A much improved second half

At training on Monday we spoke about four things we are working on.

Strength on the ball and in the tackle.
Supporting the ball carrier.
Ball speed in possession.
Keeping our structure and using our width.

We went over these things before the game and then went out in the first half and did virtually none of them!

We allowed them to dictate the tempo of the first half and once again got caught too flat in a line across the back. We have got to improve our marking and our communication. We gave away possession and allowed them way too much space to play. The first half was end to end and Rongotai made more chances than we did. Probably our best chance was Jacob's shot from the top of the circle which beat their goalie in the corner and their full back cleared off the line. We need to keep working on our movement and our support play and pass the ball round, not through, the opposition. We should have had a number of PCs including the most blatant when their defender played the ball with his foot, knee and chest but I was pleased by the way you kept your heads on the pitch and didn't let the refereeing get to you. We had the poorer of the first half and were kept in the game with tackles from Rupert, Bunsi and Finn and some good saves from Tom. We were lucky to go in level with there being no score at half time.


We changed things a little at the start of the second half with Ed going off injured and pushing the forwards up. We finally began to get some control on mid field and put them under some sustained pressure. We had a couple of shots and a couple of times the ball just ran away from us in their circle. Jamie managed to collect a rebound off the pads and reverse it past the keeper. We kept fighting and near the end Ethan put pressure on their keeper who was caught in two minds and Ethan bundled it into the net to score our second. It was a great example of determination and perseverance. Shak, Jacob and Nick got some much better passing going in the second half. Jack and Riley created some good width and could both have scored and the defence really stepped up in the second half to close them down more effectively. This was a game we could easily have lost and it was great to see us getting stronger towards the end rather than conceding as we have done a couple of times.

We need to ensure that Finn, Nick and Bunsi are aware of what each other are doing and where each other is. We cannot afford to leave a big hole in the middle like a giant doughnut!


This was our famous option 1 at what turned out to be our only PC of the match. (you may remember that's the one where we miss the stick stop, have the first shot blocked top circle then track around the top of the circle chased by the defender feinting shots till we screw it past the near post from an impossible angle). Perfectly executed!



Jamie and Ethan both took their chances well but we need to be sharper in the circle and more aggressive in winning PCs. I would like to see the midfield shooting more on sight from the top of the circle. We are converting a good percentage of our shooting chances which is great to see.


Players of the day were Tom for some great saves and clears and Jayson who worked hard and made one epic chase covering 50 metres to make a tackle just outside the circle.

Well done on a much improved second half. If we can start to put it together for a whole game we can be really dangerous. We are still on track for a top two finish with our destiny in our own hands.

Match Result Wellington College U15A 2 Rongotai 2nd XI 0