Lee Rangers Under 11A

Welcome

We are the Under 11A team. Many of us have been in the team since we started in 2005 but we will always welcome new faces. Our aim is the long term development of the players.  Our Manager is Alex Wilson and he is assisted by Gary Collins, both of whom are FA Level 1 coaches. We also have plenty of parents who help out at training and on matchdays.  We play in the Midsolent League and our matches are on Saturday mornings at Lee Rec.  We train on Monday evenings at HMS Collingwood.

When we grow up we want to play for Grimsby Town.

• U11A Fixtures & Results

Lee Rangers 3 v Grayshott 6

A game of 2 halves.

In the first half things were a bit lacklustre, too much ball watching and half hearted tackles.  However we held out for some time and had a few attacks of our own.  But eventually Grayshott scored a couple and then we got one back via Taine.  We were looking good in the middle, Tom's return gave us some bite Bradley and Josh were putting some great passes through to Taine who was working hard to provide an outlet.  Grayshott sealed the half with one more goal.  I think if we had all shown more energy and determination then things would have been different.

In the 2nd half they did just that, lots more attack, plenty of shots and a more fiery defence.  Grayshott still managed a couple of goals but Bryce got his first goal of the season and had been unlucky not to score earlier on. Then Bradley was on hand to get another and I felt the game had turned in our favour.  At 5-3 down but on the ascendency I was sure that if we scored again then we could go on to get something.  Unfortunatley a last ditch tackle in our box led to a penalty that was scored and sealed the game for Grayshott.  We kept trying but the gap was too big by then.  The damage had been done in the first half.

So we can coach technique and teamwork, we can work out tactics and moves but it seems for years now that I have been saying the same thing.  If we want to win then we have to give it everything on the pitch.  We have recently seen it for ourselves when we beat the top team in the league that they can do it, that they have the collective ability but without everyone firing on all 4 cylinders we then lost to what was the bottom team. 

PMOM went to Taine who got plenty of shots on goal, scored and was always available for a pass.

MOM went to Dom who is realising that he can do it if he is in the right place.

Well done to all the lads who showed what the team can do when they want to.  I'd just like to see them want to a bit more!

Crofton Saints 8 v Lee Rangers 2

I wrote out a long match report and then my computer crashed so I'm sorry but this one is a bit shorter!

It was half term and we had a couple missing so I had to play a few lads out of position to cover.  Despite the score it was a much better performance than last week and I was really pleased with the effort shown and by the application of what they have learnt in training.

We matched Crofton for large periods of the game but they had 2 players in particular who were able dribble through our defence.  We have been working on 1v1 defending and the next step is to teach the role of the 2nd defender to cover behind the first so that we slow down the opposition and then get numbers where they're needed in order to deny space and win back the ball.

We went into HT 4-1 down, Bradley scored a trademark looping goal but a few heads were dropping after the Crofton goals.  However they gee'd themselves up for the 2nd half and this time Taine scored after a good passing move.  There was lots of hussling and keepers coming off their line to limit Crofton's chances but as I said now we need to start linking the individuals together.  Its the same on the attack, most of our goals come from good 2 or 3 pass moves as the boys work as a team.  When we try and do it single handed, attack or defence then thats when we come undone.

Despite the result it was a big improvement and the boys need to ensure that they banish the old ways that surfaced last Saturday forever.  If they can keep the work rate going and apply what they learn in training then we can see the benefits on the pitch.  Lots of plusses today by all the boys but in particular - James was tenacious in centre midfield, Dominic had his best game in a long time, Jake M made some great tackles AND passed to a team mate.

PMOM - James for non-stop effort

MOM - Jake M - great tackles and accurate passes.

Well done to James & Jake but well done to all the lads, keep it up - which means DON'T LET THINGS SLIP BACK!!!

Thanks to Luke & Simon for running the line and Andy for helping with the GKs.

Lee Rangers 2 - Clanfield 5

We had a few key players out for this match but I still expected to see a good performance, the past few weeks have shown what the boys can do when they put their minds to it.  But in many ways it was back to the old days and that lack of desire.  They know its not good enough to just want to win, they know they have to earn it but today Clanfield put the effort in more than us.

Maybe our makeshift team was just a bit too thin today but with 15 players we only need a couple to drop out and we are down to plugging gaps or playing people out of position. 

We spent the majority of the first half in our half, barely able to retain possession, Clanfield were first to just about every loose ball whilst we stood off.  It was slippery and hard to control, the wind was against us but we were our own worst enemy.  I dropped Taine into midfield which created a spark of life and we got the odd breakaway.  We can do it when we try, we have all seen it.  Bradley took a free kick that probably went in but the ref was unable to tell, we could have made sure of, it but didn't and so went in at half time 3-0 down.

I expected the wind to help in the 2nd half and we did get some benefit but it was Clanfield who scored first.  We soon got 1 back when Bradley shot from range and it bounced in.  We had a number of attacks but too often Clanfield strolled through our midfield and put the defence under pressure.  When the ball fell to us we got some attacks moving and had some chances, eventually Michael pulled one back, there was still time for us push for more.  But it was Clanfield who sealed the game with another goal.

As always its not the result but the performance that I am looking for and although I was disappointed with the overall display there are always positives to take away.  Jake made some good saves, Jamie made some good tackles in his first outfield game, Skid is great at steering the opposition away from our goal, James, Olly & Dom all got stuck into the tackles with tenacity.  Bradley and Taine put in loads of effort, Drew, Bryce & Travis made some good passes and Michael made some great attacking runs.

PMOM - Michael for some hard work up front and another goal to add to last weeks.

MOM - Bryce, took a knock in the first half but got back on the horse.

Next week its our local derby against Crofton, last season we did well in horizontal rain and I would expect every player to be up for that game.

AFC Portchester 2 v Lee Rangers 6

Well, I'll be honest, if I had had the time my pre-match talk would have been about the performance I'm looking for rather than the result but somehow we ended up in a flurry of tracksuits trying to get 11 boys onto the pitch as the opposition & ref waited for us.  We had played Portchester years ago in a couple of friendlies so I knew it would be a tough game against the team 2nd from top of our division.

A few absences meant we were down to the bare bones but a very keen Olly jumped at the opportunity to play in goal.  We were under the cosh for the first 10 minutes but once the boys got some composure we were getting forward too.  Josh scored the opener after some well worked passing.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The lads were looking confident and I began to follow their lead when Drew got the 2nd.  There was a real look of a team out there, everyone doing their job as instructed.  Olly was like having a defender and a goalie rolled into 1, he was quick to intercept and dive into the flailing boots to get the ball.  The defence were working well, in particular James was showing 100% committment in the tackling.  Travis & Jake were winning balls and making good forward passes and Skid was always there to tidy up.  At times we could be a bit too confident and Portchester broke forward, scored soon to be followed by another as they latched onto a clearance in the middle of the pitch.  'Oh well it was good while it lasted' I thought.  But the boys thought different, they took the game forward and Taine was well placed to put us ahead again.

We started well in the second half with numerous attacks, all the midfield players were defending, winning the ball, looking up and passing and then getting up to support.  It was great to see Bryce, Drew, Michael, Bradley and Josh all passing & moving.  The training sessions recently have been specific to individual players needs and its paying off.  The defence too have worked on their closing down and tackling and although I saw the odd ballet spin there was some definite improvement to see.  Tom has been given the role of defensive midfielder and he is always there hassling the opposition before they reach our penalty area.

There were a couple of goal mouth scrambles and the ball was cleared only as far as Tom who smashed it back to get his first goal this season.  Soon after Taine got a second, he has been doing a great job as our lone striker leading the counter attacks and watching the offside.  We couldn't relax yet though, there was still plenty of time and Portchester were pushing hard, Olly had to make a number of athletic saves and interceptions.  His kicking from hand cleared the halfway line and put us straight back onto the attack. 

We kept attacking and at times lost our shape as too many boys pushed to get a goal but another 6 yard box ping pong saw Michael score our final goal, and it was well deserved too.

It was a great all round performance, good confident play by the boys.  It doesn't mean we have suddenly become world beaters, we mustn't forget the lessons of effort, working hard for the result and grasping those chances when they come your way.  Maybe we have found the formation and lineup that suits us best, some players might not like their position but as a group we have the best pegs in the most suitable holes!

PMOM - An obvious choice to go to Olly who was outstanding in goal.

MOM - His overall creativity and contribution means it goes to Drew.

And I wasn't wearing my lucky shirt.

Waltham Wolves 3 - Lee Rangers 4

The football rollercoaster came to town for us again today, or should I say came to a little country village somewhere up the Meon valley.

It was only a few weeks ago that we had a very close game with Waltham Wolves and here we were again up against our old friends.  The boys, parents and I have had some chats about taking things seriously and being more competitive recently and over the past few weeks I think everyone has upped their game.  I used every pre-match speech rolled into one and I even wore my lucky Pompey shirt.  Whatever happened we were going to go out in a blaze of glory, all guns blazing.

The lads started brightly with a couple of quick breaks forward and eventually Josh kept on chasing, took his chance and scored the opening goal.  After that we had to defend about a dozen corners, Bradley, Olly & James were all clearing the ball but we struggled to get it up to midfield and in the end the sustained pressure led to the Wolves equaliser.  We were still passing well but sometimes we need to make the right decision (this will come in training) and Wolves broke forward but Jamie was off his line quickly enough to make the save.  A foul by us on the edge of the box led to a free kick which just snuck in as Jamie collided with the goal post and had to be replaced Jake P (Jamie, not the goal).

The defence was awesome today, Jake M, Olly & James consistently making the tackles and Skid always on hand to cover.  Dom made a great clearance that went over the halfway line and put us on the attack.

The midfield and forwards were making great counter attacking moves, Taine was leading the line as a striker, supported by Drew and Bryce and then we had Josh & Bradley bringing the ball forward on the break.  Michael was unlucky to just miss the top corner with a placed effort but Josh scored a second to take us into HT at 2-2.  We had scored 2 great team goals created by nice build up play.

At half time I tried some more cod psychology on the lads.

The game continued in the same style as before with attack and counter attack from each side.  Jake P also came off his line to make a save, maybe they can see the benefit of rushing out to close off the attacker now.  Wolves switched their dangerous player to our other flank and they score to creep in front.  I swapped some players about to increase the offence and we were soon bursting through again, we had a number of long shots at the keeper but eventually Josh hit one hard enough that it hit the keeper and managed to dribble over the line.  A goal is a goal, there's no points for style.  Drew was making some great runs down the right, picking the ball up from Travis, breaking forward and then sending the pass on for Taine to run onto.  We had some great attacking moves going on and a bit of practice together will see it get better.  Tom was working tirelessly to help the defence and break up the Wolves attack whether it was left, right or centre. 

Another break forward with Drew, Bradley, Bryce, Josh & Taine saw a shot from the right spill off the keeper and Drew was there following up and he hit it first time into the net to score the winner!

There was a nervy 10 minutes which included Skid being spoken to by the ref, obviously he was upset by the experience and giving away the foul but he showed great character to bounce back into the game.  Travis and Skid both made tenacious last ditch tackles as Wolves pushed forward, Tom was buzzing around closing down and eventually the final whistle blew.

We have had some bad luck in the past but today had nothing to do with luck, it was about heart and effort and working for the reward.  They were great, all of them.

It was hard to choose a MOM, it could have gone to Josh or Drew for their goals and attacks, maybe Taine, Bradley or Tom for their energy, Bryce upped his game today and even nutmegged the opposition, both keepers have made crucial saves, Michael made some good runs, the lads at the back, James, Travis, Jake, Olly and Dom all made important tackles and clearances.  But it went to a player who represents what this team is all about, its about effort, character and heart, its about carrying on regardless of the score or how you feel.  So it goes to Skid, well done fella.

So there we are, a win, thanks to my lucky Pompey shirt but mostly thanks to 15 friends.