Under 7 Bears

Reports

19 November 2011      Liphook Utd U7 Bears vs Yateley Youth U7s

We went into this game a little apprehensive as we haven't played for a couple of weeks, but we needn't have worried: our Bears performed brilliantly.

We started a little slowly and the other team were the dominant force with several corners but without ever really stretching our defenders. Once we settled down we started to play our game and the boys worked really hard all over the pitch.  It was a very even first half with both teams cancelling each other out. Both sides had a few chances but without any luck.

At half time we had our usual change of personnel and the boys came out all guns blazing. We were motivated and confident that we could break the deadlock if we continued to pass in our usual manner.  We were not disappointed by our young cubs. After continuous pressure for the first few minutes we eventually broke them down and scored our first goal.

Our cubs continued to dominate and the pressure eventually tolled when we got our second: a good shot from well outside of the area. Although our opponents did put some pressure on us we never really looked out of our comfort zone.

A fantastic team performance by every player, we are very proud of you all.  Well done Bears.

29 October 2011 - Alton United Wolves vs Liphook Utd Bears

Today our Bears came of age with the best performance they have ever produced. Alton were unlucky to be the club on the wrong end of this truly remarkable performance. For a few weeks now we have not quite played to our potential, yet all of the time we have felt as though we were heading in the right direction.  Today was the day when our hard work paid off.

As soon as the whistle was blown we immediately pressed the opposition and tried in vain to find a gap in our opponents defence, but it was the home team who made the breakthrough.  When their striker broke through we couldn't stop him from putting the ball in the back of the net.

Alton had no idea how big a mistake they had made, they had just shocked the sleeping bears, and we all know it is not a good idea to shock a bear.  From that moment on we played some amazing football, the passing was incredibly incisive for a group of six and seven year olds, and with our striker hitting top form we scored a succession of great team goals with almost every player being involved in each of the four goals.

With a healthy lead in the bag we took off our striker and midfield dynamo at half time, in order to make sure that every player had the chance to shine; and how they did. We continued to dominate in the middle of the park and our strikers had several opportunities but were unlucky not to put the ball in the back of the net. Our passing continued and the pressure eventually tolled when we scored two further goals.

Without any doubt this was the best performance of any team that I have witnessed within our age group, every single player deserves a special mention but as I don't want for Portsmouth FC to come along and scout all of my players I will keep quiet.

Bears, each and every one of you played fantastically well we are all so proud of you.

UP THE BEARS!

5 November 2011 - Liphook Bears U7 vs Camberley Boys U7

A true clash of the titans match with two of the strongest teams in the league. Neither team have, to date, lost a game and both are renowned for their passing style of football.

The game started with both teams trying to get hold of the ball to play their own type of football, but due to the competitiveness of teams they tended to cancel each other out somewhat. Then ten minutes into the first half, our opponents scored what can only be described as a screamer.  Joe Hart would have struggled to stop that one.

This setback inspired the Bears and we fought hard to get the goal back, with several squandered chances. Whilst pushing so hard to get the goal back the inevitable happened and they hit us on the counter attack.  We have never been in this position before and our half time team talk centred around needing to take our chances and tightening up at the back.

The second half started brightly, and our cubs tried everything to break through their defence but again we were caught on the break and we went three behind. Having never been in this position before we were concerned that our brave bears would drop their heads and the flood gates would open but they were resiliant until the end. As the game went on we created more and more opportunities and finally we got a deserved goal.

Firstly I would like to say how well our opponents played, without doubt they were the best team that we have come across and they deserved their win. But I would like to make a point of just how hard we worked.  We did not lose faith in our approach and every single player tried their hardest.  If we work that hard every week then there is no doubt that the future is bright for our cubs.

UP THE BEARS!

22nd October 2011 -  Liphook Bears vs Camberley Youth

As far as player education is concerned this was a game where our cubs learnt more about themselves and this wonderful game which they participate in every week than any other game before it. We played against the biggest team we have ever come across, some of their players would not have been out of place in an U10 game let alone the U7s.... Whatever it is that they feed their kids over there, I want some for our players.

We started the game very brightly, with a lot of possession but unfortunately most of the game was played in the middle of the park with the odd attack for both teams. Then for the first time since we began this journey we faced a situation which have never encountered before ... we went behind. The goal was a bit sloppy and the defenders and goalkeeper got a bit mixed up and the only person that seemed to be awake was the opponent. 

Considering this was uncharted territory for us, we rallied and played very well for the rest of the first half but really struggled to get beyond their big physical midfielders. As hard as we worked we just couldn't find that breakthrough.

Half time came and we were feeling very positive about the way that we were playing, we just needed to make our chances count. So we made some changes and tried to match the Goliaths we faced in midfield, which worked to perfection as our striker scrambled the ball into the back of the net. That was it, we were away and suddenly we upped the work rate, applied more pressure and the size difference was no longer an issue for our brave cubs.

The continued pressure told once more when some excellent combination play between our striker and midfielders resulted in a second goal for the Bears, we were on the up and up and no-one could stop us ... no one, that is, except for the referee, who awarded our opponents a penalty which was expertly dispatched by our worthy opponents. The game continued at a more subdued pace from there on in with both side seeming to accept the inevitable result. 

So the streak continues, although slightly modified now.  We have still not faced a team with as much heart and desire as our proud cubs ... UP THE BEARS!

15 October 2011 - Liphook Utd Bears vs Churt Juniors

Lady luck visited Liphook this morning, but the run continues....

For the first time since we started playing together we did not play the Liphook way, and came out of this on the lucky side of the result.

We thoroughly dominated early on in the first half, having at least half a dozen opportunities to score without actually converting our chances we spent the vast majority of the half camped out in the opposition’s box. Feeling a little frustrated with ourselves we made the usual changes half way through the first half and so the descent into obscurity began. Having made four changes to the team we suddenly became unorganised, and our level of play immediately dropped.

We had a stern word with ourselves at half time, we made the decision that we would stand up and be counted, we talked about how we have always played as a team, and how we have learnt to dominate our opponents.  Our optimism built back to normal levels, the confidence returned to our "cubs" and we decided that we would show the opponents why we were unbeaten this season.  When the whistle blew we immediately went on the attack: pressing the opposition and forcing them to defend.

We worked really hard for 6/7 minutes, and then the pressure proved too much for our opponents and our striker put the ball in the back of the net. We looked like we were on our way, when suddenly, out of nowhere we stopped playing our game.  We started chasing the ball, and the opponents shadows, and suddenly the dominant Bears looked vulnerable. Our opponents continued to press us and apart from the heroic efforts of our goalkeeper we would have lost our advantage.

Disappointingly we continued this level of play for the rest of the game and only attacked them two or three times more without any success, whilst they were continuously testing our defenders.

This is the first time that I am not waxing lyrical about how great we are, because in truth this is the first time we have finished a game feeling as though we were lucky with the result.  A man much wiser than me once said that the sign of a great team is when you don't play well yet still get the result.

I guess if nothing else, abiding by the above philosophy, then we have shown that we are becoming a great team ... UP THE BEARS!

8 October 2011 - Grayshott Youth vs Liphook Bears

In contrast to last week's heatwave, this week winter was well and truly setting in. With temperatures lower than what we were used to we were a little slow out of the blocks, and Grayshott spent a lot of the first five minutes in and around our box.  However with a strong defensive unit and some good goalkeeping we kept their attackers at bay.

Once we were well and truly warmed up we started to play our style of football, with both midfields working hard it was a real end to end game. Both teams were going hell for leather.  It was a real tussle, without either side capitalising on their opportunities we went into half time level.

The second half started with us dominating the opposition.  Helped by the slope of the pitch we pressed continuously until finally the pressure told and we put the ball in the back of their net. Suddenly the Bears showed their claws and totally dominated for the rest of the game, some silky skills by our striker meant that we put the ball into the net two more times before the end of the game.

By far and away this was our most difficult game so far and Grayshott gave a very good account of themselves, but the Bears continue on their run.

Well done to all of the team, every single player did a wonderful job.

1 October 2011 -  Liphook United U7 Bears vs Wey Valley U7 Warriors

What a truly exciting game of two very different halves, on a beautiful sunny day. We dominated in the first half and spent an awful lot of time in their box. After a couple of very good corners the pressure eventually tolled and the ball ended up in the back of their net.  This was followed by some great passing by our defenders and midfielders, and a superb run by our striker who doubled the lead.

The early stage of the second half was a very different story.  Wey Valley worked very hard and put us under a lot of pressure. Due to the hot weather we kept changing our team around to make sure that none of the players got too hot and tired, but this meant that we lost our shape a little bit and our defenders struggled to keep out the opposition. Two very good goals from Wey Valley followed, one of which was a volley from at least 15-20 yards out (for a six year old that is remarkable).

As the game progressed we started to get our shape back and to threaten their goal again.  With some Barcelona-esque passing from our midfielders we finally made an opening which was duly dispatched by our hat-trick hero.

This was a real 'edge of your seat' game, played by two very highly committed teams. Both sides did very well and should be proud of themselves.

24 September 2011      Mytchett Athletic Eagles vs Liphook Bears

Well done to all of the Bears for the fantastic result on Saturday, every player on our team was amazing.

A special mention goes to Henry, George, Tom and Lochlan for scoring the goals.

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