Those numbers seem to have come up a lot over the last 3 weeks! Another 2 pre-season fixtures against relatively strong opposition yielded 2 4-1 defeats for Beeches.
First up, Holyport Reserves. An abundance of players (for once) meant a squad of 18 to choose from, and so with agreement from the opposition, we played 3 thirds of 30 minutes. In each of the thirds we changed the side around to ensure everyone got at least a 30 minute run out.
The biggest disappointment was losing the 1st third 2-1 having lead early on from a stunning strike from Simon Murtagh. Two sloppy errors cost us the lead, as we slightly went off the boil in the second 15 of the half.
The second 30 minutes saw a number of young players make their debuts, and, although we were outplayed for a majority of the third, we stayed positive and kept competing despite a 2-0 loss (including one very lucky goal where Lee Peach’s clearance hit their attacker in the nads and went straight into the back of the net!)
The 3rd third was the most positive. 0-0 with us playing better than either of the previous thirds, perhaps shaving it on points.
So overall a 4-1 loss, but again with some good learnings and an interesting workout.
Squad: A Jaffery, P Murtagh, L Kyley, S Jaffery, B Purcell, K Poff, R Norton, S Murtagh, J Bainton, R Mallinson, Phil, S Shelford, D Tapin, J Lopez, L Peach, T Wardle, S Gray, R Seedat
Today (Sat 22nd) we took on a professional looking Ascot Utd Reserves. Their 1st team has been promoted to the Hellenic Premier, and I was expecting their Reserve side to be strong as they were likely to attract new players in the summer.
Assembling a more settled side (and possibly the strongest we’ve had pre-season) we started positively, playing fluent attacking football. Ascot were competitive, played with strength and bite, and certainly worked us hard. For all our good positive play, in the first half we were undone by 2 set pieces – one of which was particularly lucky as the ball somehow squirmed through Simon Mines’ grasp before falling kindly to one of their players to tap it in.
None-the-less, we’d played some great football, been very positive with the ball and were upbeat for the 2nd half. Despite creating 6 or 7 excellent opportunities, we were unable to capitalise, and again suffered some horrible luck to go further behind. Firstly, the excellent Liam Kyley misjudged his header back to Mines, only to see the ball hit the upright and rebound right into the path of an Ascot player, who eventually tucked it in despite Mines’ best efforts. And then Kyley, in clearing the ball 30 yards from goal, managed to hit the ball against an Ascot players knee and it flew past Mines to make it 4. I mean, how’s your luck! On top of that we hit the post, the crossbar, the ‘keeper, and looke destined not to score before Simon Oatley cleverly set up Shaun Gray to score a consolation.
So pre-season was not a success in terms of results. 1 win and 3 loses. But these stats don’t paint the whole picture. We played some excellent fluent attacking football at times. The team is starting to gell well, and we are creating opportunities for players from all over the pitch. We have defended stoutly, and been punished for errors when we haven’t made that many. And we have stood man-2-man with each team we have played, and given them a run for their money.
All in all, a very positive pre-season campaign has come to a close. Roll on 5th September and the hunt for silverware.
Burnham Beeches FC 