29th March 2009 Hanney Youth 5 Abingdon Youth 1


We all know what we have to do this season, our destiny is in our own hands, four wins and the boys walk away as Oxford Mail under twelve’s D league champions or we fail to achieve what we all set out to do at the beginning of the season! Everyone has worked very hard to get where we are. We would have liked for it all to be sewn up by now what with Matt’s imminent departure, but recent slip ups against Botley and Marston it will mean that it will go right down to the wire.

Abingdon came here about a month ago and were given a real footballing lesson; I personally think it was the best performance of the season thus far. So we go into another must win game. Matt had a long talk with the boys stressing to them the importance of the game, getting a good start, to play with swagger; and to go out and score the goals which our football deserves, we have struggled at times this year to capitalise on our dominance which always spells trouble. As usual the boys seemed pumped up and ready to go.

We started the game today with the loss of Marc King who has been struggling with a groin strain, Marc and Harry’s partnership in the middle of the park is the foundation for all of our success, so when we have missed either one it is no coincidence that it accounts for three of our four defeats.
Abingdon though are probably a side which if you are a going to be missing key players they would be one of the teams you would choose it to be against. Kieron Frawley comes in to replace Marc.

Again it’s a lovely day and as we kick off, immediately the boys look a little lack lustre, I am not sure if it is a tentative start because of the loss last week or if the boys are a little nervous, but we are allowing Abingdon to gain confidence through not playing our football and impressing our superiority.

We do create a chance when Chris breaks down the wing and crosses the ball into Philip’s path but Abingdon manage to hook it out for a corner. Harry’s delivery from the corner is good but Jonny cannot control his header.

Harry then had a long shot after making space for himself with his movement again from a throw in; though the keeper makes a comfortable save.

Jake won a header and Kieron was quickly onto the loose ball playing the ball into Jonny, he passed the ball to Harry’s feet, Hazza rushed his shot a little and didn’t get the power he wanted, again the Abingdon keeper had an easy save to make.

Jonny then showed his intentions when he took a shot on the turn straight from the throw in, again we missed the target but at least we were showing some urgency. He went a lot closer after Philip worked some magic on the wing before slipping the ball into Jonny; he toe poked the ball at full stretch just wide of the post.
Jonny then got the first goal of the match from a lovely ball slid through from Harry sending Jonny racing clear, he ran on with the ball and slipped it past the advancing keeper for one nil to Hanney.

We were in the lead but were not showing the total domination of Abingdon that we had displayed in our previous match. Our back four were looking a little jittery and had made again some poor clearances. That said Abingdon hadn’t threatened our goal.

We made another chance, Harry winning the ball and sending it wide to Ryhann Peters who cut inside and squared the ball to Philip on the edge of the box; he beat his marker and shot on goal the defender swung at the ball to clear it and the ball screwed off for a corner, nice passing. From the resulting corner the ball was flicked on and Ryhann shot wide.

Philip created space with a typical jinking run, he squared the ball to Harry who shot first time- again he did not get hold of the ball properly and Matt let him know what he thought of it!!

Abingdon then played some nice football of their own creating a half chance down the wing but Ben and Jake managed to halt them.

Ben looked determined this morning and won a great tackle from an Abingdon throw he then found Ryhann who then in turn passed the ball to Harry, he switched the play as we have worked on in training allowing Philip acres of space, he carried the ball forward and shot forcing the Abingdon goalie into a good save. Great football straight from Friday’s training session.

Abingdon aren’t really potent but do have their moments and when Jake’s clearing header went backwards the Abingdon striker nipped in front of Karl but missed with his rushed shot.

Jonny and Chris rotated for Marc and Aaron.

Ben showed great determination and strength, he chased the winger back and used his size and determination to not only win the ball but to pick it up and carry the ball in the other direction before setting up another Hanney attack. Great stuff Ben!

We were shocked to find the game at 1-1, when a rare Abingdon attack resulted in a corner which was fired across the area, Harry tried to clear the ball with his head but it glanced across our area rather than out and it landed on Adam Tailors head at the far post for an easy reply.

We were all stunned on the touch line but it was symptomatic of the relatively poor start which we had made to the game. Matt was dismayed that we had given the goal away.

Abingdon’s confidence grew and a long ball from the keeper a la Marston landed on Josh and Karl’s patch and again our boy’s ducked out of an easy headed clearance, the ball bounced and the nippy long haired striker took advantage of the hesitance. Though luckily for us he lost his composure and took on a long shot which ran tamely to Lewis. Come on boy’s this was something Matt has been trying to drum into you all season!!!



We then seemed to realise that this was not acceptable and slowly began to dominate. Matt was finally getting through to the boy’s. We picked up the pace and began to look interested in winning again; several chances were made but with no goals were scored.

Marc was struggling and had to be replaced by Nathan.

Philip again was beating his man at will and Harry in particular was regularly finding him with passes which allowed Philip to either take on the defender or leave him in his wake.

Similar attacks down the right lead to shots from Harry, Philip and Jonny.

Just before half time the deadlock was again broken, the ball was crossed into Aaron who had found space in the centre of the box he shot first time and the ball looped up in the air, Ryhann bravely jumped in with the keeper and the ball flew into the air with Ryhann and the keeper falling to the ground. A defender behind the goalie tried to clear the ball but scuffed it back out to Ryhann and he punted it straight in the net.
2-1 at last we looked like we were firmly in the driving seat.

Our lead was almost extended, Harry again sent Philip clear, he ran through though this time he carried the ball too far, his hurried shot was well saved.

Hanney- two Abingdon- one at half time, we had not really started playing until the latter stage of the half and Matt was not pleased with the performance of many of the boys. With the exception of Ben and Kieron we had looked hesitant. Matt asked the boys if they really wanted to win the league. He explained to the boys what he expected and sent them out with no doubt about what we needed from them in the second half.

The Gaffer had pulled it off again and the lads responded superbly, the real Hanney youth were back. Philip was again through on goal and peppering the goal with shots and crosses, one was pulled back to Hazza who caught this one properly, the ball just flying wide of the target.

The new attitude quickly paying dividends, Kieron found Chris Willison who slipped the ball to Philip, he ran the ball it seemed too wide but then he shot powerfully across the keeper for a great finish- something we had been asking Philip to do, get the shot off quicker. 3-1

We were at this time firmly in control of the match and Lewis was even more of a spectator than in the first half. A ball over the top did give us something to worry about Jake chased back towards his own goal and hammered a peculiar clearance over the goal for the corner!!



Chris and Harry had shots which were saved by an impressive Abingdon Keeper; he had been the main reason why the score was so close. His distribution was very good too.

Harry created a chance for Aaron who maybe should have attacked the ball with his head instead of his foot.

Philip again worked well playing a one two with Harry, the ball was whipped in and Harry dived into the header and narrowly missed the post, great one touch football.

Ben continued his good first half form raiding down the wing; Philip was a constant threat on the other wing. Harry and Philip again worked the ball very well culminating in a good shot from Harry which needed a good save to prevent us going further in front. Jonny created another good chance beating the defender and firing the ball into the area, two chances then went begging from Aaron and Chris.

Harry this week has been allowed to roam freely partly because of the opposition but mostly because Kieron had been so disciplined. So it is no coincidence that the number of chances we were creating was excellent. Harry linked up superbly with Ryhann on one occasion and again it resulted in another shot for Hazza.

The football was by now really flowing and the goal of the match got the result it deserved lovely passing from Kieron to Philip to Harry and then to Aaron who beautifully passed the ball in for Philip to finish for his second of the game. Superb passing football. 4-1 Hanney.

Aaron then went very close with a long range shot, Josh and Karl were even getting in on the attacking both working openings down the right working with Philip.

Ben made a brilliant driving run down the wing before passing the ball inside to Philip who immediately turned and shot with the shot going over the bar.

Josh and Karl worked a fantastic chance between them, Karl working the over lap with a one two, he eventually got the ball back in the box but had his shot charged down. Great football amazing what confidence does for a team. Matt at this time was purring the football again was flowing. This was a far cry from the team we were watching in the first half.

Philip and Jonny went close Chris went even closer twice having shots well saved.

Philip eventually got his hatrick, Chris was played in and ran towards the keeper, he tried to slip it past him but the keeper made the block the ball rebounding back to Philip who was in support, Philip calmly finished the ball. Superb another hat rick ball thoroughly deserved. Great football again. 5-1

Chances followed for Ryhann and Chris with no increase in the score. Full time Hanney 5 Abingdon 1.



Well a Jekyll and Hyde performance today. A very poor first half in which we looked lethargic and hesitant and then the real Hanney youth turned out in the second. Great passing, confidence and total dominance. This is the dilemma Matt sometimes has to face. On the second half showing we will be fine, but we cannot afford the first half performance to be repeated if we are to go on and win this league.
Next up Watlington who will certainly be more of a test, another side that we have already beaten twice but as with Marston you have to deserve the win- nothing is ever given to you on a plate!!!
Please can we have a full attendance for another pivotal game next week both at training and the match.

Matt needs 100% commitment from parents and players so that we can end the season on a high.

Hanney Scorers: Philip Webster 3, Jonny Clinker, Ryhann Peters.

Abingdon Scorer: Adam Tailor.

Man of the Match: Ben Barnard, outstanding attitude, commitment, aggression. Welcome back Ben

Gaffers Notes:

A great second half following a poor start pretty much sums up today. The boys need to remember to keep working on there fitness as a few are really starting to struggle.

Special mentions to some of the other contenders of the day,

Harry well done great service good support to Philip lovely corners a pleasure to watch.

Philip another day at the office for our talented winger bagging 3 and wearing his heart on his sleeve again great stuff keep it there for the next 2 games and we are the champions as the song goes.

Kieron after a shaky start played a steady and disciplined game in the centre of the park just what I asked for well done.

2 games 2 wins and we can start celebrating well done all parents too bring on Watlington………


1. Lewis Grimes
2. Joshua Davies
3. Ben Barnard
4. Karl Harvey
5. Jake Claridge
6. Philip Webster
7. Kieron Frawley
8. Harry Andrew
9. Jonny Clinker
10. Chris Willison
11. Ryhann Peters
12. Marc King
13. Aaron Tidmus
14. Nathan Criddle

All players used. 4-4-2