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Farnham Colts - match report 20/9/08 - 29 September 2008

Badshot Lea Blades U11's V Woking

This was the second meeting in a week for the two sides following the Blades 6:1 win at Woking in the cup. What hopes Woking may have had of revenging that defeat evaporated almost instantly in the bright morning sunshine. It was the kind of start that had you been late finding your seat in a stadium the game would have been over before you sat down. By six minutes Badshot were three up from a lightning hat trick by Ed and from then on Woking were playing for pride and to avoid a cricket score. In three successive minutes the heart of the Woking defence was cut open by Ed’s pace and clinical finishing. In each case Ed was set up by incisive passing principally from Charlie R but it was Ed’s direct running that Woking couldn’t handle. And it was nearly four nil very soon after as another move involving Ed, Charlie R and Callum ended with a seemingly goal bound shot bouncing back from a Badshot player on the line. Woking then gathered themselves and came back into the game and on the 12th minute hit the post after a corner. The blades had been reminded there was still a game to play. A message underlined to them when Mathew had to come off with a bloody nose from a misdirected kick on the quarter hour mark. A minute later Woking pulled a goal back after a move down the right. Andy came out to meet the Woking attacker but after going to ground three Woking players broke free into the penalty area leaving Nick with little chance of keeping the ball out. The goal shook the Blades out of their complacency and they spent most of the rest of the half on the attack knocking in another four goals with some excellent wing play and confident finishing. First Fergie on the right side set up Charlie G, for the first of his hat trick. Then Ed responded with his fourth after a throw in on the left and another Charlie R assist. A Charlie-G run up the right ended with his shot going wide but Badshot pressure from the goal kick resulted in the team’s sixth goal from Charlie-G. Ed shot over the bar moments later before Callum hurdled over several tackles up the right to set up Ed for his fifth. A cross/shot from Charlie-R might have made it more but the half ended with Blades enjoying an emphatic 7:1 lead.

Woking were better organised in the second half and a combination of their defensive resilience and declining energy levels meant the score was kept down. There were few clear cut chances in the first 15 minutes of the second period apart form an outrageous lob from outside the penalty by Callum which crashed back off the Woking cross bar. Half way into the half Woking failed to clear a corner and Fergie pounced on the loose ball to make it 8:1. Soon after Charlie-G was brought down in the box and he drove in the resulting penalty past the diving Woking keeper for his third. Andy had little to do on the half and Nick, Kieran, Charlie H and Matthew dealt ably with any potential threat. A crunching Kieran tackle gave Woking a free kick near the edge of the penalty and brief hope of a breakthrough but the defensive wall and keeper did their jobs well. Apart from that it was all Blades attacks. Gabriel, playing in more advanced role, set up Callum who shot over the goal, a Charlie-G run ended in a corner and Charlie R and Callum were awarded free kicks. With about five minutes to go Ed knocked in a Fergie cross to bring the score into double figures and his total contribution for the day to 5.

Woking went away with some satisfaction with their improved display in the second half. There’ll be tougher games and more demanding conditions to come for the Blades as the season progresses but there was much to enjoy on the day. The goal difference will look healthy and the competition for highest goal scorer is certain to be interesting.

Man of the match: Ed – for all attacking display and those 5 goals.

Best Effort: Charlie R – for his numerous assists.

Fleet-footed Blades show fine spirit in opening game. - 21 September 2008

Rudridge Ravens 1 Badshot Lea Blades 4 (Charlie G 2, Callum, Gabriel).

Badshot Lea Blades kicked off their first season as an 11-a-side team with an emphatic 4:1 away win against Rudridge Ravens at Fleet on Saturday 6th September 2008. This was a very encouraging all round performance from the Blades with periods of resolute defending and sustained attacking football. First-half goals from Callum, Charlie-George and Gabriel, his first for the team, put the Blades in a commanding position at half-time and Charlie George rounded off the scoring early in the second to make sure of the points for the away side. Rudridge remained a threat throughout the game however and unlike Badshot were able to call upon fresh legs when needed. Man-of-the-match Andy kept the Blades in the game in the first half with a number of excellent saves and all-round confident keeping. He ensured there was no way back for the home team by keeping a clean sheet in the second half. Andy could do little about Ravens’ equaliser in the first half though when 3 players broke through the defensive cover. Other than this incident however the back four of Charlie H, Nick, Kieran and Mathew remained resolute throughout the game and all made important clearances and challenges. The first half sparkled into life with purposeful energy evident from both sides. An early Ravens corner forced a double save from Andy but moments later a Blades counter attack resulted in a fine opening goal from Callum who fizzed the ball past the keeper after an excellent run. It was end-to-end stuff after that as Rudridge tried to come back. One Ravens attack ended with the ball being dragged across the front of the Blades goal. At the other end a Charlie G shot went over the bar following a corner and Callum shot just wide a couple of minutes later. Rudridge threatened to break through down the right a number of times and eventually did with numbers to spare, mid-way through the first half, to force the equaliser. By now the early fast pace had inevitably slowed and Rudridge began to look like they had weathered the early Blades storm. Badshot continued to go forward but now the midfield was slower getting back and they were exposed a few times through the middle on the counter attack. Charlie H and Kieran in particular were tenacious in the tackle and managed to clear most of the attacks. Andy again made a couple of excellent saves to keep the sides level. Then in the 22nd minute Charlie G was released on the left, and after rounding three defenders, scored a fine individual goal.

This inevitably lifted the team. After taking a breather in the middle of the half they were now back at their attacking best with Ed’s pace up front and Fergie’s mazy running up the left wing making inroads into the Rudridge defence. In the 23rd minute the ball was back in the Ravens penalty area and after shots by Ed and Callum were blocked Gabriel pounced on the loose ball and calmly slotted it home for the Blades’ third goal and his first ever for the club. This was a special moment for Gabriel who joined the team less than a year ago and who was playing in central midfield for the first time. It will hopefully presage bigger and better things this season as he continues to develop his all round game. Badshot made a few more promising moves before the half ended while Rudridge again threatened down the right but with energy levels flagging the half ended with the score at 3:1. After taking a much needed break at half time both sides started the second half with attacking intent and renewed verve. It was Badshot though that made the breakthrough with Charlie-George and Charlie R combining well for a one two on the right side of the Ravens’ penalty area before Charlie-George placed his shot into the bottom left corner of the net. The goal largely ended the game as a contest but Ravens were clearly determined to try and salvage something. They made a several more substitutions and pegged the blades back with a series of corners before Andy saved a point-blank shot which left him slightly winded but unbowed. The Blades survived this period of Ravens pressure and by the middle of the second half as the pace slowed once more they were again the dominant side. They mounted several more promising attacks with Callum, Ed, Charlie R and Charlie-George. At one stage Charlie R was put through with a clear run on goal and early in the last quarter a quickly taken free kick, following an aerial challenge on Gabriel, led to another promising surging run by Ed. Badshot managed to put themselves under pressure though with a free kick just outside the penalty area but this ended with Andy safely taking hold of the ball once more. Ravens mounted a late burst of effort in the final few minutes of the tie but the defence held strong. When the whistle finally blew the team were tired but elated and on this showing they will have many more occasions to be elated and proud of. A winning start should also spark interest from other potential players and bring in much needed cover on the bench.

Man of the match: Andy

Best Effort: Callum

Badshot Lea fixtures list.. - 18 July 2008

Saturday 6th September - away:

Rudridge Ravens V Badshot Lea

Saturday 13th September -away (League Cup Preliminary Round):

Woking B&G v Badshot Lea Colts

Saturday 20th September- home (played at Weybourne Rec behind Cannons):

Badshot Lea v Woking

Saturday 27th September-home (played at Weybourne Rec behind Cannons):

Badshot Lea v Manor Spitfires

Good luck to you guys!

HotSpring of Farnham sponsors local team - 15 July 2008

HotSpring Spas of Farnham are delighted to announce that we will be sponsoring the Badshot Lea Youth and Colts football team....specifically the Under 11 Blades.

This is a key year for the club as they have been at Badshot Lea for 100 years! They play out of three main sites: Badshot Lea, Weybourne Recreation Ground and Farnborough Town FC. The club has developed beyond all expectations over the past ten years and they now proudly encompass a very successful first team who have, along with the Reserve Team, secured their place in the Combined Counties League.

Although they have been known to travel more than 1700 miles a year for the away games, they will also be playing teams that are located locally including Camberley, Cove and Ash.

Sharon Robinson, Manager, told us "Badshot Lea Blades are delighted that HotSpring Hot Tubs of Farnham have decided to sponsor our team. It is going to be a big step forward for us this year as we move to 11 aside football but we believe that we have the commitment and enthusiasm as a team to do well. We are very grateful indeed to our new sponsor for coming on board and giving us their support this season".

We are delighted to be involved in this fantastic local team and wish them every success for their forthcoming games!

Community Pages Our Local Sponsorships

Farnham Colts - match report 20/9/08 - 29 September 2008

Fleet-footed Blades show fine spirit in opening game. - 21 September 2008

Badshot Lea fixtures list.. - 18 July 2008

HotSpring of Farnham sponsors local team - 15 July 2008

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