Forest have been put into Group C in the under 15 league Trophy Alpha cup. They will play 4 matches and the top 2 will progress through to the quarter finals. Having already beaten Langley in the league comfortably, I sensed the players felt this was going to be an easy game. Forest started well, and an early left foot shot from Elhaam found the back on the net. 1-0 Forest. Langley kept the game balance with some good attacks of their own. Mobashir, Abdu and Ibrahim cleared a few shots and really kept thing tight and discipline at the back. Another drive forward mid-way through saw Elhaam again jump onto a loose ball and slot home his and Forest’s second goal. 2-0 Forest. Ali came on for the last ten minutes of the first half and scored the third after some good team build up with Sean and Alex. 3-0 Forest Half Time.
As much as we were leading 3-0 I spoke to the team at half time and said to them …Langley are a good team and could have scored three goals themselves if it wasn’t for our keeper Muhammad and our defenders. I said please do not sit back and let them back in.…. well so said so done! Langley scored four unanswered goals in the second half. The ref was shocking, and I don’t normally blame the referees but some major decisions and a penalty for us was not given. I rested a couple players to give others game time. As a coach I learnt, and I also explained to the players to never underestimate teams when leading a match. 4-3 Langley.