Woodford Youth Football Club

The Foxes stared this match well enjoying a lot of early possession with Ahmad going close after being put clear from a clever McDermott pass. M.O.M  Emmerson and Wright were competing well in central areas and looking to get the ball out wide to Shakes and Ahmad.  The away side were playing well and had chances to go in front but with 10 minutes gone in this match Woodford’s early promise suffered a set back.  Striker Mayele suffered a serious injury to his ankle stopping him from taking any further part in this match resulting in a trip to the hospital.  It seemed from that point on Woodford lost their shape with defenders Rogers, Bex, Miller and Massingham finding themselves under pressure that wasn’t there in the opening stages of this match.  The home side took the lead just before the break when a loose ball was tucked under Bonning from just inside the box, 1-0 HT.  Bostock and Dzotsi came into the back four for the second half knowing they had to defend well against the current lead leaders.  The game remained 1-0 for long periods of the second half with Herman and Dos Santos entering the field of play to try and change the fortunes for Woodford.  However the more the game went on the more possession Jets were enjoying and the home side scored a super second goal with a long range drive  into the top corner, 2-1.  Woodford then allowed Jets to go into a 3-0 lead with poor defending in the penalty box before another late goal was conceded when Jets striker pounced upon a loose goal kick to finish well with the home side deserving their 4-0 win with a solid performance.   

SQUAD:  Bonning, Rogers, Bex, Miller, Massingham, Ahmad,Shakes, Emmerson, McDermott, Wright, Mayele, Bostock, Dos Santos, Dzotsi, Herman

Match report:  FM

Woodford’s bad luck continued on another visit to the Peter May sports Centre with keeper Bonning missing through illness, however stand in keeper Dzotsi played an excellent match and deserved his M.O.M award.  The Foxes started well and had good early chances to take the lead with Mayele, Shakes and Ahmad going close.  The defence for Woodford of Rogers, Bex, Miller and Massingham were defending very well not allowing Interwood any space around the penalty box.  McDermott went close with a free-kick for the away team but the score remained 0-0 with Woodford kicking themselves because with the chances they created should have been in front at the half way point.  The second half started much like the first for Woodford with the away side enjoying a lot of possession with Emmerson. Wright, Dos Santos and Herman working hard in midfield and passing the ball well.  Interwood went into a 1-0 lead when a free-kick looked to be cleared on the line by Rogers but it unfortunately smashed again the post and crossed over the goal line.  The Foxes continued to push forward looking for an equalising goal but kept it strong at the back with Bostock and Miller tackling well.  Woodford had chances to take this cup tie into extra-time but Interwood defended well to the final whistle.  Woodford looked disappointed at the end of the match because if they buried a few chances on offer then this cup tie could of shown a different result.

SQUAD:  Dzotsi, Rogers, Massingham, Miller, Bex, Emmerson, Ahamd, McDermott,Wright, Shakes, Mayele, Bostock, Dos Santos, Herman

Match report:  FM  

After last week’s poor showing Woodford travelled to Berkhamsted to take on the Raiders in the first round of the Lion International Cup hoping for a much better performance.  The Foxes enjoyed lots of early possession but passes were going out of play due to this very small pitch.  The opening goal came from a set piece when Bex headed home a Massingham corner to give the away side a 0-1 lead.  Moments later Bex added his second when again he headed home a Massingham corner kick, 0-2.   Raiders had a few opportunities to open their account but Emmerson and Bostock were defending well with Bonning also pulling off a fine save.  Mayele was introduced to this match and within minutes flew onto a Herman through ball to finish well, 0-3.  M.O.M Massingham almost made it 4 but his well placed free-kick was pushed round the post by the raiders keeper.  Shakes gave Woodford a 0-4 half time lead when he rounded the keeper to slot home.  Raiders started the second half well and pulled a goal back smashing home from a cleared corner kick, 1-4.  Rogers went on a great run down the left wing before firing home a low drive for a 1-5 score line.  Woodford were enjoying lots of possession with Ahmad, Wright and Dos Santos playing some nice passing football.  Miller was drafted into the back four and looked solid with his heading and tackling.  Mann finally tucked home one of his chances after a couple of attempts for 1-6 just before Mayele added his second with a powerful strike to give the away side a convincing 1-7 win and a passage into the second round. 

SQUAD: Bonning, Massingham, Roger (1), Bex (2), Miller, Wright, Ahmad, Shakes (1), Dos Santos, Bostock, Emmerson, Mann (1), Herman, Mayele (2).  HT 0-4.

Match report:  FM 

A poor start from Woodford with Rogers, Massingham, Bex and Miller not playing as a unit along the back line.  The home side gave away an early free-kick on the edge of the area that was excellently put away into the top corner leaving Bonning no chance to save, 0-1.  Woodford then equalised when Herman sent Mayele clear who finished well for 1-1.  It wasn’t long before Jets regained the lead when Woodford failed to clear a corner kick allowing an easy tap in, 1-2.  The Foxes never seemed to get going with Ahmad and Shakes seeing very little ball on either flank, McDermott and Emmerson looked to chasing the ball defending rather then enjoying any sort of possession.  Jets added a third from a powerful right sided cross that flew into the far top corner, 1-3.  Just before the break things got worse for Woodford when Jets powerful forward latched onto a loose Woodford pass to rifle a shot pass Bonning for a 1-4 HT lead.  Bostock and Dzotsi were added to the back line for the second half with Woodford starting the half better putting Jets under pressure for the first time in the match.  Wright laid a pass to McDermott who drilled home a low shot from distance into the bottom corner, 2-4.  This spurred the boys in orange on with Dos Santos and Mann now seeing more of the ball.  However Woodford’s overall performance was poor and well below average and allowed Jets to score to late goals to give the away side a well deserved away 2-6 win.       

SQUAD: Bonning, Massingham, Rogers, Dzotsi, Bex, Miller, Wright, Ahmad, McDermott(1), Shakes, Dos Santos, Bostock, Emmerson, Mann, Herman, Mayele(1).

Match report:  FM 

Woodford started this match strong and put Brentwood under early pressure with Ahmad and Shakes looking dangerous on either flank.  The Foxes opened the scoring when Mayele broke down the left wing before cutting inside to drill home into the bottom corner, 1-0.  Woodford were well in control of this match with Emmerson and McDermott commanding in central midfield but it was Wright who extended the lead with a close range finish for 2-0.  Brentwood had a good spell towards the end of the half but Bex, Massingham and Rogers were defending well with M.O.M Miller seeming to win every challenge he went in for, 2-0 HT.  The Foxes had the perfect start to the second half when Shakes added a third with a great finish from a Herman cross.  Mann was causing Brentwood problems with his pace as well as Mayele who smashed home his second of the game to give Woodford a comfortable 4-0 lead.  Brentwood never gave up in this match but Woodford were defending well with Bostock and Dzotsi strong at the back also Bonning was in fine form pulling off a couple of great saves.  Wright latched onto a Dos Santos through ball to score his second and give Woodford a 5-0 cushion.  Moments later Wright scored a well-deserved hat-trick when he cleverly lobbed the on coming keeper for a 6-0 Woodford win and a place in the third round.    

SQUAD: Bonning, Massingham, Rogers, Dzotsi, Bex, Miller, Wright (3), Ahmad, McDermott, Shakes (1), Dos Santos, Bostock, Emmerson, Mann, Herman, Mayele (2).

Match report:  FM   

Raphaels came racing out of the blocks for this match and put Woodford under some good early pressure.  Rogers and Massingham had to work hard in their full-back positions with both defending well.  Raphaels managed a couple of early shots on target but Bonning saved well on both occasions.  The longer the half wore on Woodford began to get more into the game with Emmerson and McDermott now seeing more of the ball in their possession.  This was a very close game with Bex and Miller having to defend well to keep Raphaels front pairing at bay with some strong tackles.  Ahmad came closest to opening the scoring for Woodford when his shot smashed off the upright.  Mayele was being man marked up front and found it very difficult to find space as he was marked so closely but he continued to work hard and gained great experience from the encounter.  The Foxes grabbed the lead when Mann slotted home from close range to give the boys in orange a 1-0 HT lead.  Raphaels cam out for the second half much like the first and put Woodford under more pressure.  Woodford seemed happy to sit back and defend their lead but this was always a dangerous game.  Raphaels got their equalising goal their work rate deserved when a cleared Woodford corner was lobbed back into the box, two of Raphaels strikers were breathing down Bex’s neck to slot home well to bring the scores level at 1-1.  Credit to Woodford who from the restart pushed forward putting Raphaels under pressure to regain the lead when Dos Santos put Mann clear who finished well with a low drive, 2-1.  M.O.M Wright worked his socks off in his attacking midfield role making tackle after tackle as week as some clever through balls.  Once again Raphaels came back first hitting the crossbar and then the upright but the score remained 2-1 with Bostock and Dzotsi working hard.  Woodford added a 3^rd when Mayele broke clear of his marker to fire over a cross for Herman to head home giving the home side a 3-1 win in this very tough match.      

SQUAD: Bonning, Massingham, Rogers, Dzotsi, Bex, Miller, Wright, Ahmad, McDermott, Dos Santos, Bostock, Emmerson, Mann (2), Herman (1), Mayele.

Match report:  FM 

Woodford started this match well with Herman and Wright playing some nice one-two’s looking to release Mayele up top.  Mayele had 3 good early chances but the Interwood keeper was in fine form saving well.  The longer the half wore on Interwood got more into the game but Rogers, Massingham, Bex and Miller were defending well.  Just before the break Interwood broke to open the scoring with a low drive, 1-0.  The home side could of gone further ahead but Bonning pulled off 2 great saves to deny Interwood a 2-goal cushion, HT 1-0.  The Foxes came out fighting for the second half and had Interwood under pressure with Ahmad, McDermott and Herman pulling the strings in midfield.  Woodford pulled a goal back when Mann was released and slotted home well, 1-1.  This game could of gone either way but Woodford were unlucky to concede a corner when it was said to have clipped McDermott’s stud on the way out.  Typical of any contested decision resulting Interwood scored from the corner kick, 2-1.  Emmerson was battling all game in central midfield winning lots of balls so with only 5 minutes remaining of this match it was decided to go all out attack to try and rescue a point.  With only Bostock, Dzotsi and Bex at the back the Foxes pushed forward.  M.O.M Mann broke clear on goal but was harshly blown off side because the ball seemed to come off an Interwood defender but that’s football some decisions you get some you don’t.  Interwood are a good side and took full advantage of Woodford pushing forward and scored 2 late counter attacking goals with 2 great finishes to give the home side a 4-1 win. 

SQUAD:  Bonning, Massingham, Rogers, Dzotsi, Bex, Miller, Wright, Ahmad, McDermott, Bostock, Emmerson, Mann (1), Herman, Mayele. HT 1-0.

Match report:  FM

Woodford secured a place into the Essex Cup second round but not before a hard fought match against fellow Echo Premier side Raphaels Park.  The game started evenly with both sides working hard but it was the Foxes who took the lead on 15 minutes.  Shakes played square ball to Herman who played a one-two with Mayele setting the Woodford striker clear to finish well into the bottom corner, 1-0.  Miller extended Woodford’s lead 4 minutes later when he fired home a long range free-kick leaving Raphaels keeper little chance to make a save, 2-0.  M.O.M Emmerson was having a tremendous game in central midfield winning his lion share of tackles and passed the ball equally well.  Woodford should have gone in at half time further ahead with McDermott having a couple good opportunities from corner kicks, HT 2-0.  Raphaels as expected came out for the second half full of passion and desire making Massingham, Bostock, Miller and Bex work very hard in their defensive positions to deny the away side any goal scoring opportunities.  However Raphaels got the perfect start they were looking for when they pulled a goal back 5 minutes into the second half with a close range strike to bring them right back into this tie, 2-1.  New signing Mann and Wright both had excellent games today seeming to improve with every game they play.  Raphaels continued to push for the equaliser putting Woodford under pressure but Bonning was looking confident between the sticks for the home side, along with Rogers and Dzotsi who were also defending well.  The more Raphaels pushed forward the bigger the holes they left with Ahmad pouncing on a loose ball to set Mayele free to convert a late goal for his second of the match and a 3-1 Woodford win.  A fine performance today from the boys in orange but it had to be if they was to get anything out of the game against this strong and well organised Raphaels Park Rovers side.      

SQUAD:  Bonning, Massingham, Rogers, Dzotsi, Bex, Miller (1), Wright, Ahmad, McDermott, Shakes, Bostock, Emmerson, Mann, Herman, Mayele (2).

Match report:  FM