Academy – Under 8’s and Under 9’s Reports

Barton Town Under 8’s/9’s Manager Paul Roberts recounts the weekend’s action for our two youngest Swans sides.

Under 8’s

Saturday morning saw us welcoming Messingham to Baysgarth, a very different look and feel to the game with us respecting the FA’s silent sidelines initiative. You could hear a pin drop around the sports village apart from the occasional clap to praise the players for a good period of play. The game slowed because the players were not getting the encouragement to up the tempo or push on, what the players had to do though is raise their games in terms of making their own decisions and decisions with what needed to happen with set pieces and positioning. 

The players adapted really well to this challenge and collectively as a team worked the ball out through the back and with short quick accurate passing built up the attack and finished it off with some lovely goals. Solid and composed at the back as we have been accustomed to this season. 

Swan of the match was Olle Wadham, some fantastic goals and well worked around the final third of the pitch with his teams mates. Well done Olle a fantastic morning’s work. 

Well done all, another great Saturday morning’s work out and demonstration of skill and ability.

Team; Cole Woodford (GK), Charlie Burton (DF), Eli Crosby (DF), Lilah Cox (RW) Captain, Cole Foster (RW), Miguel Freitas (LW), Noah Richardson (LW), Olle Wadham (ST), Jac Roberts (ST). 

Under 9’s

Sunday afternoon the U9’s travelled to Cleethorpes Town, the Linden Club is always a nice away fixture with the chance to get the players together from both sides at the end of the game, have a drink and watch the Sunday afternoon games on the TV. 

It was day two of silent sidelines, the atmosphere or lack of was much the same as Saturday morning. A real Swan Army feel today as not often I get the luxury of having all the players available to play, this was the case today and it was great to rotate players regularly and give all the players an opportunity to show what they can do and what they have been learning at training. Collectively and individually a great game of football, our Captain Seb really stood up and made his voice and directions heard with there being no instructions coming from me. The passing and pressing were very strong, goals were being created through working the ball through the positions and really stretching every bit of space out of the pitch. I say this every week but not apologising for repeating, this team has such a great togetherness and this comes out every time they take to the pitch, we don’t have individuals we have a team of skilful, confident players that expressing themselves each week. 

Swan of the Match, Benjamin Hanks led the line as striker, switched positions with Oaks on the left wing seamlessly and this gave our opposition another challenge as he would dynamically keep changing his position. Well done Benjamin, great strength, great link ups and a fantastic finish.

Well done to the whole team…finished off a fantastic weekend.

Team; Tommy Cox (GK), Seb Eggleton (CB) Captain, Olly Brown (CB), Harry Hatcliffe (RW), Alfie Goodley (RW), Callum Massey (RW), Oakley Deakins (LW), Oscar Barnes (LW), Reggie Cole (CM), Jacob Thompson (CM), Benjamin Hanks (ST), Jac Roberts (ST).