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 ⚽️
NWS U18S 0 VS 3 FORT WILLIAM U18S
by Paul Rees - 16:53 on 28 January 2023
Today's game was a strange one overall. For the opening 20 minutes, we looked exactly like a team that hadn't played a full game in two months and in that time fell two goals behind - one an excellent strike, the other more of our own (un)doing.
After that rusty start, we re-organised, cleared our heads and more than matched our opponents for the rest of the game, creating several decent chances. A bit of luck, a little more composure on the ball and in front of goal, and we could have easily have taken a point from the game. As it was, Fort William grabbed a sucker-punch of a third right on the final whistle.
On the plus sides: the character we showed after falling behind so early on and in general for playing the 90 minutes without our injured keeper; Evan Masson's strong-tackling turn at left-back; and another Louis Canning cameo as a fleet-footed striker. A special word for Aaron Mackenzie, epitomising squad spirit by stepping up and volunteering to take Daniel Warby's place in goal.
Thanks to Angus Macintosh for taking charge of the game and to everyone who turned out to support the team today - fantastic to see so many of our other NWS lads and parents at the game.
Next up for the U18s looks like being the return fixture with Fort William on Saturday, 11th February.
NWS squad today: Aaron Mackenzie; Ross Evans; Seonaidh-alex Macleod; Fred Wallwork; Sam MacLelland; Tom Rokahr; Daniel Tippett; Tristan Crowe; Euan Wilson; Charlie Rees; Lewis Macleod; Eoghann Campbell; Evan Masson; Neil Lawson; Louis Canning; Cailean Dunkel
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