HIGHLAND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: NWS HYL U18S 0 VS 6 CLACHNACUDDIN
In short, an actual game of two halves today on the Portree Astro. First half, there was almost nothing to choose between the two sides. North-West were disciplined, solid, and kept our shape much better as a team. One lapse on the stroke of half-time cost us, Clach breaking and scoring when we'd had a free kick deep in their half.
Second half, fitness and physicality told. An older squad, Clach upped their tempo at the same time as we started to tire and get ragged. The more we got stretched and mentally fatigued, the more spaces opened up to our opponents. The game went away from us in the space of 15 minutes and four goals.
Thank you today to Simon Wallwork and John Masson for coaching support, to our ref Heckie Cormack, to everyone who came out to support the lads, to Karen Allan, Scott Milne and everyone at the Fingal Centre, and to our match sponsors, Skyeskyns, and our club sponsors, Muirhall Energy.
To our squad, heads up. Just our fourth game at this level still, this was 90 minutes against a strong, experienced HYL squad and for 50 minutes we were bang in the contest. Bridging the gap will come from training together, and playing more together against such opposition.
NWS squad today: Lachlan Micski; Aaron Mackenzie; Tom Rokahr; Magnus Kroonstuiver; Sam MacLelland; Charlie Latton; Jamie Ross; Fraser Allan; Eoghann Campbell; Ross Macleod; Ruari Preston; Sam Fenlon; Fred Wallwork; Charlie Rees; Cailean Dunkel; Neil Lawson
S&LJFA U15S LEAGUE: LOCHALSH U15S 2 VS 4 NWS U15S
Bouncing back from the blip against Broadford last time out, the U15s came out on top in an always tough away fixture against Lochalsh.
As a group, they did the unglamorous stuff without the ball very well throughout. Kept a tight, narrow shape and stayed disciplined. With it, they stretched the big Kyleakin pitch to its fullest, were quick with their passing, tireless in their running.
In the first half, chances came and went, but patience was rewarded with two goals late on. The first from a clinically delivered set-piece. The second with a slick passing move sending Jake Bold free for a smart finish.
Second half, Lochalsh struck first with a well-placed shot from the edge of our box, but North-West re-established a two-goal margin from another on-the-money corner. Back Lochalsh came once more, the one occasion we switched off, sloppy marking at a free-kick. We kept the ball moving well for the remaining nine minutes, young Peter Martin and Eoghainn Graham outstanding all night down our right flank. Time, too, for a fourth goal: a 25-yard rocket from Charlie Rees to seal the points.
NWS squad last night: Toby Wallwork; Hector Macgregor; Peter Martin; Fergus Mackenzie; Somhairle Matheson; Evan Masson; Cailean Dunkel; Gordon Mackenzie; Charlie Rees; Eoghainn Graham; Robaidh Anslow; Finlay Crawford; Somhairle Burrows; Ryan Dunkel; Jake Bold
NWS goalscorers:
Gordon Mackenzie ⚽️
Jake Bold ⚽️
Own goal ⚽️
Charlie Rees ⚽️
HIGHLAND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE: NWS HYL U18S 1 VS 3 KEITH U18S
Our first home game in the Highland Youth Development League may have ended in defeat, but even with a number of players missing from the squad, this was a much improved team performance from last week and gives us plenty to build on going forwards.
We started the game brightly, had the better of the opening 20 minutes. The difference at this level, though, are the fine margins. During that purple patch, we created, but couldn't take a couple of presentable chances. One lapse of concentration and we found ourselves a goal down to a clinical Keith finish.
The second-half began as an almost mirror image of the first: North-West on top for 15 minutes, before we got caught by a Keith counter attack, a penalty resulting. 0-2 and tougher still, the fact an additional red card reduced us to ten men.
We can, however, take the greatest heart from the final third of the contest. A man down, we played with spirit, determination and togetherness. Keith added a third from another break away, but we twice went close to pulling a goal back ourselves, and before Shihab Iqbal grabbed us a well-merited consolation with a fantastic finish from distance.
Big thanks today to: our match sponsor, Angus MacIntosh Joinery, and our club sponsor Muirhall Energy. To the coaches and players from Keith FC. To our match referee, Angus Campbell. To everyone who came out to support the boys. And to Simon Wallwork and Jason Bold for their usual invaluable coaching support.
NWS squad today: Daniel Warby; Aaron Mackenzie; Eoghann Campbell; Magnus Kroonstuiver; Sam MacLelland; Fraser Allan; Tom Rokahr; Ross Macleod; Shihab Iqbal; Ruari Preston; Sam Fenlon; Louis Canning; Neil Lawson; Charlie Rees; Jake Bold
NWS goal:
Shihab Iqbal ⚽️
3 DEC 22: NWS U16S 6 VS 0 WESTER ROSS U18S
by Paul Rees - 16:41 on 03 December 2022
NWS U16S 6 VS 0 WESTER ROSS U18S
Taking over for today's second game against an U18s squad from Wester Ross, our U16s made it two highly impressive showings, and a brace of clean sheets, on the spin.
As they were last time out at Nairn, the lads were focussed and disciplined from the first whistle. We set up tight and narrow in defence, were quick to squeeze play into our opponents' half and kept a stranglehold on the game for long periods.
With the ball, we went up another notch from Nairn - quick, incisive and always looking to play forwards. We scored five times before the interval, three goals the direct result of us pressing so high up the pitch and a couple of goal of the season contenders from Ruari Preston and captain Fred Wallwork.
We made seven changes in the second half, highlighting the growing strength of the squad by maintaining momentum and carving out a succession of other chances. We claimed just one more goal, though, Ruari Preston rounding off his hat-trick with a poacher's finish from a corner.
Big thanks once again to Neil Mackenzie and the Wester Ross players and parents for making the trip to play us; to our referee, Angus Macintosh, and to everyone who turned out to support the team today.
Over seven games since August, this U16s squad has grown and progressed to the point where we're now starting to play with an identity, plus some panache and menace. That's down to the commitment all of the lads have shown with their training and their togetherness. We've a break now until our next game in February, but from then on, it'll be full steam ahead...
NWS U16s squad today: Daniel Warby; Lachlan Micski; Fred Wallwork; Aaron Mackenzie; Ross Evans; Sam MacLelland; Tom Rokahr; Tristan Crowe; Fraser Allan; Ruari Preston; Ross Macleod; Shihab Iqbal; Louis Canning; Cailean Dunkel; Eoghann Campbell; Charlie Latton; Jake Bold; Charlie Rees
NWS goals:
Ruari Preston x3
Fred Wallwork x1
Fraser Allan x2
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