Milton Keynes City Under 13 Boys Match Reports

11th March 2012 - Newton Longville 5 vs Milton Keynes City 2

Back to full strength this week and hoping to carry on the good work from the week before. Unfortunately it was not to be. The team while not playing badly did not play to their full capabilities. Like most matches this season we controlled the midfield. We never took our chances when they came (All credit to Newton Longville's GK who had an excellent match).After being the better team in the opening minutes and scoring a goal only to be controversially ruled off-side we gave away 2 sloppy goals. We battled back and Malik who had a very good 1st half, smashed the ball into the back of the net with an unstoppable shot; his first goal for the club. Again we shot ourselves in the foot by giving away a needless corner; the centre half moving up unchallenged to head the ball in. Halt-Time 3-1. 2nd half much of the same with us pressing and N/L counterattacking more breakaway goals gave the game an unbalanced score line of 5 - 1.We had hit the bar twice in this period and their GK was the busier of the two. Mitch scored a nice header towards the end to make the final score 5 - 2 to Newton Longville.

4th March 2012 - Milton Keynes City 4 vs City Colts Vipers 3

Home to league favourites City Vipers. Due to illness and one boy away for the weekend we only had 9 players. 9 players against the potential league champions. We settled down fairly well in cold and wet conditions; defending and then pushing up when the opportunity arose. The boys rose to the challenge and went 2 goals up (Dee and Mitch scoring) with quick effective counter attacking football. Just before half-time Vipers pulled a goal back. 2nd half we were under a lot of pressure as Vipers reacted to their coach's teamtalk.Our game plan was still working. Again a swift counter attack saw Mitch put us 3 -1 up. Straight from the Kick Off Vipers cut through us, as our concentration vanished(still celebrating our 3rd goal).It was immediately 3 - 2. The pressure was again on. Sam being the standin goalie performed heroics between the sticks. Again we counterattacked and this time Chris scored to put us 4 - 2 up; unbelievable. With 10mins to go, a long shot by Vipers skidded along the ground into the net as the conditions deteriorated. All the boys battled to the whistle, and this time we hung onto our lead as the final whistle went. It was the most heroic performance by this team, and every boy should be proud of their performance. Well done

22nd January 2012 - Milton Keynes City 6 vs Brackley Town 1

A very good performance in Windy conditions against a strong battling team. All 13 boys who played, all performed with credit. The highlight of the match was a fantastic hat-trick from Chris, with one in the top corner from 20 yards, and another a free kick against the wind which gave the Brackley GK no chance. All three forwards (Dee, Mitch and Evan his 1st for the club) scored a goal apiece which shows the forward line is beginning to click after some changes in personnel recently. The defence was rock solid and the chances for Brackley were very few indeed. The midfield were superb with Eman spreading some great passes, Chris's hat-trick, and Eben working very hard in midfield. We have played really well for long periods in previous games without getting the result we deserve, but the way the boys played on Sunday which bodes well for the rest of the season.

20th November 2011 - Milton Keynes City 2 vs Roman Rangers 3

A very disappointing result especially as we should have been 5 nil up at half-time. We started where we left off the previous week, playing some brilliant football. We were 1 nil up very quickly and then Ryan made it 2 - 0 with a quality strike that would be a contender for goal of the season. 2 - 0 up after 15 minutes playing superbly, what could go wrong ? Ryan then sent in a quality pass that split the defence but Deshon could not convert from close in. Chances came and went. 2 - 0 half-time. All credit to Roman Rangers who had nothing to lose; they came out battling, but we still looked secure. Then a controversial free kick, put in from 25 yds and it was 2-1. The nerves began to show. Roman Rangers scored a 2nd and then a third with 15 minutes to go. Despite looking the better team for most of the match, we never really looked liked getting the equalizer as Roman Rangers battled for everything. A good game played in the right spirit, just a disappointing result for us.

13th November 2011 - Preston Gawcott 2 vs Milton Keynes City 4

At last our first victory in a month. Very much a game of 2 halves. For the first 20 minutes we did not look like our team; it was probably the worst 20 mins we have played. Preston Gawcott were 2 0 nil up and were unlucky to have a 3rd disallowed; this is the team who are bottom of the league having lost all their games and scored very few goals. After this start the coach has to take some credit for the change around. At training the previous Wednesday we practised attacking corners. With 5 mins to go before half-time Deshon got his head to a corner, great header 2 - 1 half-time. The 2nd half we were more like our true selves and dominated play. Chances came and went, good chances missed, the woodwork hit, was it going to be one of those days ? Then another corner, attacked by Sam up from the back and it was 2 - 2; the training had paid off. We then started playing some lovely football, Ryan finishing off two good moves with his customley aplomb; final score 2 - 4 but it could have been a lot more.

30th October 2011 - Willen FC 1 vs Milton Keynes City 1

Another Draw, our 3rd in 4 matches; and again a game we could and should have won. A very competitive game in which both teams played with a lot of credit. We tried a new defensive format, which worked very well. Alex went to right back and RJ into central defence, with Jack. It worked very well with Alex getting the M.O.T.M award for his impressive performance in this new position. A big positive in this game is that all 15 players turned up, all 4 substitutions were made, and the team continued to play as well with all the changes. This bodes well for the future. We started well, knocking the ball around and looking fairly confident. We missed a couple of good chances, and against the run of play Willen scored. It was then fairly even for a while. The second half was again fairly even for a while, with no real chances being created. As the half went on Milton Keynes City started to look stronger and more dangerous. A great goal from Eman levelled things up with 15 mins left. There was only going to be one winner in the last 10 mins but try as we might, the 2nd goal never came. Ryan coming so close with a great effort, only for the GK to make an outstanding save, stopping it from being 2 - 1. All credit to Willen who defended very well, especially in the last 10 mins. Apart from the result, an enjoyable game, with again some good performances on the pitch.

23rd October 2011 - Milton Keynes City 1 vs Roman Rangers 1

Disappointing that we never won, after conceding a late equaliser, having had numerous opportunities to go 2 - 0 up; a succession of misses, and some remarkable goalkeeping by the Roman Rangers GK.With 3 players missing, our defence again, never really had a settled look, but generally did well against a pacy and tricky attack. New GK Dan was M.O.T.M with a very confident display in goal, which bodes well for the season. Malik our other new boy had a pleasing debut in midfield. With players coming and going, it will take a little time for the players to get used to each other, but the signs are good. Another recent signing Evan showed more confidence, put in a lot of hard work chasing the ball and closing down the oppostion quickly. Another superb goal from Deshon looked like winning the game, but it was not to be. The boys did work hard again, which is pleasing and I am sure our next victory will not be long in coming.

9th October 2011 - Woburn Lions 4 vs Milton Keynes City 1

Our first loss of the season and no complaints. We dominated the game for the first 25 minutes,and then two defensive errors made it 2 - 0 to Woburn just before half-time. With the wind and slope behind us in the 2nd half I thought we would still turn it around. Again at the start of the 2nd half, some bad defending led to an own-goal, 3-0 Woburn. We scored a cracking goal to make it 3 - 1 after a superb pass from Eman to Ryan who finished in style. Another bad piece of defending led to another Woburn goal 4-1.Despite the result there were some outstanding displays, AJ and Jack in defence, Sam in goal, and Deshon on the left. Woburn have a very strong defence and made it very hard for our forwards. I thought the midfield had an off-day and we will be working on that next week. Woburn were excellent hosts and one of our old boys Dan had a big game for them in midfield.

25th September 2011 - Milton Keynes City 5 vs Newton Longville 5

A tough game against an uncompromising opposition played in very windy conditions. The team struggled in the conditions which seemed to suit Newton Longville's long ball approach. We were 2 down very quickly and the conditions could be blamed for both. The coach changed it around and it seemed to help. We pulled it back to 2 - 2 and then let in another sloppy goal from a corner. H/T 2-3. I was confident that with the wind and slope behind us we would quickly get into our stride. Try as we might the ball just would not go in.Then a quick counter attack saw us go another goal down; followed by a bad defenceive error that gifted another goal. 2-5 with twenty minutes to go. Our top goalscorer pulled one back(on another day he would have scored a second half hat-trick by this point). Then a moment of controversy; the ref awarded us an indirect free-kick after judging one of their defenders cleared off the line into their
goalkeepers hand and deemed it a backpass. It was put away superbly.Then with
5mins left we were awarded a free kick out on the right after a foul, the decision again upset the opposition. It was put into the top corner with some aplomb. 5 - 5. Maybe we could do it. Our top goalscorer then had a 1 on 1 with the defender who put his arm across our players face, a definite penalty but with everything going on the ref never gave it. This same defender tripped one our of our forwards who was through on goal earlier, which in most games would have been a sending off. We just accept decisions and get on with it. I cannot praise the players high enough, for the way they conducted themselves throughout and after the game in contrast to the opposition.

18th September 2011 - Brackley Town 0 vs Milton Keynes City 7

A good victory away from home with 7 different goalscorers, which is testiment to
a good allround attacking side. The match was played in perfect conditions with Brackley Town being really good hosts. The first half was a frustrating affair with only one goal to show at half-time. In all fairness we should have been 2 or 3 up, but Brackley did make it very difficult for us. The Coach changed things around at half-time and the effect was immediate. Passing a lot crisper, the full backs supporting the attack and a flood of goals in the second half. Our Captain marshalled the defence really well, and as a result Brackley had very few chances. Well done boys.

11th September 2011 - Milton Keynes City 9 vs Preston Gawcott 1

A great start to the season with some lovely football being played and some brilliant goals. An excellent first half hat-trick and a well taken goal making it 4 - 0 at half time. A special mention to our full back for his excellent attacking play.
The second half was a bit harder,kicking against the wind, but the boys adapted well and scored another 5 goals with Preston Gawcott scoring a twice taken penalty in reply. A second half substitute scored twice and was a real livewire down the left. The Preston Gawcott goalie had an excellent game and kept the scoreline down.
A mention for the two stand in goalkeepers, for doing a really good job; including a penalty save which was then retaken.
Just to reiterate, a really good team performance.