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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs Thatcham Tornadoes
(Match played at Abby Douai, kick-off 11:30 , Referee: Simon Hinsley )
Report:
1 st Half: Another sunny but cool day and Tornadoes start the game with the slight downhill advantage. Immediately the ball was in play Rovers were straight in to win it, following up with some good early moves leading to successive early corners.
With Thatcham on the back foot still another good move by Rovers saw Sheldon passing to Rose who in turn put a through ball out to Ellis on the left. He took a touch and struck a powerful shot which went over the bar for a Tornadoes goal kick.
In reply the Tornadoes were breaking quickly, keeping both Davies and Dyer on their respective toes, and Watkins staying alert to any possible danger.
After a brief tussle in midfield Sheldon found himself in space and started making ground down the right. A lovely through ball by him found Partridge just on the edge of the box with his back to goal. A great first touch, he turned and side stepped his marker. With only the goalkeeper to beat he nailed it hard and low to give Rovers the lead.
Tornadoes came back strongly and pressed to get an equaliser. A number of long clearances by them saw some good headers out of defence for Rovers, Davies making some particularly good ones today. Rovers though were also continuing to make chances. Another good run by Sheldon laid on another chance for Partridge who was this time unlucky not to see his shot find the mark.
But Tornadoes were always looking to break quickly and looked dangerous when they did. With the run in to half time crossing peoples minds a good long ball from the Tornadoes half split the Rovers defence. King got there ahead of the Rovers defenders and, with Watkins coming out to meet the threat, his last touch was enough to beat him and equalise for Tornadoes.
The last few minutes before half time saw a couple of great attempts by Rovers to retake the lead. From the back, Davies passed to Rose in midfield who in turn played it out to Ellis on the left. A good first touch by him and moving close to goal he hit a powerful shot which went just wide. From a corner Sheldon tried an overhead kick which looked to be going into the top corner but the Tornadoes keeper stretched high and made a good save.
2 nd Half: Some more good work early in the second half saw another effort from Partridge on the right go just wide. Sheldon too had an effort well blocked.
The game then settled into a long period where both teams tried hard to get the upper hand. Some great work in midfield from both sides saw threats neutralised very early.
Highlights for me were another good run on the left from Ellis - he beat two and crossed well but the Tornadoes keeper was up the task and he collected well. A through ball found Partridge who cut inside his man but his shot was deflected out for a corner. From the corner there was a classic goal mouth scramble but the Tornadoes managed to clear their lines.
Although late pressure saw Rovers press hard for another goal it was not to be. The last kick of the game was another effort from Rovers, it went to Dyer. Collecting in midfield he moved into the space which was available in front of him and struck a ferocious shot which went just wide. In the end it was a good game which was played strongly but fairly by both teams.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Jonathon Davies, very well done to you. Well played to everyone else - the team performance was excellent once again. Charlie Robbins has a sprained ankle at the moment but he made his presence felt by giving very loud vocal support to his team mates - hope you're not out for too long Charlie...
Barton Rovers U10B 1 vs 1 Thatcham Tornadoes
Partridge(6) King(17)
Barton Rovers B lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Brandon Sheldon (Man of the Match)
Nick Dyer
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins (Injured at the moment)
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Benjamin Hinsley (Ellis 23)
Charlie Robbins (Injured at the moment but a noisy spectator nonetheless!)
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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs South Reading C
(Match played at Turnhams Farm, kick-off 10:30 , Referee: Simon Hinsley )
Report:
1 st Half: A sunny but cool day and South Reading start the game looking very determined after the previous meeting between the teams ended in Rovers favour. An early corner for Rovers saw Ellis just unable to connect with what could have been an excellent volley. Moments later another corner saw Partridge take an early header which was only just kept out at the near post by the Reading defence.
Keeping up some pressure Ellis played in a ball which was collected by Partridge, he shot and the Reading keeper made a great save - pushing the ball onto the bar - and from the rebound Robbins lifted his snap-shot just over the bar.
Reading came back and cleared their lines quickly. A fast break saw a good through ball split the Rovers defence and Watkins was quickly out to collect at the edge of his box. Within seconds another attack by Reading saw a long range effort again well taken by the Rovers keeper - his catching being solid and dependable as ever.
Rovers pushed forward. A good strike by Sheldon brought a good save from the Reading keeper. Almost immediately afterwards Ellis collected an attempted clearance and played on Rose whose well struck shot just clipped a defender - which took some pace off the shot - but the Reading keeper still saved confidently.
Deep in his own half Dyer intercepted an attempted through ball and started pushing forwards. He beat his man and, closing now on the Reading goal, let fly a strong effort which could only be parried by their keeper. Partridge did well following up but was disappointed to see his shot blocked too.
Reading came back strongly and worked some good quick football through the midfield. But they were thwarted by the Rovers defence. A quick clearance towards the Reading goal saw the referee blow for a penalty - to Rovers - for a push by one of the Reading defenders. Rose stepped up and confidently slammed the ball into the back of the net to put Rovers 1 - 0 up.
From the restart Reading pushed forward again. From one attack they were awarded a free kick which Rovers blocked well. From the clearance Reading collected in midfield and had a really well struck effort which only just went wide.
In reply Sheldon picked up the ball in mid-field and made an excellent run - showing great skill, determination and stamina - and was really unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal. Rovers continued to apply pressure up until the half-time whistle but no further score was forthcoming.
2 nd Half: The beginning of the half saw a couple of good early moves down the right by Sheldon. On one of these a good pass in found Partridge who hit a cracker which, annoyingly for the Rovers fans, crashed off the wrong side of an upright. At the other end of the pitch Dyer continued to prove very effective in defence for Rovers as Reading strove for an equaliser.
After another push forwards by them, they won a free kick on the edge of the area and all Rovers fans heaved a big sigh of relief when the shot flashed wide. A moment later and a well struck Reading effort, from the right, saw Watkins see the ball hit the cross bar and only then was he able to push the ball over the bar to safety.
It was about this time that the Rovers manager decided to make a couple of changes and changed his formation around a little. Almost immediately this looked to have paid a dividend when Rose, pushing forward from midfield again, forced another good save from the Reading keeper.
Moments later more good work in midfield again saw Ellis released down the left. He showed good skill to go past the defender and he quickly closed on the Reading goal. He let loose a good, hard, low shot which flew past the keeper's outstretched right ankle and into the back of the net. 2 - 0 to Rovers.
While certainly not one- sided the remainder of the game saw Rovers take control and they created the better of the chances. For one of them a sloppy clearance saw Rose collect and loft in a high looping effort which hit the post and came back out. From a corner, Hinsley just could not react quickly enough and was unlucky to see his instinctive stab go wide.
From a pick up deep in his own half, Davies cleared to the left where Ellis was unfortunate to see his shot deflected out for a corner. From the corner Hinsley was again unlucky to see his shot go over the bar. Another Rose to Ellis move on the left won another corner. The corner dropped to Hinsley who, with defenders closing him down, was really unlucky to see his shot go just wide.
In the dying minute of the game more late pressure from Rovers saw another free kick just outside the Reading area. Rose floated in a lovely cross and a proper goalmouth scramble ensued but the final touch was, once again, just wide. The score remained the same when, seconds later, the referee blew for time.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Brandon Sheldon, very well done to you, I thought you had your best game yet! Well played to everyone else - the team performance was again very good with some excellent passing and movement - the second half was particularly impressive. Now all you need to do is convert more of the chances to goals...
Barton Rovers U10B 2 v0 South Reading C
Rose(16 pen), Ellis(29)
Barton Rovers B lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Brandon Sheldon (Man of the Match)
Nick Dyer
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Benjamin Hinsley (Robbins 28)
Jonathon Davies (Partridge 28)
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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs Barton Rovers U11s ( Friendly )
(Match played at Turnhams Farm, kick-off 12:30 , Referee: Simon Hinsley )
Report:
Another cold day in November and a friendly with the Under 11s squad to allow both teams to get some practice in and try a few of their players in different positions so don't be surprised if any of the boys appear to be pop up in odd places. The game was played in four quarters - as opposed to two halves - of 12 ½ minutes duration to make it easier for the managers to change things around.
Welcome to Sam David who joined the squad today, while he started the match as a substitute he did have a cracking last quarter. Speaking of substitutes, as this was a friendly I haven't bothered with who subbed for whom this week as every quarter saw too many changes.
Also, apologies for the U10s photographs this week, I thought I'd taken a couple but my camera seems to have decided otherwise. I sent in the one that I did have - not the full team I'm afraid so sorry to those who aren't in it - plus a team picture of the U11s - it was a friendly remember...
1 st Quarter: The U11s kicked off and the match started with probing by both sides with plenty of action all over the pitch. An early rush down the left saw Ellis lay on a good pass to Partridge who was unlucky to see his shot go wide.
At the other end the U11s pressed too. For the U10s Dyer showed good strength in defence and Davies too was kept busy. Watkins was a safe pair of hands though and one good clearance from him found Robbins, he controlled well and had great effort which was blocked and ricocheted out for a throw. From the throw on the right Partridge collected and sent in a looping long range effort which went over the keeper to put the U10s 1 - 0 up.
The U10s kept pressing for the rest of the quarter and saw further efforts missing by the narrowest of margins. A Partridge header - from a corner - just missed the post but was kept in and crossed back in where Rose showed great skill only to see his shot go over the bar.
2 nd Quarter: The U11s came out looking for an equaliser and pressed hard. Dyer (playing in goal at this point for the U10s) made a good save from a free kick. Back to the other end and Ellis and Hinsley combined some good passing only to be robbed by a good tackle as they closed on goal. Rose had another effort go just wide. Rose, from defence, set Ellis away down the left and he let fly another good effort which was sent out for a corner.
The U11s responded well. They too had a quick break which split the defence wide open but the final effort went wide and the U10s (and supporters) heaved a huge sigh of relief. There then followed a few minute spell when the whole U10 team played incredibly well, covering for each other, great passing, good calls and some excellent skills - the only thing they missed out on was another goal!
With the end of the quarter approaching rapidly the U11s fashioned another quick break. This time it was Rose and Robbins (playing in defence) who showed great ability in closing down the three attackers leaving Dyer free to come and finally snuff out the danger. Half time and 1 - 0 to the U10s.
3 rd Quarter: Another round of changes saw the quarter start with good work by both teams but neither able to gain a telling advantage. A break through midfield by the U11s saw Watkins tracking his man and eventually putting in a tackle which the referee blew up for as a foul. The ensuing free kick was well taken and on target. Ellis though (playing in goal) stopped and collected well.
Moments later we had incredible déjà vu - a break through midfield by the U11s saw Watkins tracking his man and eventually putting in another tackle which was, once again judged unfair by the referee. The free kick - taken by Kent for the U11s - was very well struck, on target and this time Ellis was unable to keep it out, 1 - 1 and all to play for.
The remainder of the quarter was end to end, both teams trying equally hard to take the lead. A good run by Kent for the U11s saw him push his shot just wide. For the U10s a throw by Sheldon found Dyer, he played the ball back to Dyer who crossed and the U11s only just managed to scramble the ball out for a corner. Dyer floated in a good corner to the far post and Watkins managed to get his head on the ball only to see his effort go wide for a goal kick. More good work on the right saw the U11s breaking quickly in on goal again only to see their shot go wide too.
4 th Quarter: A break by the U11s sees David make a good early tackle for the U10s and in turn he started a counter attack down the right. Pulling inside he found Watkins who in turn struck a good shot which was put out for a corner.
After another attack by the U10s broke down a really fast break saw Ellison for the U11s race in on Sheldon (playing in goal for the U10s). A great strike from him left the keeper with no chance and the U11s took the lead 2 - 1. From the restart the U11s worked hard and applied pressure to get a goal to make the game safe. Good defending by David ensured that this would never be easy though.
The U10s were far from finished. More good work from midfield saw Davies with a good effort well stopped by the U11s. David showed great skill in beating his man and he also launched a good shot which was also well stopped. Rose, coming from deep, worked well to get a shooting position, his shot also well stopped! A quick break back by the U11s and a good save by Sheldon. Yet more end to end action!
And then the referee blew for time - the last quarter seemed to go unbelievably quickly but when the game is exciting that often seems to be the way.
Other remarks: There was no man of the match this week as this was just a friendly but I think both teams deserve praise for a good contest played exactly as everyone would have liked.
And finally, someone I don't believe I have mentioned before but to echo the manager's sentiments from last week - well refereed to Simon, only a friendly maybe but you were always clear in explaining your decisions to the boys. This, in the opinion of many, prevents arguments and ultimately lets the game flow better - well done again!
Barton Rovers U10B 1 vs 2 Barton Rovers U11s
Ben Partridge(1 st Qtr) Adam Kent(3 rd Qtr),Ricky Ellison (4 th Qtr)
Barton Rovers B squad:
Aaron Watkins
Jonathon Davies
Brandon Sheldon
Nick Dyer
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins
Benjamin Hinsley
Sam David
John Partridge (Manager)
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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs Henley Boys
(Match played at Turnhams Farm, kick-off 12:00 , Referee: Simon Hinsley )
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"Ok boys, lets talk about the match...boys!..boys! BOYS!..come back! '
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Report:
1 st Half: A really cold start to the day followed by just enough sunshine to thaw the pitch saw Henley start the match with lots of steaming breath in the air. Some quick early exchanges in midfield set the tone for the rest of the match - this was going to be a close and well contested game.
Getting the better of one of these contests saw a great move by Rose and Robbins lead to a corner. Taken by Rose it was not cleared by Henley and it fell to Partridge, he in turn drilled a low shot which struck the post then the back of the keeper before rolling into the back of the net to give Rovers the lead.
Shortly afterwards Sheldon collected in defence and lofted the ball up field, Partridge collected, turned and hit another good shot which was only just over the bar. Rovers continued to press. Another corner, this time it fell to Dyer, he hit a strong shot which was blocked - the rebound was well hit by Robbins but the Henley keeper got down quickly and made a good stop.
As in the previous meeting though Henley made their presence felt. After the early Rovers pressure they worked hard, putting together some good passing moves. A good break by them down the right saw Dyer do well to prevent the through ball. Instead a shot, which was well blocked by Sheldon, went out for a corner to Henley . From the corner a header at the near post saw the ball fall to Clark, for Henley , he wasted no time in driving home to level the scores at one goal apiece.
Both teams again set to gaining the upper hand. One good move from Rovers saw Ellis and Partridge hit the same post off each others rebounds! At the other end good play from Henley saw a great effort by them headed off the line by Dyer. Half time, all square, brandy and oxygen for all supporters...
2 nd Half: Rovers restarted and seemed to get into their stride more quickly. A good effort by Partridge saw a good stop by the Henley keeper. From a throw in Rose collected and he hit a good shot which was also well stopped by the Henley keeper.
Henley got back up to speed quickly though and soon it was their turn to press, a good break down the right, a great strike by Birkholm left Watkins with no chance. Henley go two - one up.
Now it was Rovers turn to try and put the pressure back onto Henley and grab themselves an equaliser. Ellis, on the left, beat his man and played the ball inside to Rose. He turns, takes a touch and hits a good shot - which goes just wide. Time for substitutes for Rovers.
The fresh legs of Hinsley were put to good use in, he started making runs and pulling away from the defenders. Davies was also able to move quickly to cover threats at the back. With just under ten minutes left Rovers were pressing down the left. An intercept by Henley gave away a throw, taken quickly it found Rose. He collected, turned and hit a good low drive, the keeper was quickly down but the power of the shot saw the ball go under him and sneak inside the near post to level the game again.
The remainder of the match was played at a furious pace with both sides working very hard to gain an advantage. Ellis made a good run down his familiar left, beat the defender and closed on goal. A good strike from him but well stopped by the keeper!
A good run down the right by Henley saw Dyer forcing his man wide. More pressure by Henley saw Watkins forced to come out from his area to put the ball into touch. Another effort by Henley , another good take by the Rovers keeper.
From a clearance to the left Ellis collected around the halfway line, he moved forward with pace, beat two players and moved in on the Henley goal. A strong low drive, this time he beats the keeper and it's three - two, Rovers retake the lead with very little time remaining.
Henley restarted and tried very hard to get the game level again, their heads held high. Rovers were equally determined to retain their advantage and the concentration was visible on the faces of both teams. This meant that the remainder of the match was strongly contested by both teams but the score finished the same with the result in Rovers favour.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Nick Dyer, very well done to you, it was well deserved. Well played to everyone else too for yet another great all around team performance, good character being shown to lose the lead and then come back to retake it again in the dying minutes.
One other 'interesting' quote I simply had to put in from the team manager - John Partridge - which was overheard during his debriefing session to the boys: "...I'm not sure my heart can take much more of this...". [No John, and we supporters know exactly what you mean!]
Barton Rovers U10B 3 vs 2 Henley Boys
Partridge(2), Rose(32), Ellis(39) Clark (10), Birkholm (26)
Barton Rovers B lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Brandon Sheldon
Nick Dyer (Man of the Match)
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Benjamin Hinsley (Robbins 30)
Jonathon Davies (Sheldon 31)
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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs Kennet Valley Swords
(Match played at Kennet Valley School , kick-off 12:00 , Referee: Nick Birmingham )
Report:
1 st Half: Swords kicked off in what was always likely to be a close game. There was a lot of action in mid-field throughout the half with regular breaks being made by both teams. Early in the game Dyer, for Rovers, saw a long range effort collected by Swords keeper - but only at the second attempt.
Some good work by Partridge down the right made him space and he sent over a good cross, Ellis met it and struck a good shot which was well blocked by Swords defence. Pressing forward found Rovers defenders occasionally in the Swords half and from another clearance Davies hit a speculative effort from a long way out but got under the ball and it sailed harmlessly over the bar.
In the Rovers half Dyer and Davies worked well together with Watkins marshalling and calling well when needed. Rose and Partridge battled in midfield and Ellis worked hard to make breaks down the left. Hinsley made some good runs up front but many through balls were well intercepted or players closed down so quickly that no reward was forthcoming.
The game was being played at a fast pace and we moved quickly from one of Roses shots being tipped over at one end to Watkins making a couple of successive good stops from fast Swords breaks at the other. With almost the last kick of the half Dyer saw Swords keeper take well from another long range effort of his. Half time and nil - nil.
2 nd Half: Shortly after the restart Rovers had a free kick which was fired towards the Swords goal by Rose. The keeper could only parry the shot and Ellis, following up, was quickly on the ball only to see his shot go over the top. At the Rovers end Swords worked hard too but Davies and Dyer worked well together to prevent any damage.
A couple of more good saves from Watkins, as set pieces allowed Swords in close, set up more Rovers attacks at the other end. Ellis, with an excellent strike on goal, disappointed to see an equally good take by Swords keeper. More good work in midfield by Partridge and Rose but they were unable to convert the possession into goals. Robbins and Sheldon gave fresh legs in attack and midfield as the game continued at a fast pace.
A corner by Swords was only half cleared and a fantastic strike by one of there players saw Rovers heave a collective sigh of relief as the shot went just wide. Rovers responded, Ellis breaking down the left, beat his man and made himself some room only to have the ball bobble up as he struck it and it went over the bar.
The game was running into the last few minutes and the midfield battles seemed relentless. From a typical struggle in the centre the ball came out to Swords right wing. A bouncing ball was lofted, with pace, towards the Rovers goal and Watkins was unable to push the ball over the bar - it crept in to give Swords the lead.
The final few minutes saw Rovers press forward for an equaliser. Sheldon working hard in midfield, Robbins making his presence felt up front. A foul saw a free kick lofted in by Rose. Dyer headed on and Robbins slammed in a shot which was blocked by the defence. Swords broke quickly, Sheldon slowed things down but a good through ball beat the Rovers defence. Watkins though was off his line quickly, a great interception and clearance to set Rovers on the attack again.
But this week it was not to be, the referee blew for time and Rovers came off as the losing team for the first time this season. This game proved to be as close as was expected and Rovers can consider themselves really unlucky not to at least have shared the points.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Aaron Watkins, very well done to you, it was richly deserved. A big well done to everyone else too because you really did put in a great performance today.
Unknown (27)
Barton Rovers B lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper + Man of the Match)
Jonathon Davies
Nick Dyer
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Benjamin Hinsley
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Charlie Robbins (Hinsley 28)
Brandon Sheldon (Partridge 35)
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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs Henley Boys
(Match played at Tesco (Henley), kick-off 11:00 , Referee Mark Lovett )
Report:
1 st Half: For the second week in a row the weather was less than kind with rain, heavy at times, a constant factor for both teams to consider. Henley started and immediately pressed forward, looking the livelier of the two teams in the first five minutes. Early pressure saw Henley win a couple of corners but the Rovers defence coped well with both Davies and Dyer keeping things tight and Watkins calling well and collecting any loose balls with confidence.
It wasn't until about seven minutes in that Rovers had their first effort at the Henley goal, a long range attempt struck by Partridge which went over the bar. This seemed to set off a good patch of play for Rovers. Following quickly a break by them found Ellis down his familiar left and a well hit shot from him was tipped over the bar by the keeper.
More Rovers pressure saw Hinsley strike a good shot which the keeper again did well to stop, pushing it around the post for a corner. But Henley cleared and came back strongly, a good run down the left saw a good shot on target for Henley but Watkins proved that he too can stop shots with a well taken catch and also showed how dangerous a quick long clearance can be. Rose showed great skill as he controlled the clearance and played a good short pass to Ellis who in turn saw his shot deflected just wide and into the side netting.
Rose's corner was only half cleared and Partridge wasted no time, a good effort on target well parried by the Henley keeper for another corner to Rovers. The pressure from Rovers had built well and the ensuing corner, by Rose, had to be played by the Henley defence. Unfortunately for them the ball was deflected into the net for an own-goal and this put Rovers one up.
Henley came straight back though and while good covering by Dyer made it difficult for Henley they still got a shot on target which was well saved by Watkins. Once again the clearance was good. It found Ellis on the left and he did well to beat two players then laid on a great ball for Partridge. He made no mistake and nailed it past the Henley keeper to see Rovers go in two-nil up at half time.
2 nd Half: The second half started with a good battle for control in the midfield area. Both sides had players slipping in the muddy conditions with the pitch cutting up more with each passing minute. An early Rovers effort saw Ellis collect and control well from a throw, he turned and struck another good shot on target which the Henley keeper did well to push over the bar.
At the other end Rovers defence too was busy. Dyer and Davies covering a lot of ground and making things difficult for the Henley attack. On a number of occasions the attackers did get through but Watkins was having a fantastic game and looked really sharp when reacting to shots at him. Collecting the ball from one such attack another long clearance found Rose. He controlled, collected, turned and with a well directed shot made no mistake. Three-nil Rovers.
Henley fought back immediately. From the restart they worked some good passing moves to leave a good opening for a shot which, despite valiant efforts from the Rovers defence, had the keeper beaten. Three-one and plenty of time remaining.
Rovers knuckled down and started to put pressure back onto Henley . Good approach work won a corner. It was only half cleared by Henley defence and Dyer found himself running onto the ball as though it had been teed up just for him. He made no mistake with a powerful drive that gave Rovers a four-one lead. Dual substitutions saw Robbins and Sheldon on for Hinsley and Davies respectively.
Both new players, for Rovers, got involved straight away. Pressure again from Henley saw Sheldon working hard to maintain Rovers advantage and good work up front saw Robbins threatening the Henley goal too. But it was Ellis who was to be rewarded for his many efforts with an excellent solo run, beating two Henley defenders and confidently slotting the ball past their keeper to give Rovers a five-one lead with only a couple of minutes left to play.
Henley tried to get a goal back immediately and but for some more excellent defending by Dyer and some great ground work by Watkins they could easily have reduced the deficit. From one good tackle by Dyer he broke out of defence and made a good up-field pass to Rose. He controlled well, turned and played a good cross-field ball to Partridge which completely split the Henley defence. Partridge made no mistake, coolly slipping the ball past the Henley keeper to wrap up the game at six-one.
The parents Man of the Match this week was really difficult and it was decided that it had to be a tie between Nick Dyer and Aaron Watkins, well done to you both and of course all of the rest of the team.
Barton Rovers U10B 6 vs 1 Henley Boys
OG (18), Unknown (27)
Benjamin Partridge (20,39),
Harry Rose (25),
Nick Dyer (32),
Sam Ellis (37)
Barton Rovers B lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper + tied Man of the Match)
Jonathon Davies
Nick Dyer (tied Man of the Match)
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Benjamin Hinsley
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Charlie Robbins (Hinsley 32)
Brandon Sheldon (Davies 33)
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Barton Rovers U10B (Manager J. Partridge) vs Barton Rovers U10C
(Match played at Turnhams Farm, kick-off 11:00 , Referee Gary Smith )
Report:
1 st Half: The weather was unashamedly miserable with wind and rain as the C-team kicked off playing downhill. Both teams were nonetheless immaculately turned out, the C-team (as the home team) wearing the familiar red/black hooped shirts and the B-team wearing the alternate white shirts with red/black stripes down the arms.
The B-team wasted no time in winning the ball from their sister team though and were very quickly on the attack. A fast early break by Ellis saw him streak off down the left and loose off a shot which went just wide of the mark. Not to be outdone the C-team came straight back and this saw some solid defending by Davies who forced the attacker to run the ball out for a goal kick.
The kick was quickly taken and it was picked up, and well controlled, by Hinsley. He turned and beat one, jinked to pass another and let fly to give the C-team keeper no chance. One-nil to the B-team.
Good pressing from the restart saw the B-team win a throw in. Rose took it, a long one, and Hinsley swung a foot but miss-kicked and the ball ran through to Ellis. No problem for him as he drilled home another good shot to put the B-team two-nil up.
The C-team tried hard to get back into the game but Davies and Dyer performed well in defence with Watkins making good clear calls when necessary to mop things up around his goal. After some pressure by the C-team Partridge intercepted the ball deep in his own half and he kicked a good clearance up-field. Hinsley controlled the ball well and it ran to Ellis who drove through the defence and struck another powerful shot which beat the keeper easily and put the B-team three-nil up.
A few minutes later and Ellis made another strong run only to see his shot parried by the goalkeeper. Good following up by Partridge gave the keeper no chance though and upped the score to four-nil.
Although the score was against them the C-team kept their heads up and they fought bravely to get something in the run up to half-time. More pressure saw them making long runs to get around the defence but both Davies and Dyer were having none of it and they made sure that Watkins in the B-team goal had nothing to worry about.
With half-time rapidly approaching Rose suddenly found himself with space in mid-field, an excellent solo effort by him saw his hard low drive scream past the keeper to give the B-team a five-nil lead.
2 nd Half: As the match restarted a hint of sunshine saw the rain disappear and the wind drop a little. It made little difference to either team though as they both continued battling hard. Another run by Ellis with a well weighted cross saw a narrow miss by Partridge.
A corner by Rose saw Dyer make a well timed run to meet it with a fantastic diving header which was only just blocked by the defence. A quick substitution saw Sheldon collect the ball in mid-field and play it through to Rose on the right-hand side. He moved on goal and hammered another fierce shot which sailed into the net to make the score six-nil to the B-team.
A couple of minutes later the ball goes out for a throw and another substitution is made. The throw is a good long one, from the left, and results in another good shot, this time from Sheldon. It is pushed around the post for a corner. A well taken corner finds Robbins who puts a good effort on target only to see it well stopped by the keeper.
With time still ticking away Rose once again found himself with time and space in mid-filed. Moving forwards down the right he quickly closed on goal and fired a low drive which the keeper did not get down to quickly enough and it crept under him to make the score seven-nil.
As the clock counted down there was some late pressure to get some form of consolation for the C-team but this was unsuccessful and the final score remained the same.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Jonathon Davies, well done to you and all of the team.
Barton Rovers U10B 7 vs 0 Barton Rovers U10C
Hinsley (3);
Ellis (4,13);
Partridge (18);
Rose (20,26,31);
Barton Rovers B lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Jonathon Davies (Man of the Match)
Nick Dyer
Ben Partridge
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Benjamin Hinsley
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Charlie Robbins (Partridge 26)
Brandon Sheldon (Davies 25)
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Barton Rovers U10 (Manager J. Partridge) vs Eastern Rangers
(Match played at Palmer Park Stadium, kick-off 14:00 , Referee Sajid Nawaz )
Report:
1 st Half: Rangers kicked off playing uphill and threatened early with a fast break. Good defensive covering by Dyer kept the Rangers player under pressure, forcing him to push his shot wide to the relief of Rovers fans. Though Rovers did not know it at the time this was a pattern which would repeat itself throughout the match. Sheldon also saw himself working hard in the early part of the game as Rangers pushed down their left but he also covered well to prevent any damage being caused.
Rovers settled and quickly responded. A corner from Rose found Partridge turn in a good effort which the keeper just managed to push around the post. Minutes later Ellis broke down his familiar left, slipping past the Rangers defenders, and hit a good shot which flashed just wide into the side netting.
Pressure, through good passing and movement, won a corner for Rovers which Rose floated into the area. A good run in by Partridge saw his head meet the ball as it paralleled the near post sailing like a rocket in at the rear post giving the keeper no chance. A classic goal from a set-piece; 1 - 0 to Rovers.
Rovers continued to press hard. Rose launched another good cross from the left which found Robbins. He turned and shot from close in only to see the keeper make a good save. Minutes later Rose hit a long range effort from close to the right touch-line only to see the keeper push it over the bar. Ellis worked himself into another good position and hit a shot which saw a great reaction save by the keeper, Ellis attacked the rebound and, although he beat the keeper, couldn't believe his luck when the ball hit the post and went out into touch.
With the end of the half approaching Partridge found himself with space available as Rovers broke down the right. Some good work by him saw a well struck shot catch the wrong side of a post and ricochet out for a goal kick. A very busy first half for both teams and still all to play for.
2 nd Half: Rangers came out in a very businesslike manner and started the half pressing hard. Almost immediately they won the ball and a good through-pass started another fast break. There was no stopping this one and Rangers scored a good goal to get the match back on level terms at 1 - 1.
This stirred up Rovers and they came out looking to immediately take back the lead. Rose gathering in midfield, passing to Ellis on the left who saw another strong shot slam into the side netting. Even the manger decided to get in on the act, making substitutions trying to stir things up a little.
With almost his first touches Hinsley, moving in from the right, made a good pass to Ellis on the left resulting in another shot going just wide. Partridge collected a clearance in midfield and passed inside to Hinsley. He hit a well stuck shot which flew past the keeper to see Rovers go into a 2 - 1 lead.
Rangers fought hard to get back into the game. A fast break by them saw Watkins have to quickly come off his line to stifle the problem. Within a minute another cutting pass found Rangers breaking through and Watkins in another one-on-one. But again no hesitation as Watkins charged off his line and bravely dived to collect the ball. Another attempted through ball, this time well cut out by Davies. He in turn played a good pass to Ellis who sprinted in and saw another shot go wide.
Rangers tried to get their forwards into the game with a long ball. Davies cut out the attempt with a well directed header finding Partridge who started closing on goal. He struck a good effort which was blocked but the rebound only got as far as Rose. He weighed up his options and from long range lofted a strong shot which gave the Rangers keeper no chance, 3 - 1 Rovers.
Rovers defended well and kept attacking at every opportunity but many attacks were broken down by Rangers. An attempted long ball out of the Rangers defence was cut out by Partridge. He controlled it and quickly let fly a shot which dipped in front of the keeper and bounced wickedly to pass him making the score 4 - 1 to Rovers.
Rovers pressured straight from the restart but the Rangers defence continued to break up the attacks. From another such break up another clearance, this time Rose picked up the ball in midfield. He steadied himself and hit a looping shot which cleared the keeper and made the score 5 - 1 to Rovers.
Time was ticking away and Rovers looked comfortable towards the end. The score could have been more when in the dying seconds Ellis hit a screamer which hit the bar but in the end a very workmanlike performance saw Rovers finish with a 5 - 1 win.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Ben Partridge, well done to you and all of the team.
Barton Rovers 5 vs . 1 Eastern Rangers
Partridge(6,39); Hinsley(29);Rose (35,40); Unknown (21)
Barton Rovers lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Brandon Sheldon
Nick Dyer
Ben Partridge (Man of the Match)
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Hinsley (Robbins 24)
Davies (Sheldon 25)
Barton Rovers U10 (Manager J. Partridge) vs Caversham AFC Cobras
(Match played at Turnhams Farm, kick-off 11:30 , Referee Simon Hinsley )
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Right lads! We are not going home until we find that ball!!
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Report:
1 st Half: Rovers kicked off playing uphill and went straight out for an early goal. A couple of promising moves followed one another culminating in a well hit shot from Rose which flew right across the face of goal, drawing appreciative applause from the home supporters as a result. Another good move saw Robbins beat two players then lay off a good pass to Partridge who hit strong shot just over the bar.
In reply the Cobras pushed forward winning successive corners but with Watkins marshalling his defence of Sheldon and Hinsley they were kept well at bay. Rovers went on the attack again, Watkins to Rose, Rose to Ellis and a superb cross which just drifted out past the far post. An individual effort from Rose, down the right-hand side this time, a good strike but just around the right-hand post.
Cobras come back, from the right wing a looping shot catches Rovers keeper just off his line. At full stretch he gets the tips of his fingers to the ball but cannot prevent it from crossing the line. The Cobras take the lead and it is the turn of their supporters to roar their appreciation.
Rovers restart, no long faces just determination to get back on equal terms. Ellis sets off down his familiar left wing, his first cross is blocked, the second attempt finds Partridge who has a solid effort blocked by the Cobras defence. Partridge and Rose combine down the right, another good shot - well saved by the keeper. More pressure, successive corners for Rovers.
Another well taken corner by Rose finds Watkins in the box, he turns the ball goalwards - the defence try to block, it cannons off one of them into the net. The equaliser: 1 - 1. Rovers press Cobras after the restart, a good effort from Watkins, blocked by the defence, another strike on goal from Rose, again well defended by Cobras and the referee blows his whistle to end a great half of entertainment!
2 nd Half: Rovers quickly closed down the Cobras after the restart, Ellis sprints down the left and sends over a well weighted cross but Robbins, at full stretch, couldn't quite get on the end of it. Cobras respond. A well flighted corner sees a solid header by Sheldon put the ball out for another. This one also has plenty of height - but once again - Sheldon gets his head to it!
Rovers press forward, an effort runs through to the Cobras keeper, he kicks out and the ball is gathered in midfield by Rose, he controls, moves forward a little and fires a looping shot which beats the keeper, 2 - 1 Rovers. Five minutes later a throw in finds Rose by the left-hand corner flag, he manages to pass his marker, turns and fires a low drive. It takes a minor deflection and beats the keeper, 3 - 1 Rovers.
Cobras work hard to get back into the game but more solid defensive work by Hinsley and a great block by Sheldon maintain the lead. As the match moves into the final few minutes Rovers press again. Partridge picks up a clearance and fires in a great return which creeps inside the left-hand post to make the score 4 - 1 Rovers. In the dying seconds Ellis hit the post but the final score was 4 - 1 to Rovers.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Harry Rose, well done to you and all of the team.
Barton Rovers 4 vs . 1 Caversham AFC Cobras
Robbins (20); Rose (23,28); Partridge(38) Unknown (14)
Barton Rovers lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Benjamin Hinsley
Brandon Sheldon
Harry Rose (Captain & Man of the Match)
Sam Ellis
Ben Partridge
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
None available
Barton Rovers U10 (Manager J. Partridge) vs South Reading C
(Match played at Reading Girls School , kick-off 12:00 , Referee Leonel De Oliveira )
Report:
1 st Half: Rovers kicked off and made a lively start. Early pressure resulted in a corner which well was delivered by Rose and equally well cleared by South Reading . Seconds later, following some good work in midfield, Rose played a good ball through to Robbins who fired a low shot but the keeper got down well to save.
The game moved along at a very quick pace and Ellis, sprinting down the left wing, put in a superb cross which, sadly, Rovers could not capitalise on. South Reading battled gamely into Rovers half and some good defensive work by Dyer and Davies prevented any damage being done. Rovers fought back though and some good approach work found Ellis coming in on the right hand side of goal from where he lofted an effort which beat everyone! 1 - 0 Rovers.
Almost from the restart Rose picked up the ball in midfield, made a great run to beat a number of players and fired a shot which went high to beat the keeper, 2 - 0 to Rovers. Things just got better when within a minute of the restart Ellis, working down his more familiar left hand side, fired a great shot which seemed to go through the keeper! 3 - 0 to Rovers.
Many more chances came Rovers way, the best of which were a great strike by Partridge which went into the side netting and, in the dying minute of the half, a good corner by Rose saw Robbins with a glancing header which just went over the bar.
2 nd Half: The Rovers keeper had hardly touched the ball in the first half but South Reading looked set to change all that when they started brightly in the second half. Good pressure saw good covering work by Dyer concede a corner. Watkins moved confidently though and easily gathered from the cross. The game then settled into a good contest with neither team gaining an advantage until around the ½ hour.
After some crisp work in midfield by Sheldon the ball found it's way out to Ellis and, after making a looping run in from the left hand side, he fired another good low shot to beat the South Reading keeper. This gave him his hat-trick and Rovers a 4 - 0 lead.
Rovers seemed to find their second wind and from this point they started attacking again and again. Good pressure saw Robbins let loose a good attempt which narrowly crept past the post. Hinsley had two efforts within a minute - one well saved, one hit the bar. As the game was drawing to an end Ellis made another good run and cross which found Robbins at the back post. He slotted home to make the final score 5 - 0 to Rovers.
The parents Man of the Match this week went to Sam Ellis, well done to you and all of the team.
Barton Rovers 5 vs . 0 South Reading C
Ellis (6, 8, 30); Rose (7); Robbins (39)
Barton Rovers lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Nick Dyer
Jonathon Davies
Harry Rose (Captain)
Sam Ellis (Man of the Match)
Ben Partridge
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Benjamin Hinsley (Partridge, half time)
Brandon Sheldon (Davies, 26)
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Barton Rovers U10 (Manager J. Partridge) vs Thatcham Tornadoes B (Match played at Tunhams Farm, kick-off 10:30 , Referee Simon Hinsley )
Report:
1 st Half: This game started off well from Rovers point of view with plenty of good crisp passing. After only 5 minutes Rose played a great through ball to Hinsley on the right hand side, whose effort was only just kept out by the Tornadoes.
Tornadoes, of course, also pressed to score and Dyer cleared well with a great header. Straight up to the Tornadoes half and Partridge missed by the narrowest of margins. The game was moving quickly from end to end and after 7 minutes Watkins was forced into a great save from the Tornadoes. Dyer and Davies defended well, with Watkins marshalling his defence with good clear calls.
Rovers responded and pushed back hard. A number of shots peppered the Tornadoes goal. As the final few minutes of the first half ticked away Hinsley and Rose both had good efforts on goal. A brief stoppage as one of the Tornadoes took a knock saw the game run through to half time at nil - nil.
2 nd Half: Rovers went out attacking and got an early corner. Rose put in a good cross but, try as they might, the goal eluded Rovers. More good efforts saw Ellis and Rose both unlucky. A foul on Robbins in the 26 th minute saw Rose's great free kick also thwarted by Tornadoes. On the half hour Sheldon returned to the game and immediately got stuck in making strong challenges to win the ball.
A great to and fro game saw Tornadoes score in the 31 st minute giving them the lead. Rovers moved up a gear and started the first of many attacks to level the game. Ellis coming in from the left had a good shot well saved. With about 5 minutes of the game remaining Rovers pressed forward again. A good run through midfield by Rose found Partridge in a great position and he made no mistake. 1 - 1 and all to play for.
The last five minutes saw both teams trying hard to gain the advantage. With only minutes to go Ellis collided with a Tornadoes player but both were OK to continue. Strong attacks by Rovers won them a corner which was well taken by Rose but Rovers just could not find a winner. The final result was 1 - 1 with both sets of spectators applauding their teams for a very exciting match.
Well done to all for a very entertaining game of football and a special 'well done' to Ben Hinsley who was voted by the parents as their man of the match (don't drink all that champagne at once!).
Barton Rovers 1 vs. 1 Thatcham Tornadoes B
Partridge (36) Unknown (31)
Barton Rovers lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Nick Dyer
Brandon Sheldon
Jonathon Davies
Benjamin Hinsley (Man of the Match)
Harry Rose (Captain)
Ben Partridge
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Sam Ellis (Davies, half time)
Charlie Robbins (Sheldon, half time)
Barton Rovers U10 (Manager J. Partridge) vs AFC Newbury
(Match played at Henwick Worthy Sports Field, kick-off 11:30 , Referee Patrick O'Donnell )
Report:
1 st Half: Although this was the second game of the season there were still a few nerves evident as the game started. In the first minute Newbury pressed forward and a seemingly straightforward clearance spun off the side of a boot onto one of their players and was deflected in to leave Rovers 0 - 1 down.
Although a little shaken Rovers picked themselves up and set about making amends for the unfortunate start. In the 4 th minute coming in from the left Ellis had a good effort well saved. A couple of minutes later Rovers earned a corner from which Sheldon's shot could only be parried by the keeper and in the ensuing scramble Robbins managed to get in a strong shot which was also blocked by the defence.
It wasn't all one way though and good defensive work by Dyer prevented another attack from Newbury from causing further damage. Following the clearance Ellis once again closed on the Newbury goal - he struck a really good shot which was tipped around the post for a corner. From the corner another effort from Robbins just crept over the bar. Within minutes another strong run by Ellis was again saved by the Newbury keeper. It was exciting football and certainly kept all of the supporters on their toes.
In the 14 th minute Ellis was subbed by Hinsley and Rovers immediately went on the attack again. Following some good approach work, Partridge wasted no time when the opportunity presented itself and he let fly a good low drive which flew past the keeper into the bottom left-hand corner for the equaliser in the 15 th minute. 1 - 1 and all to play for.
Another substitution (Davies for Sheldon) meant fresher legs available and the game restarted and kept up it's pace. Newbury were not about to give up though and they came back quickly to try and retake the lead. Following some good approach play it was only quick thinking by Watkins, coming out to meet the threat and saving well, that prevented Rovers going behind a second time. But as the referee blew for half time the score remained 1 - 1.
2 nd Half: The second half began with good work in midfield by Rose and Partridge. Some good battles developed with all players working hard and trying to gain an edge. After 23 minutes Rose managed to get a good low shot on goal which was well blocked by the Newbury keeper. After 26 minutes we had an unusual occurrence when an ambulance stopped play briefly but after a drop ball restart on the centre circle the match resumed.
Both teams worked really hard throughout the remainder of the game with highlights being a great cross from Ellis which, had it not been cut out, looked certain to have left Rovers with another goal. In the final couple of minutes Sheldon couldn't believe it as he watched a powerful shot just miss past the right-hand post. In the final minute Sheldon again had a good strike saved as the keeper dropped to take the ball on the ground. A strong finish by Rovers but it wasn't enough to change the score from 1 - 1.
Barton Rovers 1 vs. 1 AFC Newbury
Partridge (15) Unknown (1)
Barton Rovers lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Nick Dyer
Brandon Sheldon
Harry Rose (Captain)
Ben Partridge
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Subs:
Jonathon Davies (Sheldon 16 minutes)
Benjamin Hinsley (Ellis 14 minutes)
Barton Rovers U10 (Manager J. Partridge) vs Burghfield Bullets
(Match played at Turnhams Farm, kick-off 10:30 , Referee Simon Hinsley )
Report:
1 st Half: As this was the first game of the season it was obvious that everybody had a few nerves as the kick-off approached. Once the referee blew his whistle to start though both teams settled quickly. Tackles came thick and fast in the first ten minutes but neither team seemed able to gain any lasting advantage.
Playing uphill meant things were a little harder for Rovers but after fourteen minutes, a good break down the left wing left Ellis quickly closing on goal. Although determined efforts were made by the Bullets defenders, Ellis crashed an excellent shot from a tight angle, into the net. One - nil Rovers.
Almost from the restart the Bullets threatened to get equal. From the left an attempted lob seemed to be heading goalwards, but a great save by Watkins maintained the lead for Rovers and this was how it stayed until half time.
2 nd Half: Rovers started the half with a little more determination and started pressing the Bullets hard. Twenty-five minutes into the game Ellis, who had been running hard up and down the left, was substituted by Hinsley. After twenty seven minutes, following some good play through midfield, Partridge found himself some twelve metres from goal and clear. He fired off a tremendous shot into the top right hand corner which left the Bullets keeper no chance. Two - nil Rovers.
Just after the restart, Sheldon substituted Davies bringing a fresh pair of legs to the defence. Soon after this another good move by Rovers, again down the left hand side, started. The result was the ball being played square to Partridge. Partridge moved on goal and from about five meters out he drilled a low drive past a helpless Bullets defence. Twenty nine minutes gone, three - nil to Rovers.
The Bullets now pressed forward to try and get back into the game but Rovers defence held well. After thirty five minutes a good clearance found Robbins clear on the Bullets goal. Racing in he fired a vicious shot from almost on top of the penalty spot which flew into the top corner leaving the Bullets keeper no chance again. Four - nil Rovers.
The remaining five minutes of the game remained lively with both sides still trying hard to score. The best of these attempts was a great strike by Robbins in the final minute, when, an excellent save by the Bullets keeper denied him his second goal of the match. Final score four - nil to Rovers.
Barton Rovers 4 vs. 0 Burghfield Bullets
Ellis (14)
Partridge (27, 29)
Robbins (35)
Barton Rovers lineup:
Aaron Watkins (Goalkeeper)
Jonathon Davies
Nick Dyer
Harry Rose (Captain)
Ben Partridge
Sam Ellis
Charlie Robbins
John Partridge (Manager)
Dean Robbins [aka Chunky] (Assistant manager)
Subs:
Hinsley (Ellis 25 minutes)
Sheldon (Davies 28 minutes)
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