MR U11 NL Silver 2024/2025 (Market Road League) - Los Campos

A tough result but a promising performance.

Despite from what the scoreline suggests, I truly feel we deserved the win today. In the first half we were determined, engaged amd confident. We were very composed on the ball and well as efficient and controlled when we pressed. There were lovley passages of play throughout the half. We consistently built up from the back and created some very good chances. It was very very unfortunate the ball did not end up in the back of the net. We hit the bar, good saves from the opposition goalie and a few slips or misplaced footwork cost us. The goal we conceded was due to a slip in focus amd discipline.  A loose pass allowed them to overload us due to some players being out of postion. The half ended 1 - 0. It was a massive shame we did not take the lead we very much deserved.

In the second half, some old habits returned. There were moments where some were ball watching rather than chasing the ball down. We communication also was lacking for some parts. We conceded two goals by our own error. We did not successfully clear a corner which lead to a simple finish for the opposition and we also conceded from an indirect free kick situation that was very close to the goal. I feel there were some moments in the second half they have up a little bit. But towards the end of the game we had a very good spell again when we returned to the level of focus we had in the first half. The game ended 3 - 0 but we deserved so much more.

The result, of course, is disappointing. But I do not want it to take attention away from the clear progress the team are showing. When they focused on the fundamentals we have been practising today, we were absolutely fantastic. If we can keep those levels for an entire game, we will be absolutely fantastic. The key takeaways from today's game is applying the finishing touch to attacks and keeping self belief. They have show they are good enough, now is the time for them to believe it.