Match Report New Mills Junior's U8's vs Glossop NE Red's U8's

It was blue skies as far as the eye could see on Sunday morning as our under 8's played part 2 of our back-to-back week against Glossop NE. With some familiar faces from last week's tie against the Orange's, it was the Red's in the opposite corner this week... ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Mia was unavailable but we welcomed back some familiar faces of our own in Finn and Teddy but most importantly coach Joe was back 💪🏻

We are blessed to have 5 coaches in our ranks but most of the kids have been guided by Joe for the last 4 years, it gave everyone a huge lift and nobody roars the kids on more than the gaffer 🫡

Finn didn't play last week so Glossop didn't know too much about him before the game kicked off... they do now! They will be having nightmares about our maestro!

There were cries of "Mark number 7... don't let number 7 shoot!" He was absolutely phenomenal!

They tried their best to kick him out of the game but it only spurred him on!

I could write a full match report about the stuff he did but to cut a long story short... he scored 5... could of scored 10... he was far from greedy though, he was the catalyst for most of our attacks, setting up his mates, creating chance after chance, such a selfless performance and an absolute joy to watch ⭐️

We didn't half miss Teddy last week and it was great to have him back!

He didn't waste any time in getting his defence organised and instructing our wingers to push up.

We pushed him further up the pitch in the 2nd half where he linked up brilliantly with our forward line and when Glossop hit us on the counter attack he was running his socks off to get back and help out his defenders, awesome determination and the lads were all buzzing to have him back 👌🏻

It was a tale of two halves for Myles this week... he was the centre of our forward three in the 1st half, closing down the Glossop defence and winning the ball high up the pitch. He was unlucky not to score in the first half but the Glossop keeper made some outstanding saves.

The 2nd half saw him shifted into defence with Finn, where he showed great composure on the ball when under pressure, dancing his way out of trouble and sending us away on the attack. He was strong in the tackle today and gave as good as he got when the opposition tried to shove the lads off the ball 💪🏻

Aiden took another leap forward in his journey today, playing in the middle of the park where he managed to get his passes off.

It was one of his best games and it was great to see him determined to get involved.

He followed coach Joe's instructions really well and it was great to see! 👍🏼

Ryan showed us a different side to his game this week when he was passing the ball inside and making runs into the box. He linked up really well with the attackers and was unlucky not to score when his efforts were blocked by the Glossop defence!

He bagged himself another assist when he set up our best goal of the match, playing a one-two with Max who sent him down the wing, he's drilled a cross to the edge of the box where Finn was there to finish it off!

He looked shattered in the 2nd half, don't be shy with them Jaffa cakes pal, we need you firing on all cylinders 🚀

Harrison had another quiet start to the game but after an early pep talk from coach Joe he was fired up when he came back on. That's the beauty of grassroots footy... the coaches will always pick up on when someone isn't switched on and it just takes the right words from a coach at the right time to bring that spark back!

An excellent 2nd half from Harrison, no goals this week but his defensive work didn't go unnoticed, he got back to help his defenders out time and time again, well done Haz 👊🏼

Reuben was as ready as ever when called upon, especially with the opposition keeper sending his goal kicks high into the sun!

He made some excellent reactive saves, coming off his line to make himself big and deflecting shots away, one slipped through in the 2nd half but luckily for us Max appeared out out of nowhere to clear it off the line... phew! 😅

After scoring a couple of screamers in training on Thursday Ned carried his confidence into the game, that first goal hasn't come yet but it's only a matter of time!

He made some impressive tackles again today but what's impressing us most is how he's winning the ball and keeping it, showing composure to get his passes away instead of just 'booting it out'.

Another massive step in the right direction for Ned 🤩

To say Max had a busy game would be an understatement... 2 out of this world goal line clearances, last ditch tackles and crucial blocks!

He reads the game so well and his positioning is absolutely spot on!

After a defensive masterclass in the 1st half we moved him out to the left wing, where he wasted no time in showing us how much of a threat he can be going forward.

As Glossop piled forward Myles nicked the ball away and sent us on the counter, finding Max on the left wing who laid it off for Harrison and when his shot was blocked it was Max who followed it up and rifled it into the back of the net, if anyone deserved a goal in this game it was him 🙋🏼‍♂️

We struggled last week with clearing our lines on corners and dealing with the keepers long goal kicks, something which we addressed in training, it was much better this week with Max in particular taking responsibility for clearing our lines.

Calm, composed and cool as a Cucumber, our player of the match this week went to Max, a great week for the big man 🏆

A massive improvement this week from everyone involved, especially the things we worked on in training midweek.

Some of our kids look shattered at the minute, it's been a long season (for us coaches aswell 😅) but we need one last push now for our final game of the season next week, early baths and early nights kids... we go again next week! 💛🖤

Finn ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

Max ⚽️🏆

⚽️🖤💛⚽️

#upthemillers

#withyouharrylad