Match report New Mills Junior's U9's vs Whaley Bridge Red's U9's - 01/02/26

Season 3 - Episode 18: Finn's on his way!

As we flipped the page on the calender and said "white rabbits" 3 x times it was the start of a new month. We had a great January in the Stockport Metro, aside from them late Sunday afternoon kick offs, no sooner had you got home it was time for tea, bath and bed! We were blessed with the early(ish) kick off time off 13:30pm, it clashed with the United game but luckily for us the Dad's had their phones out... "How's United getting on?!"

We've had some great battles with Whaley Bridge Red's over the last 18 months, these are proper 50/50 games and today was no different... it seems mad that we have to travel 45 minutes to Cheadle to play a team that live 5 minutes away!

Ryan got us off to a perfect start and settled some of those early derby day nerves, firing home a right footed pinger for the first time ever, I swear I've never seen him shoot with his right foot nevermind score?! He carried on his great start to the new year by working hard down that left hand side, always looking to take people on and provide those crosses for our forwards to feed on! Who remembers the Bushwhackers? Wrestlers from the 90's... it's Ryan and Harrison that 🤣 they stick together these two, rocking up to training together ready to rough us all up! I had to do Harrison's laces in the warm up so I took the opportunity to give him a little pep talk... "don't come off early, start fast and set the tone" and he didn't half take it on board! He's doing a brilliant job in that midfield, covering his defenders and getting forward to support his attackers!

We've got a plan for Haz this week in training, helping him to understand where to position himself when we play out from the back. Top drawer again this week from our very own Rodri!

Another lad that's been positionally perfect recently is Leon! We coached him through the 2nd half when we came under a lot of pressure from Whaley, he was desperate to track back and help defend but he's understanding more and more of how important it is to defend from the front! He stayed on the shoulder of the last defender and always made himself an option when we broke on the counter! His hold up play was bang on again!

As Whaley stepped it up towards half time they tested Reuben with a dipping powerful strike, he did well to get down and push it away but as he scrambled to grab the rebound, three Whaley players followed it up and bundled it in, the opposition parents loved that one, game on!

He was kept busy all afternoon with plenty of shots from distance, players trying to block him on corners... Whaley smashed another one into the top corner just before half time that he got his fingertips to! You always try your best but you can't save them all Roo!

A few of them have been in with Barber Dan this week but the mullet man was looking extra fresh! I've no idea where it's come from... because it's not something we've worked on in training but Teddy's starting to develop this knack of reading the opposition through balls and stepping infront of the attacker to win the ball first! All of a sudden he's got acres of space infront and options to play the pass, we were so impressed and it was brilliant to see his confidence on the ball! Absolutely top Ted!

Another player that's full of confidence at the minute is Mia, we're helping her to understand that position right up top! She showed us all how good her touch was when she brought the ball down from the air, looped it over the defenders head and got her shot away, what a goal that would have been! She might fold her arms and roll her eyes at us when were giving her instructions but we know she's listening and it shows. Another shift put in this week from Mia, them goals are coming don't you worry!

Speaking of goals who clocked Max's free kick? Flipping heck!! I got my phone out for the first one but he skied it over so I didn't bother for the next one, sods law! He can strike the ball clean and when he hits that sweet spot there's no stopping them! He smashed an absolute thunderbolt that went in just under the bar... what a strike! He usually carries us forward but with Teddy doing the honours this week he sat back and made sure he was there to tidy up when we needed him to! Myles the menace was a constant threat on our right hand side in the first half, going toe to toe with their best player again, he doesn't shy away from these battles and loves to test himself! He had a go on the left in the 2nd half, running at the full backs and cutting inside, when he got his goal it was thoroughly deserved... as Reuben made a routine save he's blasted one out of his hands that was on it's way to the other end of the pitch... Finn brought it down from the heavens with his first touch... even the ref mumbled "what a touch"... he went around one challenge and just when he was about to pull the trigger and give Reuben his first ever assist... he dummied it and laid it off for his bezzie Myles to tap it in at the far post! What a goal! We always try to play out from the back but sometimes you've gotta channel your inner Tony Pulis and go full on route one like Stoke!

There's a bit of a back story between Whaley and Finn... he ran riot on finals day at Silverlands... the last minute drama of the New Mills tournament in the summer... so when he wasn't there at kick off today it gave Whaley a right lift! Little did they know he had just played in the Merseyside derby and would miss the first 5 minutes... we didn't tell anyone though... we like surprises! 5 minutes in and he jogged over to coach Joe and Tom, reporting for duty! Whaley all clocked him 😅 it was like blowing a balloon up halfway and letting it go! It gave us a lift, we were buzzing! We held him back for a bit and then off he went! Looking to get on the ball straight away, gliding past challenges and creating chances for his mates! He snatched at a few early opportunities before smashing one in, we all celebrated it like a Sesko winner infront of the Stretford End! He's scored in his last 5 games so he's on fire at the minute! We honestly didn't know how often we'd see Finn this season, with his commitments on Merseyside but the fact his Dad's flying up and down the M62 on Sunday's is a testament to his commitment, loyalty and the love he has for this team, we can't fault you Finn! The development over the last 18 months in your game has been phenomenal, you encourage everyone around you to never give up and we absolutely love having you around, keep making your Mum and Dad proud and us too ❤️ it's about time you took home that trophy! Our player of the match today was Finn 🏆

We're off to watch his big sister in the panto next week... oh yes we are 😅

We've got a lot to work on in training this week. We're really struggling at the minute to adapt to these small pitches, not to mention the balls flying over the fence that we're never getting back! 14 players in a small area, all desperate for space and freedom... It's become a small league so your playing the same teams every 3-4 weeks, it's not ideal but we've got to remind the kids... it doesn't matter who or what we're up against, we approach every game with conviction, intensity and passion! This is our time every Sunday, where we forget about work... school... and everything inbetween... the world stops for an hour as we kick a ball about with our mates, you can't beat it! 💛🖤

Ryan ⚽️

Myles ⚽️

Max ⚽️

Finn ⚽️🏆

⚽️🖤💛⚽️

#upthemillers

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