SAMBA YOUTH 4 SURBITON WIZARDS 1
The under 10's got their first league win of the season thanks to an outstanding team performance. The first 15 minutes saw Cedric win nearly everything in midfield and he was supported by some excellent running from Ben and Jack. Ryan and Kieran again looked good in defence and Greg was working hard on his own up front. Then came a double substitution with Alex and Ryan coming on and making an immediate impact. Firstly Ryan hit the post from a free kick which was barely inside the opponents half. Then just before half time Alex was sent clean through and he finished brilliantly for his first goal of the season.

The second half began the same way that the first finished with Alex again scoring with a good finish. The Wizards had to attack but they were denied a goal on a number of occasions by Josh who was again superb in goal. They did manage to pull one goal back but the game was made safe for Samba when Ryan scored the goal of the game from a freekick. Having seen Ryan hit the post earlier in the game Wizards decided to put four players on the goal line but that was still not enough to stop the ball flying into the top corner of the net. Ryan scored another goal soon after to make it 4-1 and Jack, Ben and Greg were all very unlucky not to score. This result puts us TOP of the league and taking into account that some of our players have never played competitive football before this has been a brilliant start to the season.

An excellent performance but this was just one of those days when the ball just would not go in the net. In a fairly even first half both teams had their chances with Cedric nearly scoring his first goal for Samba and Greg twice coming close. But Wandgas took the lead near the end of the half with a well taken goal. The second half saw Samba constantly on the attack and Ben, Jake, Ryan Collins and Greg were all denied by the Wandgas keeper who was in outstanding form. Josh was nowhere near as busy in the Samba goal but he did make a couple of important saves and he was well protected by Ryan Wallace and Kieran in defence. On another day we could have scored six goals but this was just not our day. If the boys play as well as this in every game this season there is no doubt they will finish near the top of the league.

Thanks to Josh's dad Paul for refereeing what was a sometimes difficult game to officiate.

Another great performance but we were unable to get the result it deserved. Again we created a lot of chances but the boys were denied by a combination of bad luck and good goalkeeping. In the first few minutes Jake and Ryan Collins tested the Hampton keeper with shots from long range, Kieran came close to scoring and Ben was giving good support up front. Ryan Collins then skimmed the bar with a long range free kick and Alex shot just wide after a neat passing move involving Jake and Jack. Hampton had a few chances as well but they couldn't find a way past the Samba back line of Ryan Wallace, Cedric and Josh. Samba finally took the lead just before half-time with Ryan Collins finishing brilliantly after being set up by Kieran. However all the good work was undone immediately from the kick off as Hampton went straight up the other end and equalised.

The second half was highly entertaining with both sides having numerous chances. While Josh was saving everything that came his way in the Samba goal the Hampton keeper fumbled the ball on two occasions right on his line. Both times the Samba players thought they had scored but unfortunately there was no Russian linesman on hand and the ref waved play on. Towards the end Kieran, Jack, Alex and Ben all came close to winning it for Samba. Hampton could have claimed an undeserved victory in the final minute following a comedy of errors involving Cedric losing his boot and one of their players missing an open goal. This was another good team performance from the under 10's with everyone making a contribution. A big thank you has to go to Nainesh for being Samba taxi service for the day and for his help during the game.

This was a good effort from the boys but Ashford were too good on the day and have improved immensely since the first game of the season when the sides drew 3-3. In the first half Samba had to do a lot of defending with Jack, Ben, Jake and Alex running their socks off in midfield. Kieran, Ryan Wallace, Cedric and Josh all had impressive games at the back and had it not been for them the score would have been a lot more than 1-0 at half-time. In the second half Samba attacked more and Alex, Ryan Collins and Greg all had chances to score. But as they pushed up looking for an equaliser the yellows were hit by a second Ashford goal to kill the game and end our cup dreams for another year. Although results have not been going our way recently the performances have been good. If the boys continue to put in the same amount of effort the results will come.

The first ten minutes saw very few chances on either goal. The Samba team trying to get to grips with their new formation 2-2-2. Alex Walker playing his first game in goal, played very well throughout and was well protected by the good defending in front of him by Ryan Wallace, Cedric, Jake and Josh. With Kieran, Jack, Ryan Collins and Greg working the Cheam midfield and defence to create chances to score. However it was Cheam who took the lead midway through the first half took the lead and soon after doubled that lead with Alex unluckily beaten on both occasions. From this point on the Samba boys played some of the best football of the season to date and before half time pulled a goal back to trial 1-2 at half time, following a good pass from Ryan Collins to Jake who was about to shoot when the Cheam defender turned the ball into his own goal.The second half with Ben and Ryan Collins unlucky not to add to the scoring, following some good passing moves. Not long after Samba drew level after Jake sent Greg clean through from the half way line to finish brilliantly, all of this from a Cheam corner. Shortly following this Greg got his second goal of the game and Samba's third and send the Samba support wild! At 3-2 Cheam piled on the pressure with Alex making several fine saves and Ryan Wallace making a number of excellent interceptions. Then came the goal that will be talked about for years, with little options from a Samba goal kick. Alex played a short pass to Ryan Wallace, who then passing through the legs of a Cheam attacker to Jake. Four passes later and four different Samba players the Jack was played down the left wing outside the Cheam penalty area, with the advancing Samba attack making runs to the near post. Jack laid a perfect cross into the path of Josh who was galloping forward to meet the cross and smash the ball into the back of the Cheam net. This was truly a wonderful team goal with the whole team involved in the build up. The opposition management and support applauded the goal with Sunil shouting "it's just like watching Brazil". This rounded off a magnificent come back, WELL DONE BOYS!!!Thanks must go to Gary McCluskey (Ben's Dad) for volunteering to referee his first ever match.

This proved to be a difficult game against the league leaders made hard when after only five minutes Samba conceded a couple of goals. At three nil down the boys started playing some of the best football this season, and on another day against the scores could have been even. Greg and Ryan C kept the Kingston defence busy while Ben, Jake and Josh worked tirelessly in midfield. Ryan W, Kieran and Cedric. With Alex in goal pulling off a number of excellent saves.

In the return of the previous weeks fixture, on a difficult surface, the Samba again gave the opposition a three goal start, before we started playing. Again when we did some of the passing and movement that we have been working on in training found its way into this fixture. Greg, Ryan C up front and the midfield of Josh, Ben and Jack combined on numerous occasions to create chances. Kieran, Ryan W and Alex in goal covering the Kingston attack. Again, this was a similar story to the previous week. Bar the first few minutes the game against the league leaders was a very even affair, with more luck and a little bit more confidence the result could have been closer. Well done to Ben for scoring his first of many goals for Samba (we hope).

The recent run of defeats was broken with a excellent performance for 45 minutes, with two goals each for Jack and Ryan Collins, with the fifth from Greg. We created many chances and played some excellent passing football. However the last 5 five minutes the game got very stretched with the Samba attack looking for more goals the cover at the back was very thin which let in the Kew attack to score 3 brake away goals.

The week before Christmas I think the boys had Santa's imminent visit on their minds, as we let a well drilled Wizards team in for an easy win. The Samba highlight of the game was an excellent goal from Cedric.

Into the second half of the season still looking for a full time keeper with Josh and Alex wearing the gloves for a half each. This was a better performance than before Christmas, we were a lot better organised in defence and midfield. With a little better luck in front of goal the score line would have been closer.

An excellent game played in a good spirit by both teams, I don't think either coach came on the pitch to attend to an injured player. With the Samba down to the bear 7 players each were asked to perform job. In the first half Josh played in goal and was rarely troubled, due to the solid defending in front of him from Ryan W and Ben. Cedric played the holding role in midfield, I don't remember any of the defensive players missing a tackle! This allowed Alex and Ryan C to get forward and support Greg. Before half this excellent display without a doubt our best to date was rewarded when Ryan C fed Greg down the right to cross for Alex to volley home the only goal of the half. In the second half we made one change Alex swapping with Josh in goal. This didn't effect the teams performance, as the game opened up more chances were being created by both teams. However Wandgas gained the upper hand by scoring two early goals. The second hotly disputed by the Samba defence who stating the ball didn't cross the line! The ref wasn't exactly the Samba boys favourite person as he'd just turned down a good penalty appeal at the other end (even the Wandgas supporters said they didn't agree with the ref). This didn't effect the Samba boys who dug in deeper and responded with more aggressive drive toward the Wandgas goal. Following a run up the right flank Josh was tripped, from the resulting free kick Ryan C send in a wicked cross that evaded everyone and found the far corner of the goal, 2-2. With the game turning Samba's way every Samba attack put the Wandgas defence under increasing pressure, when Josh again rampaging down the right put Greg in to slot home at the far post. The game was now really turning Samba's way, with Wandgas pushing forward. This left gaps at the back which all the boys took turns in exposing, with Cedric, Josh and Greg combining to cause problems, Ryan C had the vision to play the holding role in midfield. With his ability to stike the ball this gave us the added option of the ball over the top. The fourth goal came from another Josh drive forward to the edge of the box, who then lofted the ball into the box, with Greg jumping between the keeper and a defender to head home. This has to be the performance of the season so far, all of the boys gave solid performances. Ben and Ryan solid at the back sticking to their markers like glue. Ryan C, Alex, Josh and Cedric strong in the tackle, driving forward, passing and moving as a unit, and Greg up front holding up when he could twisting and turning causing problems as well as covering midfield when necessary. An excellent display boys!!!

Another excellent performance from the boys. Solid in defence and creative in attack. With Jack coming in for an unwell Ben on the right of defence partnering Ryan Wallace in defence. With Josh and Alex again sharing the keepers duties and in midfield with Kieran and Ryan Collins who were all linking well with Greg up front. The spirit, organisation, passing and dogged defence shown against Wandgas the previous week continued against Staines and with 3 well taken goals the boys ran out 3-1 winners, but could have easily been more with a luck more luck in front of goal.

This was a disappointing performance against a well organised and drilled Cheam Team, especially as we had got a good run of wins under our belts. Again we got off to a slow start and gave away a couple of goals in the first few minutes. The good new was that we had a new keeper signed and would be cleared to play in our next fixture. The Samba highlight of this game was an excellent goal from Kieran Greer.

A excellent home debut from Harry our new keeper, without Harry's man of the match display the goal against could have been more. However having a regular keeper it freed Josh and Alex to take their positions in midfield and link play between Ryan Wallace, Ben and Kieran in defence with Ryan Collins, Jack and Greg in attack. Having Harry now gives the team more options in all positions.

Due to rearranged fixture in this a free week we organised a friendly against Tooting and Mitcham Terrors a mid table team from the Primer Division 1. This enabled us to rotate the team around and try players in different positions and give Harry another game with without the pressure of a league game. I asked Jack to play up front and stay as far forward as possible in an attempt to stretch the game to create space for Ryan Collins, Josh, Alex, Kieran, Greg to play off and up to. With Ryan Wallace and Ben pressing the Tooting attack further up field closing the space from them. The ideas worked fairly well and a good performance was rewarded with a good result against a team from a higher division

Having a full squad to pick from, since early November. We were unlucky not to come away from this difficult looking fixture with a result. Oxshott currently sitting in second place in division 1 South and with a sound defensive record. Harry again looking sound in goal with Ben, Ryan Wallace and Kieran solid in defence and regularly able to join the midfield and attack. Josh, Ryan Collins, Alex, Cedric and Jack driving forward to link well with Greg in attack. The Samba boys took a well earned 2-0 lead with Josh scoring from a Ryan Collins corner and Greg scoring from one of his typical solo runs, with the Samba supporters calling for a square pass to the on running Samba midfield Greg managed to find the top right hand corner from an excellent strike. However with Harry looking likely to keep the first clean sheet of the season Oxshott managed to score a couple of scrambled goals from 2 dubious free kicks and a deflected shot. However this was a good performance that the boys could build on.

The first clean sheet of the season, and a first hatrick well done boys! Another week with a full squad to choice from, caused the management team a few headaches! The team defended well in the first half with Harry in goal making a number of good stops with Ben and Kieran in front of Harry working hard and supporting the midfield of Josh and Ryan Collins. This week we made a change in attack by playing Jack along side Greg. The plan worked with Jack pushing up creating space for Greg to play in between midfield and Jack. The goals soon came when Greg followed up and finished well at the far post. Then Jack scoring a second just before half time. Following a number of changes at half time and getting the boys to pass more in the second half. The team dominated the second half with Harry being a virtual spectator only coming out to clear long balls forward. With the boys following instructions to pass more the goals soon flowed, three for Josh and one each for Ryan Collins and Cedric. The team spirit was excellent with all the boys trying to get Ryan Wallace on the score sheet for the first time. But it wasn't to be and the game finished 7-0 to Samba.

This result has shown how far the team has come in resent weeks, three times the boys fell behind to goals against the run of play. Three times the boys picked themselves up and fought back. This Barnes team is the biggest and strongest teams we've played this season, the way the defence Ben, Kieran, Ryan Wallace, Cedric and Harry in goal managed to work out a method of defending against a player twice the size, weight and power of themselves, by doubling up on him was inspiring. Josh, Alex and Jack worked tirelessly in midfield making tackles, bursting forward to support Greg and working back to fill the holes left in defence and stopping the supply to the Barnes centre forward. Each time Barnes took the lead Samba made their territory and possession count by equalising three times, first through Greg when he finished smarty through the legs of the Barnes keeper. Then Kieran when he finished well following a corner on the right by Alex, and finally a stunning half volley by Cedric. The Samba boys were unlucky not to have finished the game with a win with Greg, Josh, Kieran and Jack all going close in the final stages of the game.

Another impressive performance by the boys, even if the result didn't reflect the good football played. Harry made a number of excellent saves in goal, Josh, Cedric and Kieran worked tirelessly in midfield, winning more tackles than they lost. Ben and Ryan Wallace are becoming a very organised defensive pairing. While Greg and Ryan Collins ran the Manorcroft defence far and wide creating openings. Late in the first half Samba fell behind to a brake away by the Manorcroft centre forward, shortly afterwards Manorcroft made it two before half time. In the second half the Samba boys took the game to Manorcroft and got their just rewards when Greg received the ball from a left wing centre turned swiftly and shot right footed into the far corner. Josh, Ryan Collins and Kieran drove forward to join Greg in trying to find the equaliser. This left Ryan Wallace, Ben and Harry exposed at the back and with only a few minutes left Manorcroft killed off the game with a third goal.

Final game of the season, and the three touch games in training seem to have been paying dividends with the team playing the ball around and very direct in attack, as a result the game was very open and end to end. The boys managed to cave out a number of chances for Greg, Josh, Ryan C and Alex. However a quick Staines attack scored against the general run of play. On other occasions this season, Samba heads have dropped, however today the boys pulled up their socks and played harder, and got their just reward when Josh, Ryan Collins and Greg combined with Josh scored the equaliser. The game continued end to end with both teams going close to adding to the score. The Samba defence of Harry in goal making a number of good stops, Ryan Wallace and Ben holding firm. Alex went very close with an excellent glancing headed from a Greg corner. At half time we made a number of changes by adding extra pace in the Samba defence with Kieron, Jack moving into the defence and Cedric holding in midfield. This enabled the team to hold a higher line in defence and press Staines. Again both teams swapped goals with Samba again coming from behind through a trade mark Ryan Collins long range free kick. It was Josh who scored the winner with another driving run give and go around the edge of the box and smart finish. The boys held firm in defence and ran out 3-2 winners. A excellent team performance, played in good sporting spirit with both set of supporters chatting on the touchline. Lets take this into next season when we move up to 11 a-side. WELL DONE BOYS!!!