Under 13's Team - match reports

13/03/11 - Mattishall 2 Toftwood 8

Mattishall played their last game of the season at home against league leaders Toftwood and the game started with a bang, Matty G smashed the ball towards the Toftwood net only to be thwarted by the post! Unfortunately Toftwood made a break and managed to put the ball into the back of the Mattishall net giving them the lead in the first half. Despite being behind Mattishall picked up the pace and went straight on the attack as the ball was flying into the Toftwood goal, the keeper made his one and only error, Matty G capitalised on this and thumped the ball into the net giving Mattishall that well deserved goal. In all honesty it took some time to come as several chances had already been had by Mattishall. Once again Mattishall were playing the better game but were just unlucky at times that they didn’t manage scored those well deserved goals.

Toftwood soon took control of their game and scored their second goal from a corner, then came their third followed by their forth to bring the first half to a close at 4 1 to them.

The second half started with Toftwood scoring their 5th and 6th goal in quick succession. Although Mattishall’s heads had dropped a breakthrough came following a throw in that Aiden turned into a goal as it found its way in via the top corner! The problem for Mattishall in the second half however was that some of the boys forgot their positions and Toftwood worked that to their favour scoring their 7th and 8th goals. With a few changes to the team that saw Ben play back in defence and Owen in the middle the game was shored up despite already being lost.

Overall the boys have had a fantastic season this year.

Subs: Joe, Brendon & Jacob
Man of the Match: Ben
Scorers: Matty G & Aiden
Ref: T.Ruddling

06/03/11 - Mattishall 4 Watton 4

The penultimate game of Mattishall Under 13’s season saw them play away to Watton. There were high hopes for this game as the last meet saw Mattishall beat Watton 9 goals to 4.

With a fast number 8 playing up front for Watton, there were several occasions where the Mattishall defence was tested and despite several of them failing to convert into goals, one did and it gave Watton the lead they wanted. Mattishall when straight on the attack which saw some impressive passing and a want to score. It didn’t take long for Mattishall to find the back of the Watton net, to equalise. Mattishall scored two further goals bringing the half time score to 3 goals to Mattishall, 1 to Watton.

The second half wasn’t as good as the first, for some reason the same want to win seemed to have dropped off and Mattishall sat back and let a lot of the game being played in their own half, another goal came from Mattishall, but Watton fought back, sometimes with some decisions in their favour to score two more goals bringing the game to a close with a 4 all draw.

Subs: Brendon & Jacob
Man of the Match: Matty W
Scorers: Matty G (2), Dean (1) & Tom S (1)
Ref: S.Jones

27/02/11 – Mattishall 3 Salhouse 4

What was to be a controversial game actually turned into an exciting match with both teams being equally matched.

Mattishall played their well rehearsed 4 4 2 line up with Ben and Aiden up front. There were some impressive runs down the side of the pitch which placed the ball deep into the Salhouse area for Mattishall to thump into the back of their net. Mattishall are always strong on their corners and again it wasn’t long before a well taken corner ended up right in front of the goal to be placed straight into the back of Salhouse's net. They had several other chances all to be denied by some good saves from the Salhouse keeper.

Eventually with the game being equal at 2 all, Salhouse started to get a bit worried, unfortunately they managed to score another 2 goals taking their lead to 4 – 2. Mattishall quite rightly felt robbed and managed to claw back another goal taking the game to 4 – 3 before they just ran out of time and the game ended.

Goal scorers: Matty G, 2 and Ben 1.
Ref: N.Raven
Man of the match: Matty G

13/02/11 - Mattishall U13s 5 Scole U13s 2


With twelve from the last fifteen points Mattishall continued their fine run of form with a convincing win over a Scole team who had no answer to the fluent attacking style confronting them, Despite taking an early lead Scole were under constant pressure from the Mattishall midfield pair of Ryan and Thomas who sprayed passes around the pitch creating opportunities time and again. It was no surprise when Mattishall found the net with Matty crashing the ball home. Goal posts and goalkeeper kept the score down but Mattishall's superior passing and build up play saw them build up a convincing 5-1 lead from which Scole could not recover. A defensive lapse saw Scole get a late consolation goal but this did not take the shine of what was the best Mattishall performance of the season. Team spirit is high with a willingness to play for each other which has produced some excellent football and great results. With other results going their way the lads have a real chance of finishing high up the table-come on lads show us what you can do. What a game for the league secretary to come to watch-shows what Mattishall are really about!

Goal scorers: Brendan Matty Aiden Alex Dean ( there is an own goal somewhere so not sure who has claimed the goal-one for the dubious goals panel!)

Man of the match: Ryan

06/02/11 - Hellesdon U13s 2 Mattishall U13s 4

In gale-force conditions Mattishall secured a resounding away win against a spirited Hellesdon team. For the first 20 minutes the lads struggled to put any co-ordination into their game despite taking the lead which was soon cancelled out leaving the game wide open. A well-placed corner opened the gates for Mattishall as the ball was scrambled across the line to restore the lead which they held to half-time. With the wind in their faces Mattishall started to play joined-up football-moving the ball round well along with some good running off the ball which pressured a rather slow Hellesdon defence who soon conceded a third goal. It was not all one-way traffic as Hellesdon hit the post twice and then added their second but were largely kept at bay by a steady back-four. Still Mattishall pressed with Hellesdon resorting to some heavy tackling which went largely unpunished by an inconsistent referee. Not to be denied Mattishall surged forward leading to a trip in the box which secured the penalty which put the result beyond doubt. Despite having to endure an "amazing" eight minutes of added time Mattishall came out worthy winners.

Keep playing like this lads and you will finish high up the table.

Goals: Alex (2) Thomas Ben
Man of Match: Alex

PS A warm welcome to Jacob who signed for us last week

30/01/11 - Toftwood 5 Mattishall 2

The league leaders got a rude awakening as Mattishall took the game to them from the start. Pushing forward at every opportunity the lads probed and parried until they broke through to take a deserved early lead. Toftwood soon scored but undeterred Mattishall grabbed the lead back and could have gone further ahead but for a justified penalty being denied. Toftwood equalised near the break leaving the second half well balanced. With injuries causing a reshuffle Mattishall came under greater pressure from a strong Toftwood side but stuck to the task with determination. However a couple of lapses saw them concede goals which Toftwood added to near the end to secure the win.
What a team performance from the Mattishall lads who worked well for each other and deserved much better. Keep playing like this and getting stronger on the ball will make them hard to beat them so come on lads lets see what you can do.

Goals: Aiden 2

Man of the Match: Ryan

23/01/11 - Wymondham 0 Mattishal 5

This match was a joy to watch as both sets of players, managers and parents combined to ensure the game was played in great spirit. Despite a sticky pitch Mattishall were soon into their stride putting some good combination play together which tested the Wymondham defence. It was no surprise that an early goal came despite some brave saves from the Wymondham keeper who for all his efforts could not prevent two further goals before half-time. With the slope in their favor Wymondham came back into the game creating several chances that saw Matty W in the Mattishall goal make some important stops. However it was Mattishall who emphasised their overall superiority with two more goals to secure a win which their excellent teamwork thoroughly justified.

M.O.M : Aiden

09/01/11 - Mattishall 9 Watton 4

What a difference a year makes as Mattishall started the year with a bang! Right from the kick-off the lads took the game to Watton moving the ball around with style which soon started to pay dividends. With gaps appearing in the Watton defence the goals started to flow separated by a solitary reply which did not upset the Mattishall momentum. Seven times the Watton net rippled in the first half from which there was no way back. To their credit Watton tried to stem the tide which produced a goal before the break but at 7-2 it was a fruitless task. Mattishall took their foot off the pedal in the second half, changing their formation to give every player some match time. Two goals from either side saw Mattishall run out worthy winners against a totally demoralised Watton team. The lads can take much credit for their excellent passing, running off the ball and finishing. It was great to see goals being scored within the six yard box-a first this season- from some pin-point crosses. A good all-round performance which needs to be repeated week in week out.

Scorers: Aiden 3 Matty 2 Thomas S 2 Dean 1 Ben 1

M.O.M : Aiden

21/11/10 - Salhouse 3 Mattishall 2

Salhouse can take no credit whatosever for what was a hollow victory secured in contentious circumstances assisted by a referee who did not know the meaning of "neutral". In stark contrast Mattishall can come away with their heads held proud after a gutsy and determined performance which left the league leaders distinctly rattled. Despite going a goal down early on Mattishall fought back with their passing style clearly evident which soon produced a deserved goal. Salhouse retained the lead but once again Mattishall found the net to leave the game finely balanced in the second half. With the game flowing from end to end a goal was inevitable and it went to Salhouse. Undetered Mattishall kept pressing going close several times before finally finding the net in the dying minutes of the game. Delight turned to incredulity as the referee disallowed the goal claiming pushing based on comments from the home linesman. Remarkably the final whistle went straight away despite only 32 minutes having been played and no time added for the four minutes a Mattishall player lay on the floor receiving treatment. Sadly things turned from bad to worse with the shocking behaviour of a Salhouse player and some of their spectators after the final whistle.

Goal scorers: Aiden and Brendan (his first for the club)

Men of the match: The Team.

14/11/10 - Mattishall 3 Hellesdon 5

Mattishall's dip in form continued with another disappointing performance against a determined Hellesdon team who took an early lead after hesitation in the defence. Mattishall struck back as they started to play the football they are fully capable of which produced a two goal lead which they fully deserved. However all was undone when failing to close down cost them another goal making it 2-2 at half-time. It was then the rot set in as Mattishall timidly surrendered the game through some woeful marking and failure to tackle which gave Hellesdon both the space and time to dominate the game. Three further goals put Hellesdon out of sight despite a late reply from Mattishall which had no impact on the game. Once again Mattishall showed they can score with goals from Matty, Alex and Thomas S but once again the goals against tells the real story. Until the lads start to apply the basics and decide that they have a real desire to win they can look forward to more setbacks like this. Come on lads, Trevor and Pete deserve better from you all as do the parents who give up their time to run you around.

Man of the match. Thomas S

07/11/10 - Scole 5 Mattishall 4

Mattishall threw away a wonderful chance to move into third place with a lack lustre performance against an average Scole team. With the midfield failing to track back and the defence slow to move out in a line Scole were given time and space which they exploited to the full with three first half goals. With Mattishall pulling one back early in the second half hopefully the message had got through but it was a false dawn as once again the defence was slow to get out allowing Scole to get another. Again Mattishall struck back but another defensive error saw Scole hit their fifth. Mattishall again found the net and a late Thomas.S penalty gave them hope but it was not to be. With Ben,Aiden and Matty scoring up front Mattishall again demonstrated their ability to score but basic errors at the back cost them dear-they need to learn and learn soon or any chance of promotion will be gone.

Man of match: Owen

24/10/10 - Mattishall 4 Jex 2

What a superb match as both teams played good attacking football on a "glue pot" of a pitch pelted by rain and hailstones. End to end play saw both teams creating chances from fine flowing football however it was Mattishall who made the most of their opportunities to score two first half goals with Jex snatching one just before the break. The second half continued in the same vein with Matishall stretching their lead only to be pegged back when Jex took full advantage of some lazy defending. As the heavy pitch took its toil Jex looked more likely to score but the pressure was off when a Jex defender turned a shot from Ben into his own net. With Aiden, Alex and Tom S finding the net Mattishall gave impressive team perfomance with Jack and Tom S outstanding. They need to remain focussed throughout the game and ensure they do not concede soft goals which may cost them dear at the end of the season.

Man of the match: Tom S   

10/10/10 - Wymondham 3 Mattishall 7

Whatever you do it pays to wake up before the game starts. Mattishall didn't so were a goal down in the first couple of minutes. This clearly served as a wake-up call with Mattishall starting to push the ball around to find the gaps behind the Wymondham defence As the game started to flow so did the goals with Alex netting a fine hat-trick(including a header), Aiden adding a couple more plus one from Matty. A spectacular but unfortunate own-goal added to their tally. With the job seemingly done Mattishall switched off allowing Wymondham to pull a couple back but the final result was never in doubt. Crisp passing and good teamwork were the order of the day but Trevor you need to pack an alarm clock!

Man of the match: Alex

03/10/10 - Mattishall 3 Costessey 2

After the frustration of their last match Mattishall went into the game determined to right a wrong. With heavy rain and strong winds buffeting the pitch the lads took the game straight to Costessey playing some flowing football whilst stifling the Costessey attack. Several chances came and went as Mattishall either could not get the final touch or the keeper made a save. Despite the continued pressure Mattishall just could not find the net and as is so often the case were undone by a breakaway goal just before half-time. Undaunted Mattishall set about the task ahead with tremendous effort and teamwork as they played uphill with the wind behind them. Denied several times by the keeper the pressure paid off as a defender handled in the area with Thomas.S blasting the penalty into the net. Distinctly rattled Costessey conceded more space with the Mattishall attack taking full advantage. A glancing header sent Ben on his way beating the keeper with a low shot in the corner to give Mattishall the lead the richly deserved. Costessey were not done for and it took a fabulous save from Sam to keep them from equalising. However with the Mattishall midfield controlling the game another through ball found Aiden in space who rounded the keeper to make it 3-1 with minutes to go. A tiring Mattishall team gave Costessey a way back as they made it 3-2 but that was that. An excellent performance by the whole team as their confidence builds showing what they are capable of. When they learn to put their chances away and be first to the ball there is no reason why they cannot have a good season.

Man of Match: Owen

19/09/10 - Costessey 4 Mattishall 3

Kicking off their league campaign Mattishall came up against a feisty Costessey team who took a first minute lead with a simple goal. Perhaps intimidated by some over-zealous tackling Mattishall shrunk into their shell and it was no surprise when they conceded two more goals before the break to go 3-0 down. Perhaps it was something in the oranges because in the second half Mattishall started to shine taking the game to the opposition with a series of flowing moves generated from a busy midfield. Getting behind the Costessey defence time after time provided the space to do real damage with Ben scoring a well deserved hat-trick to bring Mattishall back on level terms. 35 minutes came and went yet still the ref played on with Costessey bagging the winner after 38 minutes. It was no surprise that the final whistle went straight away leaving Mattishall fuming. They deserved at least a draw after a storming second half.

Man of Match: Owen