On a blustery but surprisingly bright November morning the U14 Pythons turned up to face an Arborfield Aces side who have themselves been enjoying a strong start in Division 5, and who are likely to be challenging for honours come the end of the season. Pinewood were dealt a few blows in the lead up to the game with midfield generals Sam Clark and Ollie Thompson missing the match whilst they relax in sunnier locations! Nonetheless, Pinewood looked strong with the ever reliable safe pair of hands Fin in goal, Benn, Josh, Fabio and Leo making up the back 4, Will and Zabi anchoring the midfield, and Zach, Teddy and Daniel sitting in behind Jackson upfront.

Despite the team talk asking for pressure from the very start, Pinewood started slowly again and allowed Aces to dictate the pace of play , pushing Pinewood back. Some strong captaincy from Zabi and some loud positivity from Zach saw Pinewood start to wake up and work their way into the game and they began to turn Arborfield around and cause problems. Will began dictating play, with Daniel pressing the Aces full back with direct and strong runs. The strong, rapid Aces back-line stood up the the challenge well and restricted Pinewood to long-range efforts, but they hadn't reckoned on the wand of a right foot that Zabi possesses and, when Zach laid the ball back to the captain fully 25 yards from goal, Zabi needed no second invitation firing a wonderful drive into the top right hand corner to give Pinewood the lead. A wonder-strike from the midfield general and a lead that the pressure Pinewood had built after the opening 5 minutes had deserved. Pythons had their tails up and were good value for the lead, Zach sitting in behind Jackson began dictating play and threading some wonderful passes in behind the Arborfield defence and Jackson, always a willing runner, turned the opposition defence around and had them facing their own goal on multiple occasions. Inspired by Zabi's effort, Zach himself hit two absolute worldie strikes from distance, both rattling off the woodwork and denying him another goal of the season contender. Nevaan and Tegwyn made their way onto the pitch for Teddy and Leo, and both asserted themselves onto the game well, maintaining the press and working incredibly hard to deny the Aces players time on the all. Despite their pressure, Pinewood knew that a single goal was not a comfortable cushion and with only 3 minutes left in the half (and against the run of play) the skillful Arborfield striker found himself in on goal and made no mistake, giving Finley no chance and levelling the scores going into the break. 1-1 at half-time.

The coaches half-time works focussed on the positive - being the better side despite the 'underdogs' tag, and showing the desire and discipline we ask for week on week. If we took the same spirit into the second half, the result would take care of itself!

Pinewood brought Leo and Teddy back on in the place of Daniel and Benn, and entered the second half confident that their hard work would reap its rewards. Arborfield had other ideas and looked like a team refreshed, pushing Pinewood back again and forcing Finley into a number of saves. The pressure told, and 4 minutes into the half they took the lead, the skillful striker again finding himself through and making no mistake. 1-2 Arborfield. Pinewood could have let their heads drop but, to their credit, they kept going. Benn was reintroduced at right-back with Leo pushing into midfield and Zabi coming off for a break and looked like a man possessed, making overlapping runs with Teddy and using his strength to stop anything that came down his side of the pitch. Pinewood began rotating players, injecting fresh legs into the game and it began to tell, with Arborfield struggling to keep up with the Pythons skill and work rate. Zach pulling the strings in his favored CAM role, pressing high up the pitch and causing no end of trouble for the Aces back line. Teddy began running at the full backs and getting in behind the defence, flashing some great crosses across the box that we just failed to connect with. Arborfield were on the ropes and, when a poor clearance fell to Zach 30 yards from goal he connected with a rasping, looping drive that left the keeper stranded and flew into the net. Another stunner and we were back on level terms at 2-2. Pinewood continued to dictate the play, looking the stronger side despite their lower division status. Despite the pressure and possession, it began looking like penalties were inevitable. Zabi moved into the left-back position to allow for additional penalty takers to enter the field, and looking calm and assured with Zach continuing to cause nightmares for the Aces back line. Pinewood won a corner with only a minute left on the clock, Teddy fired in a good cross and, after the ball ping-ponged around in the area, fox-in-the-box Jackson took a touch before firing a bounding, bobbling effort into the bottom corner of the net! 3-2 Pythons with very little time left! There was still time for Arborfield to throw everything forward and win a late corner but the Pythons dealt with it expertly and the final whistle blew. A fantastic win, and no less than the effort, desire and discipline the team showed for the full 70 minutes.

Player of the match was probably the most difficult decision of the season. Jackson worked tirelessly up front and got the goal his effort deserved right at the death. Zach put in the best performance he has ever produced in a Pinewood shirt, dictating play, twice hitting the woodwork, and scoring a wonderful long range goal. Will Taylor, again, putting in a major shift in midfield with Zabi and Leo. Zabi scoring the goal of the season into the top corner. Josh and Fabio looking more solid with every game and Tegwyn and Nevaan working incredibly hard on the flanks. Teddy and Daniel put in real shifts in attack, turning round the Arborfield players regularity and creating chances for us. Finley looking calm and assured in goal as always. But player of the match went to Benn - with so many individual standout performances on display, he epitomised the effort, desire and work rate that was asked for both before the game and after half time, being dynamic on the ball, overlapping his winger, being available when needed and using his strength to prevent anything from coming at us down the Arborfield left wing. A fantastic performance - well done Benn!

Its been a wonderful start to the season, thoroughly deserved with the passion and desire the lads have shown. We remain undefeated, and we march on to the last 16!!!