Badgers Vs Solihull Blossomfield

Yardley Badgers 0 v 1 Solihull Blossomfield

Both teams were evenly matched throughout the game. Each side fielded equal sets of younger players and equal sets of fifteen year olds. Alongside them a solitary adult for each team orchestrated the team, staying firmly at the back. A typical Badgers game, where each team got good chances to score and the game ebbed and flowed between each “D”.

In the first half Solihull edged it, in possession and in the shots at goal stakes. The majority going wide as they were shot on the reverse and were wildly hit. Solihull’s shots when on target were excellently saved by Jack in Yardley’s goal, making fast reaction saves protecting his goal. The defensive line this week included Edan, Rahmann and John Ballard. They played steadfast and had great support from the midfield, which helped in a deeper roll when Solihull attacked. Then when Yardley attacked the midfield bolstered the numbers in attack causing problems to the visitors defence. This resulted in a fair share of Yardley strikes at goal. The first fell to unmarked Dawood who swept a clean hit ball at goal but the keeper deflected it for a side-line ball. Dawood constantly kept finding intelligent space and was always a pass option for the midfield as they drove forward. Then soon afterwards a golden chance fell to Ethan who pressured for the ball in the “D” and won the ball and shot a fast rising shot at goal but the keeper again made a good save.

The visitors then got the only goal of the game in the fast flowing game just before the half time whistle. Yardley’s youngsters were not disconcerted and were quick to pressurise the Solihull team to try and get something from the game. With Yardley having four substitutes the team shape could have got disorganised but to the whole teams credit they held their shape splendidly and had the better of the second half and was unlucky not to get an equaliser. With the team defending as a unit and then attacking as a unit the Solihull players struggled in the second half to get many chances and a lot of the play remained in the central area of the pitch. Barakeh during this spell of the game made three sublime passes to the forward running players who made good use of the intelligent threaded balls between the opponents. Ayesha along with Kyle were bossing the midfield, breaking up the visitors moves and driving the whole team forward with mazy runs and quick passes.  The best chance for the home team’s equaliser fell to Wahaj who was having a very good game in midfield. He struck a well-timed hit at goal and only the keeper’s quick reflexes giving his team the three points.  We fielded two more new Small Heath School players. They alongside the other two new players from last week played well and their pace was intimidating and once they get a few more games under their belts they will be a handful against any opposition.

This is a Badgers squad of mixed ages, mixed abilities and mixed sizes but the way each and every player worked and battled for their team-mates was tremendous to see. They also managed to hold their position robustly and tried to be compact when defending and explosive when attacking. More next week please, away to Kings Heath Pickwick at 11:40.