Match Report - CRADLEY TOWN DC U12 COLTS - 18 Jan 2026

A lot of good to be taken from todays game, with a score line that didn't reflect the performance. Conditions were less than ideal for football, especially the passing game were looking to get the boys to play, but they dealt with the pitch well and kept going throughout, always trying to get the next goal.

It's important for the boys to remember where they need to be on the pitch, what jobs they are required to do and not get pulled out of position, which in turn creates gaps. We still have work to do but for the majority the game we kept to this. Little drop offs didn't really cost us, so some good lessons.

We conceded from set pieces mostly which we can work on, making sure we are first to first and second balls but the desire from the boys to get in front of the ball, block or get a tackle in cannot be questioned, a big step forward from earlier games. Goal kicks, free kicks from the back and clearances need to go wide so we don't give away chances in the middle of the pitch.

Heads could have dropped when we went 2 down just before half time but the new attitude the boys show took us up the field and won us a penalty. A good first one but the referee hadn't blown his whistle so, while the retake was saved, we made sure we were first to the ball to get the goal.

Second half was very equal, with our passing improving each minute. The third goal early in the half didn't stop us from getting forward and getting in some good positions, on another day it could have been 3-3.

We went for it a bit in the last few minutes conceding 2 goals at the end but we don't need to read to much into those, a close game settled by set pieces shows real improvement and steps forward as we continue through the season.