Match Report NMJFC U9's vs Bollington Bolts U9's - 19/10/25

Season 3 - Episode 7: Joseph at the double!

After last weekend's drama it was back to business for our under 9's! On the back of a school trip to Pizza Express, Thursday nights training session was played at 200 miles an hour! You had to be there but it was on another planet! It's been a week of birthdays, wonder goals in training and I finally got my fence fixed... happy days!

Birthday boy Harrison got things going with an awesome strike to settle the nerves, driving forward from the midfield and looping one over the keeper. He was tireless again, hunting down every ball and helping out at the back and after a goal line scramble which saw Reuben tip one onto the post it rolled across the line, as the stadium held their breath and the attackers ready to pounce Harrison cleared it away in the nick of time, no need for VAR this time lads! Myles got our second after some great work by our forwards, it was saved by the keeper and when Max sent it back across the box Myles was there at the back post to finish it off. He was constantly finding space out wide and when we moved him into midfield towards the end he did a great job getting stuck in. As Bollington piled forward he was winning the ball back and sending us away on the counter, well done Myles!

We gave Leon the job of being our target man upfront, receiving the ball with his back to goal he was holding the ball up and bringing others into play. When he was all on his own he was spinning defenders and getting his shots away, he would of had a hat full on another day but their keeper was having a great game!

Leon's listening more now and getting used to the speed of matches, he really impressed us today!

With Ryan nowhere to be seen at kick off we asked Max to play on the left wing, up against their biggest player he rose to the occasion. He was strong in the tackle and smart with his passes, switching the ball to the opposite wing and getting into the box ready to receive it back.

A 2nd half trademark goal where he picked it up deep into his own half, dribbled away from their forwards and as everyone backed away he let off one of his rockets that nearly broke the net! Outstanding Max!

Ryan Mbeumo made a late entrance in the 1st half but wasted no time getting involved. He had another great game going forward, twisting and turning on our left hand side he was a right handful! His powerful cross in the 2nd half was deflected in but he's claiming that one all day long! His defensive work towards the end was phenomenal, tracking back to help his mates out! Captain Teddy De Ligt was a rock at the back, Bollington threw the kitchen sink at us all game but some of the blocks he made were a joke! He was the glue to our defence when we rang the changes but his highlight came towards the end of the 2nd half when he knew he was due to come off but picked up the ball for a kick in, took two touches out of his feet and curled an absolute pinger into the onion bag, it went in off the upright and he ran to the coaches as if to say "you can take me off now" 🤣 Another highlight of the game was Reuben's penalty save, his first ever one! What a confidence boost! He didn't half grow into the game, making some outstanding saves and cheering his mates on. He can't save them all though and even when he took a shot full pelt to the side of the head he was so brave to want to carry on, top attitude from out little shot stopper! The biggest highlight though, without a shadow of a doubt came from Joseph, not only scoring his first goal but bagging his second minutes later! His team mates absolutely loved it and the parents did too but nobody was more delighted for him than the coaches! He's working really hard in training and when it comes to matches he's giving us 100%! The coaches are starting to see glimpses of his potential and it's our job now to guide him in the right direction, he's been an absolute joy to work with, top man Joseph 👍🏼

This isn't an exaggeration but every single player could of taken the player of the match trophy home, some outstanding performances all over the pitch but he's not had it yet and boy has it been coming... step forward the hardest kid on the block... the high peak Gattuso... the New Mills Nigel Winterburn! The boys tell me all the stories about him from school... that he once beat the Rock in an arm wrestle... they say he made Jaap Stam quit in a staring contest outside swizzels... when he let's rip in the barbers it's me that says sorry to him! He's the reason I make extra oranges at half time, I don't want any trouble Ned! We wax lyrical about how tough he is, how he flies into tackles, how nothing fazes him, it's all true! But he's really coming on this season, his passing, positioning, confidence on the ball, his understanding of the game, he's heading in the right direction that's for sure! He was brilliant in training and when I cut his hair on Friday night I told him that first goal is coming, defenders don't score many but when they do it's mint... just ask Harry Maguire! No goal today but he was our well deserved player of the match, keep doing what your doing pal 🏆

We all know the challenges that coaches face when it comes to kids football but we've got a tight group who love to work hard for each other, they show bravery every week and when you start to see their little personalities shining on the pitch, smiling their little heads off it makes it all worthwhile, extremely proud group of coaches today 💛🖤

Harrison ⚽️

Myles ⚽️

Max ⚽️

Ryan ⚽️

Teddy ⚽️

Joseph ⚽️⚽️

Ned 🏆

⚽️🖤💛⚽️

#upthemillers