Coastal Spirit White Grade 10 - 2008

Cashmere B .... 3-5 ,,,,

2008-07-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

e seem to play better in the cold :)

The second half was a great display. Pat C made a difference in midfield when he came out of goals and Nick and Connor especially improved immeasurably after half-time. But everyone did and we were unlucky in the end not to catch them. Well done to the team ... we really need to keep improving though. Nick scored two Maradona goals (your dads will tell you) and Vaughn's goal was a beauty as well.

Thanks to Jacob for filling in as goalkeeper second-half. Justin enjoyed his time in the first team - was far (very far) from outclassed and we welcome him back this week.

We need to start playing from the first whistle though. It's a failing all the way through the season and something I will be concentrating on this Tuesday at training.

Cold, cold, cold

2008-06-29T20:25:00.001-07:00

What an amazing game on Saturday. OK, we lost 4-0 but we learnt a lot about ourselves as a team and as individuals.

The conditions were atrocious and the first half I was making subs simply to get more layers on underneath the white jerseys. We made a couple of mistakes and went 4 goals down in that time - we have to work on getting one, and only one, person out wide to the ball and leaving the other defender in the box. But the grit and determination of all the players to give their all even though they were freezing was a great sight for a coach. Halftime there were some calls to call the game off and it was touch and go but when I asked who wanted to play on, pretty much everyone said they wanted to keep going.

Special words of thanks to Vaughn, who spent a freezing 25 minutes in goal making some vital saves, then although the cold got to him at half-time he played very well in the second half and deserved a goal. Also to Justin and Jayden who sent 10 minutes each in goal - it must have been so cold for them. Connor seemed to get better and better as the conditions got worse and played a blinding second half; Hikairoa and Jan gave their all and Nick was deservedly mann of the match for an amazing display of tackling and running that should have produced a goal. Patrick beat players for fun and when his left foot gets stronger will be banging them in. Jaime played really well for a snowgirl and in the second half played for Bill's team as he was short - she was head and shoulders the best player on that park and scored a cracker to help them win.

We are still losing but the team spirit is huge and we are improving from game to game. Next week we have a great opportunity - we play Burnside B at North Hagley Park J2 and we'll see if this improvement brings a result.

Lorcan

0-5 to Halswell C

2008-06-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Buggar. Just when I come back we get tonked undeservedly. Maybe I'm the Jonah :(

What a first half - we did everything but score. Even though we were down I thought it was a matter of time but then the wheels fell off in the second half. I must say that the goal just after half-time was my fault as the second half starting caught me out and the team that started that half weren't fully switched on.

One thing we really need to work on is our concentration. Too many times the midfield were watching the game and not being determined to get back and help out our back two. We really need to remember that even when the ball is not near us, the game is still on and we need to be ready or to move toward the ball.

Training this Tuesay and advance warning that the following Tuesday is photo night so at 5.40pm after training we need to have our gear with us - clean hopefully.

Coastal Spirit White 2 Burnside C 1

2008-06-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

Well deserved! We have worked really hard in training over the past couple of weeks on our commitment, tackling and shooting – the kids have been fantastic and they got their reward last Saturday. It was such a pity I wasn’t there but Bruce did a great job and lost his voice after the game. Thanks Bruce! I was really happy for Jan and Vaughan for scoring the goals but from what I can gather it was all hands to the pump for the last bit and they all dug deep and kept going for the win. Let’s hope it is the first of many.

This week we are back at Cuthbert’s Green against Cashmere Wanderers Gold at 9.30am. I will be missing again – I’ll be watching Ireland beat the All Blacks – but Bruce will look after them again. If they win, I might retire :)

still waiting.....

2008-05-27T20:30:00.001-07:00

Still waiting that first win but we are inching our way towards it. Great performance last week against the Pap Redwood Tuis. The effort and tackling matched the excellence of last week - we just need to find a way to finish. At training we concentrated a lot on shooting when we get a sight on goals and making sure we hit the target.... and hopefully in coming weeks some will go in.

Our game this week is against Burnside C and is at North Hagley Park J5 (and give a cheer to the Cashmere Phantoms next door on J5 - my son Caolan plays for them). Please be there at 9am - Justin's dad Bruce, Coastal Spirit's junnioe committee chairman - will be running the team.

A goal!

2008-05-20T19:42:00.000-07:00

That was better wasn't it!

We worked hard last Tuesday on our togetherness, our commitment and our tackling and it paid off on Saturday. We may have lost but we played very well and if the luck had gone with us ....

It was great to see everybody taking resonsibility for teir own tackling, nobody hoping some other team mamber would do their job. From goalkeeper to striker, everyone got stuck in. I though Justin and Connor were outstanding at the back and Nick was tigerish in midfield.

I made two major mistakes. Sorry to everyone for the ground mixup - seemingly they are used to it as we weren't the first opposition to be a Barnett Park at 9.25am looking for an opposition. Especially sorry for Dylan who got lost in transit and missed the game.... he will be very welcome back this Saturday. My second mistake was forgetting the goal keeper gloves and that was why they scored the second and killer goal.

Now, it is important we don't celebrate too much - we did lose after all. We now need to chase and harry even more and get some more goals and win a few games.

Our game this Saturday is at Bower Park (jusction of New Brghton Road and Bower Ave) - we are playing (again) the Papanui Redwood Tuis who have beated us once and will be a bit over confident.

9am everybody! Let's get 'em.

again...

2008-05-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

Another heavy loss this week I'm afraid - 7-0 to the same Burwood team. I thought we are geting better but the little things let us down.... 5 of their goals were gifted by turning towards our goal with the ball or by waiting for someone else to clear rather than do it youself. We worked hard in training this week on that and our tackling and agressiveness. We will get better.

Game this weekend is away at Ferrymead Bays B. We have also played this team before so the draw seems to be just repeating.

We will put up a better show.

Lorcan

Burwood revenge....

2008-05-07T16:50:00.001-07:00

Good training session on Tuesday. Coastal Spirit is trying to get a few players from the first team to come down and help out and encourage the juniors and on Tuesday Jimmy Harris from the first team came down to our training. A really nice guy with lots of skills - he showed a few tricks to our lot and took a few drills. He said he would be back again.

On Saturday we are at home (Cuthbert's Green) to Burwood A who beat us in the first game os the season. That game means nothing now as we start from scratch this Saturday. They will be confident but we will have to show them that that game was a one-off and from now on we will be competitive. See you down there at 9am.

Also, for all those interested - the Midgets (under 6) season is starting on Sunday at 10am at Eric Adam Park (formerly Rangers Park on McGregors Road). Someone asked me about it and I'm sorry to say I'm not sure who it was (Jayden's mum?).

I will be running the first session and my son Daire will be there. I think there is about 14 midgets so far.

This weekend....

2008-04-30T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Game on Saturday is away at Halswell B at Halswell Domain. Ther are two Halswell sides in the division - B and C - so this is supposedly the better side. We will ahve to work hard to get a result. And have sdome ofr the luck we have been missing.

Let's hope we pickup up some tips from the senir side who won 4-0 last night.

Halswell is pretty far so leave in good time and see you there at 9am.

English Cup win.....

2008-04-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

Great night last night.... Coastal Spirit 8 Woolsten Tech 3... Jayden, Pat, Vaughan, Hikairoa, Jaime and Connor came along - and thanks to Mark, Pat's step-dad for the lifts.

Not sure how much they watched as they spent most of the time playing soccer behind one goal and raiding the Coke machine.

Sor anyone interested the next round (QF) is next Wednesday - Coastal Spirit against Cashmere Wanderers.... more than happy to do it again.

No game this week - so see you all Tuesday.

Another loss, I'm afraid.....

2008-04-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

Looks like it will be a long year. It was a darn sight better than last week. We fought and fought all game and never gave up. The results are going against us but if we keep putting in performances like that we will get something along the line.

In training last Tuesday I had asked the kids to work a little harder and support each other more during matches and it was great to see how much they worked - no-one harder than Jayden in midfield - the deserved man of the match. There was very few times our backline was as exposed as they were last week. We still need to concentate on that. Justin proved a great keeper...and was fresh and strong in the second half. Jan was immense in the middle and Dylan, Vaughan and Hikairoa worked hard too. Jaime and Connor were solid as usual and Pat was as tricky as ever.

We do need to concentate a bit better and try to be first to every ball - we are being a wee bit out muscled and we can immprove that a bit.

This morning I saw that our next game was against the Western Pumas who are the only team below us on the table and I was looking forward to a mrale boosting win.... but this afternoon came the news that they have pulled out of the competition and the draw has been re-done. The good news being that all results so far are expunged and we start again. So we can still win the league!! :)

No game this Saturday but training as usual on Tuesday.

down but not out.....

2008-04-13T18:10:00.001-07:00

Well, we're not last :) A very disappinting game where again, nothing went right for us. I knew from the outset it would be tough as I remembered how strong all three Ferrymead teams were in our grade last year but an 8-0 loss is hard to take. It was hard for the team to take as well as their heads went down a bit in the second half as we went into damage limitation.

I can't fault the kids.It is demoralising when nothing goes right for you and the goals keep raining in at the other end. Jan was a well-deserved palyer of the day for his saves in the first half and tireless work in the second.

So where do we go from here? I have been playing 3-2-1 and maybe this is too conservative. When the ball gets up to the forward then he hasn't had the support needed to keep the ball up there - and as the ball comes back our it bypasses the midfield as they attempt to support him. So I might try an extra forward and one less at the back. This is a bit risky but worth a go I think. I would gladly hear all parents suggestions :)

Next week is a new week and hopefully the breaks will go our way.

Training tomorrow from 4.30pm - 6pm. We have work to do - on corners and positioning particularly.

Lorcan

Training ....

2008-04-09T19:11:00.000-07:00

Good training session this week. Thanks for the effort, all of you.

Saturday we have a home game in Cuthbert's Green against Ferrymead Bays B ko 9.30am. Those from the 9th Grade New Brighton and Rangers teams last year will remember the Ferrymead Bays teams - they were all strong so their B team will be strong and we will need to be at our best. We will be missing Nick who is away for the weekend so there will be 2 subs. It is Justin and Jan's turn to share goalkeeping duties.

A couple of wee niggles I want to clear up.

1) We are a team. There should only be encouragement of each other - at games and at training. Please be positive toward each other - if we are fighting each other, we can't beat other teams.

2) The games and drills we do at training are meant be fun first, and improving your skills second. Kids messing around, kicking other's balls away and "acting the maggot" as we say in Ireland :) - take the fun out of it and don't learn anything. Training isn't school, but we are there to practise and get better. So please - help me out and don't be a maggot.

Right - rant over, let's play well on Saturday.

First game - and a loss... :(

2008-04-06T15:43:00.001-07:00

A 7-0 loss is never a good thing but did the scoreline reflect the play? Were they really 7 goals better than us? We had not one stroke of luck all game - 3 of their goals were great saves by our keeper that squirmed back over the line; we had chances and the ball bounced the wrong way, every break seemed to go Burwood's way.

Yep, Burwood were big and strong and very skilful and deserved their win - and I will be surprised if we meet better teams in this grade. I know I'm a perpetual optimist but I did see many positives coming out of the game. I was really proud of our lads and lassies - never once did their heads go down, every ball was contersted, there was no angry words within the team and - against a big, strong team - we kept trying to play football. One move down the left in the second half involving passing between Vaughan, Patrick and Jaime was a joy to see.

Justin deservedly got man of the match - he was everywhere and his enthusiam and work-rate was infectious. The defense were stretched at times with Burwood's midfield pouring though but I thought Connor, Justin, Jaime and especially Nick in the second half were tenacious tacklers. We have clever and intelligent players in the mdfield in Vaughan, Jayden and Patrick with Hikairoa and Jan as the ball-winners - we will play some lovely football this year. And when we do - Dylan will score the goals.

So it wasn't the best of starts but hopfully we can put the loss behind us and get some better results in the future.

Tomorrow!

2008-04-03T13:25:00.001-07:00

Quick Reminder - we play Burwood A at Clare Park at 9.30am this Saturday.

Clare Park is at the intersection of QEII Drive, Burwood Road and Travis Road. PLEASE be there by 9.10 at the latest.

If there is cancellations thoughout the season I will send out an email or you can go check here ......

http://www.christchurch.mainlandfootball.co.nz/mf_cancellations.htm

.... or call me on 021 025 65 173 or 382 1077.

See you tomorrow!

First Game... Draw out

2008-03-31T15:05:00.001-07:00

The draw is out - we play Burwood A at Clare Park at 9.30am this Saturday.

Bring it on!

More on the season....

2008-03-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for the session yesterday - really looking forward to the season now.

No game this weekend - but we are in the Konica Minolta Division 2 and them draw (when is it made ) will be here

http://www.mainlandfootball.co.nz/dandr/2008/canty_juniors.htm

We have training next Tuesday at 4.30pm - I may try to have 90 minute sessions (taking us to 6pm) if that is ok with everyone.... feedback welcome.

Also, I will (try to) keep a blog on the team here - http://coastalspiritwhite.blogspot.com/ - so comments are welcome and if anyone take photo or has anything to say, email them to me and I will stick it on the blog....

Start of Season

2008-03-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hi guys and welcome to the Coastal Spirit White 2008 Grade 10 team.

I'm Lorcan Bolster and I'll be the coach this year.

We are officially the 2nd team at Coastal Spirit but I am quietly confident that I got dealt the better hand - and beating the 'first' team last week while a man down cemented that feeling. We have some quality players and I am really looking forward to this season and hope you parents can join me in making it a success.

A successful season is not necessarily a winning season - at this age a successful season is a season where the skills and abilities of the kids are honed and improved, where everyone gets a chance to play in the positions and areas where they want to play and most of all where everyone enjoys themselves. But, of course, enjoyment is easier when we win :)

I believe we are drawn in the Christchurch wide Division 2 grade. That may mean we travel thoughout Chch and not merely the close-by suburbs. Our games are at 9.30am so I would like to see kids there before 9.10am - and with a bit of luck I might be there by then myself :)

There is training this Thursday (27 March) at 4.30pm but unless anyone has an objection training from then on will be on TUESDAYS at 4.30pm.

I'll send out regular emails but don't hesitate to get in touch by email or phone 382 1077 hm 9633699 work or 021 025 65 173 mob.

Here's to a successful season