Woodford Youth Football Club                                       In  Association With Manford Way FC

After the Maiden defeat  2 weeks ago Woodford came out fighting and produced their best performance of the season. Despite tired legs, after losing their A.F.A cup game after 100 minutes of football yesterday against a resolute Wandsworth Town team, it was clear from the start of the game the whole team were very motivated. Their passing was sharper and  they also worked extremely hard when not in possession. This made a huge difference from the previous 2 games and the team went into the half time break 3 goals up after great finishes from Constantinou(2) and Haslam. H.T 3-0. The second half was very pleasing to watch. Woodford were now full of confidence and every boy wanted the ball. Further goals came from an excellent Mapp free-kick, Morgan, who scored his first ever goal from a De Freitas-Sadiq corner and Constantinou who completed his hattrick after a good spell of possession. F.T 6-0
 
Managers  Notes: The boys, after getting knocked out of the AFA cup yesterday and a thrashing from Maiden 2 weeks ago, really needed a good display to restore confidence and they did not disappoint. 2 M.O.M today; Haslam, who never stopped running for the whole game, scored a good goal,  and defended really well and Mendes who won every challenge and was great on the ball. Stand out games also from Mapp, Kittoe and Constantinou.

Woodford's halloween game against Maiden turned into a 'Nightmare on Elmbridge' as the away team ran out convincing winners.After a pretty even start Maiden opened the scoring midway through the first half, Woodford tried to respond but Maiden's back line were very well organised and limited the home team to a couple of long range efforts. H.T 0-1. The second half was one to forget for the home team as Maiden added another 4 goals, lots of Woodford players let their heads drop and it was a relief when the final whistle blew. F.T 0-5
 
Manager's Notes: I'm afraid we got what we deserved today, Maiden outplayed us all over the pitch and fully deserved the victory. We all have a lot of work to do in training to and have to stay focused at all times, I was very disappointed withour second half today but, knowing my boys as I do, I am sure we will learn from this game. M.O.M today for Mendes

Woodford's positive start to the season continued today with a deserved win against Colebrook. Both teams started well with Mapp and De Freitas-Sadiq seeing long range shots going just over and, at the other end, keeper Ryan made a couple of good stops and Mendes, Fricker, Okeniyi and Cochrane were having to work hard against Colebrook's quick attackers . Woodford opened the scoring midway through the half when the industrious Thomas-Corridon won the ball in midfield and found Weise on the right. He beat his man and crossed to Constantinou who calmy slotted the ball home. Colebrook then brought on a sub whose pace and power tested Woodford's left side to the limit, but Cochrane and Kittoe were up for the challenge and competed really well. H.T 1-0.  The second half started in the same way as the first with both teams pressing and passing well. Woodford double their lead 10 minutes into the half, Morgan broke up a Colebrook attack with a great tackle and his long clearance was controlled brilliantly by Constantinou and smashed into the top corner, great finish (TAKE A BOW SON!!). The goal changed the game. Colebrook were forced to commit players forward and it left space for Woodford to play on the counter. Colebrook went close a few times but Woodford's back line,led by the ever dependable Okeniyi, defended valiantly and Ryan again looked very assured in goal. Haslam started the move that led to Woodford's third goal. He won the ball on the right and passed inside to De Freitas-Sadiq who threaded a pass through Colebrook's back line to Constantinou whose powerful shot flew into the net, for a well deserved hattrick. It was four soon after, another Colebrook attack was broken up this time by Mapp who found Weise, he passed to Burgess and his shot from just outside the box found the bottom corner. F.T 4-0

Managers Notes: A very pleasing win today. Colebrook are always a very strong and competitive opponent and the team had to work extremely hard to progress to the next round of the cup. 3 M.O.M today; Cochrane who has made a massive improvement of late, very impressive against an opponent twice his size. Fricker, played 2 positions today and never put a foot wrong and Constantinou whose finishing was excellent. Stand out games also from Ryan, Okeniyi and Weise. Still lots to improve on but a very good day for Oranges.

Woodford began today's game on the back foot, despite playing down the very steep slope on the pitch . H.H made a great start to the game with some strong attacking play and, for the first 10 minutes, were camped in Woodford's half, a goal looking inevitable. But a mixture of some strong defending from Okeniyi, Fricker, Mendes and Cochrane and good handling from Keeper Ryan kept the scores level.  After H.H's initial dominance Woodford's midfield trio, Mapp, De Freitas-Sadiq and Thomas-Corridon  began to have more of the ball and it was not long before they took the lead. Mendes played the ball out to Haslam. He played a quick pass in to De Freitas-Sadiq who played a neat through ball for Burgess to finish well at the near post. The game was now end to end with both teams passing well, H.H's right winger was having a great first half but Cochrane matched him and his determination was very pleasing. Woodford increased their lead before half time after Haslam's run and cross was headed on to the bar by Burgess, Constantinou reacted quickest to the rebound and smashed the ball home. H.T 0-2.  The game continued to ebb and flow in the second half, Woodford were now playing up the slope but were still attacking well and both defences were being tested to the limit. Recent signing Weise was introduced and impressed again with his excellent close control and accurate passing but it was 2 'veteran' Woodford boys who combined for Woodford's 3rd goal. Constantinou and De Freitas- Sadiq's well worked short corner ended with the latter curling a superb shot into the top corner.  H.H then pulled a goal back, in a frantic final 10 minutes, after Woodford failed to deal with a high ball. Constantinou then restored Woodford's 3 goal advantage, finishing well from De Freitas-Sadiq's pass. H.H again reduced the deficit with a great volley from their centre midfielder. With 3 minutes left Constatinou completed his hattrick after latching onto a Mendes clearance but H.H were still not finished and scored again with a minute to go. A very large intake of breath greeted the final whistle, 3 points for the boys in orange but a very nervous final few minutes. F.T 3-5.

Manager's Notes: A very entertaining game from 2 attack minded teams who gave their all for the whole 80 minutes. Harold Hill were very good today and Woodford had to fight really hard for their win. Lots to work on still but also lots of positives to take from today. 2 M.O.M De Freitas- Sadiq who was an absolute joy to watch today, great skill, vision and a wonderful goal and Thomas-Corridon whose hard work and tenacity in midfield helped Woodford get back into the game after their slow start. Stand out games also from Keeper Ryan, Mendes, Cochrane and Constantinou.

It was evident from the start of the game today that Woodford were determined to make amends for their poor showing in their previous game. Thomas-Corridon, Mapp and De Freitas-Sadiq started the game on the front foot in midfield with some strong tackling and neat use of the ball. Woodford's front 3 Burgess, Weise  and Constantinou were also linking up well and after 7 minutes they took the lead when De Freitas-Sadiq's through ball found Burgess who held off Hill's defender and finished well. Shortly after it was 2 when Weise played a great diagonal pass to Constantinou and he made no mistake from just inside the box.  Woodford continued to make chances but had to wait until just before half time to increase their lead when Ogodo won the ball in midfield, passed to Haslam, who found De Freitas-Sadiq and his neat pass was finished well by Burgess. H.T. 3-0.  The second half was very impressive from Woodford. Hill chances were kept to a minimum and their passing and defending was very pleasing, lessons learned from the previous game. Kittoe was impressing on the right but had to leave the field after a horrible clash of heads.  Towards the end Hill came close to pulling a goal back but Ryan who despite having a quiet game pulled off a great save and just before the ends his long clearance found Burgess who rounded the Hill keeper to complete his hattrick. FT. 4-0.

Managers Notes: Much better today from the team. Every player was up for the game and it made a huge difference. M.O.M for Mapp for a great game in midfield. Stand out games also from Burgess, De Freitas-Sadiq and Thomas-Corridon. Last mention to Kittoe, get well soon mate.

Woodford got a point they barely deserved today after an unusually lacklustre performance. From the first whistle Dagenham, after losing their 2 opening league games, looked like they had a point to prove and dominated the entire first half. Okeniyi and Morgan were forced into several goal saving challenges and Ryan looked very assured in goal. H.T 0-0. Woodford began the second half more positively and began to match dagenham for energy and work rate. They took the lead after a rampaging run that started way inside his own half from Cochrane, he then swapped passes with
Burgess and finished well. It was 2-0 minutes later after a dangerous ball was played in to dagenham' s box by De Freitas-Sadiq to Constantinou whose shot was parried into the path of Burgess who tapped home. Then Woodford, mistakenly,thought the game was won and, as in the first half Dagenham got right on top and scored 2 quick goals to  draw level. Then with 15 minutes left Woodford regained the lead after a great cross from Mendes was finished well by Burgess. Again Dagenham drew level after some uncertainty at the back from Woodford. The last 10 minutes were pretty
even with both teams going for the win but, despite   some near misses, the 2 sides had to be content with a point.

Managers Notes: Very disappointed today, I thought Dagenham were terrific today, they showed great energy and commitment and can count themselves very unlucky not to have left with a win. Hopefully Woodford can learn from  today that every game is going to be difficult and every player has to give maximum effort if the team is to continue to make progress. M.O.M for Okeniyi and Thomas-Corridon. Stand out games also from Burgess, Constantinou and Cochrane.

After some very good pre-season fixtures Woodford finally got their league campaign off and running with a hard earned victory against a strong, competitive Tigers team. Woodford had the best of the first 20 minutes but were a bit wasteful in front of goal. They finally took the lead when Constantinou made a strong run down the right and whipped in a great cross to Burgess who headed firmly home. The goal seemed to rally the home side and they began to dominate possession and they drew level after a defensive mix-up from Woodford. H.T 1-1. Woodford began the second half well with weise and Thomas-Corridon controlling the central area. Woodford regained the lead after some strong play on the right from Kittoe, an attempted cross was blocked and it fell to Thomas-Corridon whose fierce shot took a deflection on the way in.
Tigers again drew level after Woodford failed to clear a dangerous free-kick. Both teams then upped a gear and the middle part of the second half was very enjoyable to watch with some strong tackling and good attacking play from both teams. Woodford were next to score though, Constantinou finishing well from good cross from Burgess. Woodford killed the game off soon after when the impressive Haslam bundled the ball home. F.T 4-2.

Managers Notes: A really tough game but I thought they deserved the win and was really pleased with how they defended in the last 15 minutes. M.O.M went to Haslam for a very strong game on the right. Stand out games also from Okeniyi, Weise and Thomas-Corridon. Lots to improve on though but a good start.