Jaguars march on (and score their 50th goal this season)

It was a sunny but chilly and windy morning down in Hook.  We had already seen the Vikings draw 3-3 in the previous game.  The Jaguars won the toss and decided to kickagainst the wind in the first half.

Hook got the first half underway and immediately pressed forward using the wind to their advantage.  They won a corner and had a chance but put it just wide.  For the next 14 minutes Hook had alot of the possession and the Jaguars found it hard to get out of their half.  Once the Jaguars got the ball on the ground and got their passing game going suddenly things started to go their way.  James made some good runs down the right.  On one occasion he passed into Zac's feet but Zac let the ball roll on and who came in behind Zac to force the ball home.  It was Patrick for his first goal of the season on 19 minutes to make it 0-1.  After the first goal things got moving for the Jaguars.  James put a lovely ball into Peter's feet he tried an effort at goal but the keeper pushed it wide for a corner.  George swung the corner in with his left foot and the goalkeeper spilt it into his own net for 0-2 for the Jaguars on 23 minutes.  Some more good possession from the Jaguars.  Jo passed to Sam G who passed to Harry.  Harry did a chip throughball for Zac to go round the keeper and put it in the top corner of the net for 0-3 to Jaguars on 27 minutes.  Shortly after, the whistle went for half time.

Second half the Jaguars had the wind as an advantage.  Some nice inter passing play from the Jaguars put Hook under pressure straight away.  With the Jaguars relaxing more when in possession of the ball they created lots more opportunities.  On 35 minutes a good run and shot from George made it 0-4.  On 37 minutes another clinical break from the Jaguars and Zac was there to score his second of the game 0-5.  For the next 10 minutes the Jaguars piled the pressure on Hook creating a lot of chances.  Zac could have sealed a hat-trick but manged to put it over the bar from 3 yards out (just like his dad at the charity match 4 days before!!!).  On 48 minutes Peter was rewarded for his hard work and tireless running as he slotted home for 0-6.  On 50 minutes who popped up again to smash the ball home for his second of the game...Patrick.  A fine left foot shot it was too for 0-7.  On 52 and 53 minutes Peter rounded off his hat-trick with 2 very quickly executed and well taken goals for 0-8 and 0-9.  Just before the final whistle George sent a fizzing cross into the Hook area and somehow everyone watched it go past and it found it's way into the net to complete a hat-trick for George.  The final whistle blew.

Another great strong team performance by the Jaguars today.  The first half proved to be tricky as the wind swirled and made dealing with the high ball tricky too.  Hook started well enough but once the Jaguars started to pass the ball around they were no match. Some more very strong performances today made the coaches and spectators proud.

Spectators Player of the Match: James Miall (Speedy down the wing)

Coaches player of the week: Patrick Shannahan (off the mark at last!)

Due to the Weather

Jaguars great seson continues

It was another nice morning and the San Siro was in great condition again.  The sun was out and it just took the chill off the morning.  We were all set for what would be a close game on paper.

Yateley won the toss and decided to take the kick off so Joseph decided to kick up the hill first. The Jaguars got straight into their stride and immediately started pressing the ball in the Yateley half. The whole team were trying to link up and play their football but Yateley were also trying to do the same so it was difficult for the Jaguars to get into any kind of rhythm and some very competitive but scrappy play took place for a while.  Chances wise it was quite even for most of the half but then the Jaguars started to shade it with close efforts by Peter, Isaac and Patrick.  On 16 minutes Yateley pushed forward and the Jaguars really didn't relax and clear their lines.  As a result a Yateley player managed to poke the ball past Ethan and it was 0-1.  Despite some good chances from the Jaguars the score remained 0-1 at half time.

The Jaguars got the second half underway.  Now kicking downhill and with plenty of encouragement from the coaches at half time to relax more on the ball and look to play it out to the wings to create more width and space, the Jaguars pressed deep into the Yateley half.  Some good chances were created and eventually the Jaguars bot the break they deserved on 36 minutes.  A Yateley player handled the ball in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointng to the spot.  Isaac stepped up to the challenge and stroked the ball home for 1-1.  Now the Jaguars could really press their advantage home.  Only the odd charge forward by Yateley interrupted the Jaguars flow.  On 48 minutes another great break by the Jaguars and Peter fired the ball across their keeper into the far corner and the Jaguars led 2-1.  Some very good refereeing saw the jaguars maintain their advantage.  A Yateley player was spoken to by the referee for diving in our penalty area and the Jaguars also tackled immensely today.  On 54 minutes Sammie broke forward, controlled the ball, cut inside and fired home for 3-1.  That effectively ended Yateley's challenge and Patrick went close with a great effort also.

Another great team performance by the Jaguars today against a strong opposition.  It was a well contested game and once the Jaguars started moving the ball around and relaxing more they were able to unlock the Yateley defence.  It was really difficult to choose outstanding players today as the whole team played their part.

Spectators Player of the Match: Sam 'NUGE' (ever improving)

Coaches player of the week: Harry Glassar (very focused and committed defending)

Jaguars continue in great form

It was a nice morning and the San Siro was in fine condition especially given the time of year.

Wey valley won the toss and decided to take the kick off so Aidan decided to kick up the hill first.  The Jaguars got straight into their stride and immediately started pressing the ball in the Wey Valley half.  Peter was playing with great confidence and running at the defenders every opportunity he got.  He put a great cross into the Wey Valley penalty area that neither Zac nor Isaac could take and the ball passed them both.  Isaac had a goal disallowed from Peter's cross for offside (very dubious!).  Sammie had two really good efforts that beat the keeper but also the far post.  The defence was holding very solid and even in the strong wind they dealt with most things very well.  A corner from James was cleared by Wey Valley and came to Harry who steadied himself and hit a first time shot very well that only just missed the target with the keeper nowhere.  Towards the end of the first half the ball broke to Nuge on the left who showed great skill and composure to drop his shoulder and beat the first player and go on a run.  He beat two more players before just getting the ball kicked out for a throw.

Second half got underway by the Jaguars.  Nuge hit the ball into the box but Isaac, Zac, James and Patrick were caught offside.  Albert passed a through ball to Patrick and Patrick muscled the defender off the ball but just steered the ball wide of the post. The Jaguars were playing well in these first 12 minutes after half time.  The Wey Valley goalkeeper took a goal kick nut the wind was holding the ball up and the Jaguars were looking to take advantage of this.  The ball came out to Nuge who looked up, struck it well but just wide.  Isaac then saw a good shot saved by the Wey Valley keeper and Peter was there to slot it home for 1-0 Jaguars.  A brief foray into the Jaguars half by Wey Valled saw Albert control the ball and pass down the left for Patrick.  A lovely cross from the right by Peter and Zac was in the middle.  He struck a superb shot that looked, to everybody watching, like it was heading into the top of the net but somehow the Wey Valley goalkeeper rose and got enough of his fingertips on it to push it over the bar.  Another attack from the Jaguarssaw a pass from James met by Patrick who ran onto the ball.  He pushed it into the box and shot but again it was saved by the Wey Valley keeper. Patrick was on another run but got taken down off the ball by a Wey Valley player. Aidan took the free kick but it was just inches wide!  The Jaguars put a lot of effort in and as they started to tire Wey Valley had a few more attacks but our defence was like a brick wall. The Wey Valley goalkeeper took a goalkick and the referee blew his whistle for full time.

Another great team performance by the Jaguars. Today required a very mature display and the Jaguars performed. There were some lovely passing moves that helped generate a lot of scoring opportunities.  An outstanding display from the Wey Valley keeper stopped the Jaguars from scoring more goals and making the score, at least, 5-0! 

Spectators Player of the Match: Joseph Simmonds ( a rock at the back)

Coaches player of the week: Peter Nightingale (great team play)

Match report to appear here

May organise another friendly! Watch this space.

match report will appear here

A great developmental friendly for the Jaguars

Today was a great opportunyity for the Jaguars to show how far they have progressed by entertaining a friendly fixture against Fleet Spurs Sparks from the division above us.  Fleet were kind enough to accept the fixture and brought alomh 2 nre players of their own to get some match time and experience.

We agreed to play 4 quarters of 15 minutes each so that each team could try out players in different positions.

The first 15 minutes ended 1-1 with Fleet scoring first and then an own goal headed in from a great corner by Peter brought the Jaguars level.

The second 15 minutes ended 1-0 to the Jaguars with a clinical finish by Peter.

The third 15 minutes finished 1-1 with the Jaguars scoring first with a lovely strike by Isaac only to be cancelled out by Fleet with almost the last kick of the game.

And so to the last match and Fleet decided that as the Jaguars had given them a real run today that they would play their strongest 11.  It was a very even game for the most part but a sloppy goal kick from the Jaguars came stright back at them.  Three players all had the chance to clear the danger but didn't and so Fleet scored a very soft goal.  The Jaguars had chances to score but couldn't quite take them.  With just 30 seconds to go a Fleet player was felled just outside the area.  It was a great free kick that Ethan could do nothing about and so Fleet took the last match 2-0.

Overall Fleet edged it 4-3 on aggregate score of the 4 games but won great praise from the Fleet coaches.  The Jaguars played with a lot of composure today and really did play some nice passing football.  The Fleet keeper was quite impressive today and did make a few very good saves.

So overall it was a very worthwhile workout for the Jaguars.  We learned that we can be as good as any team on the day but we also learned that we can be very fragile defending and need to be more committed and take control when defending.  All coaches were very impressed with the performances of all the players today.  We certainly got a few bumps and bruises but hopefully everyone will be ok for next weeks match at Crookham.

Peter's player of the Match: Zachary Brett (Peter said that Zachary has made a big improvement this season and gets into lots of good positions to strike)

Coaches player of the week: Sam Grundy (a very committed and superb game today)