U15 Calcio Talent and Select - Matlock Town

A strong start from Calcio saw us dominate possession and territory in the first quarter. We created pressure on their backline and chances should have been capitalized on.

We conceded a goal on the counter against the run of play that could have been dealt with better & this allowed our opponents to gain some confidence.

Our opponents now fancied there chances and the second quarter was more evenly contested with both teams enjoying spells of pressure and creating opportunities to score with Matlock Town creating the clearer ones. We kept them out but then conceded from a long ball over the top which was disappointing. We are forcing our opponents back and making them play long but then not dealing with counter attacks and long balls well enough as a team. It's something that will improve with more games together.

After the halftime break the players came out with the same intensity that they began the game with only this time we managed to convert chances into goals. 4 goals in a quarter could have been 5 or 6 quite easily and we were well on top. It was pleasing to see that the players are capable of overrunning teams and hopefully something will we see more of going forward. 

In the last quarter we were hanging on to a lead rather than going to kill the game off. This wasn't a tactic as we spoke about getting more goals in the last quarter by maintaining the standards of the 3rd. Perhaps a lack of belief in ourselves mixed with a good response from Matlock Town allowed them to finish stronger and we conceded 2 goals which could have been more but for some last ditch defending and poor finishing.

On chances created id say 4-4 wasn't far off a fair result but the way we tried to play was pleasing and the right way for players to develop their skills and progress their game to the next level. 

A step in the right direction but more collective resilience required to turn good football into winning in style.