21st January 2012
Great Horwood Reserves 2 MK Wanderers ‘A’ 2

KO: 2:00 pm at Great Horwood (Field Of Dreams)

The starting team this week was as follows:

Wooley, Trundell, Sear, McStraw, Folkes, Armitage (D) , Deane, Ridgeway, Armitage (A), Hore, Reid SUBS Archer (S), Archer (T), Cox

With the visitors beginning proceedings Horwood began the prowl, from last week’s game Horwood maintained the mentality of keeping possession. This was working well with Simon ‘Like’s A Moan’ Ridgway and Marcus ‘Coose’Deane working the ball out towards the wings and up into the paths of Horwood’s attackers. Horwood came close in the first half with chances coming from Hore and Reidy being denied by the wanderer’s keeper. Horwood continued to attack the Wanderer’s defence but still no first goal. The first goal would go to the visitors who on the counter attack played a ball over Mcstraw’s defence who at the last minute had tried to command an offside trap but Horwood’s defence were lethargic and did not follow the request. Mk then proceeded to work the ball across the back four using 2 out of their 3 attackers; having had the first shot saved by Craig ‘New Boy’ Wooley Mk had another attacker follow up guide the ball around the defenders on the line into the bottom right corner.  Horwood felt hard done by with most of the attacking play of the half belonging to them (at half time many spectators argued that the original ball played for Wanderer’s goal had in fact been offside). Horwood continued to try and work the play up until the half time and went in feeling positive for the second half.

The second half go underway and Horwood had only made one tactical change and that was to switch the dynamic due Armitage and Armitage to opposite wings to try and cut in to the opposing defenders. Howrood were again playing the better football however were still unable to penetrate the Mk back four. A second goal came without warning with Horwood once again being caught off guard. The goal came from a ball over the top and Karl ‘Should have Cleared It’ Sear being last man with the Wanderers attacker and while in possession was bundled to the ground resulting in the wanders attacker able to get a toe onto the ball and slide it under Craig’2 Goals In 2 Games’ Wooley. Horwood’s protests of a foul on Sear were dismissed by the Ref who allowed the goal to stand. The second goal resulted in Horwood Gaffer Neil ‘ Rocky’ Cox bringing on some fresh legs in the form of Sam’ Ron Weasley’ Archer and Terry ‘Jonny Rotten’Archer(later on Coxy was bring himself on to replace birthday boy Nick ‘Old Git’Reid). The effect was immediate with Archer (S) and Ridgeway linking up with memories of seasons past. Chances began to form for Horwood who were creating space for each other and attacking with force. The defence were still kept on their toes with McStraw and Archer (T) taking turns to man mark the Wanderers danger man. Horwood thought they had finally broken the Mk resilience when Sam ‘Dead Ball Specialist’ Archer played a deep ball towards the back post to Adam’ older Brother To Dale’ Armitage who smashed a right footed volley across the goal only for the Mk Keeper to deny him. Horwood carried on this onslaught with Mk only having one chance cropping up but thanks to Terry ‘ Captain Marvel’ Archer’s last man challenge this was extinguished. Horwood came close with chances from Armitage’s (A) free kick being plucked out of the air and Sam ‘ Unbeaten captain’ Archer striking just wide. Horwood’s chances of a goal seemed doomed with the Mk keeper having a belter. With stoppage time left Horwood were attempting to gain a consolation goal with Sam ‘Wise Buddha’ Archer granted a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box. Chants from the side-line requesting in form free kick specialist McStraw were quickly squashed with Archer taking the ball. The delivery was so accurate that Ridgway was able to let the ball hit him. Horwood at this point began hounding the ref for the clock to stop and allow Horwood one more chance of attack. Mk kicked off and Horwood began one more onslaught to gain a well-deserved point. McStraw well out of position and Armitage (D) began closing down the Wanderers left back who clumsily passed into Jack ‘ McStraw prodigy’ Trundell who played the ball into the middle of the path, the ball fell to wanderers again but with pure determination Horwood got the ball back, this was worked out onto the left wing with Armitage (A) earning a last salon corner. In pure desperation Horwood called all of the troops up into the box including new boy Wooley. After his previous dead ball delivery’s the ball was handed to Sam’ Who Cares About the First Team’ Archer who delivered the ball directly over the penalty spot onto Wooleys head, who bead the oposing teams defender only to  Mk cleared the ball only to reach Archer who delivered the ball again. With a feeling of De Ja Vu history repeated itself with an almost identical goal as the previous. Ridgway Grabbing a brace. With the crowd uncontrollable Horwood began their celebrations. This was short lived as an unfortunate incident broke out with a touch of sore losers. Ridgway was confronted by the Mk keeper who in turn attempted to attack Ridgway, this was blocked with a number of Horwood players coming to the rescue and resulting in an unfortunate bust up. The ref finally controlled the situation and the match was called 2-2.

Final result 2-2

The final result was in the end well earned by Horwood who have taken 4 points from the last 2 games, this has enabled them to catch up with the 4 teams above them and means victory in the next game gives them a chance of finally moving out of the bottom of the league. Postives from this game includes set pieces and possession. Negatives fall into the defences hands with the classic ball over the top catching them out on more than one occasion. Training this week is at Kingsbrook school 7pm.

Maca’s MVP- This week there are multiple contenders with each performing out of their skins. Sear had a good week working the ball from the back, Trundell also had a good week with some brilliantly timed tackles. It was a week for brothers linking up with the Armitages causing trouble up and down the wings and cutting in also with the introduction of the Archers also benefited Horwood with some First team experience. But this week the Maca’s MVP (however much it pains me) goes to Simon Ridgeway for his ball distribution and of course his brace.

Next week’s game finds Reserves travel to Hanslope who in recent weeks have dropped points and even failed to field a side. This will improve Horwoods spirits with a momentum beginning to build in the Horwood dressing room.

Im Chris McStraw. You Stay Classy Great Horwood

14th January 2012

Yardley Gobion 0 Great Horwood Reserves 6

Venue:Yardley Gobion KO-14:00

On A Cold January Afternoon a positive Great Horwood Reserves travelled away to Yardley Gobion, With the upset at the previous week’s game still fresh on the Horwood boys minds manager Neil Cox selected a team ready to pull up there socks. With the new addition of Craig Wolley Horwood where slightly nervous at his appointment. The team in recent weeks had picked itself with players earning their shirts with performances.

The line was : Wolley , Seddon, Mcstraw, Sear, Wilson, Armitage (A), Ridgeway, Deane, Armitage (D) Reid, Hore SUBS- Folkes, Cox, Deane

The match began with Horwood looking to dominate possession and use the channels, this was the case with an early effort from Hore being cleared off the line from the keeper. Horwood however rarely made chances for the next 10 minutes and failed to retain possession this of course stretched the defence with McStraw playing a high defensive which at times nearly caught out however the defence was on form and supported brilliantly by new keeper Woolley who made some fine individual saves. Other chances that started to show came from the full backs, the first having come from Seedon with a thunderbolt strike from distance only to be brilliantly denied from Yardley’s aging keeper. The first goal came from a surprise player with Wilson receiving the ball from Coos and giving him space stuck the ball from well over 40 yards, the result was a fumble by the keeper leading to the ball hitting the top corner. Sadly this became a bit of a trend for Wilson with his attempts to repeat it averaging 3 in ten minutes. The end of the first half came with a lead from the visitors and a frustrated Horwood team.

Half time talks consisted of the usual squabbles between McStraw and Ridgeway, with McStraw arguing the issue of possession retention being down to a lack of closure between the midfield and defensive line with Yardley able to get behind the holding players and play over the top balls.

The second half began with e focused Horwood side on the prowl, all information from the gaffer was taken on board and with that in mind Horwood began to dominate. Passes being strung together and orchestrated by midfield magician Simon ‘The Hair’ Ridgeway with the assistance of Marcus ‘Wins Every Ball’ Couse, as play went on its was only a matter of time before Horwood second came and this was down to Nick ‘Two Left Feet’ Hore whom taking on the Yardley keeper One on one dropped the shoulder to skip round and slot home Horwood’s second, Horwood's goal lead to an injury for the opposing team who had previously made all allowed substitutes they were down to 10 ,Horwood then grabbed a third from Mr Senior himself Nick' Its My Birthday Next Week' Reid. Horwood were begging to player with a new found confidents and finding their way around the Yardley defence with ease, leading to a Marcus’Coose’ Deane striking a brilliant half volley past the dejected Yardley Keeper after a brilliant pass from Neil 'Rocky' Cox, Yardley rarely had a shot at new keeper Woolley with the Horwood defence having an easy half, however when chances popped up he soon dismissed them, Goals followed with Dale ‘Get On The Roids’ Armitage poaching a goal at the back door and Simon ‘King Cob’ Ridgeway during open play curling the ball around the Yardley defence into the top right corner. The joy of the increasing score line saw many of Horwood trying their luck from distance attempting individual runs but to no avail . The final whistle came with a well deserved victory for a Horwood side that have really enjoyed occasions of this nature this year.

Final Score 6-0 to GHFC-R

To summarise the match Horwood were very convincing against a slow and uninterested Yardley side, Howrood still lacked footballing brains where possession was concerned however with their most convincing win in recent years they have something to take into next week’s fixture against Top 6 side MK Wanderers, with the manager neil 'Scummy Scummy LeedsFc' Cox having both First Team and Reserve players to choose from with the First team enjoying a well earned break, Plus the addition of returning players it will be interesting to see the team selection.

Maca’s MVP- Some may question this call with goals flying in for Horwood at both end, however coming into a well-established side and commanding from the back while making some brilliant individual saves my Fosters MVP goes to Craig Woolley.

Im Chris McStraw, You stay classy Great Horwood