Saturday 8th February KO 11:15AM at Charlton Playing Field

Halse United U14s first game of the month and only away fixture of February was played on a chilly morning with a bobbly pitch in most areas of the surface.

Kick Off 11:15
Here we go! A derby with high expectations, this is sure to be a thrilling game as usual. Halse United U14s seek revenge against their rivals after the last derby game resulted in defeat at Syresham Sports and Social Club. This would be a difficult fixture away from home but the black and white have been improving since their return to football from after Christmas. As soon as the referee blew the whistle, the visitors gave no time for the Brackley Athletic U14s to rest and compose themselves as they broke forward instantly. Debutante Bogdan, broke in behind the defensive line immediately and fired a shot but was off target. A quick and promising start from the black and white and an early introduction for our new striker! After the chance, the opposition composed themselves and managed to hold some possession while creating half chances in which the defence of Greasby, Mitchell, Jenkins and Lovelock dealt with the situations brilliantly and with intelligence. Apart from the Brackley Athletic U14s chances, the game was fought back and momentum and possession favoured the visitors.

GOAL: Brackley Athletic U14s 0 - 1 Halse United U14s
AND IT'S A DEBUT DERBY GOAL! It's brilliant from Bogdan as he used his strength against the defender to shrug past him and received the ball in a 1v1 situation with the run similar to the first chance. After a while on the ball and pressure from the keeper, the striker wins the ball back and passes the ball into the net with the keeper and defender unable to keep it out. This is the first time Halse United U14s have opened the scoring in a match this season and what a time to get it. Halfway through the first half and the black and white have the advantage.

Sub: Brackley Athletic U14s 0 - 1 Halse United U14s
A change is due just after the opener. Greasby, who has done a magnificent job keeping the left winger from getting into an attacking position and defended well, comes off for Monk who will be playing as a winger on the left for the remainder. After some shifting around, Mitchell will vacate the right back position with Stokes coming into the centre back role.

GOAL: Brackley Athletic U14s 0 - 2 Halse United U14s
WARD MAKES IT TWO TO DOUBLE THE LEAD! This goal will prove massive! Ayres threads through a brilliant ball towards the right with Ward receiving it. The striker opens his body up to finish underneath the keeper and give the black and white a deserved and needed cushion on derby day. Brackley Athletic U14s have attempted to get back into this one but the rotations since the goal have really helped with the nothing getting through that defensive line. Elmer, playing as a central defensive midfielder, is also making the opposition's players jobs a lot harder in the important position in the middle sector. A big goal in a big game and Ward is now joint top scorer this season for Halse United U14s!

Goal: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 2 Halse United U14s
In the third minute of stoppage time, the hosts cut the deficit to one goal as a loose ball finds the path of an attacker outside the box who unleashes a shot that bounces awkwardly in front of John and goes into the bottom right hand corner. It's unfortunate but the bobbly surface inside the box helped the shot in. Still, the defence have done well with this being the longest period that they haven't conceded this season. Some might say, me included, that the goal might have been undeserved with the way the game has panned out.

Half Time: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 2 Halse United U14s
And that was the last kick of the half as the referee blows the whistle. A dominant display so far from all three zones for Halse United U14s with the opposition clearly getting frustrated that they are not on the upper hand at all. Two brilliantly worked and clinical goals from the strikers in Ward and Bogdan currently beat the opposition's only goal in this half. Their goals mean the visitors go into the next half in front for the first time in six games. Another major 35 minutes to play in this derby. Is the first win of the season incoming?

Start of Second Half: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 2 Halse United U14s
Both teams are back for the second half with no changes for the black and white. As the half went on, the set back of the late goal minutes earlier didn't seem to bother the Halse United U14s players as they continued to keep possession of the ball and advanced well in the centre of the park. The addition of Stokes in central defence really has worked well with the defence still on their toes and managed to clear and get rid of the danger when needed to do so. The visitors have settled well with the opposition getting even more impatient as they try to appeal anything and everything they can.

GOAL: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 3 Halse United U14s
THE NEWCOMER HAS ANOTHER TO RESTORE THE ADVANTAGE! Another good goal from the away side! Down the right flank, both strikers cause trouble and after fellow goal-scorer Ward lays the ball off to his strike partner, Bogdan finishes past the pressing goalkeeper into the bottom right to give Halse United U14s their well earned two goal lead back! Brackley Athletic U14s are really facing it now, with Bogdan one away from a hat trick on his first game for the club! 49 minutes on the clock, 21 to go.

Subs: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 3 Halse United U14s
Two separate substitutions in quick succession here, Greasby comes back into the fray and back into the right back position with Mitchell coming into midfield. The full back comes on for Elmer, who has done a brilliant job in the central defensive midfield role causing further issues for the Brackley Athletic U14s frontline while also playing in some brilliant long lobbed passes, in the 52nd minute. Two minutes later, after an unfortunate injury to Monk, he will be coming off and replaced with Elmer after his two minutes rest.

GOAL: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 4 Halse United U14s
HAT TRICK HERO! BOGDAN MAKES IT FOUR AND SURELY THAT'S ENOUGH! With 10 minutes left to go, Bogdan gets into a good position, skips past the defender, and incredibly with such confidence, takes it round the keeper to finish into an empty net. This is exactly what Halse United U14s deserve and definitely what the clinical striker deserves from this fixture. Three excellent goals, and a player that will most certainly be key for the rest of the season. WHAT A DEBUT! The black and white have dominated the opposition at their own ground and that surely wins it, game over!

Penalty: Brackley Athletic U14s 1 - 4 Halse United U14s
The hosts are awarded a penalty in the 2nd minute of additional time. After a while, the penalty is taken with the opportunity of getting a consolation goal but luckily the forward chooses power over placement and the ball goes over the bar! That pretty much sums up how the game has gone for the home side.

Goal: Brackley Athletic U14s 2 - 4 Halse United U14s
In the 5th minute of additional time, Brackley Athletic U14s have a corner on the left hand side. And they manage to score olimpico with the ball sailing straight into the back of the net. A consolation goal but an odd one to concede late on. The only real chances the opposition have had in the second half are from set pieces. Halse United U14s won't mind though as only one thing comes after this...

FULL TIME: Brackley Athletic U14s 2 - 4 Halse United U14s
AND THAT WAS THAT! HALSE UNITED U14S WIN ON DERBY DAY! A game with a fiery taste right till the finish line ends in the visitors winning away from home against their neighbours. A brilliant all round performance from every single player. John's first match as the number one goalkeeper included him controlling his 6 yard box, distributed the ball superbly which always met his intended player and got down well for some low saves. The rotating defensive line including the CDM, Elmer, shut out the opposition and made sure they couldn't create as many chances as they had. Mcdonald, Stokes, Ayres and Monk all created issues when attacking and showed their passing capabilities on numerous occasions picking the right ball out to each other and to the strike partnership. And now to talk about them, the one thing that has been an issue for the last couple of weeks is not finishing the chances we have created. The duo of Ward and Bogdan proved the opposite of this with both scoring and being clinical when needed. I can't remember one opportunity that wasn't tucked away by them. A simply dominant team performance that Brackley Athletic U14s couldn't handle and many teams wouldn't have been able to. If Halse United U14s continue like this week in week out, something can definitely be gained this season. Not one negative today, I can only applaud and be proud of the team! We still have a long way to go but what a checkpoint. Good job everyone, you deserve this win finally! On to the next one! Our season starts here...

Player Of The Match?
I think there's a rightful contender that deserves this weeks Player Of The Match. After his three goals significantly helped us claim all three and our first multiple points this season on derby day, Alex Bogdan claims the award for this week. An absolute nuisance up front and made the defence look small and ineffective while scoring three brilliant composed finishes. A debut to remember for him and a brilliant addition to the club in an important position. An Erling Haaland like performance will surely mean Erling Haaland like numbers for the rest of the season. Joking! Welcome to the club, Alex and congratulations on today!

What's Up Next?
Halse United U14s will be back at their home turf of Syresham to play against the unfamiliar in form side of AFC Oakley U14 (Sat) Tsunamis. Their first home trip since the middle of January will be played on Saturday 15th February.

Goals: Alex Bogdan X 3, Luis Ward
Assists: Harry Ayres, Luis Ward
Player Of The Match: Alex Bogdan