Hollywood United U14 Panth 0 vs 2 Hampton Reds U14

Today we travelled to Hollywood, looking to build on last weeks fantastic point against wake Green and also avenge a tight defeat in the reverse fixture back in October.

Unfortunately we were missing Charlie & Zach through holiday, as well as Bailee who is still suspended, so we continue the trend of no full squad so far this season (I’m really hoping we have a full squad for the very last game ??).

Playing with the wind in the first half, it was all Hampton in the early parts, putting Hollywood under total pressure while making easy work of anything they had to offer from an attacking perspective. Finley, looking very lively down the right, threatened a couple of times to get in behind but just couldn’t get that yard of space to get the ball in the box. On the other side, Rushy was also looking a threat, particularly as Harrison was kicking the ball the full length of the pitch with the wind. The first real chance came from Rushy getting to the byline and digging out a lovely cross with his left foot, that Finley hit first time on the back post but it fizzed agonisingly close to the crossbar and over. Another chance would come for Rayyan who weaved his way into the box and hit one towards the far post that Omar almost connected with but again just wide.

Hollywood managed to get a rare chance, as they pushed up and got a corner. Hampton failed to clear and the Hollywood player, who should’ve done better, hit the shot just wide. That would’ve been an injustice and clearly put some more urgency into the Reds game. Finley with a lovely touch and confident take-on down the right side picked out a lovely cross which was met by Rushy and nestled into the back of the net, 0-1.

Fully deserved lead for Hampton and finally something to hold on to after all these months.

Nothing clear-cut for the remainder of the half, with the wind making it difficult to judge pass lengths and the keepers seeing quite a lot of the ball.

HT 0-1.

The second half was obviously going to be different playing into the wind and we could feel that early on, with Hollywood pinning us in our own half, but not making the most of the half chances, with shots going over or corners not beating the first man.

Hampton weathered the storm and started to get back up the pitch again, forcing a couple of corners. Some good work on the left hand side got the ball into the box and it was a bit of a scramble but Ollie managed to get on the end of it and push it into the net. Rushy bagged the assist for that one, I’m told.

Now we did have something to hang on to, so we switched to 5 at the back and just wanted to sure it up and take the vital 3 points.

Hollywood did clip the post from a long- range effort, but noting else of note to trouble us. They too, were struggling with the wind taking the ball away from them.

If anyone looked the more likely to score next, it was Hampton, who were absorbing the pressure well with Sal, Kielan & Fyn imposing and Sanders scrapping away at right back, then looking to counter, but my negative tactics probably didn’t help us there as we were no longer attacking in numbers, more interested in taking the 3 points, which we duly did, for our first win since 26th October 2025!!

FT: 0-2

Anyone watching us for the last 2 weeks would rightly wonder how we’ve been on such a bad run of results, but missing players, disrupted flow of games, lack of confidence, have all played their part. Fair play to the lads though as they’ve stuck with it through a very tough period and I had every faith we would see that W again.

The additions of Salmeen and Fynley has had a real positive impact on our team in recent games and now the results are reflecting that.

Another week where I could’ve picked several man of the match, with the backline and keeper again excellent and our wingers and strikers causing havoc (I told Finn before the game that he got MOTM in the reverse fixture and I’d like the same again… he can consider himself very unlucky to miss out this week) but today for one hell of a battling performance and chipping in with a goal, Ollie Phipps takes home the trophy, well done Ollie!

That’s 2 unbeaten now, with Sutton & Redditch to play (both at home) and I’d love to see out the season on an unbeaten run!

Well done boys, you fully deserved that today and it’s nice to see that W back on the list after a while away.

UTR

??