King George Under 10 Cobras

Codicote Youth Reds v. King George U9 Cobras 22nd April 2017

The Cobras won a tight fought game 1:0 thanks to a single strike from Charlie H.
The Cobras were Alec, Charlie, Charlie W, Daksh, Freddie, Jacob, Max (Captain in Andrew’s absence) and Nicholas.
The Cobras defended an early Codicote corner and Nicholas made a save before Freddie hit the side net of the opposition goal following a pass from Daksh.
Good defensive play by Max limited the home team to a corner which was over hit and missed everyone. Codicote hit a shot wide thanks mainly to good defensive covering from Freddie.
On the attack, Alec crossed the ball to Daksh who set up Freddie whose shot was deflected off the post for a corner, which the home side cleared following Alec’s ball in.
Charlie W made an important clearance in defence and then shot just wide at the other end after picking up a throw in from Alec.
The home team hit a shot wide and another over the bar, but the visitors were pressing too. Charlie H hit a shot wide following a pass from Freddie and Charlie W had a shot saved after he made a solo run up the left wing. Daksh passed the ball forward to Alec who squared it to an onrushing Charlie H who calmly thumped the ball into the net from the other side of the goal.
Good defensive work by Charlie W and Max denied Codicote as they tried to respond and the visitors had to defend another corner before the half time whistle went.
Alec also hat a shot cleared early in the second half, and Max threw the ball in for Charlie H who set up Daksh but he couldn’t get any power on his shot which was saved.
Codicote hit a shot over the bar and more good defensive play from Max denied the home side twice at the expense of a corner which was again over hit and missed everyone. .
Alec took a Cobra corner which fell to Daksh but his shot was cleared by the keeper.
More good defensive work from Max and by Nicholas coming off his line early maintained the clean sheet.
At the other end Alec put the ball through to Freddie who would have almost certainly have scored had it not been for quick thinking by the Coricote keeper who came out quickly to narrow the angle and save the shot.
A crucial interception by Max broke down a dangerous home attack. Charlie W put the ball through to Freddie whose resulting cross was blocked. Max threw the ball in for Alec who shot wide. Alec won and took a corner which went straight into the arms of the Codicote keeper who deftly booted the ball up field, but Nicholas came out quickly to narrow the angle and the attacker struck the ball wide of the post. Nicholas made another save and Alec blocked the ball that came in from the resulting corner at the expense of another corner which Nicholas touched across the box to safety.
Alec won a corner in the dying moments of the game after a defender hand-balled his shot in the box. Alec stepped up to take the corner but hit the ball wide of the right post, and was lying disconsolate on the ground when the final whistle went.
Nicholas was well defended by Jacob and especially Max today (who seemed to be everywhere) but Nicholas kept his concentration and the defence secured a good clean sheet in a very even contest.
Assistant coach Big Ben named Max a well-deserved Cobras Man of the Match.
Pitch-side reporter Dave Bird

King George U9 Cobras v. St Albans 25th March 2017

The Cobras lost 4:2 at home despite a fine brace from Alfie.
The Cobras were Alfie, Andrew, Charlie, Charlie W, Daksh, Freddie, Max (Captain) and Nicholas.
The home team found themselves on the defensive early in the game, having to defend two corners, but denied the visitors thanks to a clearance by Nicholas, three clearances by Andrew and one by Freddie, and all St Albans had to show for it was one shot wide of the post.
Against the run of play, Alfie won a free kick when he was fouled on the edge of the visitors’ 18 yard box. He fired the free kick in with his right foot and it crashed into the far side of the goal through a sea of heads to put the home side ahead.
St Albans responded and hit a shot over the bar and were again denied by two more clearances by Andrew, a block by Charlie and a save from Nicholas. The Cobras defended two more corners after Freddie put the ball out to safety twice and St Albans hit two more shots wide of the post. Andrew made a good defensive header at the expense of another corner and fortunately the dangerous ball in missed everyone. Nicholas made two consecutive saves, but the unrelenting pressure finally produced an equaliser for the visitors.
St Albans hit another shot wide and Daksh made a crucial tackle to break down another attack.
The Cobras began to respond and won two corners taken by Alfie, the second of which culminated in Andrew being fouled from behind in the box and winning a corner. Alfie stepped up, and calmly lifted the ball high into the right hand top corner leaving the St Albans keeper no chance and restoring the home team’s advantage.
At the other end, Nicholas came off his line quickly to thwart a St Albans attack and Andrew once again put in some good defensive work. A final corner from Alfie went dangerously straight through all the players and out for a goal kick before the half time whistle went.
The pressure continued from the visitors in the second half. Max and Nicholas both made clearances and the latter made an important save. At the other end, Charlie W put a nice ball through to Freddie who won a corner, but Alfie’s kick went through the whole field. A good forward pass from the visitors set up an equaliser.
Freddie blocked another attack and Daksh cleared the ball from inside the box. Charlie W put another ball forward to Alfie whose shot was saved. A defence splitting St Albans attack left Nicolas alone; he came out to try and intercept but could not prevent the visitors taking the lead.
Daksh made another clearance from a St Albans corner and Nicholas made another save. Alfie won and took another corner but the visitors cleared the ball. As the last defender Charlie W calmly turned and evaded the attacker and pushed the ball up the right wing to safety. Nicholas made a great double save to keep the home side in contention. Charlie W passed the ball up to Charlie, but he couldn’t reach it before the keeper gathered. The visitors responded and managed to find the back of the Cobras net for the fourth time.
Alfie struck another shot just wide as did the visitors. Nicholas made a save and then another superb save, and then the Cobras countered. Pressing hard for a goal, Alfie took another corner which culminated in a shot from Daksh being blocked. Charlie W set up Charlie whose shot was also blocked. Freddie made a great turn and passed to Charlie whose shot was saved.
St Albans hit another shot wide, Nicholas was forced into another save and Charlie W blocked a St Albans free kick before the final whistle went.
Coach Big Ben named Andrew Cobras Man of the Match for his solid defensive work in the first half and for winning the penalty.
Pitch-side reporter Dave Bird

Norsemen FC U9 Hawks v. King George U9 Cobras 18th March 2017

A depleted Cobras side with no subs won 2:1 away against a team they lost to last month thanks to goals from Charlie W and Alec.
The Cobras were Alec, Charlie, Charlie W, Daksh, Freddie (Captain), Jacob, and Nicholas.

Early pressure from the Cobras pinned the home team back, thanks in part to good work by Freddie on the right wing and Charlie W battling away on the left.

It wasn’t all one way traffic and Nicholas was forced to make an early save and came off his line quickly on another occasion to narrow the angle and force the attacking Norseman to hit his shot wide. Charlie made a good defensive clearance and Alec made the first of several well timed sliding tackles to put the ball out to safety.
The Cobras were unlucky not to produce an early goal. Charlie W picked out Freddie who shot wide. Jacob threw a ball in for Freddie whose resulting shot was saved. Daksh set up Alec whose shot thumped back off the post. Charlie W also had a shot saved and then put a great ball in for Daksh who couldn’t quite latch onto it before it was gathered by the keeper.

The Cobras successfully defended two Norsemen corners before themselves breaking the deadlock. Daksh, who is now averaging an assist per game, received the ball from Freddie and passed it to Charlie W who thumped the ball past the keeper for the opening goal.

The home team tried to respond and a good interception by Charlie nearly produced an own goal but Nicholas cleared it off the line, and the Norsemen failed to capitalise from the resulting corner.
Daksh won the Cobras’ first corner at the other end, which Alec took. Despite some nice passing between the two Charlies and Alec the home team managed to clear the ball. Nicholas made a great save at the other end to keep the visitors ahead.

Freddie received the ball from Charlie and won the first of four consecutive corners for the Cobras, three of which were taken by Alec and the last by Charlie W. The Cobras were piling on the pressure, but still had some defending to do. Nicholas made another save and the Cobras had to defend a corner themselves. Charlie cleared another ball off the line and the home team hit the ball wide from the resulting corner.

On the attack again Alec put in a couple of decent crosses. Daksh won a corner, which produced another corner both of which Alec took but the home team cleared the ball. Daksh set up Freddie who had another shot saved, before Alec’s attempted half volley from distance looped high into the air and fell just under the crossbar where the back-peddling Norsemen keeper failed to keep the ball out despite getting both hands to it. The home team hit the Cobras side-net before the half-time whistle went with the Cobras leading 2:0.

The Norsemen very nearly scored early in the second half but Nicholas managed to get a hand to the ball and Charlie then cleared it off the line. The Cobras successfully defended two corners, but were pressing themselves to extend their lead. Charlie W hit a shot just over the bar after receiving the ball from Daksh, and had another shot cleared. Daksh won a corner, which Alec took, but it resulted in a goal kick despite Freddie battling for the ball in the box. Daksh picked the ball up deep in his own half and ran the full length of the pitch, evading the defence but his shot was deflected out off the keeper for a corner. Charlie W’s corner kick found Alec whose shot was saved. Charlie W then set up both Alec and Daksh but their shots were respectively blocked and saved.
The Norsemen struck a shot wide at the other end. Defensive work from Freddie, Charlie W and Nicholas broke down three attacks at the expense of corners for the home side, the last of which led to a scramble in the box from which the Norsemen scored when the ball was judged to have wholly crossed the line.

The visitors went back on the attack looking for a better cushion. Alec gave the ball to Daksh whose shot was blocked behind for a corner. Alec took the corner which produced another one, which the home side cleared. In the dying moments, Freddie won a free kick which Charlie W took, but there was insufficient time to score again and the full time whistle went.

Acting Coach Big Ben could not pick a Cobras Man of the Match commenting that they had all played well enough to have earned the honour. Freddie and Daksh (who seemed to be everywhere today) were both very unlucky not to have scored while Nicholas, Charlie and Jacob were solid in defence. Ben therefore awarded joint man of the match to all of the Magnificent Seven. .

Pitch-side reporter Dave Bird

Codicote Youth Reds v. King George U9 Cobras 4th March 2017

The Cobras lost 2:0 away despite a battling performance on a day when they just could not convert any of their chances.
The Cobras were Alec, Alfie, Andrew, Charlie, Charlie W, Daksh, Freddie, Jacob, Max (Captain) and Nicholas.
In the opening minutes Charlie W hit a shot wide after receiving the ball from Alec and Alfie also hit a shot wide following a throw in by Max. The Cobras defended two Codicote corners involving clearances by Alec and Charlie and Nicholas came out early to clear the ball and deny another home attack.
Daksh exhibited some good aggressive battling in midfield and the Cobras defended six more home corners thanks in particular to Daksh, Jacob and twice by Max. Alec made a good interception to thwart another Codicote attack. Codicote struck the post and Nicholas cleared the ball.
At the other end Alfie set up Alec whose shot was only blocked thanks to a diving save by the Codicote keeper. An attempted cross by Freddie was blocked by a defender.
The Cobras could only soak up so much pressure and a Codicote shot rebounded off the post and went in off Nicholas, who had no chance to avoid it. Having finally made the breakthrough, Codicote doubled their lead soon afterwards from yet another corner.
Alfie had a free kick saved by the home keeper and took a corner which the home team cleared. Andrew made two important defensive clearances before the half time whistle went.
Daksh replaced Nicholas in goal for the second half and was soon in action tipping a couple of balls away to safety following an early Codicote corner and made another defensive clearance.
Charlie W slotted a ball through to Alfie who struck wide of the post.
The home side failed to capitalise on a corner after Daksh saved another shot.
Freddie picked out Alfie who shot just wide of the post and at the other end Freddie cleared the ball off the line after a goal line scramble.
Freddie then picked out Alfie who managed to win a corner, which produced two more corners, the last of which ended after Freddie passed the ball to Charlie W who found Alfie who shot wide.
Nicholas won a free kick, but Alfie’s resulting shot was again just wide.
Daksh tipped another ball behind for a corner from which the home side hit the side netting. Some good defending by Max denied the home side again.
Andrew slotted a ball through to Alec who found Jacob whose shot was saved.
Daksh made another save and Max made another defensive block before the final whistle went.
There was a bit too much pressure for the Cobras to be able to soak up in the first half, but they found their rhythm in the second half and stopped the rot.
Coach Ben named Freddie Cobras Man of the Match for running up and down and for his superb defensive clearance off the line.
Pitch-side reporter Dave Bird

Hertford Stags v. King George U9 Cobras – 15th October 2016
The Cobras lost their second away game in a row by a single goal in a very close match.
The team were Alec, Alfie, Andrew, Charlie, Charlie W, Freddie, Jacob, Max and Nicholas.
The Cobras had managed to keep good shape during an action- filled match, which involved numerous corners and free kicks for both sides.
Jacob was, as always, was a rock in defence, clearing the ball for a corner several times and calmly dribbling the ball out of defence and passing it up the right wing on a couple of occasions. Max, wore the Captain’s armband today and soldiered on manfully after taking an accidental kick in the face from Jacob whilst they were defending a free kick.
The Cobras had several goal scoring opportunities. A good chance fell to Charlie W in the first half when his shot just cleared the crossbar following a rebound from an Alfie free kick. Alfie took the free kicks and corners, and hit the side netting of the Stags’ goal twice during free play, had a shot on target saved and hit the ball wide a couple of times but could not find the back of the net today. In the first half, Freddie made a great run with the ball up the right wing, but his cross was held by the keeper.
The Stags’ winning goal came in the last half of the second period. Paul Western had just commented that the Cobras might be undone by one moment of brilliance from the Stags and so it proved to be. In Paul’s words, a “flowing move from the opposition, drilled cross, sweeping finish into the top of the net via the crossbar. Fantastic goal.” Nicholas could do nothing about it, and had a good game, making several important saves and distributing the ball well.
With less than 10 minutes remaining, the Cobras tried hard to get an equaliser. The best effort was possibly when Alfie had a shot saved and hit his follow-up effort wide. The Cobras’ last chance came late on when Alec slotted a pass through to Freddie, who, following some interplay with Charlie, had his shot saved.
It was a good defensive effort by the Cobras throughout with important interceptions at times by Max, both Charlies, Andrew, Alec and especially Jacob, and the team were unlucky not to keep a clean sheet. The match ended 1- 0 to the home team.
Coach Ben named Freddie Cobras man of the match for doggedly keeping going!
Pitchside reporter Dave Bird

Cobras v Watton Youth match report.

Well what a match we had today. The conditions weren't the best with rain heavy at times but there was great support for both sides.
The Cobras started with some good passing and Watton youth hit the bar in the first ten minutes. Their number seven made some marauding runs down the right wing but defenders Jacob and Charlie H were more than up to the task. The Cobras broke the deadlock mid way through the first half with an attack leading to Alfie being one on one with their keeper and he slotted the ball home. They came back strongly with a goal just before half time.
The coaches Big Ben and little Ben made some changes at half time with debutant Max teaming up with Jacob in a strong looking defensive and little Andrew in midfield. Watton Youth made some headway but if it wasn't for our keeper Nicholas their score would have doubled as he made some great stops.
As the second half progressed nice passing from both sides lead to a second goal from Watton. The Cobras then kept their heads with some great runs down the wings from Freddie and Charlie W. Then an attack started deep in our own half with some great passes finishing with a perfect pass from midfielder Alec to Freddie who calmly slotted the ball home bring the score level.
Both sides then played some great football with chances coming thick and fast. Then late in the game the ball landed at Charlie H feet with just the keeper to beat but under pressure Charlie hit the ball wide. The game ended 2-2 which was a fair result for both sides with the Cobras starting to form as a team so here looking forward to a promising season!👍🏽👍🏽⚽️⚽️

Do you love playing football?
Will you be in Year 4 from September 2016?

As we move from 5 a-side up to 7 a-side “King George Cobras Under 9’s” are looking for some additional player’s to join their already great team.

If you are interested in coming along and meeting us, we are holding a FREE open training session @ King George V Playing Fields, Beehive Lane. Welwyn Garden City AL7 4BP on Saturday 16th July from 10 – 11am.

For more information please contact:
Matt on 07932 717423, Ben on 07734 359914 or just turn up on the day.

We look forward to meeting you!

Well done to all the boys today at King George tournament.

Hi Guys don't forget we have a tournament on the 29th of May. We need to be at King George playing fields at 9am for games kicking off at 10am. We are also looking for new players for this and next season so if you could share this post with your friends that would be great. Finally don't forget we have training this Wednesday with the last one before summer break on the 25th. Thanks Matt.

Match Report: King George Cobras v. King George Vipers
Despite a hat-trick from Alec and a brace from Charlie, the Cobras lost a hard fought friendly against their club mates 8-6.
The Cobras put up a spirited fight in searing hot conditions but were under strength due to the illness of two key players, Jacob and Alfie. Nicholas played the whole match in goal for the Cobras with Alec, Charlie, Jaydon, Andrew and Freddie rotating as outfield players.
The Vipers opened the scoring when Bobbie slotted the ball through to Lewis who netted. The Cobras quickly equalised when Charlie scored after latching onto Freddie’s pass. It was not long however before Lewis again found the back of the net for the Vipers.
Then Jaydon battled for the ball down the right wing and squared it to Alec, who was unmarked and could not miss. Soon after this, Jaydon was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and awarded a penalty. He calmly put the ball past the keeper into the bottom righthand corner of the net to give the Cobras the lead for the first time.
Unfortunately for the Cobras, Lewis scored the next goal to earn his hat-trick, levelling the match at 3-3. However, Alec won the ball in midfield and advanced at goal, drilling the ball between the keeper and his right post to regain the lead.
Sadly, Luka then claimed a brace to put the Vipers in front. The next goal also came from the Vipers when Bobbie again picked out Lewis who scored his fourth and final goal of the match.
The Cobras were clearly now struggling from the heat and the lack of subs and Liam scored to earn the Vipers a three-goal cushion.
The Cobras managed to stop the rot when Alec’s pass picked out Charlie for his second. There were other chances for the Cobras most notably when Freddie laid the ball back for Alec who lifted the ball just over the crossbar. The penultimate goal came from Morgan to re-establish a three-goal lead for the Vipers. Alec earned his hat-trick late on following a corner, but it was too little too late.
Caretaker Coach Matt awarded Nicholas Cobras Man of the Match for the numerous saves he made.
Match-side reporter: David Bird