Sherford Vale FC U13’s

Today Matt, Kate and a few of the Sherford Vale U12’s took part in fundraising for HSP & Me - Team Jones' Story. The guys ran a penalty shootout event with all funds raised going to cause. Good effort guys 👏🏼

YMCA (1) v (1) Sherford Vale FC
15 March 2025

2nd in the league vs 3rd in the league today. 1 point separating us. We knew it would be a tight game and that it was, giving us our first draw of the season 18 games in.

We started well with cohen getting down the right and getting the ball across box but neither freds or kason could get on the end of it.

YMCA looked dangerous on every attack and rattled our crossbar to death with a few powerful long range strikes. Cody made a great fingertip save to tip the ball onto the post to keep it 0-0.

Despite a plethora of chances for both teams to score, half time came with the score at 0-0.

Not long into the second half, a YMCA attacker made a run into the box. Eddie came across, made a great tackle and won the ball, but the ref gave a penalty. Disheartening for the boys as the attacker admitted kicking his own leg and falling over. YMCA buried the penalty to make it 1-0.

The boys pushed forward with kason putting balls across the box but we couldn’t get the ball in the back of the net. Imran could work for Hovis with the amount of rolls produced today. Cleverly using his body position and strength he repeatedly rolled the YMCA defenders and bamboozled them with skills down the left. The Oxford dictionary have just added a picture of Imran next to the word ‘silky’. Magic feet that boy.

A free kick 5 yards outside the box was struck against the bar from Kason, unlucky not to score.

When the ball dropped to Freddie 20 yards out, a sweet dipping volley found its way over the keeper into the back of the net! Always got a goal in him when his dad’s not watching. We’ll keep Matt away next week aswell 🤣 1-1.

The boys battled until the end going for the winner but it wasn’t to be. The draw was a fair result. An end to end game with plenty of chances for both.

Cody did well today sweeping up anything that came his way.

Defence did well. Tommy earning opposition man of the match and Eddie earning parents man of the match. Was nice to see Tom o and boaz string multiple 1-2’s together in the middle of the park.

The attackers got down the wings and in the box and created plenty today, we just couldn’t stick it in the back of the net. The goals will come. ⚽️

Captain freds put in a shift today. Started up top, came off with a knock, come back on in midfield and scored a worldie volley that earnt, us what could be, a vital point in the promotion chase.

Managers player: Freddie
Opposition player: Tommy
Parents player: Eddie

2 games left. Drake and Horrabridge away. Final push boys 🟢🟢

SB Frankfurt (4) V Sherford Vale (0)
8 March 2025

A big clash in the promotion chase today. SB with plenty of games in hand have the potential to make promotion and beating them today would’ve almost secured promotion for us. But it wasn’t to be.

This week we were without arguably our performer of the season, Eddie, who decided getting shot with balls of paint was more appealing than last ditch tackles and mazy runs down the wing! We’ll let him off as this was a last minute fixture.

Koben volunteered to fill in and left back whilst Isaac took the right back position, with Tommy dropping into the space that Noah left at centre back. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the performance of the defence in the slightest, with them being solid throughout the game.

They say god created everything in 7 days, but the boys created more than that today…We just couldn’t get that ball in the back of SB’s net.

A long range kick from Cody caught out the SB back line. Freddie beared down on goal but the keeper stayed big and made a great save.

A few minutes later, Freddie burst through again with the keeper making another good save, kason came in on the follow up but put the ball into the side netting.

A deep corner from Fred’s was met by Tommy who volleyed it narrowly wide with his weaker foot.

The chances were coming thick and fast, until a momentary switch off at the back opened the door for the SB winger to go 1 on 1 and he finished his chance with a powerful strike. 1-0 SB.

Shortly after, the boys hesitated after seeing the offside flag go up, but the ref played on and SB striker buried his chance.

In the second half cohen came alive down the right wing. Freddie and boaz found him in space time and time again but the shots just wouldn’t go in.

A miskick at the back fell to the SB striker who finished well to make it 3-0.

Soon came the 4th when the SB midfielder made a driving run. Cody came out quick but the ball squeezed past him and into the net.

The boys carried on. Lovely one touch football in sb’s box from Kason and Boaz led to a powerful shot from kason which was kept out well by a great low save from the SB keeper.

Freddie worked the right wing tirelessly, putting the ball into the box at every opportunity but I don’t think anything was finding its way into the net today.

Very clinical from SB today who scored nearly every chance that came their way. On another day we score 7 or 8.. just one of those days.

Makeshift defence did well today. Koben pushed up into midfield for the last 10 minutes and put in a great shift.

Tom o and Boaz ran the midfield today. Tom doing the dirty physical work whilst Bo did the creating.

The front 3 created chance after chance today. Another day we bury them and come away with a hat full of goals.

Opponents player: Freddie - grafted the whole game and only kept out by a great goalkeeper today. Missed the photo at the end as had to get away to watch the mighty Arthur play.

Managers player: Tommy - extremely mature and composed performance at the back today.

Parents player - Cohan - driving runs the whole time he was on today. Caused major problems down both wings today. Unlucky not to bag a few goals.

Massive game to keep our promotion push on track next week. YMCA away.

Sherford Vale FC (1) v Kelliwick Youth FC (2)
1 March 2025

This top of the table clash had a lot on the line where a win for Sherford would see us sat at the top of the table.. but it wasn’t meant to be today.

The boys came flying out of the blocks and dominated the league leaders for the first half. Creating multiple clear cut chances, but were unable to put any in the net. As we’ve found in recent weeks.. if we don’t take our chances.. it comes back to bite us.

In the second half, a long range rocket from kelliwick flew into our net. 1-0 kelliwick.

Matt stuck 3 up top and the chance creation went into overdrive, resulting in Kason grabbing an equaliser with a snazzy flick. 1-1

We carried on the press and went for the win but an almost identical long range effort from Kelliwick flew into our net once again. 2-1 kellwick.

The Cornish boys went home with all 3 points and cemented their place at the top of the table.

Managers player: Isaac - filling in at right back had a great game.

Parents player - Tommy - filling the hole that Noah left he took to the role like a duck to water. Solid performance at centre back that was recognised by the parents.

Opposition player - captain fantastic Frederico with another shift full of tricks and hard work.

*Apolgies for the late report 🙃

Sherford Vale FC (0) V (1) SB Frankfurt
Cup Semi Final
22 February 2025

The boys got themselves up for this game and started strong. Imran had multiple chances but the post and crossbar came to SB’s rescue. We pressed and kept the majority of the play in SB’s half, we just couldn’t find the back of the net. We limited SB’s chances to the bare minimum with Cody having nothing to do until the 21st minute when a shot went narrowly wide. SB’s winger got the luck of the bounce just before half time and burst down the wing into the box and finished well. 1-0 SB.

2nd half was much of the same, we had multiple goal mouth scrambles but just couldn’t get the ball over the line. SB’s chances were limited again, but Eddie had to make a sublime goal line clearance late in the game to keep it at 1-0.

The boys can be happy with their performance today. Everyone left 100% on the pitch. Today’s result is just how football goes. We fought all over the pitch, Cody was quick off his line, the defence battled all game, the midfield worked hard and tried to create, the forwards got at their defenders at every opportunity.. just unlucky not to score today. The stand in keeper for SB did well today and earnt our man of the match for a solid performance and some good saves in the net.

The cup run is over but we’ve still got 5 important games coming up to push for promotion. The boys will be up for top of the league next week. Beat them and we find ourselves top of the league.

Managers player of the match: Cohan -had belief in himself today, ran at the defence and got in behind. Top effort.

Opposition player of the match: Eddie with another excellent performance. A goal line clearance and a last ditch sliding tackle to his name today.

Parents player of the match: Noah, did all he could today, kept it tight at the back and found himself up front for the last 5 minutes pushing for a goal. Possibly his last game for the club which is a sad day!

Sherford Vale FC (3) V (1) Lydford Foxes
15 February 2025

Today we played bottom of the league but having played them recently, we knew they don’t play like they’re bottom of the league.

Getting to the gritty end of the season, this was a must win game for us if we want to challenge for promotion. And today the boys opted for Aldi’s own Wheat Biscs rather than the branded Weetabix for breakfast. The first half saw us missing and shanking more balls than we’ve ever done. The effort levels were lacking in places and it was clear this was going to be a rough day at the office.

Multiple failed attempts from us to clear the ball led to an absolute peach of a finish from the Lydford striker who couldn’t have put it any more in the top bins if he’d tried. Nothing Isaac could’ve done about it. 1-0 Lydford.

Kason tried his best to get something going and create but Lydford did well at the back and won most things that came their way.

We were glad to see half time after not creating a great deal for 30 minutes.

Freddie was thrown up front and the results were instant. 2 snapshots in 2 minutes got us into the lead. One took a wicked deflection that left the keeper wrong footed, and the other slid under him.. proof that sometimes you’ve got to just get shots on target.

The boys found their feet in the second half. The slices and shanks died off and we started playing football again.

Lydford still had dangerous moments and it took a sublime low-down reaction save from woody to keep us in the lead.

A dangerous corner from kason was volleyed into the net by a defending Lydford player to put us 3-1 up.

They put 3 up top and we tried to counter it with 4 at the back, but with us not playing it often and seemingly poor comms on the pitch, it still left Lydford looking like they might get in behind at any moment.

A welcome final whistle today and an important win.

Standout performance from Kason who battled in both half’s defensively and in attack. 💪🏻

Koben had a great second half where he got at Lydford and battled hard. Grated today.

Freddie dragged us out of trouble today with 2 goals in 2 minutes. Captains performance.

Noah had a busy time at the back but topped off a good performance with a storming header to clear a decent free kick in the last seconds of the game.

While we had one of our poorer performances of the season the boys have dug deep and managed to pull a win out of the bag.

A sad day for the club as Noah played his last game at The Vale. Thanks to the parents for the donations towards a framed shirt from our first season. The boys all signed it and the smile on his face showed he was happy with it! The hole he’s going leave is massive, not only as our unit centre back but a friend to all the lads. He’s going to be missed!

Another last day at the Vale for club secretary and U12 manager Ross. The club can thank him for being here and running after all the graft he’s put in over the years to get things in motion, find funding, kit the boys out.. he’s going to be a real miss to the club. But as this weekends weather has proven.. the sun in Australia is a tempting offer for anyone.

Next week is the biggie. SB in the cup semi final. Let’s hope we come out firing next week 👌🏻

Opposition player today was woody who made a critical save.

Managers player was Freddie who pulled us from the depths of a loss

Parents player was Koben who was tenacious down the wing.

Sherford Vale FC (2) V (1) Lakeside 
8th February 2025

Lakeside sit down the bottom end of the table but after beating top of the league early on in the season they’ve got some skill in the team.

Big team effort this morning from the parents getting the pitch sorted so a big thanks to all who chipped in with the goals etc! Big help when you’re on your tod.

With Cody supporting Steve away at the Invitcus game and Woody playing for his own age group, we found ourselves keeeperless. Isaac went in the net after being voluntold by his mum and he did a great job. A fairly quiet first half for him but he made some vital saves in the second half. Well done Isaac for being a team player and stepping up!

We looked the better team at the start. Plenty of good play whilst keeping them pinned in. Tom o and kason looked busy in midfield and the wingers put a few balls into the box. A few half chances for the boys up top but we couldn’t bag ourselves a goal. Then came the regular saviour. Kason with a 30 yard volley into the top bins. An absolute peach of a goal. The main threat against us came when a through ball over the top caught out Tommy and Noah who were man tight and it called for a 25 yard diagonal covering run and slide tackle from Eddie to eliminate the threat. 1-0 sherford.

First half of the second half was all us. Tommy and Bo linking up down the right wing with Eddie and Imran doing the same down the left. The plastic goals were lucky to survive the relentless hammering to the posts and bar but we couldn’t quite squeeze it in. Then a corner from boaz fell to Koben in the box who finished it beautifully! 2-0 sherford.

But fair play to lakeside. They went for
It and put three up top causing us major problems. After a breakthrough down the wing and our boys failing to track the runners into the box left lakeside with an easy tap in to make it 2-1 Sherford. If it wasn’t a goal it would’ve been a penalty. Noah’s desire to block the cross led to him clattering the lakeside winger. But that’s the desire we need from the boys at the back 💪🏻

Panic mode initiated after a couple more lakeside breakthroughs led to us going 4 at the back with 3 sat in front which stopped any more attacks. A nervy end to the game which we could’ve had sewn up if it wasn’t for the sagging bars. 🤣

Important win to keep the promotion battle alive. Ex sherford player Maxwell and parent turned manager Mark done us a solid by holding SB Frankfurt to a 0-0 draw. A tough final 6 game run in coming up but the boys are all here for it and up for the battle💪🏻

Managers player: Eddie, some excellent defending plus his attacking threat down the wing.

Parents player: Isaac, stepped up and did a great job in the net today 🧤

Opposition player: Kason, constantly busy in the midfield today and scored a beauty!

Next week is Lydford at the Vale!

Lydford Foxes (0) V (2) Sherford Vale FC
25 January 2025

Apologies for the late report! A long old poke up north saw us play Lydford Foxes this week. Whilst bottom of the table, their results of late didn’t match their league position, getting a draw with SB Frankfurt and putting 3 past Lakeside in a narrow defeat. Post match comments from Darren said ‘they were better than bottom of the league’, whilst Dave said ‘ I agree’.

Used to playing on the carpet at The Vale, the boys struggled to play their passing game on the highland turf due to the bobbly surface. The moorland boys put the pressure on our first touch and showed our boys what physicality was. Big tackles against us all over the pitch. Post match, Darren left traumatised, whilst Dave commented ‘I liked them’.

Eventually the boys found some rhythm and a beautiful through ball from Tommy was brought down by Koben and buried into the top bins with his 2nd touch of the game 👏🏼 1-0 Sherford.

Boaz then grabbed us a second to settle the nerves, bamboozling the keeper with a cross/shot that sailed in. Did he mean it? A goals a goal. We take it. 2-0 Sherford.

But there was no plain sailing. Cody had a busy time in the net making multiple saves to keep us in the game. The one time he got beat Noah was there on the line with his own hands to keep it out of the net 🧤 penalty to Lydford.. and luckily no red card shown by the referee. Cody stood big and looked mean, causing the Lydford penalty taker to send the ball over the bar.

Hayden and Tom O took a battering during a mighty battle in the midfield, but gave as good as they got! Well done to Isaac who got utilised in multiple positions today! A good physical shift put in by everyone to keep the promotion hopes alive.

Opposition player of the match: Cody for multiple saves and a clean sheet

Coaches player of the match: Tom O for a battle in the midfield

Parents player of the match: Hayden, another battler in midfield.

Due to the lateness of this report, the YMCA game has already been postponed due to the fine British weather. Next up will be another physical contest against Lakeside on the 8th Feb.

Manstow (0) v (3) Sherford Vale FC
18 January 2025

We found ourselves keeperless this morning and we’d like to thank Manstow for lending us some gloves and a keeper shirt for the boys who found themselves playing in the net. Great sportsmanship.

Noah started in the net first half and gave us an almighty scare when the ball played back to him went under his foot and only a desperate scramble got it clear. He made another great close range save in the first half which was vital to stop us going behind. After that he settled and did a solid job.

Our first goal came from a free kick. Kason drilled the ball into the wall but then latched onto the 2nd ball, drilling it into the bottom corner. 1-0 sherford.

Our second goal came from a corner. Tommy threw himself at it like Bruce Lee but ended up in a heap on the floor. The manstow defenders were probably confused as to what they had just seen, but cohen was alert and buried it from close range. 2-0 sherford.

Our third goal came from a beautiful lofted ball over the top to Freddie who raced away from the back line. The manstow keeper stood tall and didn’t make it easy, but Fred’s showed good composure to bury it in the bottom corner. 3-0 sherford.

Kason stepped up to play In goal the second half but didn’t have much to do. The defence kept it tight and kept manstow at bay. Lots of varied positions for the boys so well done to all of them who filled in wherever they were needed.

Kason with a goal and a clean sheet earned the oppositions player of the match.

Cohen grabbed himself a goal, attacked down the wing and did some great tracking back to earn the parents player of the match.

Eddie had another outstanding performance at left back. Attacking constantly and causing problems. He tried to repeat last weeks 30 yard rocket to no avail! But we love the ambition! He earnt himself managers player of the match.

A solid performance all round where we looked quite comfortable for the whole game. We need to work on our final third play to really start unlocking teams and upping our goal tally. Something for us to look at. Well done to all the guys today 👏🏼

Next week is a long old poke to Okehampton to play Lydford! Ross will be on his own so any helping hands for him would be greatly appreciated!

Sherford Vale FC U12’s and the boys would like to show their appreciation to Interseal South West LTD for kitting the boys out with jackets last season and bags this season. All of us appreciate your continuing support!

Sherford Vale FC (3) V (1) Plymouth Marjons Youth

11th January 2025

Our first league game of the new year got underway this morning whilst every other game in our league was postponed. The Vale pitch was never in doubt 🏖️

Marjons always prove a threat and have had themselves some decent results recently so this game was always going to be tricky. We came out the gates well and started playing our game, keeping them pinned in their half with the occasional counter attack from
Marjons. These were generally swept up well by our defence who were on it today.

The first goal came when Fred’s knocked it past their last man before being wiped out in the box. Penalty. As captain, Fred’s make the onfield decision of who gets the pen and kason stepped up to take it. He sent the keeper the wrong way with a lovely finish. 1-0 sherford.

From a great keepers throw, we failed to get hold of the ball and a curling effort from the Marjons winger crept inside the post. 1-1.

Then came the wobble. A few attacks from marjons came in quick succession. Cody had to make a great save from 2 yards out after Tommy sent a clearance towards his own net. But it was a moment that settled the ship. Proud of the boys for getting their heads back in the game as in previous games we’ve capitulated. After this they were straight back to it.

Hayden won the ball in midfield and found Kason who chipped the ball up for an absolute rocket 30 yard volley from the outstanding Eddie. The keeper could only watch as the ball sailed over him and into the net. A brilliant and well deserved goal for a lad who is having an excellent season. 2-1 sherford.

We kept at them, forcing corner after corner, but failed to bury any of them until a helping hand came from a marjons defender who inadvertently headed into his own net from a wicked Kason delivery to the near post.

A game where the attackers had plenty of chances but the defenders were made to work hard. Praise came for 4 or 5 standout performances from the opposition manager at the end of the game.

Cody made some vital saves and was composed with his feet today. Once again the full backs Eddie and Tommy defended excellently whilst also providing a serious attacking threat. Noah held the fort as usual 🏰

Hayden and Tom disrupting any play that came through the middle whilst kason battled hard and came close with some long range efforts.

Imran down the left delighted us by dancing around the opposition defence with his silky feet earning himself the managers player of the game. Bo and Cohan down the right put the ball across the box multiple times, we just couldn’t get the finish.

Fred’s and Koben battled hard up top and both had multiple chances that came close. Both visibly frustrated but those chances on another day go in. Keep at it boys.

Managers player: Imran with his silky feet
Opposition player: Kason the workhorse in midfield
Parents player: The outstanding Eddie. I’d give him a 10/10 for today’s performance. Not only did he bang in a 30 yard volley, he swept up multiple times at the back and blocked a shot heading into an open net👏🏼

Excellent start to 2025. Next up manstow away. Let’s keep it going ⚽️

Failure to bring the trophies back will become a finable offence soon as I feel bad for the boys pretending to hold a trophy. Donuts all round if parents forget in future 👀🤣

Sherford Vale FC (3) v (0) Manstow Youth
14 December 2024

Coming off the back of a very convincing win against SB Frankfurt last week set us up well for this, what has been, bogey fixture for us in the last 2 seasons. After narrowly beating them 1-0 in the cup final a couple of years ago we’ve suffered defeats against them ever since. We were without Koben this week, an ex Manstow player, who was gutted to not be playing.

Both teams started off trying to pass the ball around and play nice football, but the relentless work of Freddie and Boaz in the attack soon became too much for the Manstow defence to handle. Birthday boy Boaz was gifted an extra 10mph pace it seems. Combine that with his touch and skill down the right hand wing he was electric and a constant threat. Freddie doing the same in the middle was a constant problem for Manstow and kept them pinned in their half. The first goal came with Freddie picking the ball up down the left hand wing and laying it across the box on a plate for Boaz to finish. 1-0 sherford.

The next goal was almost a replica. This time it was Imran with some disgustingly beautiful skill down the left wing to beat his man and lay it on a plate for the birthday boy to grab his second of the game. 2-0 sherford.

We finally scored from a corner 🎉. However, with kids being too honest.. Noah declared that he didn’t score it and that it was an own goal. Sometimes in football it’s not the end of the world if you say you got the final touch 😉😀 3-0 sherford.

Manstow had a threat with some real pace up front but between the back three and another solid performance from Cody we managed to keep only our second clean sheet of the season. With Tommy and Eddie bombing on at every given opportunity we did end up providing Manstow with a few chances but super hooper swept up any threat by being quick off his line and making some good saves. The threat from Tommy and Eddie on the overlap is scary for the opposition. Tommy really had a blinder this week. One of those dribblers that you think has lost control of it but then nips it past the defender, and then does the same to the next guy. Great runs down the right today.

The central midfield seems to be clicking and working well together. Tom o and Kason both working well defensively. Tom o the short range master and Kason the long range passing and shooting threat. Whenever Manstow followed the runs of the forwards, this left kason the chance to shoot from range. Some cracking efforts today. Hayden and Tom o playing in there together in the second half to keep it nice and tight did it a great job. Hayden almost grabbing himself a goal after beating a few players and finding himself one on one.

Kudus to the Manstow goalkeeper Charlie who was regularly peppered today but did a great job at keeping the score to only 3.

Cohan gained the opposition players player this week. A constant hassle and threat with great positioning. Denied a goal from an offside decision and then he hit the bar, he did everything but score today.

Another solid performance from the boys today. The three of us on the sidelines love watching the boys play great football. That’s the last game before Christmas. We hope everyone has a great Christmas and we’ll get back to it in the new year. 🎅🏼

Happy birthdays to this weekends birthday boys Eddie and Boaz. 🎂

Thanks to Lee for running the line despite his lungs being on their last breaths. 🚩

Opposition player: Cohan
Managers player: Tommy
Parents player: Boaz

Parents, If we can solve the mystery as to who has the third trophy so one of them doesn’t have to pretend to hold one that would be great 🤣