Manager: Pete Ward
Coaches:  Luke Peck & Rob Peck

Squad:  George Adams-Rimmer, Alex Bull, Tarsaim Rayat, Craig Peck, Ethan Ward, Chetan Rayat, Lewis McCarthy, Ben Rolf-Payne, Chris Richards, Tom Ritchie, Daniel Jackson, Sam King

Captain: Alfie Waters

League:  Bedfordshire Youth Saturday League

Homeground:  The Recreation Ground, Luton Road, Toddington.

Saturday 21st January

Home V AFC Shillington

After having last weeks game called off yet again we were eager to play today.

Still missing the injured Sam (see 7th Jan) we had a great squad still available with the returning Alex Stringer fit again following a back injury.

Today we started badly.  Slow to the ball, not closing down and using the ball badly when we did have it.  After 10 minutes we brought on 3 substitutes with strict instructions to set the tempo and do all the things we hadn't been doing so far.  This had the desired effect with Lewis starting to control the midfield.  

After a good move Chetan did it again.  From the left hand side of the area he curled another effort into the top corner.  1-0

Ben Rolf Payne came on towards the end of the first half and used his pace to power his way onto a DJ through ball and finish well for 2-0.  That was what we want to see from Ben.  Using his strength to over power defenders. 

Half Time arrived and the boys were packed into the changing room for a team talk.  Pointing out that we need to compete from the first whistle to the last if you want to win games. 

Coming out for the second half the wind had suddenly and dramatically got up and was howling into our faces.  Bad Luck!  Shillington were gifted an early goal back after yet more defensive lapses.

However we showed grit and determination to hold out for a well deserved win.  Again injuries took their toll with Alex suffering with his back again and Chris his ankles.

Special words today for Craig Peck who has a rock at left back.  Giving 100% into every tackle and imposing himself on any play down our left.

Saturday 7th January

Our last competitive league game was back in early November.  Here we were up against Harlington our neighbours.

Harlington are flying high at the top of the table.  We started the game well creating chances and competing very well.  Sam King was causing problems down the right, but was clattered early on and was forced to come off badly injured.  It was clear straight away that he would play no further part and eventually had a trip to A&E to look forward to....

Half time came and the scored were level at 0-0.  Early in the second half the magical Chetan turned on the left had side of the box and curled a majestic effort into the top corner for a deserved lead.  Harlington had also had their chances but had so far failed to convert.  At the back for Harlington was ex-Toddington player Jack Perch who was more familiar to us as a flying winger of centre forward and yet he was playing at the back breaking up our play.

AK has forced of with another injury and we were down to the bare 11 players with no subs left.  We were hanging on.

We gifted Harlington an equaliser with sloppy defending and then we were really under pressure.  Although on the break we look dangerous with Chetan and a supporting midfield.

However it wasn't to be and Harlington grabbed the win late on.  A goal mouth scramble and George had two hands on the football only for it to be kicked from his hands back into play and a Harlington foot prodded it home.  Rough on us.  However I am sure Harlington knew they had been in a game.  

It's a shame that we played so poorly today.  We have played much better this season - but I guess the 2 months off hadn't helped.

Good Luck to Harlington for the rest of the season.  Would be good to see them end up champions of the division.

Sunday 27th November

Having not had a league game for 3 weeks we organised a friendly against Houghton Athletic from the Chiltern Youth League. 

Missing DJ, Lewis and Sam we only had a squad of 11 available.  The 11 we had however continued their good form with a decent display.  

Early on Ben managed to force an own goal from a Houghton defender and soon after we added another which was a screamer from the edge of the box.  We created plenty of chances with T, Chetan and Tom going close to adding a third.

Houghton brought on some subs at half time and they created a few chances but couldn't breach our outstanding back 4.  Again Ethan played at left back and did a good job there.  This allowed Craig to play in an unfamiliar holding midfield role and he did a great job.  Tom played further forward and created plenty.

Ben added the deserved third goal mid half with a cool finish past the on rushing keeper.

Some good perfomances today.  AK has superb at right back and Ethan did well at left back.  Alfie put in another captains performance but his central partner Alex Bull carried on his rapid improvement with a superb display.

Well done all.  Another free week coming up and then we are at home to Caddington, hopefully with a full squad! 

Saturday 12th November

On the road again against top of the table Wing.  Full of hope after last weeks performance, however had a phone call telling me that Captain Waters has pulled his groin and already missing Lewis. 

We had to reshuffle with Craig going into the centre of defence and Tom filling in at left back and Ethan on the left wing. 

The boys started like a train, playing some simply breath taking football at times and making the league leaders wonder what had happened.  Missed a few chances and Wing were hanging on.  Then Tom stretched for a high ball and felt his Hamstring ping.  Whoops.  Off he came with Ethan dropping into left back and Chris coming on. 

Soon after we deservedly took the lead through Sam.  A super finish into the far corner of the goal. 

We continued to make chances and miss them.  Chris could have opened his account from a great cross by Sam. 

At the other end any chances Wing had were dealt with by Alex Bull and Craig.  Just before half time though against the run of play Wing managed a very soft equaliser.  We were shocked! 

Half time came and we overheard the Wing coach telling his boys how lucky they were to be drawing!

The second half started furiously with Wing obviously having been told to rough us up.  They put us under a bit of pressure but we looked comfortable with it.  Again the back 4 of Alex Kerr, Alex Bull, Craig Peck and Ethan Ward dealt with it.  Tarsaim did his job as the holder and DJ was everywhere. 

Chetan found himself one on one with the keeper only to be badly fouled in the box by a defender a sure fire penalty and if it were league football a sending off for the last man.  The ref didn't give it though and Wing broke to attack and scored an offside goal.  Thankfully the ref agreed with our (correct) linesman and the goal was correctly ruled out.  1-1

Shortly afterwards Chetan was fouled again in the box with the defender having both arms around him pulling him back.  Ref?  Surely?  No!

We finished the game strongly with a series of corners that we just couldn't connect with.  DJ went close with a half volley that would have been goal of the season and T volleyed over with the last kick of the match.

Shows how far we have improved.  Feeling disappointed to have "only" drawn with the league leaders.  Remember they beat us 6-1 early in the season.  Today they were very fortunate to grab a draw. 

A great performance all around the pitch.  Special words for Craig and Ethan playing out of position, DJ and T in midfield running the show.  Alex Bull was the man of the match with an outstanding display at the back but AK, DJ and T ran him close!

Saturday 5th November

A road trip to Caddington on bonfire night.  We were all hoping for some fireworks (I know that was lame!) on the pitch to deliver our first win of the season.

We had a full squad today although Tom and Lewis were looking tired after just 2 hours sleep in 2 days after the french trip!   We started the game brightly and were playing some great football.  Lots of movement and passing triangles and a few good chances went begging.  Just our luck though the Caddington impressive number 11 scored from the byline with a cross that looped over George to put us behind. 

We showed some steel though and continued to play our football with Tarsaim and DJ controlling the midfield.  A great move was finished off by Ben with a left foot finish.  1-1.  We continued to probe and create, however Caddington were dangerous on the break and George made some brave saves.  He even got stood on by a Caddington player, but it didn't stop him!

We took the lead when Chetan finished off another good move 2-1.  Ethan and Chris came on.  The good football continued.  In one move that involved Ethan, DJ, Chetan and Sam the ball was crossed to Ethan whose header was saved.  Up the other end the Caddington no. 11 managed to get another goal to go into half time at 2-2.  We were unlucky, by far the better side and still not winning!

At half time Rob, Luke and I reminded the boys that we were the better side and that we needed to just carry on doing the same things. 

The half started well.  With Lewis as the holding player with teh task of trying to contain the Caddington danger man.  He did a good job of this too although it was Alfie who threw himself at him to prevent a scoring chance early in the half.  Alfie had to come off injured and was congratulated by the Caddington coach on the tackle he made.

We were still creating chances with some neat interchanges.  Sam went close with a blockbuster strike that would have broken the goal and it was Chetan who have us the lead with a superb left footed curled effort into the top corner.  Superb and no less than we deserved. 

The Caddington Coach was over heard telling his players that "this is how you should be playing" which was a good compliment to the football we were playing.  The next goal from us was a peach.  Chetan was having a stormer, and he scored teh goal.  He picked it up after an exchange of passes with Sam and he managed to complete an outrageous flick through his own legs to leave the defender scratching his head!  Chetan then buried the ball in the far corner.  The Caddington coach then clapped the goal and he wasn't the only one!

This time we managed to gold our 2 goal lead and the game finished 4-2.  Everyone played well today.  George in goal was amazing and very brave.  DJ was superb in the middle of the park, T was back to his old self and even covered Alfie's position after he came of injured, but the player of the match was Chetan.  A superb hattrick. 

The lads have to remember who it feels to win and do it again next week when we play Wing Raiders for the 3rd time this season!  Last time we lost 2-1 when we were the better side.  Let's put that straight!

Saturday 22nd October

Today we had a home game against Leighton Utd.  We started the game superbly and our recent improved form continued.  The ball was being played around correctly and sure enough we started to create some chances.  Chetan grabbed a superb volleyed effort from a Tom cross from the left to put us 1-0 up.  Again we created many chances but couldn't take them all.  Sam however managed to grab a second just before the end of the half.

The half time team talk was simply "more of the same lads" as we had played so well in the first half.  However the boys must have not understood as they did everything differently.  The shape was gone, thee lads lost their zones and were each popping up all over the pitch leaving gaps for Leighton to exploit and they did indeed exploit!    A shocking half saw us lose 3-2. 

That's the second time we have lost a 2 goal lead.  However we are playing better football at times.  All we have to do now is keep it up for a full match!

Saturday 15th October 

Today we had a League Cup game against Wing Raiders who beat us heavliy earlier in the season.  We were missing Tom through injury.

Many of you will know that we have been struggling this season so far and we were hopeful that today our performance would improve.  We started the game well and saw plenty of the ball and used it well creating chances.  However typical of our season we let in a very, very soft goal and fell behind. 

However we carried on with most of the ball and still creating chances.  Pleasingly we were doing things that had been missing.  Challenging for the ball with aggression.  Trying to attack the ball in the middle of the park and not let it bounce.  Half time came.  Still 1-0 down.  Wing had only had one maybe two chances and were winning the game.

The second half was much the same.  Wing scored another exceptionally soft goal and we continued to create chance after chance.  Ben hit the cross bar, Sam had a couple of good chances and Tarsaim managed to hit the keeper when scoring looked certain.  Sam managed to get his first goal for the club with just minutes to go.  But it was too late.  Had that goal come 5 minutes earlier it would have been interesting.

All in all a much better day.  OK we lost, but signs were there that things are looking up.

Saturday 24th September

Today we faced Wing at home.  Unfortunately we didn't turn up in the first half.  Too many players didn't compete and seemed unwilling to work for the team.  At half time we were 4-0 down!!

After the break we were a little better and we managed to get two goals back through Ben Rolf Payne.  However a couple of lapses resulted in another two goals for Wing.  Final Score 2-5

Last season we had a real willingness to be physical and a will to win.  This season it is missing and the difference is shocking.  We need to put this behind us next week against Shillington and put in a decent performance.

Saturday 10th September

First game of the season against Woodside Wanderers.  

Started the game slowly and Woodside took the lead.  Toddington then temporarily woke up and applied some pressure and scored a headed goal through Alex Kerr.  Chetan Rayat then added a second soon after with a neat quick footed finish.  Tarsaim then added number 3.  We were 3-1 up and we hadn't strung more than 2 passes together!

Half time came and the lads went out to finish the job.  Unfotunately they forgot that they had to compete in order to win the game.  They seemed to think it was already won.  Woodside Wanderers applied pressure and got the score back to 3-3.  No less than they deserved.  

Our performances will have to improve dramatically if we are to have a good season.