Bromley Heath Utd Under 7s 7 - 2 AEK Boco Under 7s (aggregate score)

Bromley Heath Utd U7s started their season of friendlies with an excellent victory at home to AEK Boco. The game was tight to start with and AEK Boco missed an early penalty before Kieran McDonagh-Langley had the honour of scoring the first goal of the season, poking home from close range. The floodgates opened in the second half with two goals a piece for Ollie Baker and Jack Sharp. Callum Bailey added a 6th and looked comfortable on the ball throughout. The second match allowed Baker to complete a well deserved hat-trick, a testimony to some barnstorming runs. Credit must go to AEK Boco who came back to take the second game 2-1 for an aggregate of 7-2 to Bromley Heath. This game showed the value of team play with Jamie Taylor covering every blade of grass, Baz Miller looked solid in goal and Jack and Sam Younie showed discipline in defence.

v AEK Boco, Sunday 8th November

Match 1 -  Won 1 – 0, Match 2 – Lost 2 – 0

This was an entertaining couple of matches between 2 evenly matched teams.  In both matches the results could have gone either way.  The weather was cold and damp but the enthusiasm shown by the boys more than made up for it.

We were a few short on numbers due to illness and unavailability and operated a rotation policy with each player playing 10 minutes then resting 5.  All took to this system  and played well in several different positions.

I think it is fair to say we started strongly in match 1 and had the majority of possession in the opening exchanges.  The result of this was we deservedly took the lead in 7th minute following a good finish from Jack.  From then, we just couldn’t seem to create another clear opening, despite having the majority of possession. The game flowed from end to end and we held our lead at half time.   The second half followed in a similar vein and, despite surviving a penalty, I never thought we were going to concede.

Match 2 started off as match 1 did, though Boco started to get more involved as the game progressed.  At half time the match was all square and could have gone either way.  I think tiredness started to creep in the second half, but I don’t want to be seen to take anything away from Boco.  They worked hard and deserved their goals, the first mid way through the second half and the second with just about a minute and a half left.  We never stopped working but it was not to be.  I think if you look at the goals, on both occasions we let their forwards get behind our defence and then found ourselves having to chase back.

Jamie worked tirelessly up front and Harry was consistently putting in demon challenges (and I think he timed about 90% of them right!).  The new additions in Thomas, Daniel and Oliver all worked hard and fitted in well and, fingers crossed, will be a useful addition to the squad.  Callum never seems to run out of energy on the right hand side and Max was always willing to get stuck in the middle.  With Baz being solid and brave in goal and timing his runs off the line to perfection the U7 squad is taking shape nicely.

Southmead  6 - 2 Bromley Heath United (Aggregate score)

Game 1     1 - 1
Game 2     5 - 1

A somewhat depleted Under 7 side travelled to Southmead and acquitted themselves well in the first match. Despite a number of chances for both sides, the game remained goalless until the 23rd minute when Southmead took the lead. Bromley Heath stuck to their task and grabbed a deserved equaliser - Jack Sharp finishing well from a tight angle.
As concentration and energy levels dropped, Southmead took control of the second match and scored 4 goals in quick succession. Ollie Baker drove home powerfully to give the scoreline some respectability. Goalkeeper Baz Miller was, once again the stand out performer, keeping out a number of goal bound efforts to add to his trademark dives at the feet of opposition strikers.
All members of the team can be proud of the effort they put in and the experience gained will stand them in good stead for the forthcoming fixtures.

Bromley Heath United U7s 1-11 Bristol Rovers SJFC (aggregate score)

After a two month fixture break due to the inclement weather, the under-7s resumed their friendly programme at home to the Bristol Rovers supporters club team. With several new players on board, this was never going to be an easy fixture and so it proved. Against tides of opposition attacks, the defence stood up well, never ducking a challenge and Ellis Richards and the two Harrys can be proud of the tackles they put in. Baz Miller, in goal, once again showed no fear, diving at the feet of strikers time and again. However, positionally, we were often found wanting and the coaches will need to work on this and issues such as the relinquishment of possession direct from kick offs.
There were a few bright moments in attack - notably a well taken goal from Callum Bailey and a couple of forceful runs from midfield from Sam Wallage.
I'm sure the team will have learnt a lot from playing a well-drilled and streetwise team, and can take this forward into the remaining fixtures

Bromley Heath United U7s 2 - 6 Brislington U7s (aggregate score)

Match 1    1-3
Match 2    1-3

With a full complement to choose from, the under 7s were able to field two different teams in the two matches for the first time. In match 1, there was little to choose between the sides and the U7s could count themselves unlucky to be 0-2 down at half time. Brislington netted a third shortly after the interval but Bromley Heath kept pressing and fully deserved Ollie Baker's breakaway consolation goal. Again the defending caught the eye with a number of well timed tackles drawing praise from the visiting fans.

In match 2, the score was the same but bar a couple of silly mistakes which led to goals, the performance was again excellent with the defensive side of the game again prominent. Oliver H's full commitment to the tackle curtailed a number of opposition attacks. Max Johnson put in a number of determined runs and fully deserved his goal which followed good work from Jack Sharp.

The under-7 squad is really coming together nicely, with players getting used to their positions and role within the team. It was particularly satisfying to see some good passing (not always a feature of under 7 matches !) following on from exercises undertaken in training.

Bromley Heath Utd U7s 0 - 11 Mangotsfield U7s (aggregate score)

Match 1  0 - 6
Match 2  0 - 5

The Under 7s were beaten convincingly in the Pomphrey hill 'derby'.  Again, the defending was the most pleasing aspect, with all the players showing great commitment. Particularly prominent were Ole Bainbridge, Daniel and Oliver Harper. However, when concentration lapsed, the well-organised opponents were quick to take advantage with some well taken goals. Unfortunately, having conceded one goal, it was often the case that another followed shortly after. A case in point was match 1 which was 0-4 with 2 minutes to go. Maintaining concentration is extremely important in football and is something the coaches will be emphasizing.

The U7s failed to show much in attack, with a Callum Bailey shot the only time the opposition goalkeeper needed to make a save.

Hopefully the U7s will have learnt the importance of keeping your shape and finding space as was demonstrated so well by the opposition.

Downend Saints U7s 4 - 1 Bromley Heath Utd U7s (Aggregate score)

Match 1   2 - 1
Match 2   2 - 0

The Under 7s made the short trip to Frenchay cricket club to play Downend Saints and once again put in a committed performance. In Match 1, after a couple of lapses of concentration resulted in early goals for the Saints, Bromley Heath played very well and were unlucky not to share the spoils. Although the team performance was excellent, one player stood out - Harry Richardson seemed to mop up every loose ball in defence, put in tackle after tackle and then popped up in the box to poke home following a corner.

Match 2 was frustrating, with the players working very hard - Ole Bainbridge and Tom Walker in midfield having probably their best games for the club, but lacking someone to stick the ball in the net. Shooting practice will be high on the agenda at the next training session ! Mention must be made of Jamie Taylor in goal. In the absence of the team's other keeper, Baz Miller, Jamie had to maintain concentration for the entire 80 minutes and managed to prevent goals in several one on one situations.

Coalpit Heath tournament.

Under 7s end goal famine

The Under 7s finally found their shooting boots in an impressive display at the Coalpit Heath festival of football tournament. In the six 16 minute contests, they won 4, drew 1 and lost 1, scoring 13 goals and conceding 6. For a side that had managed just one victory in their 2009 -10 friendly programme, this was a major advance.

In the first game against Downend Saints B, Jack Sharp opened the scoring following good work from Ole Bainbridge. There were chances at both endsuntil an unfortunate fumble by the otherwise excellent Baz Miller in goal led to the equaliser and a final score of 1-1.

Following on against Downend Saints C team, Bromley Heath went ahead through a great lob from the edge of the area by Callum Bailey. Callum also provided the cross for Jack to prod home and make the final score 2-0.

Warmley Rangers provided the next opponents and again Jack opened the scoring, this time with a forceful run from midfield. Maintaining their shape impressively on a boiling hot day, Bromley Heath then doubled their advantage with a Beckhamesque free kick from Callum which went through a crowd of players to find the corner of the net. Final score 2-0.

The performance stepped up still further against Coalpit Heath C. Baz showed his versatility by swapping the keepers gloves for a striking role and opened the scoring from an acute angle. Max Johnson then joined in with a composed finish following more good work from Ole. Jack finished the job with two well taken goals to take the match 4-0.

In the next match the players were brought down to Earth with a bump by an impressive performance by Avon Athletic, who scored 4 times in the first half without reply. The shape of the team was lost as the defenders decided to join the attack and left ‘no one at home’. After a half time re-jig, the performance improved and the final score was 0-5.

The final match against the Bristol Rovers supporter’s club saw a man of the match performance from Ole who having not previously scored for the club, enjoyed the experience so much he netted a hat trick. All the goals were close range efforts and showed great positional awareness and anticipation. With Baz adding another, the game finished 4-0.

The boys thoroughly deserved their medals which were given out to all the participants by ex-Bromley Heath Utd and Bristol Rovers player Lee Archer.

All in all, a very encouraging performance. Harri Wood and Harry Richardson continued to make decisive tackles in defence. Tom Walker and Sam Wallage worked hard in midfield and Jamie Taylor was solid in goal and tackled well when playing as an outfielder. Standards will need to be maintained in to the next two tournaments before a well deserved summer break.

Rockleaze rangers tournament

The under 7s could not reproduce their excellent form from the Coalpit Heath tournament, drawing one and losing 3 of their matches. In mitigation, the three defeats to Golden hill sonics, Rockleaze rangers Falcons and Rockleaze rangers harriers were all by a single goal. In the 0-0 draw with Westbury foxes, Bromley Heath were only denied victory by a superb save from an Ole Bainbridge strike.

The familiar committed tackling was present but a couple of the goals conceded were from silly mistakes, the Golden hill striker winning the ball direct from the kick off and running in on goal unchallenged and a misplaced free kick setting up the Harriers winner. The decisive goal in the Falcons match, however, was an unstoppable shot from an acute angle.

The long grass hindered flowing football but the team will have to regain their 'shoot on sight' policy. Too often, the strikers were trying to walk the ball in to the net. The Under 7s will be hoping for better luck at the final tournament of the season on July 4th at Yate.