GAME Week 2 v NAFC JUNIOR SECTION BLACKS (CUP)

First of all, we're lucky to be playing today. Rutherford's pitches were unplayable and are really struggling after a wet summer and the sheer amount of football being played on them. Thanks to Adrian at Newton Aycliffe for getting the game on and thanks to the Rutherford parents who stepped in to give players lifts and put in the 40 mile round trips to get the kids a game. Amazing effort.

On to the match, Joe was captain for the day, Shaun and I have agreed that we're really going to try and build a strong team spirit this season and build a togetherness and camaraderie, one of the ways to do this is really celebrate birthdays. So at training sessions or matches directly following a birthday will be a big thing, Joe was 11 yesterday and as such had the honour of leading the team out.

Newton Aycliffe started the quicker and a long throw caught the Rutherford defence out, Newton got into the box and scored from a tight angle. It was a very good finish, the striker took the shot on early not allowing the defence or keeper to set themselves. 1 nil after 1 minute, less than ideal.

The next 13 minutes were all Rutherford however and it was the introduction of Jacob really changed the game with his powerful, direct running in behind the Newton defence. The more he ran beyond the Newton back line the closer he was marked, which left space for James, Max Johnson and Penny to exploit and it was Max Johnson who got Rutherford back on level terms. Penny was tackled in the box but managed to get the ball back to Max who finished well, shooting the ball between the keeper legs.

Rutherford firmly in control now and creating chance after chance. Jacob through on goal but denied by some good goalkeeping. Penny breaking through and firing in dangerous crosses and nearly scoring herself with a powerful shot which whistled wide of the top corner. James shot over the bar and hit a post when it looked a certain goals and it was eventually that man Jacob who put Rutherford ahead with a well taken goal, assisted by Max Johnson.

2-1 at half time and a few changes in personal but the pattern remained the same, Rutherford dominating and creating chance after chance. Jacob was back on the scoresheet, assisted by Elliott. 3-1. Up next was Max Billingham with two quick fire goals after replacing Jacob both assisted by Max Johnson and Elliott rounded the scoring off with a 6th goal, 10 minutes from time, assisted by Max Billingham. The goals were all of a high quality and a result of making good decisions in the final third, something we work on an awful lot. Knowing when to dribble or when to pass is what separates good players from average ones and today our decision making was second to none. That goes for our defensive players too, Taylor, Connor, Callum, Joe, Mason, Amir and Jack all played very well. They held their positions, covered each other, strong in the tackle, positive in their approach to long balls and communicated well. A clean sheet in the second half is testament to how well they played.

Shaun and I have always looked for key words or phrases the players can cling on to when playing, words like "relax", "check your shoulders" and "recycle" are used a lot and following last weeks defeat we worked on finding a few more. You'll hear our new Moto "Out Run, Out Fight, Out Play" used a lot this season, in addition to "Stay in the game". These two Moto's or phrases optimise what we're trying to do as a team, if we focus on the first two aspects of our Moto "Out run" and "Out fight", we will earn the right to "out play" teams. "Stay in the game" means just that really. Now we've gone up a division, teams will be better than what we faced last year and there will be times in matches when we're under pressure and need to stay in the game by being compact, being calm and brave enough to keep possession.

Anyway, enough of the 'coffee table' neuroscience, 6-1 was a great result and it could've been more if offside decisions went our way and the keeper wasn't in such good form. MoM or Star Man as Pitchero calls it was Jacob Munday. He was a real game changer today when he came on and absolutely ran the back line of Newton Aycliffe ragged, they breathed a sigh of relief when he was subbed (little did they know Max B was coming on!) and when up front in a 2 with Max, it really was double trouble! Excellent performance, well done.