Weather: temp 9.5 c, overcast but dry. Despite a rowdy ladies home contingent luckily very little crowd trouble ….except for a couple of dog scraps in the visiting fans den. No police presence today as Vinnie keeping London safe. Referee: Marco ‘Stevie Wonder’ Vettese (enough said!!!!)
 
QTR 1 – Loxwood Blacks 0 Albury 0
 
Loxwood started with Sebby in goal and a strong central defence pairing of Sam and Harry J. William and Charlie started brightly with a neat one 1-2 and Oscar was industrious on the right passing through to Cameron who started out looking like he hadn’t had his 3rd Weetabix this morning!
 
Albury pressed in numbers and compressed the play which caught the blacks out who lost a little bit of formation. “Where is the midfield? Where is the midfield?” came the cry from the home support.
 
Harry J was giant as he used new found skills at rugby to hustle and bustle the opponents and demonstrated how to play an effective sweeper role. It was end to end as Cameron pressed their keeper and they responded with a long shot from #47 – they must some squad size J
 
Harry S came on and was like a busy bee from the off. Loxwood got caught messing about in defence and only a last-ditch attempt from William to win the ball back averted the inevitable Albury goal under this pressure. Albury won a corner which Charlie powerfully headed out. The ball landed in the hedge which bought about commentary from the opposing supporters “Thank God it is stuck in the hedge, our defence can get back in time now”.
 
The game finished 0-0 and Loxwood had ridden their luck!

 Overall score -  Loxwood Whites 6 Elstead Blues 2

A beautiful sunny morning greeting our team of 7 with no subs and hungry for a win. The Blues looked like they meant business from the get go in the warm up with some clear Weetabix Sponsorship!

Quarter One: 1-1
Loxwood start with Smiley B up front, BB centre, Luc right mid, Willem left, Angus and Kelsey in defence and Marco in goal. The blues were off to a great start with Loxwood conceding an early corner but to no avail. Ben and Luc had a great run and broke free but intercepted by the blues and a great run by their big striker to put the whites 1-0 down.

The blues give the whites a corner but we don’t convert and the ball goes the wrong way, Loxwood
intercept, Luc and Ben bring it back, Luc takes a shot but it goes over…. Elstead boot it out and BB has a shot but it’s wide… the passion is right there. The blues are not letting us have much space but Loxwood are full of fight, a great attempt by Luc and Ben follows but doesn’t convert. Approaching the end of the quarter now with a cracking run and score from BB to equalise 1-1!

Quarter Two: 2-1
Same formation, our lads return. This is pacey from the get go. A run from BB over to Smiley B and a goal! This is looking good from our lads now – a useful interception from our defence duo Kelsey andAngus gets in the way of their massive 29 … Elstead are putting big pressure on to our lads but Luc and Big Ben make a great run with BB failing to convert but oh so near.

The blues get back so quickly and catch us off guard and then advance and push forwards with some great pace and get one past Marco to equalise. 1-1. A Loxwood throw from Angus gives us a chance and some pace but we’re stopped by the blues whoare now fighting.

The whites are coming back now but it’s all a bit scrappy with our guys looking a bit pressured. A
corner though is what we need but it doesn’t give us our chance. Willem pushes forward in a big advance now with BB, chips it across and BB sticks it in to go 2-1 up!

Quarter Three: 1-0
The lads return – same formation with a fair bit of fight and a real taste for it now. Loxwood get an early opportunity with a throw out near the switched end now of the blues – Luc belts it across… Willem is there ready but the ball seems to just fly into the goal..!?... wow – great work Luc and Willem. 1-0 up.

The blues are getting feistier now but Loxwood fight back and the action stays pretty close to the Elstead end. A break for the blues looks promising but Kelsey and Angus are 24 carat and nothing is denting that defence… A corner for BB gives Luc and Willem a chance but not converted and another corner for Willem doesn’t give us what we need as the blues fight back.

A massive run for Luc gets the ball away from the blues again and gives us another chance but Luc is intercepted, blues come back but Loxwood are too strong. A corner for Loxwood gives us a chance but don’t land it – that said a great quarter!

Quarter Four: 2-0
Our lads come out 4-2 up. Luc and BB look great and BB to Willem gives us a chance with some amazing partnership by our minds. BB is unlucky with a shot and the blues give us some pressure and we lose possession for a bit and
start looking tired.

A chance with a big throw from Luc gives our lads some pace but the blues push… once again Kelsey is there a way to Luc who puts it across to Willem. Blues have a chance here as they take a corner but to no avail. Our lads are everywhere. Smiley B is given a great opportunity with some faltering defence and he knocks it in! 1-0 Luc and Willem have a great run, Willem slams it in and we’re 2-0 this quarter… this is great football.

The blues are still not giving up but give us a corner under pressure taken by Willem – doesn’t convert but the pressure is amazing. Elstead get it back – it’s a good run but wow… Marco steps in and saves it. Blues get a break put us under pressure, we concede but our defence is great … goes towards Marco but he smothers it..

Blues get it away … they want it so badly … we’re in the last play now. Angus intercepts… to Kelsey… to Luc…
Luc breaks free… runs the pitch with the ball at a terrifying speed and punches a sledgehammered shot at the Elstead goalie Jacob … who saves it but he’s on the ground, winded… ref comes in, first aider, comes in…. he’s ok. Unlucky Loxwood but some stunning play and so so nearly 3-0.

A flurry from the blues as they bow out and the whistle goes… We finish a respectable 2-0 and overall 6-2 to the whites … great game !

We pile in for our chat with Andy L… BB gets player of the match but no one player didn’t excel today with a depleted side and a so desperately deserved win

WELL DONE LOXWOOD……!!!!

A threadbare Loxwood made the early trip to Hurtwood Polo Club to face a strong Ewhurst Cheetahs side. The scene was set and the pitch looked fantastic. Not a single Wembley-esque blade of grass covered with a San Diego Panther Cougars logo or touchdown end zone yard marking.
 
Game 1: Cheetahs 1 Blacks 0
 
We lined up with Harry J in goal and a daring 2-1-3 formation. Ewhurst put their first 7 out in an offensive approach with half the population of India sitting on the subs bench. The early pressure from Loxwood bought about an early corner, however a direct break from this had the Cheetahs breaking at speed and the extremely handy #44 slotted home comfortably. The #44 was to prove a handful all morning. Confidence rattled the Cheetahs played a nice 1-2 with some neat and very accurate passing and bought a brave dive at the feet by Harry J.
 
The boys rallied well, they won a total of 6 corners in this section of the game and the delivery of the corners was a feature. Charlie had a shot just wide, William was his usual industrial self and Sebby found a new role as a sweeper. Ewhurst continued to well match us and worked both of their wings well. The boys never let up and really a draw would have been justified in this game but it wasn’t to be.
 
Game 2: Cheetahs 1 Blacks 0
 
Game 2 started with Sebby in goal, the Cheetahs replaced half of their team! Cam had a taken a juice during the break which was questioned by the coach. Would a urine sample be required after the game we wondered? The boys started strongly. Key highlights being Harry S bundling a Cheetah off the ball who was twice his size. A strong charge from an extremely hard-working Charlie all the way down the right-hand side and a decent cross delivered. Harry J in defence now handled a high ball very well even though we could see in the whites of his eyes during that nano-second of panic. Oscar continued his hard-work from Game 1 and energy levels were being maintained. Paul cried for someone to “skin a player” – some parents commenting if this is a footballing term. They were assured it was. More advice from Coach Paul asking Cam to get on with it – the message is well received with an “alright” fired back – good job it wasn’t Sir Alex on the sideline as a hairdryer could have been involved J
 
The Ewhurst coach then cried for the ball to be moved into the “kill zone”. Is that a footballing term? I think it might be from Fortnite. Whatever it meant though it worked. As the ball was moved into the Loxwood end and the boys struggled to effectively clear it by trying to pass the ball out. A simple tap-in led to a goal for the Cheetahs. Loxwood continued to push well - Charlie just wide after dispossessing a defender, Harry S practicing some “ballet” and then Charlie again in a Ricky Villa style dribble through what seemed like 74 players. Oscar had the last chance and ultimately last kick of the game with the ball just flashing wide past the keeper but unfortunately also past the post. On balance the result was a fair one for game 2.

Game 3: Cheetahs 1 Blacks 1
 
A change of ends and Cam given breather goes in goal. With the Cheetahs subs bench resembling a rush hour tube train in Tokyo they make a change of personnel. It’s a lively start with Harry S pushing up the left and into the path of William who brings a stinging save from the keeper that Charlie follows-up on but cannot finish. William has new found energy in this section – has he been on Cams “special juice” we wonder? Cheetahs remain dangerous and Cam calmly lets the ball go out of play as the crowd hold their collective breath.
 
The ball comes to Charlie about 15 feet out, he drops his shoulder and turns the Ewhurst defender who at 25 feet out is now stranded. With little backlift Charlie then strikes the ball from 40 feet out and the like a rocket the ball lands in the bottom corner leaving the keeper no chance from 60 feet out. Vinny confirms that Charlie Kanes nickname is warranted as that matches one Kane scored at Millwall once upon a time.
 
Unfortunately, this goal turns the tide of the game. Whether Ewhurst now had the bit between their teeth or the Blacks lost their composure we don’t know but the Cheetahs dominated for the next passage of play. #11 twists and turns and flashes past the goal, #12 has a clean sight of goal but it is over the bar. Each and every player – Sebby, Oscar, Harry J all have their backs to wall and Cam is gallant in goal. It’s inevitable though as the “kill zone” tactic is deployed again. The boys can’t clear it and #11 gets the deserved goal for the Cheetahs and the game finishes 1-1
 
Game 4: Cheetahs 4 Blacks 1
 
Legs are tired, the late goal has worn the boys down, Hannah has eaten all her Haribos so there is no sugar input that can be deployed. The Cheetahs look to their bench (which is now representing the numbers of the North Korea army) and make some changes.
 
Seb goes in goal. Ewhurst start very strongly and their quality of play this morning cannot be denied. It is agreed that this is one of the best passing sides that we have seen in sometime. The quality play pays off and #14 makes a mazey run through 4 players and slots home for a lovely goal to make it 1-0. In the middle of the dominance Harry S brings about a stinging save but probably the goal of the day is scored from a Ewhurst corner and their #11 powerfully headers into the far corner. The boys are at 7s & 8s as a simple throw-in leads to a break from Ewhurst – we blink and it is 3-0.
 
Harry J runs up the left wing and gets the ball across for Harry S to finish confidently. Its 3-1 and a little bit of respectability is instilled into the score line. Charlie plays a great through ball and Cam smashes the ball against their keeper – on another day that may have gone in. Charlie crosses and William bravely headers – it doesn’t feel like it will be our day. At the death their #11 is in again and with our defence outnumbered and Sebby have no chance as he slots it into the bottom corner to finish the game 4-1.
 
Overall Score: Cheetahs 7 Blacks 2
 
Overall a Cheetahs win was obviously deserved, but the boys played hard and with great attitude. A scoreline not representative of the overall performance especially with heavy legs at the end. Onwards and upwards!

 1st Quarter - Loxwood Blacks 1 Ewhurst Foxes 0 
 
When the long-awaited kick off came at 10:38, they piled on pressure right from the start.
 
Some great defending from the back line of Sam and Harry J and some nice turns and skills from our attacking partnership consisting of Harry S and Oscar, forced Ewhurst’s defense to switch on. Our midfield smashed some dangerous long balls up to the Ewhurst box which resulted in a counter attack leading to a long string of David Beckham like corners from the opposing Number 15 causing our defense to scramble to get the ball away which we eventually did leading to a long span of play resembling Barcelona forced a good save from the keeper but Loxwood were starting to get back into the game.
 
After a nice passing move found Charlie he poked it through to Oscar who curled it through the Ewhurst keeper’s hands and into the bottom left corner to make it 1:0!
 
After the Loxwood goal Ewhurst were looking very dangerous on the counter attack and started to look switched on once more. More great play from us found Charlie who forced another save from the impressive opposition goalkeeper, he found Number 15 on the counter attack who ran through our tired defense and fired the ball at the crossbar to end the first quarter.
 
2nd Quarter: Loxwood Blacks 1 Albury Foxes 1
 
Loxwood made a double change bringing on Chris and Ben in defense to maintain the lead, we pressed Ewhurst right from the start with some close chances. “It’s not dancing football!” came shouts from the bench and they proved them wrong by dancing straight through our backline and walloped it into the bottom left corner to make it 0:1 in the quarter.
 
Ben and Chris were ever present at the back sending great balls up to the attack and some more Ewhurst mistakes let us break through and get some more shots off.
 
Chris found Charlie who sprinted down three quarters of the pitch, beating defenders for pace and skill and hammering the ball home into the top left corner with a great finish from an angle to make it 1:1 in the quarter.
 
After his goal, some more lovely skill from Charlie left the defenders for dead and he crossed it for Harry S, his shot forcing a block from a Ewhurst defender.
 
The second quarter ended with Ewhurst shooting and causing Harry J to make an equally good save in goal, Ewhurst took another David Beckham–esque corner, though the header was caught by Harry finishing the 2nd quarter!
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