Woodford Youth Football Club

After a troubled week for the Foxes the last thing they needed was to come up against highflying UPR who had beaten top of the table Dagenham the week before.  A good result in the league last week against Aztec however was followed by an even better one this week for the boys in orange.  The game started with Woodford on the back foot though, looking nervous in defence and with UPR pushing hard they were finding it difficult to force
their way out of their own half.  The boys in black and white were coming at them time and time again.  The Mighty Orange stood firm, each and every player fighting their ground.  Bex in goal began to grow in stature, looking assured and handling and distributing the ball with confidence.  This seemed to feed through to the rest of the team and on really their first attack 10 minutes into the game they scored what was to be a match-turning goal!Bentley received the ball from Thomas in midfield and raced forward, Breton-Jones to his right keeping pace with him and screaming for the ball, Bentley hit a perfect defence splitting diagonal pass into the skipper's path.  The number 9 still had a lot to do with a UPR defender shoulder to shoulder grappling with him, he had to use all his strength to muscle past him and fire a crisp drive across the keeper, what a goal!  The whole team were lifted and UPR visibly sagged, against the run of play Woodford were
ahead.  Now the Foxes started to move the ball around with an air of confidence,
Thomas was having a great game in central midfield, winning the ball time and time again, Allen and Breton-Jones were pulling the strings ahead of him. From another Bentley pass Breton-Jones had another attempt this time on the left hitting a high lob over the keeper, which hit the top of the bar.  Boateng and Manley at right and left midfield were having to play deep, doing a good job covering the under pressure fullbacks Hepworth and Stockings, centre backs Edmonds and Chinegwondoh were being kept busy aswell.  Just as UPR were beginning to get some confidence back MoM Bex pulled off an absolutely astounding save.  UPR had for once broken through the
centre of defence and looked sure to score but Bexy came running out and
threw himself down to save the shot, superb.  Smith came on for Stockings at left back, almost straight after that Woodford got their second goal.  Top scorer Bentley seized upon confusion between two UPR defenders trying to clear, picked up the loose ball and smashed in his sixth of the season, get in there!  Second half saw Woodford carry on where they left off, Avery and new signing Stewart coming on and both doing well.  It was not long before Breton-Jones and Bentley combined again, this time the skipper providing the pass to the number 14 on the left who fired the ball in from an acute angle.  Of course whilst the Foxes always seem to score, they seem to always concede aswell. Once again from a corner, another soft goal!  When will they learn to defend
from set pieces?  When they can keep a clean sheet they really will be a team to be feared!  Woodford had two more clear cut chances but managed to fluff them both.  Allen was involved in both, putting one over the bar and getting in a tangle with Bentley in the second opportunity.  UPR had chances as well, their best one bringing yet another fantastic save towards the end from Bex.  Just when they thought they had surely scored, a great shot heading for the top right corner was palmed away easily by the keeper.  A greatly improved all round team performance.  Full-time Woodford 3 UPR 1.

Match report: JJ

After a poor start to their league campaign Woodford finally clicked and found the form that had been missing in their first two games.  It took a return to the winning  4-1-4-1 formation of last season for this to happen with MoM Bentley playing as solitary striker up front. It seemed to work as he bagged four goals, taking his tally to five in four for the season so far.  It was not just an outstanding performance from Bentley though; this was a real team effort, outstanding performances from Allen, Edmonds and Breton-Jones in midfield meant that Aztec hardly had a chance. The back four of Stockings, Hepworth, Bex, and Chinegwundoh were also fantastic.  The first goal was an individual effort with Bentley receiving the ball from a throw-in on the right, he went down the wing and from the most acute of angles he lofted the ball over the keeper into the very top left corner, simply fantastic.  Bentley’s second and third goals came from beautifully weighted balls from Breton-Jones, one over the top, the other low, splitting the defence, simply too easy for the striker to miss.  It was only due to a lapse of concentration on the left before halftime that Aztec were allowed back in.  From a throw in again Woodford were caught napping, everyone sucked to the ball but nobody challenging.  The ball eventually over the top found the Aztec striker who rifled home. Half time 3-1 the Foxes.  The second half saw new signings Smith and Boateng come on as able replacements in midfield for rested Manley and Thomas.  A great move early on saw Bentley taking on the keeper when it would have been easier to square across goal to the waiting number 9, this time the GK saved.  It was not long however before Bentley got his fourth.  This time it was from a move instigated by Allen combining with Breton-Jones and put away by the number 14. Aztec were reeling, they did not know what had hit them.  Avery, another new signing, now came on at left back for the injured Stockings and looked solid.  The Orange were not finished though and perhaps the best goal of the lot though came out of the blue, from right back Hepworth who had a great match.  After a mazy little run, the number 66 cracked an absolutely stunning shot from all of 20 yards out which sailed past the hapless Aztec keeper who could only pick the ball out of the back of his net.  Aztec to their credit never stopped playing and straight from centre their number 7 took it on past two Woodford players and hit an unstoppable shot top right past Macauley in goal.  Final score Woodford 5, Aztec 2.  This could be the start of something good!
 
Match report: JJ

After last weeks cup victory hopes were riding high and Woodford were looking forward to their first home game at Elmbridge, the new home ground. The game started well enough and the Foxes soon had the upper hand over Dagenham.  After several attacks they made the breakthrough with Allen receiving the ball in midfield he pushed forward then let fly a ferocious shot which the keeper could only watch sail over him.  Instead of pushing on to get a second though Woodford sat back and absorbed the pressure from Dagenham.  Changes were made but to little effect, just before half-time old boy Sands, who had been anonymous up till then, did the unthinkable and scored against his old team.  The second half saw the Foxes come out with their tails between their legs and allow Dagenham to take control of the game. Sands got a second before going off and Dagenham then scored another from an uncontested throw on. Woodford had chances but in truth were dominated in defence and midfield. It did not help that the referee was letting some appalling late tackles go, one two-footed studs up on skipper Breton-Jones forcing him to retire from the match, followed by another one from the same player on Smith. The game was definitely up when a penalty was awarded when new boy Avery inadvertently handled on the line while bravely stopping a goal bound strike. Final score 1-4 probably and one to forget!
 
Match report: JJ

After last week’s disastrous start in the league Woodford were looking for a good result in the first round of the Essex County Cup.  The venue was Wanstead Flats and the opposition were scarily large, their captain and number 8 was twice the size of the Foxes skipper.  After an understandably hesitant start against Amazonian opponents, Woodford started to take control and it was not long before they got their first goal.  After a cracking effort from new boy Smith at left back, the keeper parried into the path of Manley who hit the loose ball sweetly top right!  Woodford then made the classic error of switching off after scoring, against the run of play they let Cowley back in after a defensive header was sent across goal into the path of an onrushing Cowley player. 1-1.  This however just seemed to fire up the Foxes and from the restart they scored their second, this time after a swift exchange of passes involving Thomas and Boateng, from just outside the box skipper Breton-Jones let loose a 20 yard screamer.   Now Woodford were on fire MoM Edmonds was simply awesome at centre back and led the remaining defenders, Bex, Hepworth and Smith in repelling any further attacks in the first half.  The second half saw the Foxes carry on where they had left off.  Their third goal came from a lovely intricate passing move. Allen played the ball got the return and then played the ball again to Bentley who crossed neatly across the box to the waiting Breton-Jones who slotted home. The fourth goal was a cracking volley from Manley after a sumptuous cross from Allen.  The fifth came from a typical Breton-Jones slide rule pass, which Allen put to the right of the keeper to deservedly claim his place on the list of scorers.  The only real chance in this half for Cowley was a cracking shot which spectacularly tipped over the bar full stretch by Macauley in goal.  Now 5-1 down the game started to turn sour, Cowley started arguing amongst themselves.  This was after a penalty had been awarded against them, which was subsequently ballooned over the bar by Thomas.  Their number 6 in particular started leaving a foot in and committed some quite horrendous tackles. The referee who had been excellent for most of the game missed these and his foul language and threats to some of the Woodford players.  He did however hear Manley use foul language against him and quite rightly sent the number 2 off.  This was however after he had missed two successive fouls against Woodford. First when Thomas was clear on goal and was hauled down from behind by two Cowley players.  Then Breton-Jones was fouled and pushed cynically to the floor injuring his head when attempting a tackle on the giant number 8.  The ref deemed no foul both times and the Foxes ended fielding only nine players for a time.
 
It was a shame that the game had to end the way it did with a first ever red card for Woodford; because of lack of discipline, bad tempered play and poor sportsmanship!
 
Match report: JJ

The Foxes started the new season the way they finished last season, badly! Due to injuries and awaiting registration for new players Woodford only had 11 players but that was hardly any excuse as Thurrock in a similar position only had 10!  The first half saw Thurrock battling to contain Woodford but in truth there was no cutting edge to the attack, time after time passes were played but possession lost, and any long ball was picked off easily by Thurrock.  Second half saw Thurrock grow in confidence and start to push hard.  It was not long before they capitalized on an error in defence and slotted home their first.  Woodford were now rattled and before they could collect themselves another silly error gifted Thurrock a second.  Now Woodford woke up but Thurrock were breaking up any attempt to play flowing football. They were spending more time on the floor than on their feet. Time after time play was stopped when the Foxes were going forward with an attack.  Inevitably though Bentley managed to find the net with his only real shot of the game, he rifled in from long range from the right wing.  Now Woodford poured it on and Thurrock were hanging on for dear life to their lead.  Shots were now at last finding the target and Breton-Jones, Thomas and Manley all went close with Manley unlucky not to score from a fine shot which came off the far post.  It was too little, too late though and the Orange started their campaign with a 2-1 defeat.
 
Match report: JJ