Great Horwood Ravens 1 City Colts Ospreys 8

Division 1 :- 20th December 2008

Scorers:- Callum

Unfortunately for the Ravens we could not field 11 players again for the second game running. City Colts must like playing us, hopefully the return leg will see a full squad compete after reminders are sent out to restate 4 weeks notice is needed if players are not available so we can can cancel games.

The game started horribly for the Ravens as the visitors scored with almost their first attack. At 1-0 it looked like it could be a long morning but the Ravens dug in and played some excellent football to keep the score at 1-0 until just before half time. They also created some good chances with Liam, Jack and Joe all getting forward into the opposition box but unable to convert any chances.

As the half drew to a close City Colts burst through twice to go in at the break 3-0 up. The lads all played very well in the first half, a bit more bite to ensure tackles were not missed was all that was needed to keep competing.

The second half was much the same as the first with the defence keeping a good line, catching the strikers offside and Ed repeating his heroics from our last match. The back three of Robin, Henry and Harry all kept to the task with Jeremy supporting them and Liam and Joe looking to set Callum or Daniel Cook free out wide for Jack to convert up front. They all worked their socks off and gained their reward when Callum went through to score. We could have had a few more throughout the game to make the scoreline more respectable. The final score did not reflect the game and the level of effort put in by all 10 players. It was only  tiredness at the end that led to momentary losses of concentration which City Colts capitalised on.

Man of the Match went to all 10 players with the referee commenting "it was a pleasure to referee the lads as they played the whole game in the right spirit" - high praise indeed from the league referees secretary but thoroughly deserved.

Great Horwood Ravens 0 City Colts Ospreys 11

League Cup Round 2 :- 16th November 2008

Unfortunately for the Ravens we could not build on last weeks performance due to the dreaded sickness bug and other injuries decimating the squad to leave just 10 players available to play a tough Cup game in awful muddy conditions.

Having said that, all the lads were magnificent. Ed making his debut in goal put in a Man of the Match performance and every single one of the lads put their heart and soul into a game they soon realised they couldn't win but they never, ever gave up.

The opposition played with their full squad and enjoyed having the luxury of introducing fresh legs every few minutes. The Ravens on the other hand had just the 10 players and as the game wore on the hard graft of running through such thick and slippery mud slowly started to tell.

The first half saw chances carved out by the Ravens and we could have had at least two or three goals. Unfortunately the rather tall visitors keeper was equal to the challenge and we went in at half time at 4-0 down.

The second half saw the difference in numbers start to bite but the lads just kept going and going.

We play City Colts again in a few weeks and should hopefully be able to give them a tighter game. When we are all available and fit we are starting to show we can give anyone a game.

Great Horwood Ravens 1 MK Athletic 3

League:- 9th November 2008

Scorers:- Callum

The Ravens played very well all game in what was probably the most competitive game we have had so far this season. The lads have all picked up and learnt from training with the improvement in defence obvious to all players and spectators.

It was a tight game right up until the third goal just seconds from the end so the lads should all be rightly proud of their performance and look to improve again by continuing to concentrate in training.

Right from the start the Ravens looked to be up for the game and ready to tackle anything that moved. Considerable changes to the positions and formation since our last game almost a month ago soon settled and the Ravens looked to play through the middle to get Callum into the game. Good through balls from Dan B, Joe and Liam all set Alex or Will off on runs to attack the visitors defence requiring good tackles to stop the mighty Ravens.

At the other end Robin was marshalling his defence very well with a captains performance  alongside a strong looking back four of Henry B, Sam and Harry. A few things to work on in training but they worked well as a unit catching the visitors offside many times.

The wide play from Alex and Will was bursting forward and getting back to help out in defence. Toby made a couple of good saves but stood no chance when a high defensive line was breeched for MK Athletic to break through and open the scoring. Considering the conditions were very much against the Ravens the lads did well to keep it at 1-0 until half time.

The second half saw the visitors start very quickly and brightly nearly catching us off guard. A couple of corners were defended well before we started to play our own football with Joe linking well with attack for Callum to knock home a lovely goal to level the score.

It really was end-to-end stuff at this point in a very close encounter, however, we didn't put their goalkeeper under enough pressure with shots from distance so we need to work on this in training. Changes to the team saw Daniel C come on and play a stormer down the right midfield with Ed on for Harry and Jeremy in the middle both slotting in nicely.

Unfortunately a couple of tackles saw players diving in and we paid the price as the visitors got round behind us to again take the lead with just 10 minutes to go. We battled to try get the goal back but just as we tried to push forward we got caught at the back again with just seconds to go for a final score of 3-1.

Lots of positives to take from the game, we competed throughout against a team we have played and lost heavily against in the past. Next time we play against them we know we can compete and hopefully get a result.

Roll on next week for another cup game against City Colts.

Great Horwood Ravens 1 West Bletchley 8

League:- 12th October 2008

Scorers:- Callum

In a game marked by some erratic decisions the Ravens players and management continued their learning curve against experienced opposition.

Within seconds of the kick off the Ravens had conceded a penalty which fortunately Toby saved. Not much more to say about the penalty because nobody seemed to know what it was for, including the opposition.

The first half for the Ravens saw Bletchley exploit our inexperienced left side and consistently knock good balls down the wing for the visitors to carve out chances. Toby was performing heroics in goal but couldn't stop the shots going past him when the outfield players missed tackles. First down our left and then a couple of times through the middle.

A physical encounter was allowed to progress and the greater experience of the opposition took full advantage. The Ravens struggled to get the ball forward and keep it there and still failed to adopt good body position when defending despite several training sessions on the topic. At half time the Ravens were losing 5-0 and looked for some changes by the management.

A change in formation and a desire from the whole team to keep going was the key to a much improved second half when the Ravens frustrated the visitors for most of the half hour and scored with their best passage of play when Callum knocked the ball into the net after several good passes.

The defence were playing well and Henry B did a good job on  Horwood 'old boy' Harry to frustrate any forward moves. The defence were slightly out of position as a result of Henry sticking to his man so we may reshape the defence in next weeks game.

As the second half progressed the Ravens played the ball around and again showed positive signs for the future. They need to keep the confidence their performances deserve and maintain the team spirit. More concentration in training and a bit more guidance and input from the management and we will be ok for the year.

Newport Pagnell Town 7 Great Horwood Ravens 4

League:- 28th September 2008

Scorers:- Callum (3) , Liam

The Ravens marked their Division 1 debut with a fantastic second half performance winning 2-1. Unfortunately the scoreline shows the first half was a learning curve but they responded admirably and provided lots of positives to take forward into the coming season.

Full size goals on a full size pitch meant any shots on target stood a very good chance of going in. Defending positions from free kicks were a weakness for both sides but the home side were able to capitalise first after already having burst through the middle to make it 2-0 quite early in the game.

Callum scored the first of an impressive hat trick when chipping the keeper before Newport again showed our positional naivety from our own goal kicks. The first half continued with Newport breaking and the Ravens having some good periods of play especially going forward. Liam scored to go in at the break 6-2 down.

A chat about defensive positions was listened to and acted on in the second half as the squad brushed themselves down and were the better team in the second half.  Attack after attack saw the mighty Ravens breaking through with only some excellent defending and good goalkeeping keeping us out.

A good run from Joe and chip nearly opened his account and Jack had a great cross nearly met by Jeremy.

Callum scored after going around the keeper to coolly slot home whilst at the other end Robin was called on for a goal line clearance and Toby had to rush off his line to dive at an oncoming player.

At the final whistle Newport were a little relieved to not have their lead slip and the Ravens were rightly proud of their improvement through the game.

It will take a little while to get there but this game shows we are more than capable of competing in Division 1 and we can all look forward to a great season ahead.

Brackley Athletic 7 Great Horwood Ravens 1

Friendly 21st September 2008

Scorers:- Callum

A pre-season  'friendly' turned out to be a little different than expected as the Ravens came across a very experienced Brackley team who had already played 11-a-side for a season and appeared in a Cup final last season at the MKDons stadium.

Throughout the game the home team capitalised on the smallest of our mistakes, demonstrating that extra bit of experience. This all started with a very quick break and cross, ending in a poked home goal after just 90 seconds.

The Ravens  responded immediately and showed that steely resolve which will be needed this season as they competed for every ball and indeed throughout the game proved to be the more aggressive and wanted to win the ball.

Another 25 minutes passed before Brackley again broke the Ravens down to sneak another goal.

The Ravens were settling into new positions and making the most of the experience as all players showed a desire to get stuck in and try to play their football. Callum pulled it back to 2-1 with a net buster from close range but Brackley soon restored their cushion with another run down their right overloading our defence and crossing for another goal to go in at the break at 3-1 down.

The second half saw a similar pattern to the first with our new and inexperienced players battling to get the ball and play football but consistently being punished severely for little mistakes and also suffering from some basically flukey goals.

Lots of positives can be taken from the game. Jeremy almost opened his scoring for the season with a burst into the penalty area and Jack had a man of the match performance with his determined running all over the pitch, fighting to get the ball and create chances.

Will had a great game on the right and both Harry and Ed showed true potential as they play 'catch-up' in experience with the rest of the squad.

All-in-all, although the scoreline suggests something different, this was a positive experience. I think we have had some relatively easy games in the grading series and this was a wake up call to what will be required this year.

Considering Brackley have played a whole season at 11-a-side (and playing up a year) I thought we equipped ourselves very well.

This year we need to compete for everything, every ball, every header and keep competing to the final whistle.

If we do that and then consider the score, only at the end of the game, I think we will have a successful season.

Moretonville 1 Great Horwood Ravens 2

Grading Game 17th September 2008

Scorers:- Joe, Liam

On a grey evening, a small pitch, small goals, incorrect pitch markings, long grass and poor light, the mighty Ravens flew high to reach the heady heights of Division 1 this season!!

Enough......

The lads all played really well tonight to deservedly go through to Division 1 after beating both opponents in the grading games. It looked like it would be a low scoring game  when we saw the pitch but at this stage of the season and after the poor recent weather we have be pleased to get any game on.

The whole game was a scrappy affair with a lot of crowding particularly in the middle of the pitch and both sides struggled to use any width. The Ravens had the best of the chances throughout with Callum hitting the bar and several good runs through from Jack, Joe, Alex, Liam and Dan.

With the ball holding up so much in the grass it looked like the best tactic would be a lob over the defence and a run through from the middle, and so it transpired..... A ball through from Toby saw Joe run on and slot home for a well deserved 1-0 lead at half time.

The second half was a quite period for Toby in goal but it was always a little nervous with just the single goal separating the sides. Liam then eased the nerves with a coolly taken goal through a crowd of players.

It looked like that would be enough but as the game came to a rather dark and gloomy end the home team squeezed a goal in when a disputed corner saw Toby making a save only for the ball to ping around and land up in the net.

From there the home side tried to push forward but some neat play from the Ravens saw the game come to a close and the realisation we were now going to be in the top flight

Well done to all the players... a well deserved reward from some very good football....

Look out Division 1 here come the Ravens!!!!

Great Horwood Ravens 3 Steeple Claydon 1

Grading Game 14th September 2008

Scorers:- Liam, Callum, Joe

The Ravens enjoyed another close game against Steeple Claydon and again had to work very hard to break down the defence and especially the impressive visitors keeper.

Toby and Sam were both making their 11-a-side debuts with Harry playing for the first time out on pitch. Overall every player did something special and they can all be proud of  their days efforts. Player of the week was Henry who had another stormer at the back, great tackles throughout the game really made a difference alongside  Robin who is maturing into the player we all thought he would be; marshalling his defence.

Having moved the pitch since the Fun Day, the players took a little while to get used to the new size and surroundings. Consistently throughout the game we failed to use the limited width but as the match progressed we slowly started to  reap the rewards of individuals efforts.

Liam opened the score after a great ball from Robin. Harry came on for Sam and soon sent a wonderful ball down the line for the attack to run onto. The visitors were pressing hard and their number 7 in particular was causing us a lot of problems.

1-0 at the break, but not for long as the second half saw Claydon run down the right to score soon after the whistle.

As the second half continued the Ravens got their passing game together, including a great passage of play between Joe and Jack ending with Joe slotting home for 2-1.

The result was sealed when a great corner from Jack saw Callum deftly flick the ball into the net for 3-1.

Overall a pleasing performance but still lots to work on. The defence seem to have grasped the idea of offside and just need a bit more practice to be perfect. Speed at the back is a bonus and up front Dan,  Liam , Jeremy and Jack all made excellent contributions. Alex seems to have had some extra Weetabix every time he plays as he gets stuck in at every opportunity and uses his skills to good effect. Daniel Cook, Sam and Harry  are looking good as full backs and Joe made the pass of the match when he knocked the ball in behind the defence for Callum.

Well done Ravens .... Bring on our next game - away to local rivals Moretonville...... 

Great Horwood Ravens 7 Steeple Claydon 2
     "Taylored Kitchens Cup"

Fun Day 31st August 2008

Scorers:- Liam (2), Callum(2), og, Joe, Alex

The Ravens had a great first ever 11-a-side game against Claydon on a unusually wet Fun Day.

After going behind to an early goal the Ravens slowly got their game together when Liam equalised. A good corner caused a bit of a mix-up in the visitors goal mouth with going in for Horwood to take the lead.

2-1 at the break but Claydon equalised within a minute of the restart. The game then was an end-t-end affair with several chances being missed at both ends. As the game came to its close both managers were looking for penalty takers when the Ravens burst through for Callum to take the lead.

The goal spurred on the Ravens and they quickly notched up further goals from Alex and Joe before Callum and Liam finished off the scoring.

A very close game with all Ravens playing very well. Lots to work on in training but good signs for the season to come.

Claydon will be difficult to play against again in the grading games....