Marshfield Junior FC

U10s Archive

See photos taken by Nick Vellacott of the Devizes 3-3 draw here. Thank you Nick, captures the game and the cold very well!

Current League Positions, courtesy of the Wiltshire Times can be found here:

http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/sport/youthleague0708/u9sleague/u9sdivisionfive

3rd May 2008 - Match Report: FC Chippenham Youth 1 - Marshfield 1

Goals Scored by Jake

A scrappy game mostly played out in midfield by two teams with a lot to play for. Chippenham started the better of the two teams and after some pressure on the defence broke free to get a strong shot on goal which left Oscar no chance of getting a hand too. Marshfield weren't in the game and it was if their heads were too concerned with the league table. That said, straight after kick-off, after the introduction of Sam, Marshfield went straight down the other end after a strong shot by Jake was deflected into the Chippenham goal. It felt like the tide was now starting to turn. Just a few minutes later and Nick broke into the box and was clipped on the heels for a penalty. He recovered from the tackle to bravely take on the pressure and with dad filming in the background sent the ball into the keeper and the rebound followed in the same direction. It was looking like Marshfield were in the mood to pile on the pressure and goals and there were at least four corners and a strong shot by Jake that hit the post. However, by half time it was still 1-1. The second half started with the introduction of Leo and Marshfield started to create lots of opportunities to get forward but failed to get any real shots on goal as Chippenham through themselves in front of the ball. Again, there was corner after corner, free kicks and bursts through into the box but there was always a last minute tackle from a hard working defence. The game finished 1-1 and although slightly frustrating, it meant Marshfield are now unbeaten in their last ten games including the friendly over last years champions Trowbridge.

26th April 2008 - Match Report: Marshfield 3 - AFC Calne 1

Goals Scored by Leo (2), o.g.

Just a quick note, the boys were all very well behaved yesterday and worked very hard throughout training and the game. They really dug in for the second half as they were tired and Calne were looking to get back in it. They all played well, Louis didnt stop running the whole time and chased everything, Leo took his two goals well and Harry looked very strong in defence and moved up and down the pitch well getting involved in play reguarly. Oscar, Adam and James all made sure the team kept their lead with good defending and concentration, with Adam making some great last ditch tackles. Ollie and Sam never took their foot off throughout and Sam was full of energy, tackles and runs also putting in a superb shot from near the half way line which the keeper just got his fingers to. Obviously i must mention Damien who played all his part in midifeld and went on some great runs with the ball and got a couple of shots in. I thought Damien, Louis and Sam all linked up really well together and made some really good passes.

- Thanks to Paul for taking training and of coure to John too.

19th April 2008 - Match Report: Marshfield 4 - Dilton Rovers 2

Goals Scored by Sam, Ollie, Nick & Jake

Top of the league came to top league scorers Marshfield for a game that both teams wanted to win as the battle at the top of the table intensifies. After the first ten minutes it was remarkable that Marshfield were not down by two or three goals and only last minute tackles and some yet again brave goal keeping by Oscar kept Marshfield in the game. Against the run of play the blues broke with a long run by Sam who broke away from tackle after tackle with some deft turns. A neat pass found Nick who with a very cool head deftly returned the ball with his first touch to set up the killer blow for Sam to send the goalkeeper the wrong way with all the confidence of a boy in form. 1-0 Marshfield.

As we entered the second half Marshfield gained more momentum and another pressing attack created a classic goal mouth scramble and as the ball fell loose to Ollie there was only one outcome as he volleyed the ball into the back of the onion bag. This was Ollies first goal for Marshfield, a fact not lost on his team mates as they immediately mobbed their new hero. 2-0 Marshfield.

Credit due to Dilton Rovers, they re-grouped and put the pressure on very well and for the first time in the game broke past Louis on the wing to get the vital cross that set-up the goal. They were back in the game. Just a few minutes later another scramble and for once Oscar couldn't smother the ball and again Dilton celebrated a goal. It was now a test of character for the Marshfield team, and for the next ten minutes they found plenty of it and through sheer determination chased every ball and won almost every tackled until eventually Nick Harris latched onto a loose ball in the box to volley hard into the left hand side of the net. Can we hang on? If there were any doubts, these were cleared when Sam took his time (was he winding down the clock?) to chip over a perfect corner which Jake watched all the way to firmly head home Marshfield's fourth goal and first ever headed goal from a corner.

This was an excellent performance and particular highlights were Ollies first goal, Harry's huge contribution to the game, Louis who didn't seem to miss a tackle, Oscar for keeping Marshfield in the game and of course Sam for still making it look like there are three of him on the pitch at any one time.

An excellent team performance - well done everyone!

28th March 2008 - Match Report: Devizes Town 1 - Marshfield 1

Goals Scored by Charlie

The same old story - a draw. This time Marshfield scored in the first minute and Devizes scored in the last. A long game with very tired players. Well done everyone for another determined effort.

15th March 2008 - Match Report: Marshfield 2 - Derry Hill 0

Goals Scored by Leo & Jake

The Marsfield players seem to be having a mini competition of goal of the season and this time Jake added his name to the list with a scorcher from outside the area after a strong run down the right wing. Marshfield seem to have found a league where every team is very evenly matched and Derry proved very tough to break down and had some good players who controlled the ball with confidence. It was another end to end encounter and only hard work was going to break down Derry. Marshfield put in plenty of this with all players covering every blade of grass (and mud) and it was through these efforts that the second goal came with an instictive shot on the turn from Leo that crept just inside the post. Leo had a great game and took every opportunity to close down the defence and raced into the box with every attack without ever giving up hope. The defence of Adam, Damien and Charlie threw themeselves in front of every ball and Oscar was required to dive on top of more than a couple of loose balls, in one instance taking an accidental blow to the head in the process. Typically, he recovered to continue playing his high standard of football, with more mud on his face than the ball. Sam and Nick swapped regular passes in what is now their normal arrangement of 1-2's building up to attack and Ollie pressed the midfielders hard taking up good positions to block out key passes. Our second win of the season and one of our most consistent performances and better still the positional play of the boys is improving all the time. Well done Marshfield.

8th March 2008 - Match Report: AFC Calne 2 - Marshfield 2

Goals Scored by Leo & Jake

Another game another draw. Twice Marshfield led and twice Calne fought back well to get themselves back into this close game. The game was very well balanced and neither goal keeper had to undertake any major saves mainly due to the quality of the defending which was well managed by both teams, with Jake and Damien winning almost every tackle and clearance they went in for. Midfield was a well fought battle and Ollie made some very decisive blocks and clearances that prevented another attack on the Marshfield goal, it is good to see confidence getting better Ollie! Captain Louis worked tirelessly up and down the pitch often achieving runs which were unfortunately always one defender too long. Supported by Charlie who once again covered every blade of grass with tackles and runs we managed to create some good chances for Leo up front before a loose rebound created just the opportunity Leo needed to slot home the first goal. A similar goal from Calne in the second half brought them into it, but Marshfield kept there heads and with Louis now installed as right back it allowed Jake to get further forward to support Nick which then created that vital second goal. Unfortunately Marshfield couldn't hang on and despite Oscar bravely throwing himself in front of their striker Calne simply outnumbered the blues defence and the equaliser resulted. A fair result and Marshfields fourth draw in the last five games. We remain unbeaten this season!

1st March 2008 - Match Report: Marshfield 2 - Dilton Rovers 2

Goals Scored by Charlie & Leo

A game of two halves. Marshfield suffered a bit of stage fright during the first half of a windy match against Dilton Rovers, a well organised and fair team with some good ball players. Quite how we got to half time with just two goals conceeded can only be explained by Oscar who touched the ball more in the first 20 minutes than any other Marshfield player. The grass was quite long and the pitch muddy and the ball was just not moving.

That all changed in the second half though as Marshfield decided to attack quicker and harder. Very quickly opportunities to shoot were secured and some very good defending helped preserve Dilton's league for five minutes until the breakthrough came from Charlie. Sam won the ball in midfield after a clearance from Damien and pumped a long pass down the wing for Nick to run on to. A nice early square pass then allowed Charlie to unleash a right foot shot that might well have gone over the cross bar had it not been for that last minute gust of wind that held it up enough to drop it in under the crossbar. Marshfield were back in the game! Five minutes later another repeat attack saw a goal mouth scramble favour Leo who quickly reacted to the goalkeepers parry to head the ball home for the equaliser. At this point it was looking good but Dilton came back very strong and again on several occassions Oscar smoothered the ball or tipped shots around the post. On one occassion the ball hit him firmly in the face and he held his nerve to ensure the follow-up shot was defended too.

Well done everyone for grinding out a well earned draw, our third of the season, and special mention again to Oscar and Charlie for superb performances.

23rd February 2008 - Match Report: Marshfield 5 - Chippenham Youth B 3

Goals Scored by Sam (3), O.G. (2)

This was the fourth time the two teams have met and on each occassion the score has gone in Marshfields favour, which doesn't tell a true story about how good the Chippenham team play. On this occassion Marshfield got the better of them again and two well organised teams conjured up a 5-3 score-line that made thrilling viewing. We had the lot, own goals, shots from outside the area, great saves, goal saving tackles, plenty of corners and good sporting play all round. Marshfields' goal scorers were Sam, who got his first hatrick of the season and the two Chippenham defenders whose failed clearances deflected into their own net from corners. The best goal of the game came from a superb pass out of defence from left back Damien who in finding Charlie got the midfield moving forward. Charlie released Sam with an early ball and there was still plenty of work to do before Sam darted left and right before unleashing an unbeatable drive over the goalies head and just under the cross bar. A great team moment and an example of good passing football at its finest. Well done to everyone in the team, including stand-in goal keeper Harry and thanks again to Bill for stepping in as ref.

9th February 2008 - Match Report: Derry Hill Rovers 0 - Marshfield 0

Marshfield visited Derry Hill for the first time ever and were therefore unsure what type of game to expect. As it turns out it was a very tight battle between some very good players. In such a closely fought game there was little room on a small pitch and the first goal was going to fall to the team that could create the best chance. Marshfield created a few chances in the first half and on each occassion Jake and Sam narrowly missed the post.

Louis, who was playing his first game in goal, looked like a seasoned professional as he controlled the penalty area and on one occassion ran into a good position to parry a shot for a corner with his hands. This was the only real save of the match although were a few other times when he had to dive on the ball to stop the ascending Derry Hill forwards.

Sam and Jake ran out of puff more than once and once again Damien and Adam showed why they are gaining a reputation as the unbeatable defenders due to some essential and very well timed tackles. It is good to see Damien getting more involved in the game and it wont be long before some chances for a goal fall his way.

Harry and Ollie had the tough job of commanding a crowded midfield and in particular during the second half stopped a few key attacks with some carefully timed blocks and controlled passes out of defence.

A tiring game against a friendly and well organised team and a deserved point for each team.

2nd February 2008 - Match Report: Marshfield 3 - Devizes Town 3

Goals Scored By Sam (2), Charlie

As usual, a very biased view follows on the game so feel free to offer an alternative more objective comment on the match.

On a partly frozen pitch it was clear that the game was going to be full of mistakes due to the hard surface and cold feet and hands. Despite this, Marshfield got off to a bright start, but struggled to move the ball around a very crowded midfield as both teams swapped posession almost every pass. James using the match day to demonstrate how much his tackling and gritty blocking have come on in recent weeks. Harry ignored the cold and even under pressure from Devizes still managed to look around him and find the right pass to a team mate.

A game full of quick tackles frustrated the players but eventually Devizes got an early break through just before half time to lead one-nil with Oscar unable to see the shot coming such was the number of defenders throwing themselves in front of the ball. At half time the team were swapped around and on came Sam and Charlie to help get the ball moved around a bit more.

Soon after the break Marshfield again found themselves picking the ball out of the net after a relatively unthreatening attack led to a well taken goal by Devizes. At this point the heads could have dropped but instead the boys kept going and after a superb strike from Sam that conceeded a free kick Marshfield had a tricky free-kick about 15 yards outside of the goal. Up stepped Sam who in Ronaldo like fashion lifted the ball into the air only for the Devizes defender to handle it for the first penalty of the game. Sam kept a cool head and positively smashed it into the back of the net to bring Marshfield back into the game. Worse was to follow as Devizes further attacked the Marshfield goal and on several occassions Oscar showed bravery beyond his years to smother a lose ball at the feet of the on-coming attackers. Is there a better goalkeeper in the league?

Then disaster struck for Marshfield as Devizes smashed home a magnificent third goal to leave the game out of reach of the win with just 10 minutes to go. However, as they battled from a well timed tackled by Adam, Sam released the ball out of defence to find Nick who with a deft touch rolled the ball into Charlies path to cannon a goal in off their keeper. Is there time for Marshfield to rescue it, well thanks to some superb tackles and clearances by Jake and further Gerrard like energy from Louis one more attack was available and a corner was granted. Up stepped Sam to roll the ball in front of Jake who despite his best efforts was blocked by at least three Devizes players. The last chance lost? A spot of madness from the Devizes centre back in handling the ball now game Sam the last kick of the match. Can he handle the pressure - the roar from the parents and his team mates answered the question as the game finished in a well earned draw for both sides.

Thank you to Simon for being ref again.