Springfield FC u16 EJA 25/26

04/01/26
Opposition- Stanway Pegasus
Away game 3-1 loss

First game back after the holidays was going to be a competitive game v Pegasus.
We started strong creating some chances and making the most of it we took the lead in the first half.
Free kick right side of the box 30 yards out which Jacob daborn Rodríguez took. He put in nice swinging cross to the far post which was hard to defend and Pegasus struggled to clear with a header from Sean Hombarume back to Marlon Matamisa who headed home from 6 yards out.
It was an even game and Pegasus pulled a goal back after we gave held on to the ball too long and lost possession for them to score.

HT 1-1

2nd half

We came out knowing the game is there to be won, but yet again we got caught holding onto the ball for far too long and got punished with another goal from Pegasus.
Game was fairly even for the first 15mins of the 2nd half but we fell of the pace a lost another goal which put us 3-1 behind.
We had our chances but didn’t take them.
We was awarded a penalty after our new signing Ashton Bruce was through on goal inside the box with only the GK in front of him only to be pushed in the back by a defender before he took his shot which saved to the GK.
The ref pointed to the spot only to change his mind when the Pegasus players said he already took his shot so it should be a corner.
We seem to be give goals away to teams sometimes instead of them earning them.
We are still a new team learning at this level and we can see we still can learn.

Last time out against Pegasus we lost 0-4 so if we go by our previous games we have made improvements as we go and that’s what it is all about.

Get in touch if you are looking to play at this level as we have room for a couple more players, especially defenders.

14/12/25
Home game
Opposition- Stanstead Fc 0-1

Going into this game on a mixed emotion from our run out last time v Felixstowe & Walton.
We started this game off well with the same mind set as the previous game and we looked good in the first half being competitive all over the pitch.

Stanstead seemed to be too strong for us in the first 30mins which we had to adapt our game too with a couple of substitutions.
Both team coming close to scoring but in the end both teams went in at half time 0-0.

With the thoughts of our last game where we switched off for the second half we had to stay focused and keep the same intensity we had in the first half.

2nd half
We made a substitute to give everyone as much game time as possible and the second half we matched the physical presence of Stanstead.
It was much the same as the first half, both teams looking for the opening goal.

As time was ticking it was looking like a fair 0-0 draw until a Stanstead player broke free from our defence to set up an easy pass for a player who was free to slot home with near the last kick of the game.

Compared to our first game of the season which was a 7-0 defeat to Stanstead this is significant improvement.
So proud of the lads on how much they put in.

7/12/25
Away Cup - Felixstowe & Walton.

6-1

With last weeks game still in the mind of the way the lads prepared before the game, we had to get them focused this time out.

And to be fair they get their heads straight today and started very well.

It was a game of 2 halves as they say.

The first half of this game see our lads playing well creating some chances.
The lads started this game very well, staying compact when needed and then trying to move the ball quick and holding the play up when necessary.
We could have ended up going in 0-1 at HT but it was 0-0 at the break.

Fair game first half with both teams creating but not finishing.

2nd half.
Well the lads switched off and within a few minutes conceded.
That was the case for most of the second half, we were under pressure and we didn’t want to stay with runners off the ball.
We basically gave in after 20mins of the 2nd half.
After 5-0 we managed to get on the scoreboard with Marko Shved with a great strike from 20 yards.
We did manage to swap the formation around and started to get some joy but the game was too far gone to make an impact on the result.

1st half the result 0-0 was fair, we could have taken a half time lead

2nd half we deserved to lose the games
The lads have to stay switched on and work hard. With only 2 substitutes today we run out of steam.

Please get in touch as we are still looking to add players and game time here would be good for any new players joining.

We play we learn we carry on we go again.

30/11/25
Opponents- Rayleigh Town
County cup
4-1

Well, we knew this wasn’t going to be one of our strong hard working performances in the warm up.
Sometimes you know before a game how the lads will perform and this was one of them.

In the warm up it was slow, it was lazy, it was off the pace with no enthusiasm.
The lads were warned then that they needed to wake up but it fell on deaf ears to most players.

As K/O time was close, we started to realise we didn’t have a referee for our CC game, as he was double booked.
The opposition coach and a parent stepped up.

For the first half it was fairly scrappy we didn’t put any passes together and looked like a team that just wanted rid of the ball, occasionally we would make 2 passes it was dreadful.
Going down a goal with poor defending from us, no pressure on the pass and leaving a striker free.
We did manage to get a goal back from a penalty, with Sean Hombarume being taken down with a slide tackle he the stood up slotting the penalty home.

Second half was pretty much the same for us no ball control. With not having much of the ball we were under pressure.
With that we gave away a very soft penalty which Rayleigh Town slotted home.
With 10mins left of the game and the way we were playing we decided to go with a back 3.
The gamble didn’t pay off and then we conceded another 2 goals.

That’s life you don’t always turn up and be ready for it, we learn and we move on from it.

We did have some joy from today’s game, it was the signing a new player who will sure strengthen our team, Leo Parish - Chiassaro, he worked very hard and is looking like he will make an immediate impact on this team.
Also a great performance from Jacob Daborn- Rodriguez showing non stop running and trying to make things happen when others couldn’t.

We are still looking to add players so get in touch.

🎶 🎵 Raining days and “SUNDAYS”always gets me down 🎶 🎵

23/11/25
Away Rayleigh Town GAME OFF
Waterlogged pitch

16/11/25 Opponent - Witham Town Fc

Result 2-2

With 11 players today what can I say, this team is going from strength to strength.

We welcomed Witham town for today’s home game, Witham are a strong team to play with lots of pace out wide making overloads to our full backs, with plenty of crosses coming in.
We always knew our defence would have to hold tight and defend the crosses and try to counter their attack.

It was all about the 1st half.
For the first 20mins the game was fairly even until Witham took the lead with a nice header from a cross out wide.

Our boys didn’t drop their heads they kept going with focus on what they need to do. A few minutes later we showed why its important for us to stay focused with a goal of our own from Ayomikun Olowolagba, finding himself alone inside the box he tapped home a pass from Ryder Pak Hong Or.

With the game even, Witham then took the lead again with a super strike from 20yrds out which most Gk’s wouldn’t save.

Yet again we kept faith and our belief as a team to get back into the game with a cross come shot from 25yrds out wide from Jaden Nkansah-Ababio.

With only 11 players today we had no option to make changes as the lads were running out of steam Witham started taking over and took control of the last 20mins of the game.

We rode our luck when Witham hit the crossbar with a great save from our No1 Ben Matthew with Witham waiting to pounce on the rebound Luca Catchpole made a very important clearance.

All the Springfield lads were superb today and have started to shows signs that they can play this level if they stick together work hard and play some football.

The previous game v Witham was 6-0 loss, now the lads are more together as a team we can see the improvement already.

To think most of these boys have not played this level before, some were in B&D Div 2, it’s an opportunity for anyone at any level to join this team.

Div 1/2/3 it doesn’t matter come and have a go.

*We are recruiting players so please get in touch*

Sunday 9th November.

Home game v Ipswich Wanderers in the cup.

1-1 win 3-1 on penalties.

Well the lads keep improving game by game and with this game they done it with 10 *PLAYERS*

We are struggling as a team with lots of injuries and we only had a small squad to start the season.
But the mentality of these lads is positive, they are growing in confidence and strength game by game.

With last weeks game against Takeley fc they worked tirelessly to come away with a 0-3 loss which on paper could have been a higher score line bug they have got the mind set of hard work and never give up attitude now.
With that they have kept that for this game v Ipswich wanderers.
With only 10 players available they showed their strength in attitude and approach to the game.
No matter what obstacles come at them they will try and push through it, this is the hall mark of winners, maybe not winning the games but they are winning in their attitude to life and at the same time improving as a player.

The boys started well moving the ball around in the first half with opportunities for both teams.

1st Half.

Midway through the first half we managed to take the lead with a goal from Luca Catchpole (CB) who got on the end of a pinpoint cross from a free kick from Jacob Dabourn Rodrigues (CM) to side foot in at the back post into the roof of the net.

Ipswich then came back at us coming close on a couple of attempts but the half finished 1-0.

2nd half.

We came out with the same attitude of hard work.

Ipswich started to take control and making use of the extra player as our lads legs started to weaken Ipswich took control of the game having more chances and opportunities but our defence were awesome today as was our GK.

With normal time up we had 8 mins of added time to contend with and with the last kick of the game we conceded a goal.
The boys were devastated but they got their heads up and minds straight as we went onto penalties.

Our (GK) Ben Matthew was the hero saving 4 of 5 penalties for us to move through to the next round and more importantly get our first win.

*We are still recruiting players*

Sunday 2nd November.

Takeley 3 Springfield 0

After a not so good performance last week against a strong team in Stanway rovers, we have the task of facing the top team in the division in Takeley fc.

We knew we wasn’t going to have much of the ball today against this strong playing team so we had to set up with that in mind.

Out of possession we needed to work hard to stop any quick play from Takeley, this was the case today as the lads worked their socks off.

A close fought first under lots of pressure we nearly took the lead, with a lovely ball over the top of the defence from our CB our ST was left with 1 on 1 with the keeper and the keeper came out on top.
As the first half was near an end we conceded seconds before the whistle which put us behind at the break 1-0.

We had to endure lots of pressure today but the lads gave everything and more to block any progress from Takeley.
A great penalty save in the first half made it all to play for in the second half.

As we came out for the second half the lads got caught sleeping and conceded a minute or two after the whistle.

Second half again we had to give up the possession and find some structure as a new team, which we did very well today.

Holding out yet again until seconds before the final whistle which made it a deserved win for the home team Takeley but more importantly a very well deserved pat on the back for my lads who walked off the pitch knowing that they have and are improving as a team and as players.

*STILL RECRUITING PLAYERS*

Home game vs Stanway Rovers 26/10/25

1-9
Today was a step backwards in our progression.
A slow start against a strong opponent is not the way to start.
School boy defending errors, which can be rectified with time but when you play a strong team like Stanway rovers expect to be punished and that was much of the game.
Stanway rovers had plenty of pace on both flanks which was causing us big problems.
The difference between the two teams today was how quick Stanway thought and moved the ball and had the pace to hurt us.
We learn today that moving the ball sooner rather than later will help us keep possession more.
Holding onto the ball too long will cramp the space.
It was a day where you need your best players to shine and typically they all had a bad day at the office, which will always happen to anyone.
We are seeing improvements from Paine players individually which is promising for them and the team.

Move on learn from today and improve for the next game.

So, not had time to go through every game we have played and so now playing catch up.

Fixture- Away Maldon & Tiptree. 2-0

Things are slowly improving with time and energy, we kept the score line down a bit more today which is an improvement for the lads.

Our goal is to improve game by game and after today’s game it is going in the right direction.

Another penalty conceded and a good goal from a header was the difference today.