For the second consecutive week, games at Gynsill Lane were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. However at Ellis Park, the under 12 9v9 game went ahead as they took on third placed Hinckley United Knitters.
Inside the opening five minutes the visitors took the lead. A through ball from midfield found striker number 11 who cooly finished, finding the bottom right corner after being put through one-on-one.
Glenfield gradually grew back into the game as the rain began to get heavier and equalised before half time through Harry Windle. The speedy winger ran with the ball down the right and into the box before shooting off the underside of the bar and in via a touch from a helpless Hinckley defender.
A minute after half time, Glenfield took the lead. A throw in from the left found Kyle Belcher who turned and shot from the edge of the box and saw his shot sneak in through the 'keepers hands with the wet conditions playing their part.
But just as soon as Glenfield went ahead, they were pegged back as the referee awarded a penalty. Number 11 stepped up and found the bottom left corner, sending Morgan Fenton the wrong way.
Both teams pushed for a winner but it proved elusive, with both teams having to settle for a point. Glenfield remain fifth in the table with 15 points and five games left to play. They welcome eighth placed Cosby United to Ellis Park on Sunday.
The only other Glenfield United team in action were the under 11 9v9 team as they travelled to Beaumont Town but lost 5-1. They play their final home game of the season this weekend, hosting Quorn before travelling to Wigston on the last day.
Glenfield United results: Glenfied United Hawks U7 P-P Oadby Owls Hawks U7, Loughborough Dynamo Dragons U8 X-X Glenfield United Tigers U8, Glenfield United Lions U9 P-P Stanton United U9, Loughborough Dynamo Predators U9 P-P Glenfield United Tigers, Beaumont Town U11 9v9 5-1 Glenfield United U11 9v9, Glenfield United U12 9v9 2-2 Hinckley United Colts U12 9v9, Oadby Owls FC U14 P-P Glenfield United U14, Glenfield United 2005 U14 P-P Leicester Bharat U14, Glenfield United U18 P-P Harborough Town YFC U18.
Monday, 18 March 2013
Monday, 11 March 2013
Glenfield United Weekly Review: 10/03/2013
A mixture of snow and heavy rain over the past few days led to five of the eight scheduled Glenfield United games get postponed this weekend.
There is some action to write about though, and it came at Ellis Park as Glenfield United U12 9v9 took on Hinckley United Colts in the cup. The hosts knocked out second division side Humberstone Rangers in the last round, but faced a tough task against a Hinckley side currently second in division one and challenging for the title.
It was Glenfield that took a deserved lead after ten minutes, and it came from a Hinckley corner. The ball was cleared and winger Harry Windle found Daniel Youngs with a lovely ball over the Colts defence before the striker fired low into the net.
Midway through the first half Hinckley equalised as number 16 had a shot from inside the area which found the top left postage stamp, leaving 'keeper Morgan Fenton no chance.
The visitors were then given the chance to take the lead from the spot as number 10 was pushed over in the penalty area. However, number 14's effort was saved by Fenton who dived to his left and parried the ball away to safety to ensure the first half ended all square, a fair reflection of how the first 30 minutes went given Glenfield's fine performance.
However, two quick goals for the visitors halfway through the second half put the game out of reach for United, with the first coming in fortuitous circumstances.
A long ball from the Hinckley defence seemed innocuous enough as 'keeper Fenton came out for it, but his clearance ricocheted off the legs of Hinckley's number 14 and rolled into the net. The third also came from number 14, slotting the ball home from a through ball.
Five minutes from time and a cross by number eight from the right was met first time on the half volley by number seven before number 16 rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.
The 5-1 scoreline was unfair on Glenfield given the spirited first half display, with no player having a bad game at all - Hinckley's quality simply shone through. Glenfield return to league action next weekend, playing Hinckley United Knitters at Ellis Park.
Elsewhere, Glenfield United Under 7 Hawks draw 3-3 at Castle Donnington. That followed their impressive 3-2 win away to Glen Villa last weekend, coming from behind twice to win the last few minutes. They will look to continue their recent good form when they play their third game in as many weeks this Sunday, welcoming Oadby Owls Hawks to Gynsill Lane.
Glenfield United Lions U9 travelled to Stanton United and were 5-2 victors. The win takes them to a total of eight points with two games left to play this season. They play Stanton again next weekend in the reverse fixture at Gynsill Lane.
Glenfield United results: Castle Donnington U7 3-3 Glenfield United Hawks U7, Kibworth/Smeeton Foxes U7 P-P Glenfield United Hawks U7, Stanton United U9 2-5 Glenfield United Lions U9, Glenfield United Tigers U10 P-P Coalville Town Rooks U10, Glenfield United U12 9v9 1-5 Hinckley United Colts U12 9v9, Glenfield United 2005 U14 P-P Westfield Wanderers U14, Glenfield United 2010 U14 P-P Asfordby Amateurs JYFC 2010 U14, Whitwick JFC U18 P-P Glenfield United U18.
There is some action to write about though, and it came at Ellis Park as Glenfield United U12 9v9 took on Hinckley United Colts in the cup. The hosts knocked out second division side Humberstone Rangers in the last round, but faced a tough task against a Hinckley side currently second in division one and challenging for the title.
It was Glenfield that took a deserved lead after ten minutes, and it came from a Hinckley corner. The ball was cleared and winger Harry Windle found Daniel Youngs with a lovely ball over the Colts defence before the striker fired low into the net.
Midway through the first half Hinckley equalised as number 16 had a shot from inside the area which found the top left postage stamp, leaving 'keeper Morgan Fenton no chance.
The visitors were then given the chance to take the lead from the spot as number 10 was pushed over in the penalty area. However, number 14's effort was saved by Fenton who dived to his left and parried the ball away to safety to ensure the first half ended all square, a fair reflection of how the first 30 minutes went given Glenfield's fine performance.
However, two quick goals for the visitors halfway through the second half put the game out of reach for United, with the first coming in fortuitous circumstances.
A long ball from the Hinckley defence seemed innocuous enough as 'keeper Fenton came out for it, but his clearance ricocheted off the legs of Hinckley's number 14 and rolled into the net. The third also came from number 14, slotting the ball home from a through ball.
Five minutes from time and a cross by number eight from the right was met first time on the half volley by number seven before number 16 rounded off the scoring three minutes from time.
The 5-1 scoreline was unfair on Glenfield given the spirited first half display, with no player having a bad game at all - Hinckley's quality simply shone through. Glenfield return to league action next weekend, playing Hinckley United Knitters at Ellis Park.
Elsewhere, Glenfield United Under 7 Hawks draw 3-3 at Castle Donnington. That followed their impressive 3-2 win away to Glen Villa last weekend, coming from behind twice to win the last few minutes. They will look to continue their recent good form when they play their third game in as many weeks this Sunday, welcoming Oadby Owls Hawks to Gynsill Lane.
Glenfield United Lions U9 travelled to Stanton United and were 5-2 victors. The win takes them to a total of eight points with two games left to play this season. They play Stanton again next weekend in the reverse fixture at Gynsill Lane.
Glenfield United results: Castle Donnington U7 3-3 Glenfield United Hawks U7, Kibworth/Smeeton Foxes U7 P-P Glenfield United Hawks U7, Stanton United U9 2-5 Glenfield United Lions U9, Glenfield United Tigers U10 P-P Coalville Town Rooks U10, Glenfield United U12 9v9 1-5 Hinckley United Colts U12 9v9, Glenfield United 2005 U14 P-P Westfield Wanderers U14, Glenfield United 2010 U14 P-P Asfordby Amateurs JYFC 2010 U14, Whitwick JFC U18 P-P Glenfield United U18.
Monday, 4 March 2013
Glenfield United Weekly Review: 03/03/2013
The busiest weekend of the season so far in terms of fixtures as 11 of our 12 Glenfield United teams were in action on Sunday.
The first featured game came from Ellis Park as the under 11 9v9 team welcomed near neighbours Anstey Swifts, currently in fifth place and beat Glenfield 5-1 back in the mid October.
After an opening 20 minutes where Glenfield 'keeper Matt Moulds was the stand out player, commanding his area and making some good saves, it was Anstey who opened the scoring.
It came through their number ten, who had been a threat leading up to the goal. Anstey caught Glenfield on the break and the striker netted from outside the area, shooting over Moulds.
And it was the same player who doubled Anstey's lead five minutes later, showing persistent work to nick the ball off the Glenfield defence before scoring from the edge of the box.
The scoreline was a tad harsh on United who created chances throughout the first half. The closest they went to reducing the defecit came moments after going two down as Jacob Taylor hit a sweet volley from 20 plus yards which cracked against the bar and bounced over.
Whatever was said at half time by the Glenfield coaching team certainly had an impact as the game was turned on its head in the opening ten minutes of the second half.
After Jacob Taylor's shot was blocked, a cross from James Pye fell to striker Aariyan Palana who thumped the ball into the roof of the net to start the comeback.
The equaliser came in slighlty controversial circumstances. A run from midfield by Pattison Mafuana saw him put through one on one with the Anstey 'keeper and the Glenfield man scored low out of the 'keepers reach. The linesman gave the goal as offside, but the referee over ruled, judging that Mafuana's run came from an onside position.
By now the impetus was with the hosts and they duly took the lead just minutes after equalising. A corner from the right wasn't cleared by the Anstey defence and as the ball bounced around in the area, Palana pounced again to make it 3-2.
With more than half of the second half remaining there were a few nervy moments, but three minutes before full time the game was settled as Albert Findley found the bottom corner, scoring on the break as Anstey pushed forward for an equaliser.
It was a superb turnaround for Glenfield and at full time there was much joy amongst players, parents and coaches. The difference in class from the start of the season is plain to see and although they remain in the lower half of the table, the form they've shown since Christmas bodes well for next season.
The second game of the day was across the village at Gynsill Lane as Glenfield United Under 8's welcomed Highfield Rangers Jaguars.
Three quick goals from the visitors set the tone for the match, as numbers ten, three and seven scored inside the opening ten minutes.
Number three then got his second five minutes prior to the break, before number ten made it 5-0 with the last touch of the half, feigning a shot from the edge of the area before firing low into the corner.
Number seven brought up his second five minutes after the break while two minutes later number three brought up his hat-trick.
Two more goals from number ten, the second being the goal of the game with a strike from outside the area, made the final score 9-0 to Highfield.
As the scoreline would suggest, the visitors were a very good side and possess some talented young players. But there were some promising signs for Glenfield as they continue their development and when they play a side of a similar ability, will be sure to give them a game.
The final game of the day saw Glenfield United Under 18's, fresh from their spirited and by all accounts deserved 4-4 draw at league leaders Anstey Swifts, take on third placed Oadby Owls.
Glenfield held their own against the visitors but it was Oadby that broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, and it came from a Glenfield freekick.
The freekick was cleared and as Glenfield struggled to get back, Oadby countered with number 11 cutting in from the right wing and scoring.
Ten minutes later and it was 2-0 to the Owls. A cross from the right was headed clear, only for the ball to fall to Oadby's number four who caught it sweetly on the volley and found the back of the net, despite Glenfield goalkeeper Mitch Sewell getting fingertips to it.
Oadby hit the woodwork a couple of minutes into the second half, number 11 heading a cross from the right which hit the base of the post.
Glenfield's closest effort came five minutes from time when a hooked shot from Sam Gill was tipped over the bay by the Oadby 'keeper.
The 2-0 defeat for Glenfield, coupled with Harborough's 1-0 win over Whitwick, means United have slipped to 10th. Glenfield travel to bottom side Whitwick this weekend.
Glenfield United results: Glen Villa U7 X-X Glenfield United Hawks U7, Glenfield United Tigers U8 L-W Highfield Rangers Jaguars U8, Rugby Town Tigers U9 2-0 Glenfield United Lions U9, Asfordby Amateurs U9 6-1 Glenfield United Tigers U9, Glenfield United Tigers U10 2-4 Queniborough Reds U10, Glenfield United U11 9v9 4-2 Anstey Swifts U11 9v9, Loughborough Dynamo U12 9v9 1-2 Glenfield United U12 9v9, Glenfield United U14 1-2 Oadby Owls FC U14, Oadby Owls Tawnys U14 0-6 Glenfield United 2005 U14, Beaumont Town FC U14 3-4 Glenfield United 2010 U14, Glenfield United U18 0-2 Oadby Owls FC U18.
The first featured game came from Ellis Park as the under 11 9v9 team welcomed near neighbours Anstey Swifts, currently in fifth place and beat Glenfield 5-1 back in the mid October.
After an opening 20 minutes where Glenfield 'keeper Matt Moulds was the stand out player, commanding his area and making some good saves, it was Anstey who opened the scoring.
It came through their number ten, who had been a threat leading up to the goal. Anstey caught Glenfield on the break and the striker netted from outside the area, shooting over Moulds.
And it was the same player who doubled Anstey's lead five minutes later, showing persistent work to nick the ball off the Glenfield defence before scoring from the edge of the box.
The scoreline was a tad harsh on United who created chances throughout the first half. The closest they went to reducing the defecit came moments after going two down as Jacob Taylor hit a sweet volley from 20 plus yards which cracked against the bar and bounced over.
Whatever was said at half time by the Glenfield coaching team certainly had an impact as the game was turned on its head in the opening ten minutes of the second half.
After Jacob Taylor's shot was blocked, a cross from James Pye fell to striker Aariyan Palana who thumped the ball into the roof of the net to start the comeback.
The equaliser came in slighlty controversial circumstances. A run from midfield by Pattison Mafuana saw him put through one on one with the Anstey 'keeper and the Glenfield man scored low out of the 'keepers reach. The linesman gave the goal as offside, but the referee over ruled, judging that Mafuana's run came from an onside position.
By now the impetus was with the hosts and they duly took the lead just minutes after equalising. A corner from the right wasn't cleared by the Anstey defence and as the ball bounced around in the area, Palana pounced again to make it 3-2.
With more than half of the second half remaining there were a few nervy moments, but three minutes before full time the game was settled as Albert Findley found the bottom corner, scoring on the break as Anstey pushed forward for an equaliser.
It was a superb turnaround for Glenfield and at full time there was much joy amongst players, parents and coaches. The difference in class from the start of the season is plain to see and although they remain in the lower half of the table, the form they've shown since Christmas bodes well for next season.
The second game of the day was across the village at Gynsill Lane as Glenfield United Under 8's welcomed Highfield Rangers Jaguars.
Three quick goals from the visitors set the tone for the match, as numbers ten, three and seven scored inside the opening ten minutes.
Number three then got his second five minutes prior to the break, before number ten made it 5-0 with the last touch of the half, feigning a shot from the edge of the area before firing low into the corner.
Number seven brought up his second five minutes after the break while two minutes later number three brought up his hat-trick.
Two more goals from number ten, the second being the goal of the game with a strike from outside the area, made the final score 9-0 to Highfield.
As the scoreline would suggest, the visitors were a very good side and possess some talented young players. But there were some promising signs for Glenfield as they continue their development and when they play a side of a similar ability, will be sure to give them a game.
The final game of the day saw Glenfield United Under 18's, fresh from their spirited and by all accounts deserved 4-4 draw at league leaders Anstey Swifts, take on third placed Oadby Owls.
Glenfield held their own against the visitors but it was Oadby that broke the deadlock after 25 minutes, and it came from a Glenfield freekick.
The freekick was cleared and as Glenfield struggled to get back, Oadby countered with number 11 cutting in from the right wing and scoring.
Ten minutes later and it was 2-0 to the Owls. A cross from the right was headed clear, only for the ball to fall to Oadby's number four who caught it sweetly on the volley and found the back of the net, despite Glenfield goalkeeper Mitch Sewell getting fingertips to it.
Oadby hit the woodwork a couple of minutes into the second half, number 11 heading a cross from the right which hit the base of the post.
Glenfield's closest effort came five minutes from time when a hooked shot from Sam Gill was tipped over the bay by the Oadby 'keeper.
The 2-0 defeat for Glenfield, coupled with Harborough's 1-0 win over Whitwick, means United have slipped to 10th. Glenfield travel to bottom side Whitwick this weekend.
Glenfield United results: Glen Villa U7 X-X Glenfield United Hawks U7, Glenfield United Tigers U8 L-W Highfield Rangers Jaguars U8, Rugby Town Tigers U9 2-0 Glenfield United Lions U9, Asfordby Amateurs U9 6-1 Glenfield United Tigers U9, Glenfield United Tigers U10 2-4 Queniborough Reds U10, Glenfield United U11 9v9 4-2 Anstey Swifts U11 9v9, Loughborough Dynamo U12 9v9 1-2 Glenfield United U12 9v9, Glenfield United U14 1-2 Oadby Owls FC U14, Oadby Owls Tawnys U14 0-6 Glenfield United 2005 U14, Beaumont Town FC U14 3-4 Glenfield United 2010 U14, Glenfield United U18 0-2 Oadby Owls FC U18.
Stuart Taylor. What could have been.
My standard Saturday evening ritual of watching Match of the Day inspired me to write this latest blog post.
Everton v Reading wasn't a particulalrly stand out game - the hosts won 3-1 to maintain their hopes of Champions League football - except for one notable appearance, that of Stuart Taylor.
The former Man City, Aston Villa and Arsenal goalkeeper is now 32 years old, yet Saturday's run out at Goodison Park was his first competitive appearance since turning out for City in their 4-2 victory over Scunthorpe in an FA Cup Fourth round tie in January 2010.
That was his only appearance during his three years at City. His last league appearance came during a loan spell at Cardiff City in 2009, where he shipped six goals against Preston North End.
Taylor came through the Arsenal youth ranks and after injuries to David Seaman and Richard Wright during the 2001/02 season, where he played ten times and won a Premier League winner's medal, was touted as Seaman's successor.
So what has happened to Taylor? And why was Saturday's appearance just the 89th of his career?
Well the answer to the first question is not a lot. He spent time away from Highbury with loan spells at Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Peterborough and Leicester. I saw him in action a couple of times during his brief spell at the Walkers Stadium (as it was known then) and he impressed me. Indeed, he was probably Craig Levein's best signing! He was certainly a good shot stopper and kept four clean sheets in ten games and lost only three games during that period.
That was almost ten years ago and would have been 23 years old, with the best part of his career still ahead of him and remained held in high regard at Highbury.
After 18 appearances at Arsenal he was released in 2005 and snapped up by Aston Villa manager David O'Leary on a free transfer to compete with Thomas Sorensen. His words to the media after he signed on the dotted line were: "This is all about career progression. It was no good for me to stay at Arsenal. Thomas is a great goalkeeper. But it's up to me to push him all the way. This is a new start. I enjoyeed my time at Arsenal but it's time to move on" He made 17 appearances during four years at Villa Park in all competitions.
Taylor was released in 2009 but joined Manchester City's Mark Hughes as cover for Shay Given but made just that one appearance in the FA Cup at Glanford Park before being released at the end of last season before Reading snapped him up.
To be fair to Taylor, he has had to compete to be number one with some of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history: Seaman at Arsenal, Friedel at Villa, Given and Hart at Man City. The cynic in me says that Taylor has been happy to be second or third choice 'keeper at some big clubs, sitting on the bench every week, playing the odd reserve team game and picking up his pretty reasonable pay packet every month.
The potential he showed at Arsenal suggested he would be a good Premier League 'keeper and it's obvious he hasn't fulfilled that promise. But maybe instead of sitting on the bench, taking the easy option, he could've gone down a division and been a first choice 'keeper. He was certainly good enough for the Championship.
And who knows, with the lack of quality English goalkeepers we've had in recent years, maybe the odd international cap would've been to his name. Surely that would be more rewarding than a career as a backup.
You can show your grandchildren your medals, but you can't show them your payslip.
Everton v Reading wasn't a particulalrly stand out game - the hosts won 3-1 to maintain their hopes of Champions League football - except for one notable appearance, that of Stuart Taylor.
The former Man City, Aston Villa and Arsenal goalkeeper is now 32 years old, yet Saturday's run out at Goodison Park was his first competitive appearance since turning out for City in their 4-2 victory over Scunthorpe in an FA Cup Fourth round tie in January 2010.
That was his only appearance during his three years at City. His last league appearance came during a loan spell at Cardiff City in 2009, where he shipped six goals against Preston North End.
Taylor came through the Arsenal youth ranks and after injuries to David Seaman and Richard Wright during the 2001/02 season, where he played ten times and won a Premier League winner's medal, was touted as Seaman's successor.
So what has happened to Taylor? And why was Saturday's appearance just the 89th of his career?
Well the answer to the first question is not a lot. He spent time away from Highbury with loan spells at Bristol Rovers, Crystal Palace, Peterborough and Leicester. I saw him in action a couple of times during his brief spell at the Walkers Stadium (as it was known then) and he impressed me. Indeed, he was probably Craig Levein's best signing! He was certainly a good shot stopper and kept four clean sheets in ten games and lost only three games during that period.
That was almost ten years ago and would have been 23 years old, with the best part of his career still ahead of him and remained held in high regard at Highbury.
 |
| Taylor in his "glory days" at Arsenal |
Taylor was released in 2009 but joined Manchester City's Mark Hughes as cover for Shay Given but made just that one appearance in the FA Cup at Glanford Park before being released at the end of last season before Reading snapped him up.
To be fair to Taylor, he has had to compete to be number one with some of the best goalkeepers in Premier League history: Seaman at Arsenal, Friedel at Villa, Given and Hart at Man City. The cynic in me says that Taylor has been happy to be second or third choice 'keeper at some big clubs, sitting on the bench every week, playing the odd reserve team game and picking up his pretty reasonable pay packet every month.
The potential he showed at Arsenal suggested he would be a good Premier League 'keeper and it's obvious he hasn't fulfilled that promise. But maybe instead of sitting on the bench, taking the easy option, he could've gone down a division and been a first choice 'keeper. He was certainly good enough for the Championship.
And who knows, with the lack of quality English goalkeepers we've had in recent years, maybe the odd international cap would've been to his name. Surely that would be more rewarding than a career as a backup.
You can show your grandchildren your medals, but you can't show them your payslip.
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