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4th September 2010 (Friendly)
Roman Rangers Blues 4 AFC Brickhill Rangers 3
Team (Scorers): Cameron, Tom B, Ben D, Ben T, Matthew R, Joel (2), Kit, Matthew W, Matthew G (1), Ryan (1)
 
Having discovered last season that I no longer had the time to write my weekly monologues, this season the match reports will return in a rather more concise form! This morning the Blues got their season off to a winning start thanks to a hard-earned but deserved victory over our old friends from Brickhill Rangers. Thanks to our traditional slow start, and some sharp passing and clinical finishing from the visitors, we found ourselves 2-0 down inside the first ten minutes. A change of formation followed, with Matt W dropping back to help Kit in the middle of midfield, and we pulled a goal back thanks to a near-post drive from Joel. After going 3-1 down, Matt G kept us in the match with a debut goal which meant that we only trailed by the odd goal at the break.

The second half was mostly one-way traffic as we took control of the game in midfield, and after Joel levelled the scores with his second of the game, Ryan capped a fine Blues debut with a lovely looping shot from the edge of the box to win the game. We created many more chances and could have won by a bigger margin, and the passing and communication still needs to improve, but the boys worked really hard on a big pitch with only one sub, so overall this was a good team performance and I'm sure we'll improve further once Jamie and Avi return to the side. A special mention for the three debutants, who all did really well this morning. Matthew G looked very sharp up front, and Ryan and Ben T, Yellows players who will sign for the Blues to play Saturday football this season, both performed as though they've played with this squad for years. Well done all.

11th September 2010 (Friendly)
Roman Rangers Blues 4 Brook End Colts Panthers 2
Team (Scorers): Cameron, Tom B, Ben D, Matthew R, Kit, Matthew G (2), Ryan (1), Jamie W, Bradley (1), Jamie G
 
The Blues completed their pre-season preparations with a good friendly win over a strong Brook End Colts side. The Colts were quite a big side, and more physical than us in the opening ten minutes, during which they took a deserved lead. The Blues got back into the game once they realised that they had to compete physically, and made it 1-1 before the break when Matthew G scored a good sniffer's goal at the second attempt, following up a shot from Ryan which hit the bar. Early in the second half the Blues had a golden spell in which they scored three goals in ten minutes thanks to Ryan, Bradley and a second from Matt G. Colts fought back well to make it 4-2, and always looked dangerous. They're a good side with plenty of pace and some talented individuals. But the Blues' defenders kept their concentration well throughout the game, and the workrate of the midfield, typified by Ryan and the tireless Jamie W, meant that the Blues were able to close out for the win.

Colts probably created more chances today but we were a bit better at taking ours, which is great to see from a team that can be a bit shot-shy at times. With only one sub available, the midfielders had to work really hard and they will benefit from a bigger squad in future games, allowing them to have more rests when required. Considering that the Blues were missing four strong players for this match, it was an excellent victory and a perfect warm-up for the tough league opener against Deanshanger next week.

11th September 2010 (Friendly)
Roman Rangers Blues 5 Deanshanger Colts 7
Team (Scorers): Cameron, Tom B, Ben D, Matthew R, Kit, Matthew G (3), Ryan, Avi (1), Jamie W (1), Joel, Matthew W
 
A thrilling game, against old and regular opposition in Deanshanger Colts, but a catalogue of defensive errors meant that Rangers lost a league opener that they should really have won. Although defensive frailties were evident from the outset, some excellent passing and outstanding finishing meant that Rangers opened up a 4-2 lead late in the first half. Matthew G continued his excellent start to the season with a first-half hat-trick, and Jamie scored a great goal on the counter-attack. Deanshanger managed to level with goals either side of half-time, and then went 5-4 up before Avi scored his first of the season with a stunning shot to level things up at 5-5. With 15 minutes to play it was anybody's game, but unfortunately we kept on gifting Deanshanger goals on a plate, and the two goals that won the game for the visitors were virtually walked in, courtesy of defenders diving in unnecessarily. We missed Joel badly, after he limped off injured in the first half, but that's not the reason why we lost the game. Good teams will punish elementary errors, and that's what happened to us today.

It's not all doom and gloom though! It's certainly no disgrace to lose to this Deanshanger side, who will be one of the strongest teams in our division this season, and some of our attacking football was excellent. But the defenders and midfielders need to get the balance right between making a concerted effort to block the shot or cross, and not committing to the challenge too early and being left for dead by skilfuil opposing attackers. The communication between goalkeeper and defenders could also be much better. Hopefully this was just one of those days in which we made loads of mistakes in one game, because we had defended pretty well in the first two games of the season. It's early days, and let's hope we can put things right in the cup game next week, and get the season back on track.