Pinewood entered this weeks 'Bye Week' in the league by lining up a friendly match with Rotherfield United U14 Hornets at home, hoping to try some new things and set ourselves up for continued league and cup progression. Rotherfield were in Division 4 as recently as last season, so Pinewood had a big challenge ahead of them. Last weeks player of the match Will Taylor and the vastly improved Zach Whiting missed out with other commitments, but an otherwise unaffected Pythons team assembled, with a familiar look to the starting XI, and Tegwyn and Nevaan tsking their turns to start from the sidelines.

Rotherfield won the toss and kicked off, and immediately found Pinewood aggressive and pushing up the pitch, threatening the Rotherfield goal with some good pressing play, and pegging their higher division opponents back. Rotherfield however took this in their stride and immediately countered, finding space in the midfield and playing through the Pinewood lines and, after only 4 minutes, getting their striker through on goal for a 1-0 lead. Pinewood kicked the game back off and tried to get on level terms, working hard but failing to find their usual rhythm and getting consistently pegged back in their own half by a good footballing opposition. One quick Pinewood break saw Teddy Green break the offside trap and bear down on goal, clipping a shot goalward and seeing it bound off the top of the bar and off to safety. Unlucky! The game continued in this vein for much of the first half, with Pinewood threatening on the break but Rotherfield controlling much of the game until, on 26 minutes, the Rotherfield striker showed some quick feet and was caught by Josh in the box, hitting the floor. Penalty. The Rotherfield striker stepped up but found super-keeper Finley at full stretch, flying to his right to make the save! The game remained at 1-0 until shortly afterwards when again, some good build up plat from the visitors was their striker turn home after some good wing play (though the Pinewood defenders still contend that the ball was out of play before it was crossed!). 2-0 Rotherfield, and shortly afterwards half time came.

Half time came and the Pinewood coaches sprang a surprise on the team. Given the nature of the friendly match, the players each took it in turn to pick their second half positions from a hat in a game of 'position roulette'. No-one was permitted to play in their usual position, and they all took to the pitch with a smile on their face, lining up in unfamiliar roles for the second half.

It would have been easy for the lads to switch off, but with the encouragement from the parents and the coaches they dug in and began putting some good moves together. Fabio in his CAM role was breaking play up well, Finley coming out of goal and playing as a modern Centre Back, winning the ball and storming up the pitch in possession, partnered ably by Daniel at CB. Oli and Zabi at full-back looked at home and in front of them, Jackson and Leo linking up well in midfield in front of them. Despite this strong start, the Rotherfield midfield managed to pinch a ball in the middle of the park and break through the Pinewood back line, slotting home for 3-0. Pinewood could have given up, but Nevaan, Sam, Fabio and Tegwyn began to push hard in attack, Teddy coming into Centre Midfield to bring in some power and pace. Pinewood began to exert some authority on the game and chances began to come, the Rotherfield keeper finally being tested and stand-in keeper Benn in the Pinewood goal getting some respite after making some good saves and claiming everything that came his way! Finally, after Jackson picked the ball up on the edge of the box and finding Sam, Sam took a touch, played the square pass to Tegwyn who took a tough, settled himself, and calmly stroked the ball into the bottom right corner. 3-1. The final whilst sounded a few minutes later and despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline, Pinewood could hold their heads high.

It may have seemed like a bit of fun for the lads, playing in unfamiliar positions and learning on the pitch, but it served an important learning point. Knowing what your teammates need in different positions will help them understand their own game better, be in better positions to receive the ball, knowing the pressures and challenges that their team mates face will only serve to make each one of the lads a better player. They did excellently to draw the second half when all in unfamiliar roles, well done. Player of the match went to Tegwyn for an industrious, hard working display capped with a superbly taken strike towards the end. Well done Tegs!