Rio Juniors U12 0 V 8 Warndon Villages Sharks U12's

Sharks Squad:-
Harry Stanley, Ben Jones , Joseph Kealey, Liam Dayus , James Ridge, James Stevens, 
Matt Sowden, Jack Rule, Callum Parker, Jai Gilchrist, Kieran Burns , Sam Langston, Jordan Slade, Andrew Murphy, Connor Thomasson , James Wood


 Sharks battle to 8-0 win

Goal Scorers :-  1 Liam Dayus , 2 Kieran Burns , 2 Matt Sowden , 2 Andrew Murphy , 1 James Stevens

Warndon Sharks produced a workman like performance in scoring 8
goals past a hard battling Rio Juniors team.

The Sharks started well and should have taken an early lead when a good pass by James Wood set Matt Sowden free. His cross found Andy Murphy in space but his shot was hit straight at the keeper. 
Just after this Rio had their 2 best chances of the match. The first came when a free kick glanced off the top of Connor Thomasson's head and went over Joesph Kealey. The Rio forward was clean through on goal but a good save by Harry and block by a retrieving defender saved the day for the Sharks. Just after this Rio won a corner. The initial danger was cleared but a first time cross from out wide almost caught the Sharks out. The Rio attacker headed the ball past Harry Stanley into the net but was clearly stood in an offside position as all the Sharks defenders pushed up after the initial corner was cleared.

Matt Sowden turned provider when a James Wood pass put Matt clear on the right. His cross found Andrew Murphy at the far post. Andy duly applied the finishing touches to a good move. Then within a couple of minutes the Sharks doubled the lead when Matt Sowden used his pace to get round the Rio left back and then angle a shot into the far corner for a well taken goal. His goal owed much to good interplay from Connor Thomasson, Jordan Slade and James Wood.
. The Sharks were now using the spaces well on the large pitch with Liam Dayus, Matt Sowden and James Wood all producing telling runs without converting into goals. Jordan Slade and Jack Rule were distributing the ball well from the full back positions and Ben Jones and Joseph Kealey were looking more and more assured as the first half progressed. The Sharks maintained the pressure and from a corner the Sharks made it 3. The initial delivery from Sam Langston fell at Liam Dayus's feet. His shot was blocked and fell to Matt Sowden. Matt drilled the ball into the roof of the net to make it 3-0. Another good chance was set up for Andy Murphy when a good pass set James Wood on his way down the right wing. He cut inside and found a pin point cross straight to Andy . This time Andy missed the ball and the chance to make it 4. The Sharks missed another golden chance when a good pass by Jack Rule found Liam Dayus in space. He then drove at the Rio defence and beat several defenders. Eventually hitting a left foot shot which was well saved. Liam and Matt Sowden both had shots after with Liam hitting another left foot shot over the bar. Occasionally a lack of communication was creating hesitation in the Sharks defence but the Rio Team. But the Sharks did make it 4-0 when good play between Liam Dayus and Jordan Slade ,set Liam free. His strong run and cross found Kieran Burns in the box. He missed the ball but Liam's cross caused enough panic in the Rio defence and hit the last defender and went into the empty net.

4-0 at half time and again chances missed being the big half time talking point. Also a slightly different formation seemed to be causing a little more confusion at the back.

The Sharks did not start the 2nd half very well and a through ball found our defenders square and their big center forward went round Harry but placed his shot into the side netting. Then against the run of play the Sharks increased the lead to 5 when Jai Gilchrist challenged well for a bouncing ball and knocked the ball into James Stevens path. He used his strength and pace to out muscle a couple of defenders and hit a good cross shot into the net. A well taken goal for James making only his 2nd appearance of the season. Just after this goal Rio threatened again with another ball slid behind the square back 4 but this time good goalkeeping and recovery by J J Kealey kept the clean sheet for the Sharks. Qucik thinking created the 6th goal when a quickly throw in on the right wing found keran Burns clean through on goal. Kieran made no mistake by sliding the ball into the net. Kieran then had another good chance when a superb pass by Liam Dayus put him clean through on goal. This time Kieran hit his shot early but dragged it a foot wide of the goal. Kieran had enough space and time to take another touch. Matt Sowden and James Stevens combined well down the right wing with James Stevens eventually hitting a looping cross into the box. Both Andy Murphy and James Gilchrist could have challenged the keeper and this only could have been good enough to score the goal. James Stevens nearly added to the score when a good pass by Matt Sowden found James Stevens. James's strong run got him through on goal. His shot went inches past the far post. The 7th goal came when Jai Gilchrist looked to be through on goal . Instead of shooting for goal he unselfishly squared for Andy Murphy to tap into the empty net. The scoring was completed when Kieran Burns was put through on goal after a superb lofted pass by James Wood. Kieran rounded the keeper to make it 8-0.

The whistle soon followed with the Sharks maintaining their good start. But Rio did have 3 good chances and on another day could have found themselves 1-0 up early on.
But points to be worked over the coming weeks were. 
1) Communication , especially at the back. 
2) Finishing the chances that have been created. 
3) Being more aggressive in front of goal.

But overall the Sharks can be very pleased with their first 5 league games of the campaign.