Sunday 28th January 2024, Eastern Junior Alliance
Frenford FC u18s EJA 2 – 5 Buckhurst Hill u18s EJA
Scorers: Harrison x 3, Redmond x 2
By James Lamb.
The big games keep coming thick and fast, this week we had a top-of-the-table clash v Frenford after 2 tough cup games we’d navigated. Frentford are a team we’d knocked out of 2 cups already but not one we could take lightly as they sat above us in the table although they’d played 4 more games.
We started slowly but grew into the game with our high press winning us the ball in the final third allowing us to create chance after chance, Toju/H/Tay and Redmond all coming close. Eventually, we unlocked them with a neat one-two between Toju & H who then drove the ball low to the keeper’s right, 1-0. That soon turned to 2-0 after the keeper spilt Harrison’s Freekick and our consummate poacher nipped in to tuck it home.
The defence was solid Marquez / Vince & Johnny snuffing out any threat, playing some neat football around the back line feeding midfield. With Rob & Sid, trying to make sure they were keeping it moving quickly to the attacking 1/3.
We kept knocking then we opened their defence up again Redmond jinking around a few defenders cutting it back for H to slot home 3-0.
The half ended with us peppering their goal, Henry / Toju and Tay all fired wide.
We came in at HT in total control and 6-0 wouldn’t have been an unfair scoreline.
Whit warned them we need to be more clinical we need to kill off teams when so dominant, I think the boys were asleep though…..
We made a few changes Lee/Bryn and Kerim came on, and off went Toju/H and Sid.
Two quick-fire goals from them and a game that should have been out of sight were in the balance 3-2.
We tried to get the boys to focus and tried to get them back to basics. The game became more even as we settled back down, they kept trying to drop the ball into the spaces behind our back 3, and in all fairness to them, they were quick and physical, again the back line got more to grips with them, and Lee & Rob sat deeper to help control any threats. Tay was running at the causing problem, Bryn’s physical presence was knocking them off their stride, and we started looking like we’d grab another goal. Again a high press Bryn winning the ball it broke to Redmond who smashed a 30-yarder into the top corner….4-2. We bought H/Toju/Sid back on, and off went Tay/Henry and Rob.
We went 4/3/3 to stop them exploiting the spaces in behind, and Kerim made a goal-saving block with a last-ditched tackle.
We also created another 2/3 or gilt edge chances.
Then another lovely interchange down the line with Vince bursting up from LB, and whipping in a great cross, and Harrison headed in his 3rd goal of the game. Game over, top of the league….now let’s stay there 💪🔵⚫️🔵.
More huge games to come and we start with Hemel next Sunday in the cup QF.
