Constructive experience for Stratford footballers in Boys U19 clash with Ballinteer Community School

Following a two-year hiatus from inter-school Football due to the Pandemic, members of the Stratford U19 Football team were delighted to participate in a competitive match away to Ballinteer Community School on Wednesday, October 6th. The game also presented Stratford’s U19 players an opportunity to build a professional relationship with our recently appointed Football Coach, Ciaran Fadden.

There was a varied reaction to the first-half amongst the Stratford squad, since numerous players didn’t feel satisfied with a four-goal deficit at half-time.

Ciaran responded to the challenging situation with aplomb, as he identified and addressed problem areas [ineffective long-balls & substandard physicality in the attacking department], along with instilling a positive and vigorous attitude into the minds of Stratford’s courageous Footballers.

Stratford commenced the second-half in a positive manner, as a result of organised/structured passing and improved application from the attack. Ballinteer struggled to contain Stratford’s momentum for the majority of the second-half, which boosted the away team’s morale.

Despite an impressive second-half performance, glimpses of inexperience remained evident in the defence and attack, when Stratford conceded two goals from naïve defending, and struggled to threaten Ballinteer’s defence through teething problems in the attack.

In spite of numerous lively periods, the game wasn’t a breathtaking contest, although the Stratford squad will not be forgetting Nathan Slattery’s heroic penalty save for the foreseeable future.

In brief, Stratford will be proud of their performance, but will feel aggrieved by an incredibly harsh six-nil score line. Numerous players on the Stratford team impressed the spectators, for example Nathan Slattery [Passionate leadership from the front, reminiscent to ‘’Gigi’’ Buffon back in the day], Jonah Miller [Dominant Midfield performance, similar to a prime Andrea Pirlo], Natan Yerushalmi [Mature showing beyond his years, akin to a young Roy Keane], and Noah Smith [Tremendous defensive application, alike to an in-form Andy Robertson].

Luke Higgins (TY)