Saturday 23rd January 2010
Having had, what felt like an eternity off due to Santa then snow, the 12’s like the majority of the age groups, started back full training at Lesser on Tuesday 19th January.
As all our squad have now received their half year assessments in December, it now gives the players some areas of their games in which to work on that little bit harder to try and further develop, as we move into 2010.
Queen's took the welcome invite to play Stenhousemuir away on Saturday. As we had not had a game for some time, it was crucial that we looked to top up the fitness training the kids received mid week, with the chance to get our match fitness levels built back up as well.
Queen's started lively in the first period and looked to build things patiently from the back when the opportunity presented itself and limited Stenny to half chances in front of goal.
Our midfield looked sharp, pressed the opposition when they had the ball and took up good receiving positions, when Queen's had possession.
Most of the joy in the first period came from our right side and we dominated play, we never really created much in the way of clear cut, goal scoring opportunities.
The coaches made the obligatory, 4 changes to the team for the second period and those that came on, carried on the hard work from the first period.
The coaches asked for the same level of attitude and possession and the team didn’t disappointed. Play was spread more evenly down both flanks and Queen's started to enjoy more space in behind their back four.
The 12s defence when asked to respond to the threat from Stenny’s front line, again stood up well and generally looked a little more organised when dealing with set pieces.
Stenny took the lead by getting in behind our back 4 for the first real time in the match but nonetheless, Queen's stuck to their shape and quite rightly got ourselves back level with a well taken goal from Ryan Fitzpatrick who played extremely well all game.
The third period saw yet more substitutions and an even game with either team capable of going on to win it. Unfortunately for Queen's it was Stenny who scored the winning goal, though Queen's did come very close to equalizing with a thunder bolt of a shot from Anton Houghton from a good 30 yards that only just went wide.
The coaches felt that Anton played exceptional well and if that had went in, it was no more than he deserved for his hard efforts.
All in all, though we suffered a 2-1 defeat, anyone who was at the game would agree that it was a highly enjoyable game to watch and that Queen's where worth at least a draw and with maybe one or two better deliveries and composure into Stenny’s box, we might have even got more out of the game.
The Queen's coaches commented "We were extremely pleased with the high tempo to our play, our improvement in terms of possession and work rate shown by all the squad and if they put the same effort into the remainder of our matches, then in terms of development, their hard work will be rewarded".
Back to 12s Home page