Shire Oak Saints U13s

As the kids school holidays come towards an end and pre-season training gets up and running we can take a look ahead at the coming season.

As last year’s league champions the Saints have to start as favourites to do it again this year, but with teams leaving the Lichfield league and others taking their place in Division one there a few unknowns for Saints to face.

In addition to the new teams to the division, some of last years teams have also regrouped, strengthened their squads and will be doing their best to beat Saints to the top spot by the end of the season.

Dynamo and Sporting Red Star are two teams expected to give Saints a tough challenge this year. Red star teams always give us a hard game and this year they have grown in numbers to produce TWO teams in the top division, and Wyrley Juniors are never an easy team to play. Last season Wyrley gave Saints their toughest game by far, leaving me unable to understand their low league position at the end of the season. If they play with the same style and determination I expect them to be challenging for a top place this year.

Sutton United Wasps, Beacon Colts and Lichfield City are all teams who play with style and never give in and with any squad additions they might have made could give us more tough games this year.

As for the new teams to the division, 4 Oaks Predators, Holy Name Celts and FC Premier will all be looking to cement their place in the division and will have no fear of the other teams’ previous reputations. I expect tough battles with all of these.

Shire Oak will face the first of these new teams on the opening day of the season, meeting Holy Name Celts away on 12th September.

As for the Saints, well we will begin the season with a slightly reduced squad having lost Kyle Hinks at the end of last season and having decided not to sign any new players to the squad at this stage. Kyle decided that he needed more football than he was getting at Shire Oak with other midfielders ahead of him in the starting line up and has moved on. Good luck Kyle, we all wish you well for this year and thanks for your contribution to Shire Oak’s success over the last few seasons.

On the plus side for Shire Oak, the lads are looking as fit as ever, the rest of the squad have remained at Shire Oak despite interest in players from local professional club’s academies, and they are all raring to go and defend their champions status.

Come on the Saints!

Well, 18 league wins from 18 league games speaks for itself really. Shire Oak took the Lichfield & District Recreational League by storm in this their very first season since moving from the Walsall Junior Youth League (which they won for the last 2 seasons).

In addition to winning every single league game, Shire Oak also had the best goal difference. They conceded the lowest number of goals (18) and scored the most (76) in the top division this season, way ahead of any other team. The total number of goals scored by Shire Oak in all competitions is 182 in 39 games, an average of 4.6 goals per game!

In addition to their 100% sweep in the league, Shire Oak Saints also won the Lichfield & District League cup, beating Four Oaks Lions 8 – 1, an unprecedented scoreline in the competition and a very accurate reflection of the whole game. Shire Oak totally outplayed their opposition in every department and could have won by even more.

Saints also made it through to 2 other cup finals this season.

After an excellent run in the Bilston Floodlit cup Saints were eventually beaten 2 – 0 by Phoenix Youth East in a very close game. Unfortunately Saints had several players missing through sickness or playing with injuries in this game. With a full strength team this would most probably have been another win for Shire Oak, but with such a long season and so many games played by the boys (plus school and district games) , it is difficult to have everyone fit every week. So Saints settled for runners up in the Bilston Floodlit cup.

In the Lichfield League Shield Saints once again faced Four Oaks Lions, who they had beaten 8 – 1 in the league cup the previous week. The gameplan was set and could well have given the boys another cup win but injuries took their toll again. Saints started with a full team but finished the game with only half the team able to walk, a combination of late challenges and a young referee who looked no older than the players and appeared to have no control over the game.  Saints settled for runners up again but eventually had the satisfaction of securing the League championship by beating Four Oaks Lions again 2 weeks later in the League.

The Staffs cup saw Saints go as far as the semi-finals after beating last years winners in a close game at home. They were drawn once again to face Four Oaks Lions and eventually lost 3 – 2 in a disputed game where many goalscoring opportunities for Saints had been halted by a linesman flagging offside, despite virtually all of them being clearly onside. All the linesman could say at  the end of the game was that ‘If they weren’t offside then Im sorry’ ! Maybe if he had only flagged when they were offside then it would have been Shire Oak heading into the Staffs cup final?

Over all, for the whole season, the players of Shire Oak can look back at an excellent achievement that could have been even better without outside influences taking their toll.

Well done to all of the lads for another great season!

16th May 2010

Lichfield City Vikings u12s v Shire Oak Saints u12s

Shire Oak Saints made it a clean sweep of 18 wins from 18 league games today with a very convincing win over Lichfield City Vikings. Saints were missing goalkeeper Jake Owen, and strikers James Bland and Josh Dean so asked again for volunteers to play half a game each in goal and Owen Hinks took the first half.

The early pressure was all from Shire Oak, with some attractive passing football played accross the field. Just 5 minutes into the game a Frazer Ward corner was knocked on by Toby Ballard and then tapped over the line by Luke Brown.

Just 2 minutes later and another great passing move up the pitch ended up with Scott Gill on the right wing blasting in his shot from the edge of the box for number 2.

Shire Oak attacks continued, with Harry Jenks, Frazer Ward and Rhys Webb all going close. Saints could easily have been 5 or 6 up at halftime but 3 minutes from the end of the half Lichfield won a free kick just on the edge of the box and fired in the shot well, just over the fingertips of Owen Hinks in goal.

Halftime 1 -2.

The second half saw Luke Brown take over from Owen Hinks in goal for Shire Oak, and early pressure come from Lichfield playing some good passing football. Shire Oak soon took the upper hand again though when Rhys Webb collected the ball inside the Lichfield box to fire in number 3  for Saints.

Just 2 minutes later Shire Oak were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Lichfield box and Owen Hinks stepped up to take it, placing the ball into the top left corner of the net for number 4.

3 minutes after that another Saints attack saw Ries Noirez, pushing forward from defence, score number 5 for Shire Oak from 6 yards.

Shire Oaks next attack saw the ball passed all the way up the pitch and Ries Noirez was there again to score his second of the game and Shire Oaks’ sixth.

Right from the restart Saints attacked again and Toby Ballard was there this time to score number 7 from 6 yards.

Final score 1 – 7 to Shire Oak Saints.

Saints man of the match: Whole Team. Another excellent team performance from every player.

11th May 2010

Lichfield League Division 1

Boldmere Falcons S&S u12s  v  Shire Oak Saints u12s

Shire Oak went into this game missing central defender Ries Noirez through sickness and goalkeeper Jake Owen with a broken finger so asked for volunteers to take over the goalkeeping position for today.

All the early pressure came from Saints and just 5 minutes in James Bland collected the ball after a goalmouth scramble and scooped it over the advancing keeper to open the scoring.

Just 2 minutes later Scott Gill ran down the right wing and crossed the ball in for James Bland to head in for his second from 6 yards.

Boldmere pushed forward to try and pull a goal back and from a free kick had a good shot that was saved well by Rhys Webb in the Saints goal.

Fourteen minutes into the half Saints put together another good passing move up the length of the pitch and Frazer Ward fired in his shot from just outside the Boldmere penalty area for Saints’ 3rd.

Minutes later Saints won a free kick just inside the Boldmere half and Joe Wilson stepped forward to take it, hammering his shot over the keeper for number 4.

Boldmere then pulled a goal back from a free kick, also at long range, that was saved well initially by Rhys Webb but was followed up well and tapped over the line.

The next goal also came from Boldmere when a long ball forward from defence was collected on the right wing, and another long range shot went into the net over the fingertips of Rhys Webb. Halftime score 4 – 2.

For the second half James Bland replaced Rhys Webb in the Saints’ goal, and just 5 minutes into the half Rhys Webb ran down the right wing and fired his shot into the left side of the net from 30 yards for Saints 5th goal.

2 minutes later Boldmere broke through on the right wing and had a good shot that was only stopped by a great save by James Bland.

12 minutes in and Saints won a corner, taken by Frazer Ward and tapped in from 2 yards by Kieren Nelson for number 6.

Then, on the 15 minute mark, Rhys Webb followed the ball back to the Boldmere keeper with a defender guarding it. He saw a hesitation between keeper and defender and stole the ball to fire in his shot from 2 yards for number 7.

Opportunities then followed at each end, with plenty of good football being played by both teams but the final score remained 7 – 2 to Shire Oak.

Saints man of the match: Joe Wilson

9th May 2010

Lichfield League Division 1

Shire Oak Saints u12s v Four Oaks Lions u12s

Shire Oak started this game with a makeshift defence with both central defenders missing through sickness and injury and with other players still carrying injuries from previous games, but set out their stall from the very first minute in this championship deciding game. A stong and experienced referee was in charge of this game, allowing the football to do the talking and Shire Oak came out on top again in every department.

Within the first 5 minutes Saints had gone close to scoring several times with 7 shots being fired in by James Bland, Frazer Ward, Rhys Webb and Harry Jenks between them.

The pressure was all from Shire Oak as they relentlessly looked for the first goal. The shot count was at 20 by the 15 minute mark but all went agonisingly close without scoring. Four Oaks were left with looking for the counter attack by pumping long balls over the top but the Saints defence of Kyle Edwards, Kieren Nelson, Toby Ballard and Luke Brown held on well. Jake Owen in the Shire Oak goal also dealt well with the few shots that managed to get through to him.

Seventeen minutes into the game James Bland opened the scoring, blasting his shot wide of the keeper for Shire Oak’s first goal.

Right from the restart Saints won the ball and pushed forward again but the shot was well saved by the Four Oaks keeper.

The remainder of the half saw more of the same, constant Shire Oak pressure and numerous shots going close and very few replies from Four Oaks who only managed another couple of shots after pumping long balls over the top, all collected comfortably by Jake Owen in goal.

At half time Saints Keeper Jake Owen appeared to have either a broken or dislocated finger following a collision with one of his own defenders, but just changed his gloves to a bigger pair and carried on for the second half.

The second half saw Saints start in the same attacking manner, winning the ball immediately and getting in the first shot within seconds, but just going wide.

Again numerous shots came in from Shire Oak, with James Bland, Rhys Webb, Frazer Ward, Harry Jenks and  Owen Hinks all going close or being saved by the Four Oaks keeper.

Replies by Four Oaks were still limited to pumping the long ball over the top to be chased, but again the Saints defence dealt with most of these and Jake Owen caught the few shots quite comfortably.

In the last 15 minutes Four Oaks began to play better football, keeping posession and making serious attempts on the Shire Oak goal but to no avail. The Saints defence still proving more than a match for anything that came at them.

With 10 minutes remaining Owen Hinks, who was about to be substituted, ran through the pain and fired his shot from 30 yards that beat the keeper for Saints’ second goal. That was his last kick of the game as he was then replaced due to his injury.

Right from the restart Saints won the ball back again and went on the attack. This time the ball fell to Frazer Ward who took his shot from just outside the box and saw it creep under the keeper for number 3.

The last few minutes of the game saw Shire Oak relentlessly pushing on for more goals, Harry Jenks going close again, but the score remained 3 – 0.

Another very convincing and well deserved victory for Shire Oak that secures the Lichfield League title at the very first attempt with 2 games still to play.

Saints man of the match: The whole team – everyone played well in every position today and the manager could not decide on one individual among them.

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5th May 2010

Sutton United Wasps u12s v Shire Oak Saints u12s

Shire Oak went to within 1 point of winning the Lichfield League, with 3 games still to play, by beating Sutton United Wasps quite convincingly tonight.

Frazer Ward opened the scoring for Saints, lobbing the keeper with his shot. James Bland scored number 2 shortly afterwards when a goalmouth scramble ended in the ball falling to him 12 yards out to fire in his shot.

Number 3 came just before half time when Frazer Ward popped up again to score his second from the edge of the box.

The second half saw Sutton attempt to fight back, but Saints kept on the offensive looking for more goals at every opportunity, with shots from Josh Dean, Frazer Ward and Rhys Webb all going close.

Sutton then pulled a goal back after forcing a corner and heading in from close range. This seemed to fire Sutton up a bit and the next 5 minutes saw them push on for another goal but the Saints defence held on well.

For the remainder of the game all the pressure came from Shire Oak again as Rhys Webb, James Bland, Owen Hinks, Kyle Edwards and Scott Gill all fired in shots that went agonisingly close.

With 10 minutes remaining Scott Gill extended the scoreline after collecting the ball outside the box on the left wing, picking his spot, and then curling the ball into the top right hand side of the net leaving the keeper with no chance.

Right from the resulting restart Saints won the ball and attacked again with the initial shot going close before the rebound fell to Kyle Edwards who sidefooted hos shot wide of the keeper from outside the box to make it 5 – 1 to Saints.

Saints man of the match: Frazer Ward

3rd May 2010

This very competetive and exciting season has taken another twist and turn as it heads towards it’s conclusion.

Firstly Four Oaks win the Staffs Cup, beating Phoenix Youth East 3 – 0. This makes everyone at Shire Oak wish we had been able to field a full squad against Phoenix Youth  in the Bilston Cup final instead of having so many players off sick or playing with injuries. Another piece of silverware could and probably would have been Saints’ this season.  A rematch against Phoenix Youth East was almost on the cards for Saints in the Staffs Cup, especially after Saints beat last years winners in the quarter final,  but some creative work by a linesman  in the semi-final prevented several clear Shire Oak goalscoring opportunities and put Four Oaks through to the final instead. However we must congratulate Four Oaks in winning the Staffs Cup. Getting there is only half the job, you still have to go out there and win and they did that so well done to them.

In another twist to the season, both Four Oaks and Shire Oak beat last week’s league leaders Boldmere falcons, ending their challenge for the title and leaving it as a two horse race between Shire Oak and Four Oaks. Four Oaks were then held to a goalless draw by Sutton United Wasps who are Shire Oak’s next opponent. This means that Shire Oak, having won all 14 league games so far this season, now need only four points, one win and one draw,  from their remaining four matches to win the League – and still have to meet Four Oaks one more time at home.

An exciting last few games approach!

29th April 2010

Boldmere Falcons u12s v Shire Oak Saints u12s

Shire Oak came into this game missing captain Kieren Nelson, and with other players still carrying injuries from last Sunday only playing half a game, but battled against the elements tonight to produce a very good game of football.

It was Saints who had the best of the posession early on with opportunities by James Bland, Toby Ballard and Kyle Edwards going close.

15 minutes in and a goalmouth scramble ensued, with James Bland the quickest to react and pouncing on the ball to open the scoring from close range.

Boldmere fought back with attacks of their own but the Saints defence held on and it remained 0 – 1 at half time.

3 minutes into the second half Kyle Edwards crossed in the ball for James Bland to head in from 6 yards making it 0 – 2 to Saints.

Boldmere came close to equalizing minutes later from a corner but Josh Dean cleared the ball off the line. Boldmere did then pull a goal back from another corner that deflected into the net off a Shire Oak player.

Both teams battled on, with Boldmere searching for the equalizer but with 10 minutes remaining Luke Brown played the ball forward from the halfway line and found James Bland inside the Boldmere penalty area to fire home for his hattrick and number 3 for saints.

A very entertaining match with some very good football played by both teams, and another win that keeps Shire Oak firmly in with a challenge for the Division 1 title with 4 games remaining.

Saints man of the match: James Bland