16th December 2007

Under 12s League Cup

Ekco Whitecaps 1-4 Downhall Youth A

This week was a cup game against Downhall Youth. 

A very fast break in the first minute by Downhall needed Daniel to pull off a good save.  For the first 10 minutes much of the play was towards our goal with Downhall having quick players who were able to take advantage of some good balls through the middle, Jake, James, Taylor and Josh N were called upon to defend well at the back.  Gradually Ekco got into the game and a good move from a corner saw Josh L cross the ball to Billy whose shot was well saved by their keeper.

On 20 minutes Daniel made a great save from a Downhall shot.  Some good pressure by Ben D forced a corner which was scrambled away by Downhall.  A long goal kick by the Downhall keeper was not cleared and led to a shot which went in 1-0 Downhall.  Downhall’s second goal came from another long goal kick which was not picked up, their pace allowing them to run through and score.  Just after that James made a superb block to stop another fast break by Downhall.

Early in the second half good interplay between Ben D, George and Talent saw Talent’s shot well saved by their keeper.  Another strong break by Downhall needed a brave save from Daniel, who was hurt in the collision.  Some good pressure from Elmonzer lead to him shooting only for it to be saved off the line.  Another break by Downhall made it 3-0.  A precise pass through from Ben D to Talent forced a save from the Downhall keeper to Talent’s shot.  At this time Ekco were finding it difficult to make inroads into the Downhall half.

A powerful ball forward by Elmonzer to Josh L forced a corner.  Then George, Talent and Josh L combined to see Josh shoot just wide.  Yet another powerful run by Downhall almost the length of the pitch ended in a goal, 4-0.  A shot by Nathan was pushed out by their keeper only as far as George who shot and scored 4-1.  Towards the end of the half another strong run by their fastest player brought a shot and a great save by Daniel.  Right at the end a powerful shot by Elmonzer was pushed out for a corner.

9th December 2007

Under 12s Division C

Rayleigh Boys B 2-4 Ekco Whitecaps

Difficult conditions again this week with a very muddy pitch, especially through the middle and in the goal areas.  The game was fairly even for the first 5 minutes while it appeared that both teams were trying to come to terms with the conditions.  After a good move by Ekco the ball came to George who shot just wide of the post.

A good pass from Nathan to Talent allowed him to square the ball across the Rayleigh goal and Josh K tried hard but was unable to quite reach it to put it in.  At the other end a shot following a good break by Rayleigh needed a good save from Daniel.  On 15 minutes a cross from Ben D after a good run down the right wing fell to George who passed it on to Talent, his shot was pushed out by the Rayleigh goalkeeper, it came out to Ben D who scored a good goal.

Another good run by Ben D saw his shot hit the post and come out to Talent and his shot was scrambled away by the Rayleigh defence.  A fine shot by Elmonzer brought an excellent save by the Rayleigh goalkeeper who pushed the ball over the bar.  At this time the Ekco defence was playing well with Josh N making some good blocks and Jake, Taylor and James clearing most things.  Taylor made a particularly good headed clearance at this time.  A long clearance from Jake fell to Talent who made another strong run and shot to score a superb goal to make it 2-0.  Ben D took the ball in his own area and ran the length of the pitch only to see his shot go just wide.  At the end of the half a handball in the area gave Ekco a penalty that Ben scored, 3-0 at half time.

Early in the second half a break by Rayleigh brought a brave block from Daniel, unfortunately the ball fell to allow Rayleigh to score.  A shot by Talent following a good run went just wide and George had a shot saved by the keeper.  Jake made a good clearance after Rayleigh had run through the Ekco defence.  A ball well won by Elmonzer was passed on to Ben D, Ben’s shot was on its way in until it held up in the mud and was able to be cleared.  Rayleigh were awarded a penalty which they converted, 3-2.  At the other end Ben D fired in a free kick for the game to finish 4-2 to Ekco.

Today was hard work for the boys with it being difficult to keep the ball and themselves moving in the mud, but once again they all stuck to the job and came away with a deserved win.   

2nd December 2007
 
Under 12s Division C

 Ekco Whitecaps 7-5 Southend Manor

 
The conditions for the game today were very difficult after heavy rain all morning.  It was decided that the game would go ahead as the rain had stopped at kick off time.

In the first minute the conditions played a part as the ball stuck in the mud in our area and a Southend Manor player was able to shoot and score.  Shortly after that a shot by Ben E was pushed out by their keeper for a corner.  At the other end James defended well to block a shot from Southend.  A pass from Billy to Talent saw him make a superb strong run and score, 1-1. 

After 15 minutes Talent put the ball through for Josh L to run on to and he scored a great goal, 2-1.  Ekco now had to defend well and Jake covered well to break up a Southend attack.  A shot by Southend was well saved by Daniel but hit the inside of the post and unfortunately went in off the rebound from Daniel’s back, 2-2.  A good pass from Josh N to Talent who played it on to Josh L capped a great move with a goal, 3-2 to Ekco.

Southend Manor scored 2 goals towards the end of the half, as we were guilty of not getting the ball away quickly enough on both occasions, 4-3 to Southend at half time.

Ekco were under pressure from the kick off and Daniel made a good save in the 1st minute pushing the ball round the post.  Still in the 1st minute Josh L was tripped in the penalty area but unfortunately the penalty went wide.  After 5 minutes Nathan, George and Billy combined to allow Billy to finish the passing move off with a goal, 4-4.  Another passing movement started with an excellent ball from George to Josh L to Nathan who finished with a good goal, 5-4 to Ekco.

After 15 minutes Daniel made a great save to stop a Southend attack.  A good corner by Southend right into the penalty area led to a goal, 5-5.  Southend were then awarded a penalty that was hit against the bar and came out to safety.  A quick break from Nathan and Josh L saw the ball just beat them both to be gathered by their keeper.  Shortly afterwards the ball fell to Ben E who hit a shot from just outside their penalty area and scored, a lively celebration from Ben E followed, it was a thoroughly deserved goal, 6-5 to Ekco.  Shortly after that Ben E had a left foot shot that went just wide.

Ekco finished strongly and just before the end more passing between Nathan, George and Josh K saw the ball end up with Nathan who scored his second goal, 7-5 to Ekco

Everybody played their part today and it was a well-deserved victory for the boys, who, despite the very difficult conditions kept trying to pass the ball and got their rewards. 

25th November 2007  

Under 12s Division C

Benfleet Villa B 5- 2 Ekco Whitecaps

Both teams started briskly and after 2 minutes Daniel was called upon to make a save after a break by Benfleet.  Shortly after that a pass through from Billy to Ben D saw Ekco get a corner after Ben’s shot was put out.  A shot from Billy following a pass from Josh L went just wide.  Daniel had to go down and make another save after a shot from Benfleet following a break through our defence.

Another strong run through by a Benfleet player saw Ben E appear from nowhere at great pace to clear the danger.  At the other end a superb, powerful run by Josh L forced their keeper to make a good save.  Daniel made a great attempt to stop a shot by Benfleet after they had broken through again but the ball fell to one of their players who scored.  A long range shot by Benfleet hit our post, it appeared that Benfleet where going to shoot as soon as they were within range.

Ekco went forward and a shot from outside their area by Nathan with his right foot brought us a goal, 1-1. Towards the end of the first half Jake made a tremendous clearance under great pressure.

5 minutes into the second half after the game had been fairly even, a long range shot by Benfleet went in.  Soon after that another long shot brought a good save by Daniel.  Then a great attempt to clear the ball off the goal line, after a great effort to get back by Taylor unfortunately saw the ball bounce off the post and in, 3-1 down.

Josh L and Ben D combined to make a fast break and the excellent ball through from Josh saw Ben’s shot go just wide.  Josh L then had a shot well saved by their keeper.  Ekco were fighting hard at this point and a cross from Ben D was taken by their keeper.  Talent had a shot from a pass by Ben D saved.  Benfleet counter attacked and Ben E broke up a good attack by putting the ball out and Taylor made a strong headed clearance.  

18th November 2007

 Under 12s League Cup

 Vange Utd 0–2 Ekco Whitecaps

The first cup game of the season for the boys today, the first few minutes were very even with the play going from end to end.  After 4 minutes some excellent work by Ben Elliott on the left followed by a  pass allowed  Billy to score with a good shot.  Immediately after the restart Vange had a shot which hit the post and came out and was cleared by Ekco. Shortly afterwards Ben E made another good, strong run down the left side.  A good pass on to Billy from George saw Billy slide a superb ball through for Josh L to run on to, his shot hit the post and came back out.  Another pass from George, this time to Josh L who played it on to Ben D who went on to score.

 A break by Vange on the right hand side saw them hit the post again.  A run with the ball by George who beat a defender and shot, unfortunately it hit the left hand post and ran along the goal line to hit the right hand post and bounce out to be cleared.  The play went to the other end and Taylor made a great clearance  off the line to safety.  A Vange corner forced a good save from Daniel.  At this time the play was fairly even, a cross from Ben D saw Josh L attempt an overhead kick which he didn’t quite connect with.  Talent replaced Ben E who had to go off with an injury to his foot following a knock.

 Early pressure from Vange in the second half needed a good save from Daniel.  The second half was even with a lot of play taking place in the mid field.  Another good pass from Billy saw Talent make a run and shot, the Vange keeper made a good save.  Pressure from Vange throughout the second half meant that the Ekco defenders had to be on their toes and not many clear cut chances were created.

 A good performance in the first half by the boys saw them go through to the next round of the cup.

11th November 2007

Under 12s Division C

Ekco Whitecaps 7- 0 Benfleet

This was the first game for four weeks and the boys made a bright start.  After 4 minutes a shot from George following a throw in was saved by the Benfleet keeper.  Another throw from Talent to Ben D shortly after saw a shot go just wide.  A break by Ben D and a pass to Josh L brought a good save from their keeper and from the following corner Ben D shot just wide again.

Ekco were having most of the play at this time and shots from Nathan, Taylor and George went just wide or were saved.  After 17 minutes a shot from Ben D from well outside the area went in.  A strong run from Ben D and a ball through to Josh L saw another shot well saved.  An accurate kick out from Daniel went to Talent who played it on to Josh L who after a good run scored, 2-0. 

Ekco continued to dominate for the rest of the first half but no more goals came.
At the beginning of the second half a good passing move saw Elmonzer shoot just over the bar.  After that a pass across the goal by Josh L allowed Elmonzer to score the third goal.  A long run by Ben D after a pass from Billy ended in another goal for Ben.  Ben D then pounced on a loose ball in the area and completed his hat trick.

 An excellent ball in from Josh K allowed Billy to tap in for the sixth goal.  A cross from Billy then saw Josh K shoot but it went just wide.  To finish the scoring a strong run from Talent from just inside the Benfleet half of the pitch allowed him to shoot and score.

 A good performance by everybody today, most of the play took place in the opponent’s half of the pitch.