Report from Sunday’s games:
Matt’s Report
Despite the numbers of players available to Prestwood, it was the 6 from Crendon who found themselves one up on the score line, courtesy of an early shot from distance. And only shortly later, it was 0-2. With Prestwood doing their best to win the ball back inside their own box some ping pong ensued and Crendon stabbed it in for their second.

The game wasn’t over yet though. With Prestwood’s never give up attitude and teamwork shining through, a fantastic pass from Jason saw Jem give the home side hope, bringing the score back to 1-2. Another through ball to Charlie S then gave Prestwood the chance to draw level. And as we saw throughout the day Charlie S doesn’t see chances, he sees goals! In typically ruthless fashion, he grabbed his first of the day to level the game. With that the game became locked at 2-2 and Prestwood needed Jem to make a great save in goal to keep Crendon at bay, before Max also covered well defensively to block a near certain goal and see out the game two all.

Game two and it was Prestwood who stepped it up a few gears. Jason and Charlie S both made great running in each half up front, supported well by combinations of Max W, Rafa, Kian and Jem in the middle, whilst Jake, Morgan, Samuel and Oscar were on defensive duties.

To start us off it was a long shot from Jem that proved too much for the opposition keeper and shortly later Prestwood almost went two up. Whilst the ball didn’t end up in the net, a move straight from the training ground was a pleasure to see. Goal kick out wide, down the line, crossed to the middle and it was so nearly finished off by the on running Jason. Simple. Effective.

In the end, Prestwood’s second came in a different fashion. Some good build up play resulted in a shot being blocked in the Crendon area. With cover provided by Max, it was Oscar that found himself highest up the pitch in the opposition box and it was his tenacity, shown throughout both games, that made all the difference to get the ball over the line. At 2-0 to Prestwood, it was then a good clearance from Morgan at the back that gave Charlie another site of goal...say no more, 3-0.

If the coaches and parents weren’t already impressed with some of the moves seen during the game, Jem and Charlie pounced in the first 5 seconds after a Crendon goal kick to win the ball back. Charlie finished well to take the score to 4-0. A brief spell of pressure from Crendon needed Samuel to pull off two fantastic quick fire reaction saves in goal to prevent a consolation, before a clearance from Jake then fell to Charlie who needed just two attempts to grab Prestwood’s 5th of the game.

To round off a great team performance it was a superb defensive pass from Jake that split straight through the Crendon team from front to back. With time on his hands Charlie grabbed another goal, to round off a resounding Prestwood 6-0 victory. Fantastic performances from all.

Man of the Match: Despite Charlie putting 6 past the keeper over the two games, it was a team performance to create them, so today’s MoM was a tough call. Both Oscar and Max stood out having done so much for their team mates to defend, support and make chances for their strikers. Showing just what a fantastic team player he was, Max kindly agreed that having won it twice before, today was to be Oscar’s day - well done Oscar, very well deserved

Mark’s Report
With a squad of 10 players for the two matches, it was going to be difficult to ensure that all players got the match time they wanted and that the balance of the team was right.

This proved the case in the first half of the first game, with Prestwood encamped in the Crendon half, Rori, the Prestwood goalie, didn’t touch the ball, as the midfield of Zack and Lennon, with support from Will and Ben in defence stopped Crendon from even seeing the Prestwood goal let alone getting close enough to shoot. Some great runs from Charlie P, created space for the Prestwood attack and without put some good goalkeeping from Crendon, Prestwood could have found themselves 5-0 up at half time.

The second half and with Crendon making some changes as well, the balance shifted. Despite Prestwood taking the lead, through a goal by Rori, from Lennon’s corner. Which shows the practice on Saturday was worth it!!

Unfortunately Crendon quickly equalised, and looked the stronger team. But some good defending by Alfie, in his first game, and the always dependable Freddie, the game looked like it would stay 1-1. However with Prestwood pushing for the winner, a Crendon counterattack resulted in a goal with the last kick the game.

In the second match, a change in players resulted in much more balanced sides for Prestwood, this was demonstrated with Prestwood once again having the majority of play and our goalkeepers, Freddie and William, not really being tested.

With it 0-0 at half-time, it was going to need something special to break the deadlock. Time for Zack to step up. Following a great run, he fired an unstoppable shot into the “top bins” (as the youngsters say). Some more pressure from Prestwood, resulted in another goal for Rori, with a good finish. Some solid defending from Alfie, on his debut, and hard work from Livvy and Zack in midfield meant Prestwood’s goal wasn’t really troubled and they got the well deserved 2-0 victory.

Man of the Match - Charlie P - for all his hard work, without getting any chances himself, but creating chances for others