2011/12 Eastern Junior Alliance League champions (Herts)
Teams 2011/12 Fixtures and Results
(Key L=League, F=Friendly, C=Cup, CC = County Cup)
(Key H/A = Home or Away Fixture)
| Date – H/A | Vs/KO time | L/F/C/CC | Score/Scorer(s) |
| 11/09 (A) | Wingate & Finchley | L | 1-7 (W)Maltese,Osmond, Taylor- camera, Modeste (3),OG |
| 19/9 (H) | Bury Town | LC | 3-5 (L)Modeste (2) & Meade |
| 25/9 | |||
| 02/10 | Biggleswade Town | L | 2-2 (D) – Maltese |
| 09/10 | Kings Langley | L | 5-0 (H) – Maltese (3) , Osmond & Modeste |
| 16/10 | Winchmore Hill | L | 2-1 (L) – Maltese |
| 23/10 | Hitchin Town | L | 4-0 (W) – Burgess (2), modeste, Casey |
| 30/10 | Potters Bar | L | |
Team Match Reports
EJA League U15’s – Buckhurst Hill versus Hitchin Town – 23rd October
Hill needed to bounce back after a disappointing result the week before and this they did successfully.
Playing in to a strong breeze Hill looked comfortable throughout the first half, getting the ball down and playing some excellent controlled football. All players were passing and moving quickly and Hitchin were chasing shadows. A couple of chances from Meade and then Modeste went just wide and as the end of the first half came a delightful through ball from Modeste saw Burgess released behind the defence, round the keeper and slot the ball home for Hill to take a deserved 1-0 lead at half time.
The 2nd half saw Hill totally dominate.
Fuller , O’Connor ,Casey & Burgess took complete control of the midfield and Modeste and Meade provided significant attacking options that unsettled the Hitchin defence as well as working hard to provide a first line of defence when needed. In defence James put in some excellent headers and tackles & Ryan kept up his excellent start to the season with some superb sweeping and – when appropriate- runs forward. Ladyman and Taylor-Camera also supplemented the Hill’s attacking options with a number of great runs from full back- linking really well with their midfield colleagues. An excellent O’Connor corner was flicked on and Burgess hit the cross on the volley in to the top corner to make it 2-0. A superb Fuller header was then cleared off the line , and an O’Connor 30 yard pile driver hit the cross bar and left it shuddering, followed by a Burgess header hitting the post.
Then Meade and Modeste combined superbly (once again) to open up the defence for Casey to come running in and shoot low to make it 3-0. A very nicely worked goal.
On one of the few occasions Hitchin attacked Husaj pulled off another of his outstanding point blank saves.
Then a Ladyman pass to Casey who put in a through ball for Modeste to out jump the keeper and head in to make it 4-0.
Taylor-Camera was driving down the left, Meade helping in midfield and the game finished with Fuller hitting a rasping 35 yard drive that was superbly tipped over the bar and Modeste hitting the cross bar again.
This was an excellent team performance with everyone working for each other and playing superb football a la Barca. There will be tougher challenges ahead and improvements needed but well done boys.
Winchmore Hill versus Buckhurst Hill U15’s – EJA Herts league/Battle of the Hills
Buckhurst travelled the short distance to Winchmore Hill for this top of the table clash. The pitch was flat- encouraging a pass and move type game. Good news.
Buckhurst started well and exerted early pressure on Winchmore’s back four but after 10 minutes Winchmore came back in to the game and had a shot which went just wide plus a goal that was flagged for offside. This should have been the early alert Buckhurst needed to stay focussed against a team that were very good going forward.
Winchmore then moved forward and from a nice attacking move the ball was slotted in to the back of the net – 1-0 to Winchmore.
The game was starting to flow back and forth and a great headed clearance from James relieved more pressure in the 18 yard box. This was followed by Buckhurst driving forward and with pressure on the Winchmore penalty box it was left to Maltese to spring on a defensive error on the edge of the 18 yard box to expertly put the ball in the corner of the net. 1-1 and honours even after 20 minutes.
Then Husaj made an outstanding save with his feet from a shot 3 yards out- turning it around the post for a corner. As good a point blank save as you will see. Camara and Ladyman were having to work over time down the flanks to keep the 2 speedy Winchmore wingers in check and with Ryan providing an excellent performance at the back with his speed and no nonsense approach to defending this was looking to turn in to a very good game.
Modeste was using his speed and close control to open up the defence down the left back channel and also had time to turn and hit a great 25 yard cross field pass to Osmond who hit his shot just wide.
Meade was becoming increasingly involved in the game and as half time came the score was , a little fortuitously, 1-1.
The 2nd half saw Winchmore exert early pressure and Lewis had to make an excellent diving save at his opponents feet, followed by excellent distribution out.
Meade had a shot saved & with O’Connor and Fuller starting to exert greater control in the middle of the park. An excellent O’Connor pass to Osmond saw the defender beaten and a great cross come over saw Modeste just lift the shot over the bar. Lewis then made another great 2 handed flying save from a 25 yard pile driver and it was looking like the next goal – for either team- would win the game.
Unfortunately it was Winchmore. A good passing move opened up the Hill defence down the left and the attacker went around Lewis and slotted the ball in from a very tight angle despite a despairing dive from Ryan. 2-1 to Winchmore and 20 minutes to go.
Buckhurst responded as only they know how and Osmond drove down the right and put in a great corner that was turned for a corner. The resulting corner was just headed over by James and later on a Maltese shot brought out an excellent save from the WInchmore goalkeeper. Burgess and Casey brought some much needed zest to the midfield resulting in a Buckhurst attack led to Ash being fairly tackled in the penalty box – but the resulting melee saw the Winchmore defender hold the ball. No penalty though- much to the frustration of the watching spectators.
Then with 15 minutes left & the game bubbling up nicely the referee decided the players needed a water break on a cloudy , average autumn temperature day !. This looked like complete news to both managers but to the teams credits they then carried on with barely a hiccup. Perhaps the referee was tired or had read some Health & Safety rules.
The game ended 2-1 to WInchmore and left the Buckhurst management team with some thinking to do before the next game.
F/T 2-1
EJA Herts League U15’s – Potters Bar versus Buckhurst Hill/30th October - Tip top performance from Hill
The Hill went the short distance to Potters Bar to play their next league game. The match was played on the pitch used by the senior team and with a nice stand and big pitch – nice facilities.
Potters Bar came out of the blocks quickly and it soon became obvious that this was going to be a hard match. The Bar’s midfield were strong and hard running and the attack posed significant threats. However after a battling 10 minutes the Hill worked out who were the threats, what they needed to do and where our strengths were. What then followed was one of the best performances from a Hill team for a long time. At times it was outstanding with every player playing for each other and matching if not bettering each of their opponents.
James in central defence had his best game in a Hill shirt- winning every tackle and header and Modeste up front had the same- threatening the Bar’s defence at every opportunity with his speed and strength.
Meade played some great one two’s and also threatened continuously whilst the Hill midfield of Maltese, Fuller, Burgess & Osmond put in a superb performance against strong opponents.
Ladyman was a scary left back- winning tackle after tackle and setting up attacks, and on the other flank Casey knuckled down and had a titanic battle.
Ryan at the back was quite simply superb (again) and Husaj and then Lewis played with authority, commanding their boxes and making great saves plus excellent distribution.
On to the game. A Fuller cross after 10 minutes saw Modeste just lift the ball over the bar and this was then followed by a near post corner that Fuller expertly delivered in to the near post for Osmond to swoop and flick in to the back of the net. 1-0 to the Hill and probably deserved. A Ladyman tackle stopped a Bar hill in its tracks and he then stood up and distributed a great ball down the line to Maltese who crossed for Burgess to see a shot tipped around the post for a corner.
Then a Bar move through their midfield provided a small gap for the opponent to hit a curling shot in to the top corner and make the game 1-1. A very well taken goal and this was looking like it was going to be a titanic match. How wrong we can be. The Hill simply moved up through the gears and played superb pass and move football underpinned by a brilliant work ethic and a never give up attitude.
Hill started to threaten the Bar’s goal and an Osmond shot went just wide, a Maltese shot then just flew wide and a Modeste shot just went wide.
A goal was coming and sure enough from a clever Fuller free kick , Maltese was released to expertly shoot in to the bottom corner, 2-1 to the Hill.
Then a Meade driving run in to the heart of the defence saw a shot rebound to Modeste whose first shot was blocked but who then tapped in to make it 3-1.
Ryan then stopped a Bar attack in his own half and produced a glorious 30 yard pass to Modeste who rounded the keeper to make it 4-1.
An indirect free kick was tapped from Fuller to Maltese and another low shot made it 5-1.
There was still time for a Bar attack to produce a top quality Husaj save and the resulting corner was expertly gathered by Husaj again.
5-1 at half time and what a great half against very good opponents.
The 2nd half saw Potters Bar score an early goal from a free header but the recovery was quickly snuffed out as Hill just tackled, passed and played intelligent football all the way through. James provided a goal line clearance but it was Hill who were the more threatening. Two Hill players were injured but insisted on playing on and Potters bar just could not get back in to the game. Modeste won a free kick that Maltese hit the bar with and from another Modeste won free kick , Maltese curled in a great free kick for James to bundle over the goal line and make the score 6-1.
Full time came with a great win – 6-2.
Sometimes you just have to applaud this team for what they do and how they do it. This was one of those days. Bravo boys
