It was a perfect morning for football, as the government allowed grassroots youth football to resume, under strict COVID guidelines.
Banbury United made the relatively short trip to Coventry to face the Coventry Sky Blues Phoenix side.
The pitch was excellent, and social distancing and rule of 6 guidelines were impeccably respected throughout.

United were without a number of players, so made the trip with just 3 subs. In truth with no training sessions before the game, and the lads without doubt sat on their xboxes/playstations for the last few few weeks - I had no idea what to expect from the team for todays game.

We made a slight change of formation for the start of this game, with the side reverting to a 4-4-2 formation. Hoping that a second forward player would leave the striker less isolated like they had been in the last couple of weeks.

The lads started well, and quickly asserted their dominance on the match. A pattern which continued for much of the game. The first effort on goal was a speculative long range effort from Fin that was straight at the keeper.

The opening goal came early in the 6th minute, an excellent throughball from Jack put Tyra through one on one with the keeper. Tyra took a couple of touches, before rounding the keeper and sliding the ball into the net. A good composed finish 0-1.

United were well on top, and half chances for Fin, Jack and Tyra came and went. All were quite long range efforts. At times it felt we were trying to get shots away at goal too early. The Coventry keeper was making some good saves though. Toby was looking lively on the wing, and was causing a lot of problems for the full back.

After Jack was played through on goal, under pressure he got his shot off at goal. The keeper made and excellent save, but Jack was clearly taken out whilst in the process of shooting. The referee chose to ignore the appeals - a strange decision.

Midway through the first half all 3 subs entered the pitch. Will came on upfront to partner Jack, with Lennon coming into the centre of midfield and Jake playing on the wing.

Jack was dropping into a number 10 position (A la Harry Kane) and was getting a lot of space and time on the ball. The key to winning this game was to get the ball into Jack in this hole, and him turning and passing the ball wide to the wingers or through to the forward.

Will crossed a lovely free kick into the box which Jack failed to make contact with his head and nod into the goal. Fin was played through on goal after beating his man hit a left footed shot into the side netting, and Lennon tried his luck from distance but the ball fell nicely into the keepers hands.

Chances were coming frequently - but when the 2nd goal came it was from long distance. Jack appeared to spot the Coventry goalie slightly of his line and hit a sublime flighted effort which crashed off the underside of the cross bar and into the net. When Jack was asked about the goalie, he claimed it was a cross (doh)! 22 minutes played 0-2.

Five minutes before half time, we almost scored the perfect team goal. Tom winning the ball well from defence, playing into Jacob in the middle, he moved the ball quickly to Jack, who fed the ball wide to Jake. Jake ran down the wing, passed it low into Will who hit it first time with his left foot and it was just wide. A real shame as it was excellent football.

Myron was having a comfortable morning in goal, but dealt well with a couple of crosses into the box, and came off his line on a couple of occasions to clear away potential danger.

Half time came and we should probably have been further infront. The message was to be ruthless, it felt like we were playing within ourselves and had a couple more hears we could move through.

Tyra, Luke and Toby were back on at half time, and it was Toby who created the first chance of the second half. He got away from the full back, crossed the ball into Will. Initially Will looked like he was going to head the ball, but changed his body shape and volleyed at goal. The keeper making a smart save.

In the 40th minute it was 0-3. Coventry were penalised for a pass back. Will tapped the indirect free kick to Tyra, his first shot was blocked. He then attempted a second shot which was goalbound was blocked by a defenders hand, but the rebound inadvertently deflected off a defender and into the net. The referee would of given a penalty and a red card if the deflection hadnt gone in. but the goal stood, and Coventry would remain with 11 players. Sorry Tyra the panel have decided its an own goal!!

The next goal came in the 48th minute, Harry had made a good run forward on the left side, he put a cross into the box, the ball half cleared to Toby who hit a volley low and into the bottom corner, great finish and a goal Toby's all round display deserved. 0-4.

By this point Coventry's heads seemed to have dropped a little. And the fifth goal came in the 54th minute. Tyra playing the ball wide to Fin, who crossed into the box, the ball finding itself to Jake on the other side of the penalty area who sweetly hit a volley into the bottom corner 0-5.

We changed shape for the remainder of the game, to get as many minutes into players as possible. Reverting to 3 at the back. Unfamiliar positions for the lads too. This invited a little more pressure and panic into the team. But the back 3 of Luke, Aidan and Tom handled the situation well, providing excellent protection to Myron in goal.

Will had a header well saved, and hit a crisp strike from outside the area just over the bar, before the sixth goal arrived in the 58th Minute. Tyra who was having a very good game played Jack through on goal, he outmuscled the defender and got a shot away at goal. The keeper fumbled it and it nestled in the corner of the net. 0-6.

The last goal of the game came in the 62nd minute. Toby finding himself in space just inside the penalty area. He hit a strong effort towards the roof of the net. Again the keeper got a hand to it, but could only push it into the corner of the net. A keeping error 0-7.

A really nice performance from the lads, and a good result to come back to after the latest lockdown.
it was just a lovely feeling to be back out in the fresh air and playing again - and it appeared the boys were all delighted to be back too!!

Coventry Sky Blues Phoenix 0 Banbury United 7