Another 9 a side game with Pinhoe once again maintaining shape and discipline to control the game.
Pinhoe had lots of pressure early on and were soon 2-0 up. On both occasions simple passes from defence out wide found Jake on the wing who squared the ball for firstly Kai and then Tyler to score. Central did pull a goal back before half time. Pinhoe defence were out numbered 3 vs 2.

In the second half Pinhoe scored four more goals- a tap in for Josh Riglar, Cory then picked up a loose ball from a corner and fired in a great shot. Brandon and Jordon both got themselves on the score sheet to complete a comprehensive victory.
Well played everyone good shape and passing. Cory man of the match for a good defensive display and a great goal.

Player of Match: Cory Hancock

Pinhoe Spartans 1 v 3 Central A
Goals: Josh Riglar
Friendly Game

Central A proved to be tougher opposition than the first match.
Early on there was pressure at both ends with Jake passing and moving well on the right hand side. Central broke through and despite a good save from Jack went ahead when the rebound was followed up. Harry and Kai up front both chased hard and put a couple of good moves together.

In the second half the match remaimed tight with Pinhoe again putting some good moves together. However, Central relied on their very quick striker who broke through and made it 2-0. In response Tyler shot over the bar but Central sealed the victory when again their striker was quicker off the mark with a lose ball and made it 3-0. Josh Riglar and Tyler combined straight from the kick off and pulled back a consolation goal. Well done to Tommy who came into the centre of defence and played well. Man of the match was Jake who despite only playing for the first half made things happen for Pinhoe with some simple passes.

A nine a side game, bigger goals and a bigger pitch, would Pinhoe be able to cope? Well the answer was a very definate yes. Pinhoe held their shape and passed the ball round and thoroughly deserved their win. All the boys had trained hard in the week and practiced passing and moving and they managed to do it again in the game. Early on Jake Proctor put Pinhoe ahead which certainly took the pressure off. However, by maintaining their positions Pinhoe looked comfortably in control of the game. Having said that Cully did force Jack to make a save. But Pinhoe broke out of defence at speed , Jake chased, crossed and Tyler put the Pins 2-0 up.

In the second half Pinhoe didn't quite find the form they showed in the first half. Cully did play better and used more of the pitch. After some solid defending Cully managed to thread a good ball through the centre of defence and pulled a goal back. By the end of the second half a few tired legs left the game stretched at times but overall everyone played well with very few mistakes. Brandon is man of match for running non stop. One thing to remember boys put a head on those high balls- it's really boring for the parents to hear Gary shouting 'Don't let it bounce' every 2 minutes!!!

Player of Match: Brandon Carnell

What a difference a week makes! With a bit of passing, movement and communication Pinhoe showed football can be a simple game. The midfield linked realy well together particularly Owen and Jake. Tyler and Brandon both hit the woodwork. The first goal came from a shot by Owen which Tyler managed to tap in after the keeper saved.

In the second half Kai Salam came on and was lively from the start. However, it was Brandon who put Pinhoe 2-0 up with a left foot shot after a good interchange between Kai and Jake. Meanwhile Pinhoe defended well, with Josh playing solidly throughout. Pinhoe won nearly everything in the air- There were some great headers from Brandon, Tyler, Rory and Jake. West Hill managed only a few shots which didn't trouble Jack. Pinhoe sealed the win with a good pass from Brandon allowing Tyler to make it 3-0. West Hill had some good players up front and they pulled a goal back when a loose ball fell to one of their strikers who had a good touch but had been well marked by Josh and Rory all morning. This was a really good team performance even some of the mistakes were made trying the play the simple passes to feet. Well done all round.

Player of Match: The Whole Team

West Hill Hornets 0 v 3 Pinhoe Spartans
Goals: Kai Salam 2, Tyler Smith 1

espite the good performance earlier Pinhoe didn't quite start this game in the same vein. West Hill forced Jack into an early save and Pinhoe looked a bit slack all round. However we soon sharpened up with some solid tackles from Josh Reed and Rory in defence, Pinhoe broke out with Brandon and Tyler linking well but the shot was saved. Again some good combinations between Tyler and Kai, Rory and Brandon kept the pressure on. The first half ended 0-0,

Early in the second half West Hill hit the post and then Rory linked with Tyler whose shot looked goal bound but the ball was in the side netting. Nevertheless the ever attentive Mums still celebrated despite being only 5 yards away. Soon after Kai chased what looked like a lost cause into towards the corner but quickly turned, shot and found the top corner of the goal from a really tight angle- if you remember the Marco Van Basten goal you get the idea! A definate candidate for goal of the season. West Hill did come close but Kai pooped up again to make it 2-0. Another good link between Josh, Owen and Tyler who made it 3-0. Again lots of good performances throughout the team.

Player of Match: Kai Salam

Pinhoe managed to be quite competitive in this match for the first few minutes and even went ahead following a good move from Cory, Harry and Josh Riglar. But from the kick off Pinhoe went to sleep and didn't wake up. Westexe immediately equalised and from then on played the better football.

A change of personnel at half time made no difference with Pinhoe conceding near post goals and simple goals from corners. Before long it was 7-1 with Pinhoe only able to reply with long shots which didn't trouble the keeper. Towards the end of the second half Jordan pulled one goal back with a well struck shot. This was too little too late. Unfortunately everyone was half asleep which let the opposition out-play us.

Player of Match: The Ref

Following the previous match Pinhoe started this game with more purpose and were certainly being more competitive and actually started talking to one another. Alphington took the lead but Pinhoe maintained the pressure and won a penalty. It wasn't our day as the penalty went wide. Pinhoe continued to play better and started to pass the ball around. As a result we had a few goal attempts and won a couple of corners. Harry played well and equalised. Soon after Pinhoe conceded another soft goal - 2-1 Alphington.

The second half saw Alphington go 3-1 ahead from a corner. Pinhoe came close through Owen. His clever pass from a free kick gave Brandon a clear shot on goal to make it 3-2. From then on Pinhoe played with a bit more purpose, Owen passed the ball well. Finally a corner from Jake hit Jordon and dropped to let Owen equalise.

Player of Match: Owen Castle

After last week's poor performance a session of passing practice on thursday certainly looked to be paying off with Pinhoe playing much more as a team. Harry Mollins had come into the side and did some good work out wide which freed Tyler for a shot which he then scored with the follow up. Culm were playing some good football too and equalised when the Pinhoe defence failed to get tight enough to their forwards. Culm then went ahead with good shot which beat both the defence and goal keeper. Pinhoe kept passing and came close to equalising on a number of occassions.

In the second half Pinhoe continued to press with Josh Riglar winning all the headers in the middle of the park. Pinhoe pressure paid off with Harry and Brandon both having shots. Brandon forced the equaliser after a goal mouth scramble.
In the final minutes a strong tackle from Rory sent at least 4 mothers diving out of the way of the ball, a diving header from Wendy saved the day.

Player of Match: Harry Mollins

11th April 2009
Pheonix 2 v 2 Pinhoe Spartans
Goals: Brandon Carnell, Owen Castle
Friendly Match

With a slightly shuffled line up Pinhoe continued to play well. Jake and Owen combined intelligently throughout the game. An early shot from Brandon gave Pinhoe a lead. Phoenix reponded soon after and made it 1 - 1. They were lucky not to go ahead when a shot beat Jack in goal but bounced off the post into his hands. However they did score when Rory let a long goal kick bounce, allowing one the strikers to shoot. Pinhoe continued to pass well with Owen hitting the bar and then finally levelling the score.

The second half saw no more goals but the Phoenix keeper pulled off some great saves from Brandon, Owen , Josh Riglar and Tyler. A good game with some great tackling from Owen, a couple of good corners from Tyler and great play from Jake. Well done everyone

Player of Match: Owen Castle

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