Under 11 Black vs AFC Portchester Youth Castles

U11 Division 2

The U11 Black team started the game in impressive fashion, displaying great patience in possession and moving the ball with purpose. This strong start was soon rewarded with a wonderfully worked team goal. Tala delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Macie, who timed her run to perfection before calmly finishing and giving the team the lead.

Unfortunately, the lead didn't last long. The opposition capitalized on a lack of defensive discipline, as too many players were caught high up the pitch, allowing them to break through and level the score. This was a recurring issue throughout the match, with players too often watching their teammates instead of providing the support needed in defensive duels—a key focus from training.

While our technical ability was evident in flashes, the opposition’s determination proved to be the difference-maker. We were too slow at times building from the back and lacked the desire to win the ball back quickly. This led to a couple of "soft" goals that could have been avoided with better positional awareness. Defenders need to better position themselves to face the play, while midfielders must drop in to offer passing options and wide players track back to help out.

Despite the frustrating result, there were still positives to take away. The team showed what they are capable of with some excellent link-up play and fluid passing. We were technically the better footballing side, but today, the opposition simply had more desire and determination to win the ball.

A big thank you to the parents who helped with running the line today; your support is always appreciated.