Sat 4 Sept – Squad Training after drop in training.

We got off to a great start but for the first 10 minutes almost every shot appeared to hit their goalkeeper. The boys played some delightful pass and move football and repeatedly opened up the opponent’s defence. But once we found the net we scored in quick succession through the rest of the match. Andrew, Josh, Dylan and Arun all scored but we could have had many more if the ball had not kept sticking in the mud in front of their goal.

In the second half Josh went in goal and Andrew and TJ took turns in defence. Leo played in central midfield.

At the final whistle the whole team was given the MOTM award for what was a nigh on perfect performance – the boys kept possession brilliantly, kept the opposition pinned back in their own penalty area and stood up really well to some very rough play. Leo got an elbow in the face for his trouble and other players got into harms way. But everyone stayed on the pitch for the whole match.

Altogether a skilful, economical and lion-hearted performance. 1-2-3 CLISSOLD!

The second half was a much more open end to end affair with both teams going for goal and neglecting defence. Vallance broke through one on one three times but could only make it count once. While Clissold created several close range opportunities which were ably blocked by the Vallance defence. The Vallance goalkeeper also did an excellent job as an extra sweeper.

MOTM was Jay for an outstanding performance. He scored the first goal against a tough defence and ran tirelessly both in attack and in defence including one last gasp covering tackle in front of his own goal. Leo also excelled in goal in the first half in the absence of Jamie with three diving saves and excellent sweeping and distribution.  Josh and Flint took turns in goal in the second half.

ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE TEAM CAPTAINCY

One of the greatest sources of satisfaction for the coaches has been watching the players calmly giving each other instructions at dead ball situations and showing the level of competence and mutual respect they now have as footballers.

The coaching staff now feel the time is right to appoint the team captaincy. These captaincy roles are crucial in the next stage of development of the team ahead of the summer cup competitions. In keeping with conventional thinking we believe it is best if the captain is a player in a more defensive role who is in a position to help ensure the team keeps its shape. A captain also needs to keep their concentration and commitment throughout a match, make an individual impact on the match week after week, show maturity under pressure and show by example how to keep their position and help other players keep the shape of the team. All these qualities earn a captain the respect of their peers which is a prerequisite for a captain.

Following a series of outstanding performances in both the central midfield role and in defence, TJ has been awarded the captaincy by the coaching team. So congratulations go to TJ.

We also need two deputies. One deputy will be Leo who consistently helps to anchor the whole team. We will be looking to Leo to use the deputy captaincy role as an opportunity to assert himself more in games as an organiser, working with TJ to ensure the team keeps its shape at all times.

We anticipate that these captaincy roles will help the team become more able to manage itself during matches in response to whatever the opposing team does. Especially when we face the toughest teams. The coaches would like to take a step back during matches and give our boys more room to grow.

We trust everyone will give TJ and Leo their fullest support and see them for what they are – an extra source of support and encouragement for every player on the pitch.

Over the coming games we will be looking out for who the second deputy should be.

Onwards and upwards… 1, 2, 3… Clissold…

Clissold Rangers started with two wingers and took a two goal lead in the first half after repeated pressure on the Rovers defence. But Rovers came back with two stunning shots from distance, firstly against Dylan who guested in goal in the first half, and then against Leo who guested in goal in the second half.

But Clissold remained encamped in the Rovers half of the pitch through out the match, defending high up just inside their own half and went on to score four goals and create as many other chances.

Altogether 5 Clissold players scored today with most goals stemming from fast “short pass and move” to set up sweeping passes into space, down both wings and through the middle. MOTM was Dylan who played splendidly as the centre forward in the second half. But honourable mention should also go to Flint with two goals plus a super strike against bar and post from some distance and with his left foot. Jay and Amrit also did really well on the wings while TJ and Andrew took turns to dominate the centre of midfield. Eddie again played strongly in two different positions. Firstly on the right side of midfield and then on the right side of defence. In the first half Leo played well in defence, usually as last man but setting up several attacks down the left hand side and then in goal in the second half, Leo came off his line four times to smother counter attacks by the eager Rovers.

Altogether, this was a game to remember for the boys and their parents.

To coin a phrase, “we are 1-0 down until we are 6-2 up”.

Clissold made two successive changes to the front line and the repeated pressure paid off. First the Interwood defence was stretched to breaking point before Josh scored from a cross with a bullet chest shot. Yes, Josh showed great skill and imagination to flick the cross in with his chest when it was too low to reach with his head. Then Jay received the ball wide on the right and then struck a superb chip with pace over the keeper and under the bar from over 10 yards.

Andrew made repeated forays upfront from defence (although he really needs to take turns with the other defender!) and Eddie played very well in both midfield and defence. Dylan and Jay took turns on the right of midfield and Amrit and Dylan took turns on the left as well. Flint showed some great link up play in attack to keep up a tremendous amount of pressure on the Interwood defence. Flint and Josh took turns in attack.

Leo played mainly in defence as last man and as usual showed great timing and judgment in positioning, the tackle and bringing the ball safely out of defence.

In a tight game, Jamie in goal was a safe pair of hands when Interwood occasionally broke through and his distribution was excellent.

Last but not least, TJ picked up MOTM Award by covering every inch of the pitch from central midfield including a fantastic last ditch tackle when Interwood broke through just once for a 1 on 1 on the keeper.

Altogether a great effort from the whole 10 man squad and further evidence that the boys have moved on to a higher level. Bring on the season.

Clissold got off to a flying start attacking with the midfielders and defenders taking turns to get down the wings. Repeated pressure paid off when Amrit pulled the ball back across the opponent’s penalty area and Jay scored with a first time shot from the edge of the area with his left foot as he ran in from the right on the defender’ blind side.

The defence kept it tight at the back with Jamie coming off his line to sweep up some hopeful long balls. When he was able to pick up the ball he bowled it along the ground expertly to the defenders who went back wide to receive a short pass.

Clissold’s second goal came from a corner when Leo arrived with a late run from the edge of the area and got in a tremendous header which the goalkeeper saved but could not hold. Flint was alert to the opportunity as soon as Leo got his head on the ball and had run in close and smacked the ball home before the goalkeeper could recover.

Clissold kept up the pressure until half time, playing as if they were 1-0 down.

In the second half, Andrew swapped with TJ with TJ replacing Andrew in defence. TJ promptly used the extra space in front of him to launch attacks down the wing. First he took the ball down the wing and played a 1-2 with Amrit to get round the back of their defence. His shot brought a fine save. Then TJ set up Amrit with a 1-2 and Amrit pulled the ball back across the penalty area and this time Josh scored with a diving header after coming on for Flint. That made it 3-0 but Clissold did not ease up.

Not to be outdone, Jay playing down the right, set up a sweeping attack which ended with a first time diagonal lay off by Eddie in the path of Arun (who had come on for Amrit) to dispatch it with a first time shot inside the lefthand far post.

Andrew finished off proceedings when he picked up a loose ball after an overhead kick by Dylan was cleared from a corner. From the edge of their penalty area he drilled the ball home after just one touch and before anyone could get in a tackle.

As the final whistle blew the opposing manager came up to our coach and asked him why he kept calling out Tess during the game when no such player had been on the id cards…

1-2-3 Clissold!

For a great example of simple but devastating “pass and move” attacking football watch David Connolly’s first goal last Saturday for Saints at bbc.co.uk, Football, League One, Saints v Walsall match video. It’s all done with a single reverse pass and then a run off the ball which stretches the Walsall defence like an elastic band. Less is more!

The boys were charged with getting the defenders into attacks down the flanks so we could get more players closer to goal and they had some success today. The boys dominated the game from start to finish and in the last quarter would have scored several more goals if the finishing had been better. After a remarkably pleasant start weatherwise, atrocious weather in the last quarter certainly did not help. At one point Eddie was almost blown off his feet by a gusting gale whilst taking a throw in.

Clissold went into a 1-0 lead after Eddie playing in central midfield did well to pop up like the proverbial ‘fox in the box’ and score from close range. Josh struck the far post with an excellent shot from the edge of the area and other chances were missed before half time. Josh showed plenty of excellent touches and turns as centre-forward and Dylan and Jay were rampant on the wings.

The boys asserted themselves early in the second half with a goal from Andrew who was playing in central midfield and was alert when the ball was cleared to him on the edge of the area. There may have been a deflection off Dylan who was playing upfront which may have deceived Canterbury’s excellent goalkeeper.

Then soon after a sweeping move down the right was finished off beautifully by Arun with a trade mark half volley from the edge of the area.

All the boys played well but particular mention goes to Eddie, Andrew and TJ who both played well, first in midfield and then in defence. TJ was particularly successful with storming runs out of defence but could not find the net. So Eddie’s goal helped him to pip TJ for the MOTM Award.

Jamie also did well in goal. Besides a safe pair of hands in tricky conditions Jamie did some good sweeping up outside his penalty area and also some excellent confident drop kicks and throw outs. All that hard work in goalkeeping training with David is paying off. Well done to everyone in the goalkeeping squad.

The boys did well today and the challenge will be to continue bringing defenders into attack against the strongest teams without leaving ourselves exposed in defence.

Infact, this was a big game in every sense because at the kick off both teams were vying for supremacy in the top 4 of the division. Clissold Rangers were only 3 points behind the league leaders Aldersbrook Red and Elite were above Clissold Rangers by just a point.

Clissold took the initiative immediately. The ‘pass and move’ practiced in training was particularly good both at the start and at the end of our attacks. Aside from the first part of the second half when the opposition threw everything at us in search of an equaliser, Clissold Rangers controlled the game and gave very little away in defence.

The repeated pressure took its toll on a brave opposition. Our first goal came late in the first half with a cross shot of a corner by Jay which was deflected for an own goal. Our second goal came when Flint chased a defender down the right to his own touch line and forced him into a panicky clearance across his own penalty area. Amrit playing in left midfield held his position beautifully and was perfectly placed to run onto the clearance and side foot into the left hand corner of the net from several yards without breaking step.

Everybody played their part in the victory including Arun our sole sub who played both in attack twice and on the right hand side of midfield. TJ was excellent in central midfield including two saving tackles in front of goal. Amrit was excellent and is really benefiting from the pass and move game. Leo excelled with several clearing headers and tackles while Andrew was an excellent sweeper alongside him. After relatively slow starts Flint and Jay both finished strongly which promises much for the forthcoming games. But MOTM Award went to Josh for a great performance in goal including a brilliant save when the opposition broke clean through just before we scored our second goal.

Although on the way home Josh expressed his opinion that Jamie is still the best goalkeeper in their League!

So, plenty to look forward to next Sunday with a top of the table clash with league leaders Aldersbrook Red.
Kick off 1oam, Players meet 9.30am prompt. Be there or be square. If you need a lift please arrange it on the Saturday.

1, 2, 3, … CLISSOLD!!!

Great forward play from Josh and then Flint. The interplay on the edge of White Star’s penalty area had everything we have been doing in training.

Excellent work on the wings by Amrit and Jay.

TJ was a tower and a torpedoe in central midfield. Josh did very well coming back on for TJ.
Leo played some excellent sweeping passes onto the forwards to run onto when he came on in left midfield.

Eddie and Andrew were excellent at the back and almost scored twice coming forward.

Dylan was excellent playing on the right and switching with Eddie and Josh.

Amrit edged the MOTM Award with that wonderful scissor kick goal.
But the team was the star.

Bring on the London Cup!

1-2-3 Clissold!