Aztec 'A'  1   v   2  Parsonage

Echo League: Essex

Played Sun 13 Nov 2005

I was unable to attend this match so the report is made up with snippets from parents.  I always try to keep it real and unbiased and hope this is no exception.

Both teams settled down to business but it was Aztec who scored early as Parsonage were unusually slow into their stride.  An Aztec player crept around the blind side of the Parsonage defence and unmarked smashed a nice strike into the Parsonage net to give Aztec the lead.  Parsonage slowly began to get into the game and with ten minutes on the clock equalised through Ryan Malletts strike that went through the Aztec keepers legs.  The rest of the half was played in the middle of the park with no team really creating any openings.  1.1 half time.

The second half was played very similar to the first with the ball mainly in the middle of the park.  Both teams had a few efforts on goal, Connor kain saving well and Ross Cope hitting one inches over the bar.  The winning goal came curtsey of a well struck shot from Jack Lawrence midway through the second half.  The goal saw Aztec up the tempo and look for the equaliser but as in previous weeks Parsonage held on.  Finished 1.2. 

Again today we have came away with 3 points but failed to put in a performance worthy of being double Echo League Premier champions.  Yes we have lost players, but they have been replaced with 3 quality players and there is no excuses for this team to play the type of football we allowed ourselves to play again today.  This newly changed team are more than capable of playing good football as pre-season performances and early league matches have shown and it has to be put right before we are on the receiving end of a tanking. 

When I asked Nick Ragon at halftime how we were playing he said “ Its is one of the worsted performances we have ever put in and is like watching the team 2 years ago”   

I know other Managers would not be complaining regarding our unbeaten start to the season but a quick browse at the league table shows that the 4 teams we have beaten are all in the bottom four and if we don’t start producing the style of football that we are renowned for we will get beat, its as simple as that. 

Its funny how things turn round.  The first two league matches saw us play well, knock the ball around but fail to produce the goods in front of goal.  Our last three matches (including BH in the cup) have seen us perform poorly but bury our chances, which has enabled us to carry on our unbeaten run.  Would I swap good performances and losing for below par performances and winning like we are now???.  NO I WOULDN’T, but this team is good enough to win and play well  and it is this we have to aim for. 

Starting with next weekends match against Ascot a new look Parsonage team will be fielded.   Positions will we swapped and new roles allocated.  I believe no one can dispute that Parsonage have been the dominate force in this age group since it began and it is now up to new and old to dig deep and continue this legacy.    I have every faith in this bunch of fantastic kids, only time will tell.

Paul

 Parsonage Team

Kain, Bearman, Cope, Mallett, Morris,

O'Sullivan, Ragon, Lawrence, Grigg.