the score with a looping shot.

Almost immediately though the lead was restored when Cam put a through ball over the defence and Alfie persisted enough to worry the defenders off the ball and scoop it into the right corner.Despite close freekicks from Cam and Josh,City were caught out allowing a midfield run to go unchallenged for the final result,2-2.There was still time for both Toms to go close near the end but on reflection it was a fair result.The effort gave a team Men of the Match award,so well done Noah,Sam,Charlie,Cameron,Josh,Will P,Dan,Tom D,Ewan,Will A,Alfie,Joe,Tom O and Oner and the spirit of Dylan,back to light training. 

The weeks and months ahead!

Hello everyone,

Hope that you are all well, seems like ages since we all got together just before Christmas.

I just wanted to update the information for the next few weeks and also for the weekend.

We are due to have a home match this Saturday (30^th) against St Martins.  At the time of posting this message (Thursday morning) the match is still on however it will be subject to a pitch inspection, hopefully today but more likely tomorrow.  If it is postponed I will text you all to let you know.  The decision to play or not is not one that I make sadly, Nigel and Tim generally inspect the pitches, as you know the full size pitches are also used by adult teams on Saturday afternoon and Sunday so they have to make a overall decision.

 

Sadly I won’t be there as I have to go to Costa del Milton Keynes again for the weekend, but John will be leading the team and I know that you will give him all your support.  

 

I know I chatted a bit about this last night at training, but just to say that we are now in a position of having football nearly every Saturday through until the end of April and still have to find time to play games that have been postponed and cancelled due to the weather, and also because of the Frisbee tournament last weekend.

The two options are to play on a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening when the clocks go back.  Of those two options I prefer Wednesday evening as I am aware many boys also have rugby and other commitments on a Sunday morning.  I would welcome any other thoughts, ideas or suggestions.  Equally if there are dates that you know you cannot make please could you let me know ASAP so that I can make suitable arrangements.  Unless I hear otherwise I will presume everyone is available for selection.

Hopefully all mums will have received the information about the night out on 11^th February, sounds like a nice night out.  What say you chaps shall we try and get something together?

 

Am reallt sad I wont be there on Saturday but will be thinking about you and hope it’s a great game.

Kind regards

Mark

Mum's night out

The next mum's night out is on Thursday 11 February (at 7.30 p.m.) at the Jasmine Thai restaurant on Fore Street. 

Please let Emer (07843 252529) or Lynn (07817 387807) know if you can make it.

Update on January

Hello everyone,

 

Hope that you are all well, it seems like such a long time ago that we played our last match away against Sidmouth!

 

I promised to give you a brief update on the next month or so and also to give some information for what will I suspect be a busy second half of the season.

 

The first thing to say is that we have now had to postpone three matches due to the bad weather and so these will be rearranged on Saturday’s when we have no fixtures.  Whilst every effort will be made to avoid school holidays it might not always be possible.  Anyone who looks at the league tables will see that our figures are wrong, I have emailed the league about this but as yet they haven’t been updated.

 

Our next match is next Saturday 16th January, a home fixture against Nigel Parker’s Redstar team.  They have invited us to play them so that they can get some practice playing 11 a-side and also think it will be a good opportunity for us to have to have some much needed match time.

 

The following week 23rd January we are due to be away against Colyton, however I am aware that we will be missing half of the squad who are at their annual Frisbee tournament and so I am trying my best to get this rescheduled.

 

We then have St Martins (home) on the 30th January.

 

As some of you are aware I have changed jobs last week and this will mean that I will be missing some of the midweek training sessions and occasional Saturdays.  John, as ever, has been very supportive and will be leading these sessions.  This starts with training on Wednesday 13th and 20th January.  I know the boys will give him their full attention and respect.

 

Any problems please let me know, I will see you on Saturday at King George V (if the weather improves!!)

 

Kind regards

Mark

2015 drawing to a close!

Hi everyone,

Sadly the match planned for Saturday 19^th December has had to be postponed due to Barton fields being water logged and both of the pitches at KGV being allocated to Under 14’s.  This is a shame and will mean that our next football training will be on Wednesday 6^thJanuary and our next match will be a home fixture against Cullompton. 

It has been a great 2015 and like you I am sure I have many happy memories of the year and being part of a special group of players and parents.  John and I would like to thank you all for the bags of goodies and to know that it is really appreciated.

Well done to Dan who won the ‘shoot the hoop’ competition on Wednesday and wins two tickets to see Star Wars!! 

So, on behalf of John and I, we wish you all a very happy festive break and every best wish for 2016.  I am confident and hopeful that it will be a good one for Central City!

Ho, Ho, Ho!!

Mark & John

Stuck in the mud!

Stealers Wheel were “ Stuck in the middle with you" back in the 1970‘s and City seemed to be stuck in the muddy conditions at Sidford.With cup tie fever gripping the City, this reference can go full circle in line with the heavy,well played on pitch against Sidmouth.

A slightly later start than usual did not allow for any drying of the boggy surface despite some prevailing wind.A City call to arms drew on all 14 available players and a tactical left balance defence,with right side attack, initially gave City the best of the exchanges.A strong Cameron led defence supported by Charlie and Josh,with Man of the Match Will P dropping deep from a midfield role,led to three positive efforts on goal from Dan,Alfie and Tom D,each time the competant home keeper in the right place.

As City switched the play,Dan to Ewan and Sam P on the left,there did not seem to be any problem with the football flowing.As the match went on though,it was City whose footing suffered most.Sidmouth went close following a slight defensive mix up,an open goal shot wide,to relief and good fortune.City rallied to force two corners before Charlie was unable to continue following a head injury and the team were required to restructure, Joe coming on and Ewan dropping to right back.Despite good touches, Will A and Alfie were outnumbered in attack and at halftime City trailed 1-0 following a penalty award for handball.

The second half saw more frustration as it was difficult to connect cleanly with the ball and pass and shoot with any purpose.In this half,fresh legs were introduced,Tom O then Oner joining the Managers rallying calls.The team spirit kicked in,an Alfie corner forced a good save from Dan,Tom D combined with Alfie whose shot somehow stayed out and then finally,Dan took a short corner that Sam P boxed and as the ball stayed in the air,Tom D levelled with a clean volley.

The cup tie atmosphere continued to the end and City clung on,good fortune again with a missed attempt and then due to astonishing bravery as Noah came out to thwart a one on one attempt getting both the ball and a chest full of studs.

So,a draw was taken in the end.Judging by the cup clip below,it seems the Sidford pitch was pretty good.Aspire to a Ronnie Radford moment and consider how many refs would allow that tackle before it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHZWyMFgM80

Let's finish 2015 in style!!

Hello everyone,

Hope that you are all well.

A really positive training session last night, and was good to have John back with us after his trip down under!

Was also good to talk tactics and focus a bit on positional play, these are such important points and will hopefully make us an even stronger team.

So we have two matches left in 2015.  The match on Saturday 12th is away against Sidmouth.  They have requested a 11:15am kick off and I hope that this is okay with everyone.  They play this year at Sidford Playing Fields, Sidford, Sidmouth EX10 9QX.

We will take a strong 14 man squad with us, with only Dylan still out of action due to injury.  Cameron has been handed the captains arm band for the next two matches, setting consistently high standards in training and on match days so well done Cameron. 

We then have training on the 18th December before our final match against West Exe, again away, on the 19th December.  We will then have a break from playing and training until we re-group to work off the excesses of the festive period on Wednesday 6th January.

As always any problem please let me know, if not I will look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

Regards

Mark

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