Match report New Mills Junior's U9's vs Team Goal Girl's U10's - 30/11/25

Season 3 - Episode 12: Shoulder to shoulder... we stick together!

A place in the semi final of the Richard Gregg cup was up for grabs for our under 9's on Sunday! It was a chilly one to say the least, the pitch hadn't quite thawed out but that didn't matter, we had a quarter final to play and with Team Goal Girl's in our way again it didn't take long for things to heat up! 🔥⚽️🔥⚽️

It was our 3rd meeting against the girls and we know they don't mess about! They are up for the fight so after a quick chat amongst the coaches during the warm up we all agreed to start strong! Luckily for us we had an array of talent waiting in the wings when needed, Ned, Ryan, Mia and Joseph would be our gamechangers this week, each of them bringing a different flavour to the mix! The whistle blew and we flew out of the traps, pinning the opposition in their own half for the first 10 minutes.

Our forward line of Finn, Leon and Myles we're relentless! Leon was determined not to let the defenders have time on the ball and he pressured them as soon as they tried to play! He had plenty of efforts on goal but I've gotta pick one out here... he won the ball on the half way line, played it out to Myles on the wing and carried his run into the box... as it was whipped in at pace he's let it run through his legs and flicked it with his back heel, you know the ones I'm on about... it glanced the post and went agonisingly wide, what a goal that would have been!

Finn was picking the ball up deep into his own half and weaving his way up the pitch, gliding past tackles and getting us on the attack. He was constantly testing their keeper out with some powerful strikes but his free kick at the end summed up how unlucky he was... he smashed an absolute rocket right at the keeper and she's swung a leg at it, sliced it onto the post and watched it roll behind her across the line and away from the opposite post, how did that not go in?!

Our goal of the season contender came against the girls the last time we played them, when Myles curled one right into the top bins! No goals for him this time around but he didn't half work his socks off! He was on the receiving end of some strong challenges but he kept up the intensity and just wouldn't stop! He's a constant threat down our right hand side, he's direct, attacks with purpose and just like Ryan does down the left he's putting some brilliant balls into the box for the forwards!

Star of the week in school and a superstar performance,  love that pal! Our back line had to be bang on it today against these girls, it's frightening how quickly they turn defence into attack! Reuben was back inbetween the sticks and had a solid first half, them long kicks over the top are coming in handy at the minute, especially against a team that like to hold their shape and press from the front!

There wasn't much he could do about the goals and when the girls went through 1vs1 with minutes left we all held our breath... but Reuben's goalkeeper training is paying off as he came rushing off his line to make himself big, clipping the shot with the heel of his boot to send it wide and keep us in the game, good technique or just pure luck? We didn't care we were just glad to see it go wide 🤯 I'm surprised Max didn't ask to swap sides with Teddy in the first half, someone wouldn't shut up giving him instructions... it was me... but it was all positive though 🫣 I thought he had an outstanding game! Especially in that first half! When the girls broke into our half he didn't sit back and wait for them to make the first move... he met them head on, never giving them time to settle! A couple of minutes into the 2nd half the girls sat back and Max saw his opportunity... he literally dribbled from his own net and when the girls closed him down he went past one... went past two... at this point we would all usually be shouting "get your head up Max" but we couldn't help but admire the run! I'm not entirely sure if he did but it felt like he dribbled past the entire team and when his shot went just over the crossbar we just had to applaud him... because if that would have gone in, the stadium would have lost the plot! He just jogged back to his own half like it was nothing, cool as a cucumber! Teddy was having another great game alongside Max, he often stays back when we attack, giving Reuben that extra protection and encouraging the midfield to push on. The girls got past him a couple of times but he somehow managed to get a toe in and recovered brilliantly! Now these kick-ins... I personally think they are a nightmare, nobody really knows the rules because it changes every week, it's such a grey area. Teddy put the ball on the line for a kick-in and realised it went out about another 10 yards forward, as he's rolled it up the line to where the ball went out of play their forward has played the ball and ran towards goal, we all looked confused, some of us stopped but the ref waved play on... one or two touches later and the ball is in the net! It's not our style to challenge the ref and that will never change but he was brilliant after the game explaining his decision to us 👍🏼 personally... I didn't think Teddy did anything wrong but it is what it is, get your head up Ted!

Our game changers all made a massive impact this week when we needed them! We brought in Ned at the back to sure things up, he was launched off the ball a couple of times, it takes some doing with a kid like Ned so you know these girls are ruthless! He had a go back though and timed some tackles perfectly, his composure on the ball is improving every week, so much so that he can be a little too composed at times 🤣 when he's looking for that pass and the opposition are closing him down, our calm and collected instructions of "look for that pass now Ned" soon turn into "GET RID OF IT NED!!" 🤣🤣 just testing us aren't you mate! He's found his place in this team now and we're all delighted for him! Mia has been firing on all cylinders in training recently, I missed last week's game but I was told she was on fire! She wanted to show these girls that she can mix it up with the older one's and she did just that. Our instructions were clear... "When you get on the ball look for that space and get us up the pitch". When the girls tried to pin us in we needed an outlet, a forward that will keep the defenders busy and encourage them to drop back. We moved Mia out to the right wing in the 2nd half where she worked hard to smother the attacks, often putting a foot in when we needed her to. Well done Mia! Our little Joseph, the duracell bunny I'm gonna start calling him... he never stops! Another one that is really benefitting from the training sessions up at Glossop. Everything is new for him and each week we are seeing improvements, his energy and enthusiasm for the game is awesome to see! He struggled in the 2nd half when the girls instantly took their kick-ins, we've practiced them in training but we promise, if you keep applying yourself like you've done so far this season, everything will click into place, top man Joseph! I love this version of Ryan when he gets into that groove! His first touch after coming on was a crunching tackle to win the ball back! 'Tournament Ryan' was back... controlling the pass, turning towards goal and running at it! When he's in this sort of mood it's brilliant to watch! He was providing them trademark crosses for Myles and Leon in the 2nd half and when one of them was cleared back to him he hit it first time and buried it into the bottom corner, what a goal Ryan, absolutely well deserved after a performance like that!

The build up to this game was huge, it was the talk of the school run all week! Then Reuben dropped the bombshell on Friday afternoon... "Harrison had to go home poorly from school" 😱 oh that was it... messages started flying around... the group chat was popping off... will he play? Won't he play? Well he turned up on Sunday morning not looking 100%, his Mum said to keep an eye on him, we spoke about not starting him but he's been so important to the team so far this season! "Give him 10 minutes and see how he goes" well... let me tell you this... HE. PUT. HIMSELF. ABOUT!! A 70% Harrison is still a problem for any opposition! He hassled, he hurried, he closed down every ball with purpose! In games like these, in a quarter final against one of the best teams in the league that first goal is so important... and when their keeper pulled off a double save it was cleared to Harrison, everyone expected him to 'smash it' but he calmly tucked it away into the bottom corner, such an important goal at an important time, it settled us down massively! He went on to have a phenomenal game! Using up every last ounce of energy to help his mates out in the cup! Huge well done to Harrison who took home the player of the match trophy, very well deserved pal 🏆

I know we bang on about it but they really are a top team these girls, their keeper is absolutely unreal, some of the saves she made today you just couldn't help but applaud no matter which team you were associated with! Our Reuben is pretty decent in net but she's honestly the best keeper I've ever seen at this age group!

Everyone made mistakes at some point today, some more costly than others but we never let any individual shoulder the blame on their own! We enjoy the highs together and we face the lows together, nobody infront and nobody left behind, shoulder to shoulder, sticking together! We go again on Sunday kids, we're right behind you as always 💛🖤

Ryan ⚽️

Harrison ⚽️🏆

⚽️🖤💛⚽️

#upthemillers