Woodford Youth Football Club

No news at present.

Woodford Youth under 10’s B first fixture of 2010 ended in disappointing fashion as they went down 2 – 0 away to Rippleway, in a repeat of the scoreline when the two sides met earlier in the season.  Following several postponements due to the adverse weather conditions, Woodford were back playing Sunday morning football and the opening five minutes were evenly contested as both sides took time to find a competitive edge.  However, that was as good as it got for the visitors in the first half as Rippleway dominated the next 15, deservedly scoring two goals in the process.  The opener came in the 8th minute following a quick break from the home side that caught the Foxes short at the back.  A shot from just inside the box beat Gayer-Williams at his near post to give Rippleway an early advantage.  Within a couple of minutes the lead was doubled as another strike proved too hot for Woodford’s No.1 to handle, and the team in Orange faced an uphill task to get anything from the game.  The hosts had a couple of other long range efforts that were comfortably saved by the Foxes keeper, but his opposite number was a virtual spectator for the majority of the opening 20 minutes.  Williams, Captain in the absence of Guymer, who was on the bench due to Woodford’s rotation policy, led by example from the centre of midfield, winning numerous tackles and doing his utmost to drive his team forward.  He was ably supported by Ryan, who was similarly magnificent at the back with a storming display to once again showcase her defensive qualities.  Unfortunately, they were rather let down by their team-mates and at the break Woodford were staring down the barrel of consecutive league defeats.  A couple of tactical changes were made at half-time, giving the side better width down the left hand side. This, coupled with a greater desire to win tackles and play at a higher tempo, Woodford raised their game to the extent that they edged the second period and probably deserved to pull a goal back.  Anything more than that would have been unjust on Rippleway who were overall, good value for the three points.  However, it was pleasing to see the Foxes respond to a first half mauling in such a positive manner.  Indeed, whilst Gayer-Williams was pretty much redundant, the home side’s keeper was much the busier during the second 20.  The best two chances for Woodford to get back into the match fell to Rossiter, back on as a second half sub in an unfamiliar midfield role, and Gbajabiamila.  Firstly, after an exquisite piece of skill, Rossiter found enough space to hit a fierce near post drive which the Rippleway keeper was equal to.  Then, with the clock ticking down, a Spark corner was cleared to Gbajabiamila on the edge of the area, and the rangy striker struck a first time side footed effort which crashed onto the crossbar via a touch from the keeper and bounced to safety.  Not long after, the Referee brought a close to proceedings, and Woodford will be hoping for more of the second half performance and not the first against Tigers C at home next week.  MotM: Williams / Ryan
 
Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter (Guymer), Ryan, Langsworthy, Williams (c), Sollof, Gbajabiamila (Spark)

In a nutshell: Left with too much to do in the second half.      

Match report: JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B were denied a share of the spoils after conceding a last gasp goal away to table topping Senrab B.  In truth, the Foxes could have gone down by a greater margin than 1 - 0 against a side now eight points clear of them, although Woodford have played a game fewer.  The game kicked off in Wanstead with the visitors enjoying plenty of the ball and playing some neat pass and move football that was pleasing on the eye.  Clear cut chances were at a premium though as one would expect between two sides occupying first and second in the division.  Indeed, previous encounters between these rivals have always been tight affairs with a single goal, usually very late in the game, enough to settle the tie, and today was no different.  It wasn’t long before the home side’s pacy midfield trio was causing panic in the Orange ranks, with lightning quick breakaways on the counter attack.  However, with both defences standing firm, an enthralling first 20 minutes that literally flew by was brought to an end, with neither side able to break the deadlock.  The second period begun much like the first but it wasn’t long before the game started to get stretched and as it did, Woodford’s defending became increasingly desperate as the hosts wasted a number of gilt-edged opportunities.  Although the Foxes still looked dangerous going forward, their attacks were becoming more and more sporadic and it was beginning to look as though Senrab were going to rue those missed chances.  With time running out though, the home side finally found a winning goal, when a strike from just inside the box which hit the underside of the crossbar and came crashing down was adjudged to have crossed the line, albeit with no Russian linesman in sight.  There was barely time for the Foxes to re-start the match before the referee brought a close to proceedings with Woodford suffering just their second league defeat of the season so far.  MoM:  Sollof.

Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter, Guymer (c), Ryan (Langsworthy), Williams, Spark (Gbajabiamila), Sollof

In a nutshell:  Great match won by the better side. 

Match report: JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B edged a close encounter 1 -0 at home to EMH B in a match played out in awful weather conditions, to record their fourth league win in succession.   The game kicked off at 10:00am on a cold and wet morning and within two minutes the Foxes had taken the lead in controversial circumstances.  In the build up to the goal, the ball may or may not have struck the arm of a Woodford player, but the referee waived play on which proved to be a contentious decision.  At this point, Spark still had a lot to do, 15 yards from goal, two defenders in front of him plus the goalkeeper to beat.  However, the midfielder cut inside onto his favoured left foot and struck a curler past the despairing EMH keepers dive to grab his fourth of the season and score for the third game running.  Unfortunately, the remaining 38 minutes were played in the most uncomfortable atmosphere one could imagine and all that is wrong with youth football was on display during this difficult day.  Both the Referee’s and Clubs integrity were called into question in the most aggressive manner, which anyone present would vouch has no place anywhere, let alone at an under 10’s football match.  EMH B had almost the entire 40 minutes to score an equaliser but were unable to do so.  Apart from a couple of long range efforts comfortably held by Gayer-Williams, the closest they came to levelling the scores was a close range header which just cleared the bar on the stroke of half-time.  Woodford, clearly affected by touchline events didn’t really look like doubling their lead either, a Gbajabiamila effort from a Sollof cross brilliantly saved by the EMH No.1 at point blank range, the best they could muster.  At the end of proceedings, a win, draw or loss didn’t really seem to matter but for the record, the Foxes held on to take the three points and retain their position at the top of the Trent division table. MoM: The Team.       

A final point – without referee’s we don’t have football matches at ANY level.  As everyone knows, refereeing is a difficult job and they will make correct decisions, and they will also make incorrect decisions, but they will always do so with honesty when making those calls.  People will always have a divided opinion, that’s what makes this great game special. However, today’s referee has taken charge of numerous games this team has been involved in over the past three years, and knowing both the man personally and as an official, I can categorically state he is certainly not a ‘cheat’.

Team: Gayer-Williams, Ryan (Rossiter), Guymer (c), Langsworthy (Williams), Spark, Sollof, Gbajabiamila

In a nutshell:  Events on the pitch overshadowed by those off it. 

Match report: JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B produced their best performance of the season to beat Cobra B 4 - 0 away from home and make it three wins out of three.  The Foxes travelled to Dagenham with the minimum requirement of seven fit players after illness robbed them of Ryan and Sollof’s services.  Therefore, the team picked itself with everyone playing in their favoured positions in the by now familiar 2-3-1 formation.  Following an impeccably observed one minute silence on Remembrance Sunday, the game kicked off with both sides quickly settling into their stride and stroking the ball around confidently.  Neither side could fashion a clear opening though, before Woodford took the lead with the first effort on target midway through the first half.  The ball broke to Williams on the right hand side of the box, who from an acute angle unleashed a ferocious shot which the Cobra keeper bravely managed to stop, taking the full force in his midriff, but was powerless to stop Gbajabiamila lashing home the rebound on the half volley to record his first goal in Orange colours, just reward for his efforts thus far in the campaign.  The second period begun much like the first with both sides playing attractive football, however there was a definite edge to proceedings with no quarter given.  Tackles were flying in, headers won and on a day when most of the plaudits will go to Woodfords attacking prowess, the shift put in by the backline cannot be underestimated.  Rossiter was rock solid, thwarting Cobra attacks with 100% commitment and still managing to go on a couple of his trademark marauding runs down the right flank, in what was easily his best game for a while.  Next to him was the skipper Guymer leading by example, always appearing to come out on top in 50/50 challenges, good in the air with a calm assurance when playing the ball out from the back.  Behind them was Gayer-Williams, although not overly troubled during the 40 minutes, everything that was required from him was done with the efficiency he has displayed all season, as he continues to look the divisions No.1 goalkeeper.  Five minutes in, Woodford forced a corner on the left, and as any Foxes U10B supporter will tell you, this spells danger for the opposition.  All season long Langsworthy’s right footed in-swingers  have been delivered with unerring accuracy and this time Williams was the beneficiary, timing his run to perfection to guide a neat finish into the bottom corner to make it five goals in seven league games from midfield.  With confidence now pumping through their veins, the Foxes made it three a few minutes later.  Langsworthy set Gbajabiamila free with a clever reverse pass which the striker took in his stride, before hitting a low shot towards the bottom left hand upright which the Cobra keeper managed to palm away, only for Spark to gleefully smash in the rebound into an unguarded net for his third in two games.  The left sided midfielder deservedly gaining reward for a tireless display, full of honest endeavour.  It looked as though Woodford would stop at three for the third match running, however with a couple of minutes left, they added a fourth.  Williams, once more driving the team on with a gutsy performance in the middle of the park found Gbajabiamila , who in turn sprayed a pass out to the right wing for Langsworthy to chase.  Not quite content with his days work, the front-man showed true strikers instinct to race into the box and meet Langsworthy’s first time cross with a finish from close range to round off a great days work for the boys in Orange.  As well as Woodford played on the day, Cobra did not deserve to lose by four goals and the lads in Red were a credit to their club for the way they battled until the final whistle and never let their heads drop once.  MotM: The team.

Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter, Guymer (c), Langsworthy, Williams, Spark, Gbajabiamila

In a nutshell: Top notch performance from a side in form.

Match report:  JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B came from a goal behind to grab a 3 – 1 win at home to EMH A, in a match played out in atrocious conditions. The game kicked off at 10:00am with rain lashing down from grey skies, and much like the previous week, the Foxes were not at the races during the opening exchanges.   Camped in their own half and unable to get going, they conceded a fifth minute corner.  A decent delivery into the box was only half cleared, before the ball was lashed home giving Gayer-Williams absolutely no chance.  The goal seemed to rouse Woodford, as acting skipper Rossiter and Ryan began to get to grips with the tricky EMH A front line, Williams started to dominate midfield, with Langsworthy and Spark providing the creativity for Gbajabiamila up front.  They could not muster an equaliser though, and went in at the break a goal down from a pretty even first half.  Woodford introduced Guymer to resume the captaincy and in-form Sollof for the second period, and the changes appeared to work as the Foxes completely turned the game on its head, with three goals in eight minutes at the beginning of the half.  They levelled through Guymer, with almost a carbon copy of his opening goal of the campaign against Senrab B.  Langsworthy, so dangerous with dead ball delivery sent a deep corner to the edge of the EMH A area where Rossiter headed on for the substitute to rifle a left footed shot past the despairing dive of the visiting keeper, for his third of the season, only a couple of minutes after coming on.  Things got even better for the home side five minutes later as Langsworthy played a long range pass into Sollof, whose clever turn and shot hit the left hand upright before Spark, back on the field after being substituted at the break, drilled home the rebound for his first of the season to put Woodford in front.  Within moments of the restart, Spark added his second and the Foxes third with a speculative long range effort.  With the rain still falling heavily, this was not a day for goalkeepers and the unfortunate EMH A No.1 could not stop the ball slipping from his grasp.  The visitors, so impressive throughout continued to press and look for a way back into the game.  However, a combination of Williams, immense in the centre of the park winning every tackle, plus Gayer - Williams’ assured handling, excellent positioning and superb concentration and a never-say-die attitude of the Orange backline meant Woodford held on for their fourth league win of the campaign.  MotM: The team
   
Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter (c), Ryan, Langsworthy, Williams, Spark (Guymer), Gbajabiamila (Sollof)

In a nutshell:  Great battle in awful conditions.

Match report:  JL

Woodford Youth Under 10’s B staged a dramatic comeback to overturn a two goal deficit and win 3-2 away to Tigers C.
Following successive 2 -0 defeats, Woodford once more found themselves behind as Tigers raced into a two goal lead within 10 minutes. The opener was a shot from the edge of the box that looped over Gayer-Williams after the Foxes failed to close down a cross from the right touchline.  Moments later the home side doubled their advantage with a superbly taken free-kick.  Hit with venom from distance, the ball struck the inside of the right hand post and into the back of the net.  With Woodford staring down the barrel of a third consecutive loss, Williams began the fight back with a well executed free-kick of his own.  The Foxes top scorer made it four for the season when his right footed strike, curled into the top left hand corner.  The visitors levelled the scores before the break when Guymer hit a cross-come-shot from the left flank that deceived the unfortunate Tigers goalkeeper.  Where the first half had seen the home side fire out of the blocks to dominate the game, with Woodford wrestling the initiative away, the second period was a much more evenly balanced affair, with both sides looking for the killer third goal that would seal victory.  Fortunately for the team in Orange it went the way of the visitors following good work from Gbajabiamila.  The striker sent a low cross into the Tigers box from the right, where Sollof got the final touch to scramble home from a couple of yards. Credit must go to the guys for battling back from two goals down to eventually win an evenly contested match.  MotM: The team

Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter, Guymer (c), Langsworthy (Ryan), Williams, Spark (Gbajabiamila), Sollof

In a nutshell:  Let’s play from the first minute, not the 10th. 

Match report: JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B suffered elimination from the Echo Cup, beaten 2 - 0 by County Park at the second round stage.  It was a repeat of the score-line from the previous weeks league defeat at home to Rippleway, although that’s where any similarities end.  This was an altogether different performance, as impressive as seven days earlier had been disappointing.  The Foxes travelled to Romford knowing they were guaranteed a tough examination of their ability, against a team lying mid-table, two divisions above them.  The game kicked off at a frenetic pace, typical of a cup tie, with Woodford closing down their opponents in Red and Black all over the pitch, and generally giving as good as they got during the opening exchanges.  However, disaster was to strike as early as the fifth minute when a speculative strike from just outside the box was tipped onto the crossbar by Gayer-Williams, only for the ball to bounce down, hit the keeper on the back of the head and cross the line.  An unfortunate way to concede a goal so early in the match, and after the dismal showing a week earlier, it would have been easy for the visitors to have folded against technically superior opposition, especially without their leading goal scorer and talisman, Williams, on the bench alongside Spark due to the rotation policy. That they were a goal away from taking the game to penalties until a couple of minutes from the end speaks volumes for the way each player in Orange performed, a true gutsy effort, showing the 100% commitment the management team demand.  In what is fast becoming a trademark set-piece, the right footed in-swinging Langsworthy corner met by Guymer, Woodford so nearly equalised but the Captains powerful header was fractionally directed the wrong side of the near post.  The Foxes were playing a more direct style than usual, hitting early balls up to target man Gbajabiamila and trying to get the likes of Sollof, Langsworthy and Ryan to feed off him, and it was the former, playing in an unfamiliar left wing role during the first 20 minutes that went closest with a header from six yards out, unfortunately he was unable to generate enough power which resulted in a comfortable save for the County goalkeeper.  In what was proving to be an absorbing cup-tie, full of end to end action, Woodford had to be on their mettle as a defensive unit to ensure the home side did not take an unassailable two goal lead.  Rossiter and Guymer displayed courageous character to throw their bodies in front of goal-bound shots, and on the occasions their rearguard action was pierced, Gayer-Williams was on hand to calmly gather long range efforts with a combination of safe handling and excellent positioning.  The second half saw Williams take up his normal central midfield berth, with Sollof who was outstanding throughout, working tirelessly for the cause, switching to a more familiar right hand side role to allow Spark the opportunity to roam on the left.  Although the pace of this enthralling encounter was to dip during the latter stages, it was keenly contested throughout, but for Woodford it was a tale of near misses.  Williams went on one mazy run but could not quite execute his pass to free Gbajabiamila.  Spark jinked his way pass two County challenges, however was unable to deliver a cross the run deserved, and when Langsworthy thought he had sent Williams racing clear, his through ball was to clip the unfortunate Sollof’s heel.  As the game moved towards the closing stages, the tie hinged on the all-important second goal, were the away side to grab an equaliser, it would mean the Woodford supporters having to endure a penalty shootout for the second time in a month, a second for the hosts and it would be game over.  Unfortunately, with a few minutes left on the clock, it was the latter and for the second time in the match, an own goal did for the Foxes.  A ball delivered from the left seemed to be well covered by four Orange shirts in the box, however Guymer could not quite leap high enough and his clearing header skidded off the top of his head and past the stranded Gayer-Williams.  Woodford gamely tried to salvage something in the remaining moments but to no avail as the referee blew the full time whistle.  To lose by two fortuitous own goals against an outfit that ply their trade two divisions above us is no disgrace and we need to show this determination and commitment for the rest of the league season, no matter whether we are playing the team at the top of the table or the bottom.  So our cup adventure is over for the 2009/10 season after a nail biting shootout success in the first round and this absolute belter in the second.  What we need to concentrate 100% on now is the rest of our league campaign and fighting for every remaining point available, starting with next weeks trip to Tigers C where we need to get back to winning ways after a recent wobble. COME ON YOU FOXES!   MotM: Sollof                                           
 
Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter, Guymer (c), Langsworthy (Spark), Ryan (Williams), Sollof, Gbajabiamila

In a nutshell: Superb cup-tie action.

Match report:  JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B slipped to an unexpected first defeat in all competitions of the 2009/10 season, going down 0 – 2 at home to Rippleway. The Foxes, unbeaten in their opening four games of the campaign, went into this encounter full of confidence against a side that had yet to register their first point and sat bottom of the division.  Not that Woodford were going to take their red and white striped opponents lightly, with last years two hard fought, physical battles fresh in the mind, both ending 1 - 1.  The U10’s B usual rotation policy meant tough tackling Rossiter and the ever improving Sollof were this weeks substitutes, with the familiar 2-3-1 formation filled by Gayer-Williams in goal, Ryan and Guymer as the defensive duo, a midfield trio of Langsworthy, Williams and Spark, plus Gbajabiamila as the lone striker.  Indeed it was the home side that seemed to settle the quicker of the two teams, creating a couple of early half chances for Williams and Gbajabiamila.  Woodford were also looking dangerous from set-pieces, on two occasions Guymer rose above the Rippleway defence to meet a Langsworthy corner, but could not direct his header on target.  For all their early pressure, it was the Foxes who fell behind midway through the first half, and this time it was the visitors turn to cause problems from a corner of their own.  A right footed inswinger was fizzed into the near post area where an unmarked Rippleway youngster glanced home to put the away side in front.  Moments later, Woodford had goalkeeper Gayer-Williams to thank for keeping the deficit down to a single goal when he threw himself full length to his right to keep out a thunderbolt hit from outside the area.  At half-time the team in Orange were still in the game, but had to start converting their chances into goals if they were to take anything from it.  The second period begun with Sollof taking over the striker’s role from Gbajabiamila, and Rossiter replacing Spark with Captain Guymer, pushing into a wide left midfield position.  The second 20 minutes were not dissimilar to the first, with Woodford looking dangerous on the break but vulnerable at the back, knowing a second for Rippleway would be a knockout blow.  However, the Foxes had to throw men forward and were almost rewarded when first the keeper made a brave stop, followed by some impressive last ditch tackles from the stoppers in front of him.  Woodford also looked a threat from corners once again, but it was the visitors who scored the all important second goal and effectively ended the match as a contest.  A ball from the left hand side found a Rippleway striker in acres of space inside the box to pick his spot, leaving Gayer-Williams with no chance.  The Foxes No 1 still had time to make a fine save tipping a chipped effort over the bar with moments left, before the referee brought this Echo league encounter to a close.  Credit must go to Rippleway, confidence must have been low following a poor start to the season and to come away from home and beat a side that were unbeaten and second in the table took great determination and guts.  Woodford will know they had chances of their own but must learn to convert them if they are to gain the points their performance deserves.  Next week the Foxes travel to County Park in the cup, a team two divisions above them.  They will no doubt do well to show the same sort of character displayed against them by their striped opponents.

Match report:  JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B travelled to Wanstead Flats, home of Prostar B and were held to a 1 - 1 draw, dropping their first points of the 2009/10 campaign.   With the Foxes rotation policy meaning usual captain Guymer sitting out the first half alongside Langsworthy, it meant Rossiter taking over the armband.  Woodford were generally on top during the first period, without ever creating too much going forward.  At the back, Gayer-Williams had to race from his area on two occasions to clear danger, the first time his clearance was scuffed, however he was fortunate enough to gather the ball before the Prostar striker had time to react.  With the only real effort on target throughout the opening 20 minutes, Williams grabbed his third goal of the season following great work from Spark, to put the visitors in front.  The left winger skipped down the flank and delivered an inviting cross which was met by his midfield colleague, bursting into the box to chest into an empty net after the Prostar keeper misread the flight of the ball.  Although Woodford were not at their best in the first half, they were decidedly below par during the second.  Credit must go to Prostar for clawing their way back into the match, but the Foxes were their own worst enemies at times.  Backs were turned on the play, pass and move football became redundant and most worryingly of all, high balls pumped into the visitors danger area were being allowed to bounce.  This was to prove fatal eight minutes in, as another looping clearance dropped twice inside the Orange box, to allow the hosts striker time to lob the advancing Gayer-Williams, and become the first person to breach the Woodford net in 160 minutes of football this season.  Moments later, with the Foxes still reeling from the setback of conceding such a poor goal, Prostar almost grabbed a second, rattling the crossbar following another defensive mix-up.  For the remaining minutes, a midfield battle ensued with neither side able to craft a clear cut opportunity.
Woodford need to ensure they are back on their game for next weeks league encounter, at home to Rippleway, with whom they shared two hard fought draws last season.  MotM: The team.

Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter (c), Ryan (Guymer), Sollof, Williams, Spark, Gbajabiamila (Langsworthy).

In a nutshell:  No game is ever won at half-time.

Match report: JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B impressive start to the 2009/10 season continued with a 4 - 3 penalty shootout win away to Chigwell Boys in the first round of the cup, after both teams failed to produce a goal within the 40 minutes. Without reaching the heights of the previous week’s performance, Woodford still managed to create five decent chances to make the tie safe against their hosts, who ply their trade one division below the Foxes.  Kicking uphill in the first half on a extravagantly slopped pitch, Woodfords best chance arrived midway through following good work from Langsworthy, Sollof and Williams, which ended with the Chigwell keeper making an unbelievable reflex save from the Foxes top scorer.  Chigwell almost broke the deadlock just before the interval, but a goal bound shot from a corner was cleared off the line by Langsworthy defending the far post.  Early in the second half, Gbajabiamila who had entered the fray at the break twice came close to opening his account in Orange colours.  First, he struck a sweet right foot volley just past the right hand upright, and then he got in front of his marker to meet a cross from the right, but saw his clipped effort graze the same post.  With Guymer again leading by example and Ryan, another half time substitute dominating at the back, Woodford were bossing the game and finding kicking downhill to their liking.  Still the match winning goal would not come though, with the Foxes wasting two more gilt-edged opportunities to progress to the next round.  Both Spark and then Williams found space inside the box, with a chance to become the match winning hero, however their efforts flew agonisingly wide.  Chigwell had done well to withstand the Foxes onslaught, but the visitors will know they did not test the keeper on enough occasions.  With neither side able to find the net during normal time, the tie had to be decided in the cruellest of ways, the dreaded penalty shootout.  After excellent spot kicks from Williams, Spark and Rossiter and a fine save from Gayer-Williams, keeping his third consecutive clean sheet of the campaign, the unfortunate fifth penalty taker for Chigwell slid his effort wide, leaving the stage clear for Sollof to become Woodford's hero.  The pacy striker did not disappoint, striking his shot with venom to the keepers left to ensure the Foxes name is in the hat for round two.  In a nutshell:  Hitting the target a recipe for shootout success.   MotM: The team.
          
Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter, Guymer (c), Langsworthy, Williams, Spark (Ryan), Sollof (Gbajabiamila).
    
Match report: JL

Woodford Youth under 10’s B continued their unbeaten start to the 2009/10 campaign with a richly deserved 3 - 0 victory at home to Byron Red Star C. During an evenly contested first half, Woodford twice went close to opening the scoring.  The first opportunity was almost a repeat of last week’s winner against Senrab.  Langsworthy again sending an in swinging corner into the danger area for captain Guymer to meet, but unlike seven days ago, his shot was cleared off the line rather than nestled in the back of the net.  The other chance came about when Gbajabiamila was afforded the freedom of the Byron half, but unfortunately after a long run he over-hit his final touch, allowing the Byron No. 1 to bravely save at the tall strikers feet.  The opening goal of the game came five minutes into the second half after a moment of pure brilliance from Williams.  Receiving the ball down the right channel, he nutmegged one Byron defender before cutting inside another and let fly with a fierce left footed curler that flew between the keepers legs.  A few minutes later Sollof made it 2 - 0.  Once again he was found in space on the right flank, and drove at the Byron back-line at pace before unleashing a venomous strike across the keeper and into the far corner from an acute angle.  With a few minutes remaining, Williams grabbed his second and Woodford’s third following good work from Ryan, in an unfamiliar right wing role.  After bursting towards the bye-line, she whipped a low cross into the box for the Foxes central midfielder to cleverly divert goalwards, after timing his run to perfection.  Spark came on at the beginning of the second period for his first action of the new season, and was immediately in the game with some great defensive work, and looked impressive going forward.  Woodford could have added to their tally, with Langsworthy twice going close with long-range efforts, well kept out by the visiting goalkeeper.  Ryan also had a chance, but after a great run, she was robbed of the ball by a last-ditch tackle just as she was about to pull the trigger.  Byron, who mixed great passion with neat football throughout, certainly had their own chances to get on the score sheet, and that was when two of Woodfords defensive stars excelled.  Firstly, with the score at 1 - 0, Gayer-Williams maintained the Foxes lead with a wonderful save after a cross from the right took a heavy deflection and looked goal-bound all the way until he managed to claw the ball to safety.  Then, with only a couple of minutes remaining Rossiter, who had charged forward at every opportunity, stretched every muscle in his body to clear a Byron shot off the line, and so preserve Woodford under 10’s B second clean sheet of the new campaign.  In a nutshell: 2nd half performance of the highest order.  MotM: The team.      
         
Team: Gayer-Williams, Rossiter, Ryan (Spark), Langsworthy, Williams, Guymer (c), Gbajabiamila (Sollof).
 
Match report: JL

Woodford Youth Under 10’s B began their 2009/10 campaign with a hard fought 1 - 0 victory at home to Senrab B. The only goal of the game came midway through the second half when skipper Guymer connected with  a Langsworthy corner and swept a left foot finish into the bottom corner of the net. The Foxes deserve praise for the way they bravely battled throughout the 40 minutes to ensure all three points were gained in the season opener.  This was done without the aid of substitutions, as the team was down to the minimum of seven squad members on the day, but every player in Orange gave their all until the final whistle, overcoming obvious tiredness.  A special mention must go to Williams and Guymer for driving the team forward, plus Rossiter and Ryan, as the four of them did not take a backward step throughout. All over the pitch though, there were performances to be proud of, Gayer-Williams continued his form of last season, with some good saves and safe handling, none more so than in the dying moments to ensure the visitors did not snatch a point.  The defensive duo of Rossiter and Ryan were immense, thwarting whatever Senrab had to throw at them, standing up big and strong the whole match.  The midfield trio of Langsworthy, Williams and Guymer worked tirelessly throughout, providing lone striker, Gbajabiamila with support in attack, and tracking back to ensure their defensive duties were not neglected. Finally, up front debutant Gbajabiamila gave the team a real focal point, a big presence that didn’t give Senrab’s backline a moment’s peace, and provided some respite for his colleagues with some good hold up play.  In a nutshell: The boys (& girl) did us proud with a battling display.  MotM:  The Team.

Team: Gayer Williams, Rossiter, Ryan, Langsworthy, Williams, Guymer (c), Gbajabiamila.

Match report: JL