A brief respite from monsoon season, a day after I was seen chasing a wheelie bin down the road and a 3G surface away at loughborough allowed the game to go ahead. Hit by illness, DFC could only field 8 players but the team pulled together, worked hard and showed great team work to put on a great display for the crowd.

The game started as a quite tight affair before Desford gained the initiative and started to play very well indeed. Every player seemed to have that extra desire to get to the ball first and that extra strength to maintain possession.

The opposition fought hard right to the end and certainly didn't make it easy for us but today

Awareness, great decision making and some very mature play which is something the coaches have been asking for made this a game any neutral would have thoroughly enjoyed. Until the latter stages when confidence was so high and pressure was so intense on the opposition goal, we retained a good shape throughout. At the end, we were playing 1 at the back and at times 0 at the back as the lads through caution to the wind.

We worked the ball well from the back, and as we have been discussing in training a lot, worked more as a unit up and down the pitch rather than stretching play too long and looking for the killer forward ball.We worked the ball sideways at times too as the lads gradually accept that if forward isn't an option then sideways and backwards should be considered.

But the key strength today was finding good width, creating good space, giving ourselves multiple passing options and getting in some great crosses from the bi-line at times. The buzz phrase in training at the moment is 'Be an Option'

1st up a Big thanks to Clark and Kudzai who spent a half each in goal and did what they had to do expertly well

When on pitch, Kudzai was immensely strong , showed good skills in attack and when asked to play in defence, did as was asked without complaint and was very assured too. It's not a position Kudzai relishes but he did very well indeed and made some very important interceptions, tackles and clearances. Kudzai worked really hard today and certainly is a skillful lad which he demonstrated often as he frightened the opposition defences from midfield time and again!

Clark when on pitch played a central midfield role that suits him down to the ground. He is an expert ball winner, is always battling to regain possession and when he ultimately does, makes good decision to retain possession. When needed he is box to box and works very hard for the team. His distribution from goal showed he listens in training and he cleverly let some balls run out of play today. In midfield he had a couple of chances blocked and was a pest to the opposition throughout.

Dexter was captain today and I would say played his best ever game for Desford. In fact Dexter has improved substantially since joining us and his concentration levels have improved enormously. He remains focussed on the game throughout these days and seems to be really enjoying his football. He played both defense, centre midfield, centre left and centre right. Dexter is a very versatile lad who is extremely strong in the tackle and again like Clark won every 50-50 on offer today as well as a few 40-60s (as did Clark). Time and again when it looked like a break was on for the opposition, it was dexter making that crucial (and I mean crucial) challenge or interception to avert danger before instantly turning defence into attack.

Elliott played much of the game up front but when asked he played in defence willingly and without complaint. He did brilliantly in both positions but what I was most impressed with today was his hard work for the team. He made some outstanding passes which opened up the opposition brilliantly, the first of which was an exquisite cross to allow Callum to net. I shouted over to Elliott and gave him a big clap and thumbs up.he was so unlucky not to get on the scoresheet but he was strong,disciplined and was part of a number of impressive passing moves. Great display mate!

Nathan H also had a great game today.He played the majority of the game in a midfield role but did do a spell in defence too. He displayed some excellent footwork at times and Mahrez himself would have been very impressed. At times he weaved his way through tight spaces by the bi-line, won possession a number of times and made some great passes picking the right pass at the right time. Oddly enough his best chance at goal came when he was playing at the back. After a spell of pressure the ball broke and with no opposition players up front, Nathan had edged forwards, he saw his opportunity and blazed a powerful effort narrowly over the bar from about 25 yards out. Unlucky mate!!

Jake too had an outstanding game. Jake's touch with both feet is sublime and he is the fastest thing on 2 legs in my opinion. Though I don't think he'd like me to call him an Ostrich!! :-) Jake played both at the back and in Midfield and won and retained possession expertly time and time again. He made some great passes but also made some great runs with the ball, at one stage seeing space on the right hand side, he made a run from defence to attack before getting in a great cross. Jake was on hand too with a couple of great shots before a ball was laid onto him and from 20 yards out he drilled the ball into the roof of the net giving their (very good) goalkeeper no chance. Great finish Mate! Well played!

Callum demonstrated another powerful and technical performance. He played both left midfield and in defence and nabbed himself the match ball (not literally :-) ) with another hat trick. He scored 3 excellent goals with both feet with power and accuracy but also twisted, and turned his way through the opposition midfield time and again (even from defense) to create opportunities for himself and the team. He put in some fabulous crosses and also showed me is as at home in defence as he is in midfield and up front. Great display Callum and great work for the team!!

Owen is consistently reliable every game he plays. He plays his game but talks his team mates through the game too. He had a flawless game today playing in defence and up front. But today I found myself calling him Di Maria after an amazing angled lob from the left edge of the box with the outside of his right boot to beat the keeper and drop just under the bar... "Who do you think you are? - Di Maria?" I shouted as he grinned across to the coaches whilst maintaining his usual 'I'm cool it was nothing' gait and wandered casually back to defend a centre kick. Time and again he beat his man with some great dribbling, one such run, gaining him his brace from a tight angle demonstrating serious skill in the process. very unlucky not to get his hat trick too!

But the man of the match today was... 'the team' They worked for each other, more often than not made team choices in favour of individualism and thanks from me, Bryn and all the parents for entertaining us all with a truly wonderful performance!!

Well done boys!!