Blackheath Boys begin with a Bang

BOEHC U16 vs Holcombe U16 - 06/10/13
Match Report by U16 Manager: Rob Hughes.

Result: 10-1

Team: Sam Hannon (GK), Noel Fernandes, Ben Coward, Nicholas Bourdeaux, Jack Harrison, Jake Lamplough, Samuel Lanham-Hathaway, Dominic Lester, Finlay McCoy, Charlie Nelson, Jake Owen, Nick Smith, Michael Wickenden, Joe Battle

Coach: Jonny Bond

Scorers:
Sam L 2
Michael W 1
Jake O 2
Joe B 3
Charlie N 2

MotM: Joe Battle & Jake Owen

The first game of the season for BOEHC U16’s saw us play a Holcombe side that we drew 2-2 against last season.

It was a terrific start from the Boys which saw Sam Lanham-Hathaway run past all the Holcombe defenders onto a pass from the midfield and slot home the first goal for us after just 2 minutes. Three minutes later saw him double his tally and the start of an onslaught began from the boys who did not let up for a minute for the whole game with an impressive Joe Battle on the left getting himself a hat trick (one was an own goal but I don’t believe in them so Joe gets it).

The midfield duo of Jake Owen (new name now Owen to help when I shout my instructions across the pitch) and Jake Lamplough worked great together with both of them communicating well. They defended and then assisted in the counter attacks every time.

The defence held strong until about 6 minutes to go when Holcombe managed a scrappy goal. But overall they dealt with all that Holcombe could throw at them with Nick Smith and Noel Fernandes letting very little come through the middle and Jack Harrison, Ben Coward and Nick Bordeaux clearing the wide positions.

Michael Wickenden up the top was also very impressive and linked well with Charlie Nelson. His awareness has come on leaps and bounds from last season(I believe we can thank Senior Performance Director Ed Thorogood and Men's Head Coach Alex Dunman for that as he attends Men’s training on a weekday evening and currently plays for the Men's 3XI on a Saturday - as does the talented Jake Owen and Sam Hannon).

I was very impressed with the discipline, conduct and behaviour from our lads and none that I can recall argued with the Umpires even when the decisions did not go the way that we thought they should. This was in contrast to the Holcombe players who got a couple of green cards for berating one of their own umpires.

The whole team played fantastically and it was a well-deserved victory for the Boys. They can only improve with New Head Junior Coach Johnny Bond coaching and developing them and with the new blood that has been injected from last year’s U14. Tough and challenging games against the big clubs of Canterbury and Sevenoaks are up next so the Boys will have to raise their game further but with growing confidence after this display.

A huge thanks goes out to Martin Harris who came down to umpire the game for us.

Rob Hughes - U16 Manager