Corfe Mullen v Christchurch
Match Result: 3 – 2
Goal Scorers: Ben Wikeley, Oliver Davis
Wish I understood football!!
We went into this game knowing two wins from our last three games would
secure the league but equally with a bit of pressure as our last game is
against Greenfields and we would prefer not to need anything out of that
game.
It was very windy but that's the same for both sides so we take nothing
away from Corfe Mullen who deserved the win.
We played well enough in patches but we're just not taking our chances.
Corfe created one chance in the first half when Yannis broke free and
lobbed Dec. We probably created 5 or 6 chances but our equaliser was a
scrappy affair finished by Ben.
So one all at half time but rather than build from there we conceded two
more from Yannis; the second went straight in from a corner. The rest
of the half we dominated territorially without creating many clear
chances. Oliver scored our second two minutes from the end but it was
all too late.
So we now go into the Branksome game Sunday having to win.

Christchurch v Kingswood
Match Result: 1 – 2
Goal Scorer: Drew Smith
A game between fierce rivals but played in a good atmosphere. Overall I felt we deserved the draw but we have to take our chances !
Zeddy scored (yet again) against us to put them ahead but this was after we had missed a penalty. We decided to go for it and (brave or stupid!) played three at the back. We equalised (belter by Drew) and in hindsight we should have gone back to 4 4 2 and settled for a point. We kept looking for the winner and conceded late.
The game will be marred by George breaking his wrist right at the end.

Christchurch v Poole Town
Match Result: 2 – 3
Goal Scorers: Oliver Davis, Harry Chapman
Coming straight after the Cup Final on Sunday this was always going to be a tough one. Unfortunately we allowed Poole to seize the initiative and Adam scored to put them ahead in ten minutes. 5 minutes later Oliver David equalised but on the stroke of half time they scored to put them in a half time lead.
The second half was equally tense and they added a third in the first couple of minutes. Midway through we finally got it together and played the best football of the game; Harry scored our second and we pushed and pushed but just couldn't find a third.

BYFL Cup Final – Under 12's
Christchurch v Poole Town
Match Result: 2 – 0
Good to win a cup having lost two finals last season and a semi this. We were down to 12 with Connor having left, Charlie cup tied and Philip ineligible.
The lack of rain has turned the pitches very hard and bobbly and this seems to have affected the quality of our play in the last three weeks; its the same for both teams we had been playing some lovely flowing football. As a result the first half was a very tense affair with both sides creating few chances. The half turned in the space of a couple of minutes when Declan dived low and held onto a shot from Jean-Nicol and then up the other end a shot from Olly took a wicked deflection and gave Jacob in their goal no chance. So one nil to us at half time. The pushed Adam further forward in the second and whilst that meant he was a constant threat it gave our midfield and attack more time and possession; as a result we settled and played much better. Just after half the way through the half Drew hit a long range shot which seemed to go through defenders leaving their 'keeper helpless.
That was pretty much game over. Poole Town are a good team and were a constant threat; they had won the Dorset Cup last week.
Well done everyone of our players.
We now look forward to Poole Town again on Thursday night – this time in the league – and then Kingswood Sunday.
Goal scorers;
Olly Balmer
Drew Smith

Bransgore v Christchurch
Match Result: 1 – 6
Goal Scorers: Olly Balmer (3), Drew Smith, Oliver Davis, Ethan Maddocks
We were a bit nervous going into this match given it was coming off the back of our first defeat and despite Bransgore's lowly league position they had given us a tough game earlier in the year; had beaten Kingswood twice and drawn with Poole Town.
We started very slowly and had Bransgore taken their chances they could easily have been 3 or 4 up in the first ten minutes and we could have had no complaints. After 6 minutes Liam who was oustanding all game hit a long shot which went over Dec so we were one nil down. Unlike last week though we were battling without playing well. Two minutes later it was one all thanks to Olly and that settled us a bit. We didn't look comfortable at the back but up front Olly hit the bar after ten minutes, Philip nearly scored with his first touch coming on a couple of minutes later; and in the 5 minutes before half time Harry hit the bar and Ethan the post.
After a chat at half time things improved but for the first ten minutes of the second half we missed chance after chance. Eventually Olly scored our second and then goals followed at equal intervals for the rest of the half and Dec had very little to do. So 6 – 1 win and very pleased but we can't afford to start like that next week in the BYFL Final against Poole Town.

Hampshire Cup Semi-final
Vic's Youth v Christchurch
Match Result: 2 – 1
Goal Scorer: Ethan
We had a lovely day and got an early ferry across and all our
preparations seemed great. We kicked off; played the ball back where
one of their lightening quick strikers latched onto the ball and shot;
Declan parried but in the ensuing goal mouth scramble the ball crossed
the line. One nil down and less than a minute played. The Vic's
players' tails were up and they fought, scrapped and battled for every
ball which prevented us ever playing as we know we can. Twenty minutes
in we had a corner and the cross from Oliver Davis was met with an
emphatic header from Ethan; one all and that's how it stayed until half
time.
Second half saw us gain supremacy; we had the better chances but still
we never felt relaxed. With about 10 minutes to go we conceded a
free-kick 5 yards outside our penalty area, exactly the sort of
territory where Harry, Oliver or Ethan have scored time after time for
us. Unfortunately they had someone who could strike a ball too so 2 – 1
to them. At this point we created our best chances. We hit the bar and
a looping header from Oliver went wide by millimetres when we all
thought it was goal bound.
Fair play to Vics though. Their hospitality was first class and talking
to them afterwards they had watched us several times and knew if they
let us play we would win. Good luck to them in the final and we need to
bounce back quickly as we have the BYFL cup final on 27th quickly
followed by two games (the Tuesday and Sunday) against top teams. Those
three games may well define our season.

Christchurch v Boscombe Albion
Match Result: 9 – 0
Goal Scorers: Harry (2), Ethan (2), Olly, Oliver (3), Jeremy
A good win today and another clean sheet.
An excellent finish from Harry gave us a 3rd minute lead and Olly added a second shortly afterwards. During that period and until Harry added a third after about twenty minutes we struggled to get a smooth passing game going and Dec saw more action in goal than he has for several games. Ethan's long range free kick gave us a 4 nil lead at half time.
We brought Oliver on at half time and he scored a hat-trick inside 15 minutes; one of which was a volley from a corner in from Harry. Jeremy, who had played an excellent game up front, scored with a penalty and a header from Ethan gave us our 9th.
Hants cup semi-final next week on the IOW.

Kingswood v Christchurch
Match Result: 0 – 3
Goal Scorers: Charlie (2), George
A really good win in sometimes very difficult weather conditions.
This game was always going to have a bit of added spice given Kingswood have two of our ex-players and we have three of theirs. We had a good first have where we threatened loads but continually shot over the bar. 20 minutes into the half a really heavy downpour and hailstones made the pitch treacherous. So nil nil at half time and we had been playing with the wind behind us.
We changed things about at half time and put Charlie up front and he duly repaid us with two goals; the first a header from a corner after Drew's original header came off the bar and the second a rasping shot which went in from the inside of the bar. In between times George had scored our second with a shot outside the bar.
Really pleased with a clean sheet; Our defence coped well with their striker with frightening pace and Dec made an important save at Owen's feet when it was still nil nil.

Ringwood Town v Christchurch
Match Result: 0 – 6
Goal Scorers: George, Oliver, Harry, Olly (3)
This was the first time we'd played Ringwood at this venue and the pitch was in very good condition. We started really well and George lobbed their 'keeper insde 2 minutes to put us ahead. Both teams played some nice football for the next 20 minutes or so but Oliver and then Harry finishing a good move scored in the last 5 minutes of the half.
We scored once again in the first two mintes of the second half – this time Olly converted a penalty and he went on to complete a hat-trick inside 15 minutes. The last 15 minutes were pretty low key so the game finished 6 – 0.

Hampshire Cup quarter final
Christchurch v Hedge End
Match Result: 5 – 2
A huge win for us takes us into the semi-final. – and against a team who had taught us a good football lesson in our only pre-season friendly!!
It was a filthy day and thanks to John Spalding who postponed league games to get this fixture played on a pitch which was in surprisingly good condition considering the rain all night and morning. Our boys were really up for it today. I was talking to the Hedge End manager before the match and said I think we didn't appreciate what a tremendous achievement getting to the final was last season whereas it almost means more this season.
We started really well and a fantastic run from Drew who unselfishly passed to Olly when he might have shot gave us an early lead against the wind. Hedge End are a good team, they have a strong midfield and attackers with frightening pace. One of their passes from midfield found their attacker running onto a ball that beat our defence but was not ahead enough to allow Dec to get out to smother. Their forward took it well. It was a day when whichever midfield won their battle would probably win the game; for us Drew and Ethan were awesome. They won every ball they could over and over despite perhaps harshly being adjudged to be fouling on numerous occasions. That, plus the very high line Hedge End played which continually caught us offside made things frustrating but we have matured since last season and we channelled that frustration rather than lose our tempers completely.
I was very taken over with the event and given the conditions I couldn't make notes but I'm sure Harry scored the two before half time with some sublime finishing so we took a 3 – 1 lead into the break.
Again the second half was an even battle but we managed to score two more; Olly from another unselfish pass, this time from Oliver and Harry got a well deserved hat trick with 15 minutes left. We swapped it around a bit and lost some initiative. They scored their second and claimed a third but the ref was adamant the ball had not crossed the line.
So well done everyone – all the players and too the parents for enduring the conditions. It was great to see Ollie G on his birthday, Bub, and Sue and Dave even though it was an appointed ref.
Goal scorers
Olly Balmer 2
Harry Chapman 3