Pre-Season Friendly: Vs Timperley Villa U16s KO 6:30pm (Away)

Starting Subs: Sean, Eoin, Klevon

Another friendly against an Under 16s team that should prove a challenge for Eagles. Taller, stronger players who might be a bit physical, a test for the character of every Eagles player. Our Work rate has to be on top form otherwise we will get battered. But only if the lads allow that to happen, so how did it go?

The first half kicked off with quite a lot of play in the midfield from both teams. No one taking the bull by the horns and no one really settling in with any decent football, a bit scrappy overall. Villa started to gain the upper hand and wave after wave of attacks came our way. We defended well, very well, the back four and our midfield players putting the effort in when it was needed. We were right, this game had it's physical aspect, Joe Thomas ending up coming off with a nose bleed after a high foot! Eagles attacked at every oportunutity but Villa were good in defence. Villa scored the first goal after about 35 mins or so. 1-0. End to end football, Eagles kept attacking and kept defending, never giving up. Villa scored their 2nd goal and most heads did not drop which was good to see. Minutes before the half time whistle, Eagles awarded a penalty, after a Villa player hands the ball in the box whilst Andy B was trying to dribble past him! Lincoln steps up to take and finishes nicely to make it 2-1. Half time whistle blown and we are losing but on the ascend.

Villa start well but it's not long before Eagles get into their stride and start to take control. And take control they did! My notes mention 20 attacks for Meds Eagles and 9 attacks for Villa! Some of the football we played in this half was a joy to watch, some of the defending we did, and not as often as we had to in the first half was solid. Some nice play sees Joe Barlow in the Villa half of the pitch launch a superb ball that beat the Villa keeper, what a goal, wow! 2-2. Eagles attacked and attacked, the physical side of things kept coming back, with free kicks going either way! Eagles had 12 shots on goal in this half, Villa had 5. How Eagles managed to score one goal in this half is beyond me, they deserved more, much more. The final whistle is blown and a draw it is.

Result 2-2

Fantastic performance from EVERY single player today, you ALL deserve a mention and your parents should be proud of you. Remember, this was an Under 16s team who were bigger and stronger, yes it was a physical game at times, and we were under the kosh at times, but we heard positive encouragement being shouted at each other, which is the way it should be. We had pace down the wings, strength in defence and midfield and pace to cover those areas as well!
Rob, Alex, Nico, Kaelan, Ryan, Eddie, Joe B, Lincoln, Eoin, Joe C, Joe T, Andy B, Klevon, Sean