What a week...

With two games in two days and only one training session this week it was bound to be interesting in many ways and it didn't disappoint. At training we have now split the final  full game into defenders against attackers all in the name of team work, team spirit and communication for all, a regime that seems to working very well as shouts of "MY BALL, LEAVE IT, IVE GOT IT and GET UP ! " rang out for all the neighbourhood to hear, very positive if not hard on the ears..very happy going into the first of two games against the bottom two teams.
Game one V Rishel (away) . haven't failed to score one goal i put the pressure firmly on them insisting whole sale changes would be taken if we didn't score several goals today against a team that leaked goals more than us, this should, could & would end up a record scoring game with both teams defenses lacking good judgement and it went according to the script, albeit not the one i wrote. very poor goalkeeping, yes again and lack of basic talking mixed with kicking thin air and turning our back saw us concede four before the dreaded half time blow dryer speech from yours truly. My infamous " next goal wins the game " line was over abused during our 5 minutes break,  meanwhile my opposite number across the field was basking in the glory of a possibly 3 points and wasn't even with his team at half time?
We did it , we scored the next goal and now only needed to keep possession and stop big roger from getting the ball, in stepped Gage to mastermind our comeback by basically running around like a headless chicken and playing the long ball, which worked as we pulled it back to 4-2 within 5 minutes of the restart by charging down every long long ball and putting their back line under pressure.
At 4-3 we pushed our very own big roger into midfield as we never looked like winning one header, roger put his heart and head into every high ball and we kept them pinned in their own half for long spells, with five minutes to go Raul and Gio combined with panache at the edge of the box, Gio was on goal and neatly tucked away a tidy goal that his work effort fully deserved , 4-4! With the bit firmly between their teeth my boys finally starting showing glimpses of genuine skill and with virtually the last kick of the game Gio turned on a sixpence and curled the ball toward the top bar, and that was where it went, off the post and over, the ref blew the whistle. final score 4-4


Game two V Skinner (away)  If the drama from the previous game wasn't enough then what happened next is a mirror image in a horrific way. I teach my kids to respect their opposition and treat every team as their equal, i put Laurence in goal for the first half and he didn't disappoint, clean catches, rolling the ball out short to the full backs, nice long goal kicks ,finally a light at the end of goalkeeping hell!.
Went ahead for the first time ever this season after Jamaal made light work of his defender tucking the ball to Gio who swept his second goal in as many games sending the goal keeper the wrong like an old pro.
Within 10 minutes the twins Raul & Diego added two more with superb finishes from tight angles either side of the box, Skinner pulled one back after they had 3 corners in quick succession , half time came at a a good time as my eight subs were driving me bonkers with their persistent crying of put me on coach!
ok, now pay attention to next chapter, after reshuffling a few midfielders to allow for some pace and a bit more steel , my two goal keepers had swapped gloves and decided without discussing it they would have a half each as it was only fair???? Laurence whom had been quite refreshing had disappeared without telling me leaving the nightmare that is Shane with the gloves, leaving the coach, the team and our supporters wondering if i had indeed lost the plot altogether. We began the 2nd half nervously as is expected with the goalkeeper we have and within 5 minutes our backs were slightly feeling the brick wall as they scored a quick goal making it 3-2, big roger feeling confident enough to try a volleyed clearance that he missed leaving their striker one one  one with Shane...oh dear.We raised our game and i raised my voice in return as expected which payed dividends as Gio, Ernesto and Diego all combined well and set Luis free to score a simple tap after he rounded their Goalie.
But with every half chance Skinner made Shane made half attempts to make a half attempt and was flapping at every single ball and minutes after he made a good solid block he went to clear a very simple effort ...which went through his legs, 4-3! The boys were not happy that they continued to work hard and create chances and Shane seemed content to literally throw the game away every chance he could get.
Gio pulled away from two markers before rifling our 5th and  final goal, We sat back a little and started to defend our goal more and more , but it wasn't to be as Shane punched a simple high ball into his own net ,5-4! Skinner added two goals very late on our defence was caught napping and Shane was rooted to his line like Lindsay Lohan to a free bar at a wedding!


Final Thoughts
It was a long trip home on the bus but I played every kid today as the school instructs me to, I cant blame it all on Shane & Laurence but given the choice I would have preferred Shane to go walkies at halftime and not Laurence. My boss is happy to see each and every kid get a game regardless of what they are capable of - so at least she is happy.