‘C’ team 1 Vs 1 N. Warwickshire and Hinckley
What a contrast. This performance showed all the qualities that the team have been striving for all season, against a team that beat us 8-0 before Xmas. We wanted to put out a strong team and it worked out that it was beneficial to give the boys who had played against Hartpury only 48hrs earlier a chance to banish those memories.
We were probably lucky in truth that it was only 1-0 at half time. NW&H largely dominated the first period and took a deserved lead through some slack defending following a right wing set piece, as the lads just switched off and never challenged the second ball. They created several other good opportunities in that 1st period but were guilty of some bad misses. That said SBC played their part and some magnificent football – one and two touch interplay, saw Mevlan Hoxha slipped through on 3 separate occasions one-on-one with the goal-keeper, only to be denied by fine stops.
In the second half however SBC were dominant. We played some really good stuff. We moved the ball a lot quicker; fed the ball out wide much earlier and got bodies in support of the man with the ball or in to the penalty area. We caused them many problems and their goal-keeper had to make several telling saves until we finally got the breakthrough courtesy of Kiran Kellman who latched on to a good through ball and finished well from just inside the box. We continued to press looking for the winner but many of our efforts were thwarted by the NW&H keeper who was probably the man-of-the-match in the end.
We were resolute in defence, workmanlike and creative in midfield and always a threat up front. This is more of what I and the other coaches expect. A shame it did not end with a victory but NW&H always posed a threat on the break and Aiden Twist had to be on his mettle at the end to block a late effort.
This team was selected with a view at playing next season - a team made up entirely of players who will still be with the college and can take us forward to achieve better things in 2011. However it was also decided upon by those who are attending training on a regular basis. It is no coincidence that it is the same names appearing week after week for the respective teams because these are the players who turn up and put in the effort to try and improve
A. Twist – 7; N. Forbes – 7.5, M. Smith(C) – 8, M. Njie – 7, A. Caines-Powell – 8.5;
J. Hewitt – 7, D. Steenson – 8.5, M. Hoxha – 8, J. Gardner – 7.5; K. Kellman – 8, K. Montcheu – 8
Subs: A. Westwood – 7.5, M. Peplow – 6.5

‘A’ team 0 Vs 4 Hartpury College
I can’t help thinking that the least said about this performance the better. I have over the course of this season watched some poor individual performances from teams and players, but this was a collective no-show from the entire squad, and ended in embarrassment for the coaching staff and the college.
Not six weeks have passed since the thrilling reverse fixture between the two teams when SBC recorded a memorable 4-3 victory with a goal in the last two minutes. This however showed a gulf in class, quality, in control, in dignity and respect for the college and coaching staff. We were missing 3 of the regular back four and our two central midfield players, but within the squad there is or certainly should be enough quality to cope.
It didn’t start too badly although their 4-5-1 formation took us a little by surprise and we quickly had to revert to something similar in order to prevent being over-run in the midfield. However, our boys simply did not cope and deservedly fell behind. At times we looked to try and play our way out of trouble but were then guilty of taking too many touches and getting caught in possession in bad areas and constantly being on the back foot.
We were probably lucky that it was only 1-0 at half time. The second half though deteriorated even further despite a promising opening ten minutes. Once Hartpury scored their second – a goal that should have been avoided when you consider we had four defenders in our own six yard box, none of whom took responsibility to clear the ball, and then moan at the decision by myself as linesman to award a goal, when the ball had clearly crossed the line – we capitulated totally.
Arguing amongst ourselves; niggling little fouls and skirmishes with opponents and bemoaning the referee became commonplace. Nathan Forbes and Kiran Kellman were both cautioned before the latter was substituted before being sent off. The normally mild-mannered and placid Harem Mahmoud was sent off for pushing in the opponents’ penalty box when we had a corner, before swearing in front of the referee who had no choice but to send him off. Others then got involved – Andrew Westwood was lucky the referee did not spot a deliberate stamp on an opponent’s foot, and Kevin Montcheu lashed out in frustration to what was essentially handbags between he and the centre back.
In truth Hartpury were no angels. Allegations of racist abuse, perpetual niggles and persistent diving infuriated some of our boys. We must however learn to deal with this and let our footballing ability punish opponents in the right way. As it was, two more soft goals gave the score line a realistic impression of the events on the field. We were well beaten by a better team on the day. We must put this behind us and quickly banish the memories and pout in a positive performance at our next match.
A. Twist – 5.5; C. Elliman – 6.5, N. Forbes – 5(Y), H. Mahmoud – 4(R), A. Caines-Powell – 6.5;
M. Hoxha – 6, J. Hewitt – 5.5, Y. Yemanhe – 5.5, A. Westwood – 5.5; K. Kellman – 5(Y), K. Montcheu – 6
Subs: J. Gardner – 5, J. Barrow - 5