U9's County Cup Match Report

Well done to all the boys for progressing through to the Quarter Finals of the County Cup. To get this far is a massive achievment and i'm very proud of the boys.

The game last Sunday started off really well with the Ref asking parents who wants to be linesman until someone corrected him and let him know that U9's dont have offsides. He found this particuly amusing and shared a joke with the players about how there all allowed to goal hang. Just what I want, the ref to be encouraging my players to-do a minute before kick-off.

We started off brightly and moved the ball around well from the kick-off. We created a few chances and ended scoring a goal from Okems shot which James headed in on the line. Half -time came and we found ourselves 1nil up and deservedly so.

The 2nd half was a stop, start game. With freekick after freekick being given against us. With all the stop starting we found it very hard to get our passing game going. On Hemel's 64 freekick of the game they finally beat Faraz with a cracking shot in the top corner. After this again the game didn't flow well and we found ourselves going into extra time again.

The 1st half of extra time was tight with the only effort going to Aaron 'Pretty Boy' Buckett who spanked the bar from a great Azzurri counter attack. In the 2nd half of extra time we started to get our passing going and looked to be in control. The 1st chance of the half came to Okem who blasted a left foot volley into the top corner. A minute later Okem struck again to put Azzurri 3-1 up and surely into the next round. The last couple of minutes were tense, and with 45 seconds left Hemel scored to make it 3-2. For what seemed like an hour Hemel tried and tried to get the equaliser and with a second to go a deflected cross looked like it was going in until Faraz pushed it round to post. The final whistle went and Azzurri U9's are in the Quarter Finals.

Next round match will be against away to Welwyn Pegasus on 20th Feb. We have no control over the kick-off time and this is more likely to be a morning one. Please make sure all players are available.

I look forward to seeing you all at training tonight

Many Thanks

Simon Williams
07515814032
ncfootball / Barnet Azzurri FC

Azzurri through to Round 4 of the County Cup

Hi All

Congratulations to all the boys for getting through to the last 16 of the County Cup. We now play Hemel Hempstead Town Youth in the next round, which should be on the 23 January.

We started off strongly yesterday and passed the ball around confidently from the off. 10 seconds and about 8 passes after we kicked off we found ourselves 1nil up with James finishing off a fantastic passing move. We continued to dominate the 1^st half playing some fantastic football and keeping our shape well. Okem banged in 2 goals to put us 3nil up, but just before half-time we fell asleep and conceded.

In the 2^nd half we continued to move the ball round and create chances but couldn’t find the net. Until Okem out-paced a St Albans defender and buried the ball into the bottom corner form a tight angle. A goal I would have been proud of scoring. With the score at 4-1 and progression into the next round within touching distance, we moved a few players positions round and gave Aaron ‘Pretty Boy‘ Buckett a run upfront so he could try and get the goal he desperately wanted. Whilst upfront he weaved his magic and went on a number of great runs but couldn’t quite find the back of the net. A couple of minutes before the end Pretty Boy got his goal and celebrated by putting his hands to the sky as if he was thanking God. Was this celebration a sign to God or has he seen Kaka do this celebration and copied? Only Aaron knows the answer. Minutes later the final whistle blows and Azzurri progress through to Round 4 of the County Cup.

Man Of The Match – The St Albans City players could simply not handle Okem. He was to strong, fast and powerful for them. He seemed to really enjoy his role as a striker and banged in a well deserved hat-trick.

A special mention to Jeevan and Dom who turned up to show there support. It was really pleasing to see them there. I hope in the next round we continue to have support form the rest of the squad.

See you all tonight at training

Many Thanks

Simon Williams

07515814032

Azzurri out of County Cup............Not yet!!!!

What can I say about yesterday???

We started off slowly and never really got going. Cold, wet and sloppy was how I would have described the performance not the weather.

In the 1^st half we created a few chances, not from good build up ball, but from raw pace and were unlucky to score. At half-time we round ourselves 1nil down. We assured the boys that if we got the ball under and moved it around like we did in the last match, then we would win the game. This had a little affect and at times in the 2^nd half we did try to play. Potters Bar gave us little time on the ball though and made it hard for us to get any momentum going.

Midway through the 2^nd half Potters bar made it 2nil. Progression to the next round looked slim. As the game went on we created a couple of one-one situation but was failing to make any of them count. With 4 minutes left I was speaking to Koray and saying how much of a shame it was us going out because I felt we never showed even 20% of what this teams capable off. Then with 2mins left, Carter scores. The crowd went mad and this seemed to give the boys hope. I asked the ref “how long?” and he replied “1 n Half”. We battled and battled and won a corner with what only could have been a minute left. The whole team went up for it, even our keeper Faraz. The corner came in but a chance went wide. Surely this was to be the last kick off the game. Potters bar took the goal kick and Azzurri latched onto it. Seconds later and Okem finds himself on the edge of the box with only one thing on his mind. He shoots he SSCCOORREEEESSSS! The crowd, the boys, Ian, Koray and myself went absolutely crazy. I found myself on the pitch, jumping, punching the air screaming “GET IN!” I then looked around and noticed the Potters bar players crying and I had gone a little OTT. There I was, a 24 year old man jumping, celebrating on the pitch, with the other team balling there eyes out. I just couldn’t control myself though. With 2minutes left we were out of the cup. 2 minutes later we were going into extra time.

Extra time was pretty even. Not many chances created for either team and to no1’s surprise it went to penalties.

James, Ryan and Okem converted there pens.

Faraz saved 2 outa 4. The next penalty was vital. If Faraz saves we win.

FARAZ SAVES! AZZURRI ARE THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND OF THE COUNTY CUP!

Moment of the Match

It has to be Okem’s screamer in the last seconds to equalise.

Man of Match

It has to be Faraz. Saved 3 out of 5 penalties to win us the game

Well done to all the boys. As I said to them, we didn’t play well but we dug deep and didn’t stop battling.

See you all at training tonight

Many Thanks

Simon Williams

07515814032

Barnet Azzurri vs Potters Bar Crusaders

Match 1

 Team 1 started off a little sloppy and there were no surprises when we found ourselves 1nil down after only a couple of minutes. This was the kick up the backside the boys needed. After this the boys started to get a hold of the ball and move it round confidently. We were quick to equalise and I felt we were in control. Okem added another 2 to his tally of 15 goals this season. He is now joint top scorer with Carter and James. Ricardo who is on form in front of goal having now scored 3 in the last 4, beat a man and scored a cracking goal. He has now beaten his record of last year, (which was 0 goals in 100games). Azzurri were 4-2 up when in the dying seconds of injury time Potters Bar pulled one back.

Result: 4-3 win

Highlights

• Carter coolly finishes off an excellent Azzurri passing move all started from Zack Walker at the back to grap the equaliser.
• Tricky Ricky skins Potters Bars defender to then bury the ball into the back off the net
• Faraz’s saved Azzurri on a number of occasions throughout the match but the 1 save in particular was right at the death when he bravely stood his ground on a 1on1 situation and made a cracking save.

Man of Match

 Tough one to hand out, but it has to go 2 Faraz. Saved us a number of times and looking like he is really enjoying his role as goalkeeper

Match 2

Team 2 started off equally as sloppy as the 1^st team. (Must have been the guy who done the warm-ups fault). Azzurri as a team decided they had enough of the passing game and instead chose a kick and run game. Which to know surprise we found ourselves again 1nil down again. I don’t know what was said between Aaron and James at the kick-off but they made it there mission to score within the next 10 seconds. 5 seconds later and Aaron equalises. I hear a rumour that Aaron and James are now trying to become player managers after this tactical moved paid off. Don’t worry Koray and Ian, I don’t think there ready to take your jobs yet. After this we started to get going but throughout the game I never felt we came out of 2^nd gear. With not long left it was 2-2. Potters Bar than found there self’s 1on1 with Lucas. Lucas had all but done his job until the Potters Bar player decided he wanted to take Lucas’s shirt off his back and then score. No foul given and the overall score was now 6-6. 4 minutes left and Azzurri were looking for 1 of there big guns to produce. James Unwin was that man. He had had abit of a frustrating game up until this point, beat one man and placed the ball into the bottom corner. The crowd went mad, I shouted and punched the air, I looked round to give Koray a hug but he was to busy hugging David ‘the camera man’ Carter. The final whistle goes and a draw 3-3

Highlights

• Azzurri equalise after 5 seconds with James and Aaron playing a couple of one twos, with Aaron finishing off
• James Unwin’s beating a man and a finishing off to give Azzurri the win
• Koray and David hugging like long lost friends.

Result: 3-3 draw

Overal Score: 7-6 Azzurri win

Man of Match

Tough one again because I didn’t feel anyone played to there full potential, but I’m going to give it to Aaron. He always looked a threat and banged 2 goals.