Friendly games.
Churwell lions 3 Yorkshire amateurs 2
Churwell lions 0 Yorkshire amateurs 3
Sunday 28th February 2010
This friendly was the professional equivalent of an international friendly with many-many team changes.
Harry played in the second half of the first game as captain, in defence and seemed a little off the pace, he miss timed one tackle but made up for his error with a timely goal line clearance. A little later the visitors had the ball in the net from which Harry then turned off completely, blaming himself for the goal. Harry came off disinterested and upset.
A chat with Martin (the coach) explaining that any goal conceded is "a team goal conceded" made Harry perk up for the next match.
Harry started the first half of the second game much brighter and was more up to the challenge - it was like the Harry of old. Chances were few and far between for him as it was quite congested at times on the right flank. The muddy pitch did not help the flow of the game either.
Harry only really had one run down the wing and it was a good determined run. His defending was better and he managed to get in one of his typical near-post clearance header's from a corner (see photo below).
Again he impressed me with his overall team play, as the right midfielder he spent a lot of of the game covering at the back. Getting forward he did but as soon as the lions loose the ball he was/is the first player to get back and defend.
Again the teams changed in the second half and the lions finally ran out 0-3 losers however on the balance of play against a top side a draw would have been a fairer result.
Harry clears from a corner and below gets in a CRUNCHING tackle.
In summing up: Harry will learn from his first half experience and hopefully the chats with keith and Martin will go a long way. I suppose to see a young player crying because he made a mistake shows just how much heart and passion he has in him. He picked himself up and played the way we know he can, he showed heart and passion which went a long way with me and i am sure will have been noticed by his peers.
Two games of two halves.....Harry is on the learning curve. 7/10
Churwell "A" 9 Churwell "B" 0
Sunday 6th September 2009
As a warm up for next Sundays 09/10 season opener manager Martin Spivey gave the young Lions a late summer game against their "B" team colleagues.
Harry having grown in stature over the summer has now changed positions and is starting to become a fine winger, starting on the right with Darius on the left. As expected it was a one sided game as the goal tally suggests but the "B" team, playing in the away kit put up a strong and determined show of themselves.
Harry played very well today giving 120% to the cause, i was overly impressed with the energy that he showed. He was constantly aiding attacks and when the "A" team lost possession he was always getting back to help out with defensive duties. He had a good voice on him and was always shouting his name to team mates which is encouraging when the side is on the attack, this is something that he needs to continue doing.
One other positive thing about Harry that he has improved on over the summer months is his ability to cross the ball and to take people on, with his ability to skilfully get around his marker. It appears now that Harry will be the regular corner taker, his lovely lofted balls into the box at times belie his age.
Harry did not manage to get on the scoresheet but he certainly earned his wage today putting in an energetic non-stop performance which was also noted by his peers culminating in him been voted by them the "Man of the match".
An energetic 120% giving his all display. 8.5/10
Churwell lions 0 Collingham 5
Sunday 25th October 2009
Harry was returning from his recent bout of cold but he was still a tad wheezy and was in all honest still unfit to play. He was way off the pace both attacking and defending, it is easy to be over critical of him after this tepid dislay as we are yet to see Harry play to the ability that we know he can produce.
There was very little to note of his display as most of the Churwell team were well off the pace against a stronger, quicker and more disciplined Collingham side.
I would like to see when fit Harry look hungry to play football again and he, like his team mates need to start being more vocal when attacking, nobody shouts for the ball when a team mate has possession, attacking moves falter because of this.
Another below par but still unfit display. 3/10
Harry closely marks the Collingham captain.
