U8
Saturday 15th March 08 Riverside 0 v 0 Easington District Condors
Nightmare.We were battered 0-0.This must go down as the worst showing of our whole 33 games played so far this season.With very few exceptions we looked very poor.We did not show enough hunger in our tackling to win the ball.Positioning and covering of each other was non existent.We thought we were too good to listen to advice from the touch line.Being over-run when everyone is trying their best sometimes will happen,but this was lifeless.Haway boys we can do a lot better.
On a brighter note,Evan Dresser was the main reason we got a point.Some good saves topped by one outstanding save to stop a certain matchwinner.He deserved his second clean sheet in five games.One other plus,hopefully the team group picture will be in Wednesdays Sunderland Echo.
Saturday 15th March 08 Ford and Hylton 3 v 1 Riverside
We made hard work for ourselves going 2-0 behind,despite an initial spell at the start when we did get stuck in.It might be a good lesson for us to keep focused all of the time.Joseph Barrett scored with a good shot after a strong Ben Lawrence run up the left wing.2-1 at the break.It was good to see the boys get back into it against a team that were over physical at times.
We conceded a third but we still had plenty of the ball and with earlier passing could have added to our tally.We had 2/3 chances to put our forwards in unmarked.They were cocky for some reason and left big holes at the back.We need to get our heads up when in possession and sometimes pass to players in better goalscoring positions.
Saturday 8th March 08 Riverside 0 v 0 Deerness Valley Lightning
For the second week running,the boys played out their games in high winds.Conditions were very tricky with the strong wind blowing right down the pitch.Riverside,though secured their first point with a good showing and we were disappointed we did not get the win.We were on top for most of the game but did not really get a clear chance at goal to tip the match in our favour.
Saturday 08th March 08 Durham County 1 v 1 Riverside
The lads can be pleased with this game,coming back in the second half to equalise with the wind at their backs.County had a tricky little forward who put them ahead(after controlling it with his hand),but they struggled to create much more due to some determined defending from Alessandro Calzini and an excellent Jack Bell who arguably produced his best game for Riverside.1-0 h/t.
Second half saw the lads use the wind well with a few shots just off the mark.A good pass from Joshua Dodds across to Joseph Barrett opened up the defence and Joseph levelled with a good finish.Joseph was unlucky at the end when he looked like going through on goal but the referee blew for full time.Great timing!
Saturday 1st March 08 Riverside 1 v 2 Washington FC
Riverside kicked off the second part of the season in winds that were too strong for Under 8 boys to play in.(even if we had won!).We did start off very well keeping the ball down on the floor.A strong run up the left from Stephen Elder led to Joshua Dodds scoring a well taken goal to put us 1-0 up.We did create other chances but unfortunately did not score again before half time.
Second half,with three changes made,we did not play anything like the first and we paid for it.Whereas in the first half we were strong,passed it and covered each other well,in the second we looked weak and in one or two cases disinterested.Disappointing result after a bright start.
Saturday 8th March 08 City of Durham Hays 2 v 0 Riverside
Tough game.Up against a team who had collected 21 points more than us from just three games more played in the first part of the season.
To be fair,in the first half,even though we never managed a shot at them we did battle very well as they seemed to be camped in our half.0-0 at half time.
Again three changes at half time were made.
We seemed to struggle and there was only going to be one winner.If Evan had not made a string of stops we would have took a hammering.Well done Evan..
December 8th 07 Waldridge 0 v 2 Riverside
The boys signed off the first half of the season with a win and a good performance.Jack Bell was away and Alessandro Calzini came to watch even though unwell.Riversides new resident keeper Evan Dresser was virtually a spectator throughout the whole match.The boys took full advantage of the fact Waldridge struggled to get goal kicks away.Riversides first half attack/midfield of Joseph Barrett,Ben Lawrence,Joshua Dodds and Stephen Elder were able to keep the opposition penned into their own half.At the back,Nathan Hall and Jonathan Kent were in control of anything that did squirt through.Riverside must have had ten corners alone in the first period.Chances were there and Joseph Barrett took the first goal very well after a poor kick fell to him.
Adam Cook replaced Nathan Hall at half time but it was the same story as the first half.Riverside dominated the play and deserved their second goal.Good determination by Stephen Elder as he battled for the ball in their penalty area before setting up Joseph Barrett who scored easily.Joseph was a shade unlucky not to complete his hat trick after a good pass from Adam Cook gave him the chance.
JOSEPH,JACK,ALESSANDRO,ADAM,JOSHUA,EVAN,STEPHEN,NATHAN,
JONATHAN AND BEN-
Well done lads 27 games 9 wins 9 draws 9 defeats(6 against the top two) is a great start to your first half of competitive football.
Well done to the mams and dads who have supported their boys and football team.
Happy Christmas to you all,(lads I hope Santie brings you what you want),see you on 05/01/08.
December 1st 07 Riverside 0 v 5 Redby
The leagues top boys were too strong for us again,even though Riverside put in a decent first half performance and were only 1-0 down at the break.The second half saw us leak another four goals which was disappointing as a couple should have been prevented.Joseph Barrett created our only real chance when he broke through two challenges on half way before racing through and putting the ball narrowly wide.
Redby are a good side and on the man sized Pitch 3 used short corners and quick throw ins to their advantage.We were very slow to pick boys up from both,so its something we can learn from.
December 1st 07 Ford/Hylton 2 v 0 Riverside
The boys again put in a decent first half show and in fact with a little bit more luck could have taken the lead.The play in that first half was mainly in the Ford half but a goal wouldn’t come.Our second half performance was as limp as a lettuce.We let in two soft goals without too much resistance.
Although the same for both teams,the cold windy weather of recent weeks seems to be having some effect on our performances,again new experiences for our lads to deal with.With one game remaining against Waldridge next week,the boys have done very well in their first half season of hopefully long enjoyable football seasons to come.
TRAINING ON THE GRASS-
During January when the league breaks,in addition to Thursday nights I will be holding training sessions on the grass at Chester le Street park from 9am till 10.30am weather permitting.First session 05/01/2008.
November 24th 07 Riverside 0 v 0 Nissan Athletic
A fifth clean sheet brought another point on a windy cold day at Ford Quarry.Again drawn to play on the Stadium of Light sized Pitch 3 the boys put in a decent performance.Defensively the team were sound with Nissan having very few chances at our goal.The best chance Nissan had was when a shot came off the right post and Jonathan Kent stopped a certain Nissan winner with a cracking challenge,late into the second half.The boys best chance came in the first half when a three boy move put Evan Dresser in on goal but his shot went narrowly wide.
November 24th 07 Farringdon 3 v 0 Riverside
Our poor results against the top two teams continued again this morning.Of the 24 league games played so far this season,5 out of our 7 defeats have been against either Redby or Farringdon.
This performance though can be described,at best,as not good enough.Farringdon are a good side but we helped them through lack of effort.We talked pre-match about getting tight to tackle and to get back at our man if he got past us but this went out of the window right from the first whistle.Powder puff challenges were half attempted all over the pitch and we were lucky to get away with a 3-0.
Keeper Joshua Dodds made a good save to keep it 0-0 but had no chance with any of the goals as we continued to watch Farringdon run through us unchallenged.
Very Poor and disappointing.
17th November 07 Riverside 1 v 0 Monument Cubs
The lads produced a very good performance against the leagues 3rd placed team.Riverside looked the higher placed of the two teams as they tore into them from the first whistle.Nathan Hall in goal was a spectator throughout the first half which saw the lads create several chances but had to settle for the single goal lead at half time.Joseph Barrett with a fine cool finish.The second half saw Monument come into the game more and late on only a tremendous match winning sliding tackle from Stephen Elder stopped Monument stealing a point.
Well done to all ten lads involved,arguably the best performance of the season so far.
17th November 07 Birtley Town 0 v 0 Riverside
The lads then faced the leagues bottom side,Birtley Town,who went on to play better than their league placing showed.Riverside did create chances but nothing really clear cut.The nearest they came was when a right wing cross was nearly turned into his own net by a Birtley defender.Birtley also had chances and the referee singled out a first half Ben Lawrence save on to a post as outstanding.Alessandro Calzini and Jack Bell had good defensive games.Jonathan Kent should be proud of his performance as he was tremendous at the back.Four clean sheets in a row,well done everybody.
10th November 07 Riverside 0 v 0 Hilda Park
The lads had their first proper taste of winter footballing conditions.The morning was cold,wet and grey and it had a bit of an effect on our football.The boys were a bit subdued and apart from a blocked Stephen Elder shot in the first half and three balls squirting across the Hilda goal in the second we never really looked like scoring.
10th November 07 Whitburn Wasps 0 v 0 Riverside
The boys could be pleased with their eighth clean sheet of the season from this one.We were thankful to Evan Dressers second half goalkeeping performance and some good tackling from the lads in front of him.One save was top drawer.Good performances from our two little terriers Adam Cook and Joshua Dodds.Overall the lads did well to keep two clean sheets in their first taste of proper footballing weather.
20th October 2007
Riverside RAR 2 (Evan Dresser and Ben Lawrence) Monument Cubs 0
( Monument Cubs first defeat of the season)
Farringdon Detached 3 Riverside RAR 0
6th October 2007
Riverside RAR 2 (Adam Cook and Jospeh Barrett) Waldridge Reds 0
Joseph Barrett back from injury got back on the score sheet and helped Riverside gain a victory over local rivals Waldridge. Adam Cook got his first goal of the season to give Riverside a 2-0 victory.
Riverside RAR 1 ( Ben Lawrence) Whitburn 1
What a debut for new signing Ben Lawrence who won a last minute penalty and then converted it it give Riverside a valuable point.
22nd September 2007
Riverside 0 Nissan Sunderland Athlet
This was a close game with the result being decided by a single goal. It was disappointing that in the second half numerous substitutions were made by Nissan without any time being added on.
Farringdon Detached 5 Riverside 1 (Joseph Barrett)
Riverside found it difficult against the top of the table team. The were unable to contain a lively attack and at half time were 4 goals down despite a good performance from temporary keeper Joseph Barrett. In the second half Riverside conceded only one goal and pulled one back thanks to a Joseph Barrett goal.
Although no points were won today Riverside can take heart from the second half performance against Farringdon who until then had never conceded a goal this season.
15th September 2007
Riverside 1 (Joseph Barrett ) Monument Cubs 0
Riverside were the stronger team in the first half but were denied the lead by an excellent Monument keeper. In the second half Monument came more into the game put the Riverside defence under pressure. With less than minute to play Riverside broke clear and Joseph Barrett beat the keeper to give Riverside their first league victory.
Birtley 1 Riverside 1 (Evan Dresser)
Riverside went a goal down in the first minute. They fought back and equalised when Evan Dresser broke clear to give the keeper no chance. In the second half Birtley were denied a goal thanks to a brilliant save from Adam Cook. Joseph Barrett almost gave Riverside all three points but his shot was saved by the Birtley keeper and the points were shared.
Another good day for Riverside with all players showing tremendous spirit and determination
8th September 2007
Riverside 1 (Josh Dodds) v Hilda Park 1
Riverside started really well in their first ever game playing some excellent football and deservedly taking the lead through Josh Dodds. More chances came Riverside's way but failure to convert these proved to be costly when Hilda Park scored an equaliser.
Whitburn Wasps 3 Riverside1 (Steven Elder)
Despite going two goals down Riverside kept pushing forward and pulled a goal back when Steven Elder broke clear to give the Whitburn keeper no chance. Riverside almost equalised but then Whitburn sealed their victory with a late goal.
A great first day with everyone playing really well.
