It’s a win not a Drew for the U9’s!

The U9’s won a hard fought battle at Roundhill School today against a very good Keyworth United blacks squad.

The u9’s made a few changes to the line up that faced W.B Warriors the week before and also a change was made tactically, with Kain Swain playing in a new defensive midfield role.

The game as usual between the two teams started off equal with a tight midfield battle, and to the boys credit they quickly settled into the new formation.

As the half went on the U9’s started their slick passing and their footballing game that had been missing in the last few weeks. Kain Swain took to his new role brilliantly protecting the back and winning tackles all over the pitch. Luke Ward and Ryan Mills also started very brightly, with Ellis Chambers always looking to get down the left.

Half way through the first half, the back two of Jack O’Leary and Ellis Chambers intercepted the ball at the back, the ball fell to Luke Ward who ran through the midfield before sliding a ball left to Ryan MILLS who took a touch before firing low into the Keyworth United net. 1-0.

Five minutes later the injured Ward was replaced by Niall Drew who nearly made an immediate impact. The ball again well won by Swain in midfield, was played through by Mills to Millington who knocked it square for Niall Drew to run on to but just couldn’t guide it passed the keeper who saw it safely into his hands.

Chances were had at the other end though and Keyworth could have easily levelled the game after a couple of mix ups at the back, but to the boys credit they kept it out, and Frazer seemed again to have everything covered in the net.

Half time 1-0.

A difficult team talk at half time as I didn’t really want to make any changes as we looked to protect our lead, but one change saw Harry Shaw come on for the excellent Chambers.

With seconds of the restart though Keyworth could have got themselves level, a miss kick in the defence helped the ball out wide to be thrown into the box but Frazer made a good save low down.

Harry Shaw then looked to make amends for his error as he ran free from the back to send a looping shot just over the bar from the edge of the box.

The game then became an end to end affair with Nathan Millington running his socks up front as the lone striker. Time and time again he chased everything down and managed to get to most of the goal kicks but just couldn’t find the goal he so richly deserved.

With 7 minutes left on the clock, Luke Ward won the ball in the middle of the park and set Niall DREW free down the right Niall skipped over a challenge and drove into the box before firing a second Beeston goal into the net 2-0. Game over, lets make changes…………


Straight from kick off Keyworth United went through the Beeston defence and the striker found some space to score low to Frazer’s right, 2-1 game on again!

The last 5 minutes was really exciting and a good end to a great game as Keyworth pushed hard for a leveller, with the last throw of the dice, they did have one last attempt that was safely saved by Frazer, and relief as the full time whistle blew!

Full Time 2-1.

This was an excellent example of grassroots football between two good teams, and both sides should be given the credit for making it such a good game to watch.

I thought the boys adapted very well to the formation I asked them to play today and it didn’t take them long at all to settle down. It just goes to show how their understanding of the game and positions is improving as they get older.

Sometimes to win games you have to battle hard and that’s what everyone of them did today, with everyone putting in an excellent shift for the team.

Special mentions today for Kain Swain and Nathan Millington who I thought was absolutely outstanding.

As a coach and a manager I does get harder each week to make changes and I apologise to Taylor Dawson who didn’t even get a kick but was there part of the squad, he took it very well and something I expect everyone else to do as the season draws towards it finale.