Fixtures don’t get any easier for the Warriors as they travelled to high flying Woodhouse Colts for their Chad Mansfield Youth League U15 Div 1 match. Woodhouse took the best of the early exchanges as the Warriors struggled to get into the game and at times had Warriors keeper Jack Grainger to thank for keeping them in the match with a string of excellent saves.  As the first half progressed Warriors began to grow in confidence as Michael South and Sam Wells started to push forward linking up with the hard working Bernie Kirk and the skilful James Starmore in an attempt to get the Warriors on the front foot. Unfortunately just as Warriors looked to have weathered the storm the home side scored and it was as in other weeks where the Warriors defence switch off for a second they are punished but credit to the Woodhouse player who took his chance well. As half time approached Warriors were happy to go to the break only one down, this was thanks to the contribution made by Warriors keeper and Man of The Match Grainger.                                                                                                                         Warriors came out for the second half looking like a different team as they started to play some really good football as they took the game to the hosts. Without creating any clear cut chances Warriors looked the better of the teams restricting the home side to the odd break forward which was dealt with without too many problems for the classy Andreas Kokkinou and no nonsense captain Sam Stewart. With chances few and far between Warriors were unlucky not to be level after a great effort by midfield action man Adam Fox firing over a difficult chance after being found by a great pass from Matt Brierley.  Warriors continued to push forward in search of the equaliser with Regan Scott causing all sorts of problems for the Woodhouse defence and Charlie Miller using the ball well as he played the ball out wide to encourage Luke Atter and Dan Mitford to go forward.                                 What a shame for the Warriors as the game came to a close that they couldn’t find the equaliser that they deserved, a really good team performance from the Warriors, if they continue to play with this sort of commitment and to this standard they will not have any difficulties surviving in the top flight.

Another home fixture for the Warriors in the Chad Mansfield Youth League U15 Div 1 as Moorgreen Colts was the next stiff opposition for the Warriors. Before Warriors had got into their stride the home side soon found themselves going behind in the early stages.  A lucky break for the visitors as Warriors keeper Jack Grainger challenged for the ball only to see it break to a Moorgreen player to slot home without any problems. Warriors tried their best to get back into the game with James Starmore and Matt Brierley both having the best of the chances but no luck for the homeside. Both teams looked equally matched as Adam Fox and Charlie Miller provided the engine room for the Warriors and with fullbacks Luke Atter and Sam Wells always looking assured Warriors deserved to be level at half time.

Warriors should have come out for the second half with all guns blazing looking for the equaliser but once again they succumbed to a most basic of goals. The Moorgreen keeper sent the ball route one which was not dealt with by the Warriors defence leaving keeper Grainger exposed as the visitors forward netted for the second of the game.  Regan Scott continued to push forward and looked the Warriors best hope of creating something in the oppositions half as the visitors struggled to contain the pace and quick feet of the Warriors player. With a sustained period of pressure from the visitors though Warriors conceded a third, another soft one as a Moorgreen corner was curled straight into the net with the Warriors defence becoming bystanders. Man of the match Sam Wells showed great composure with his defending and as he tried to push the Warriors forward unfortunately not enough of the Warriors players showed this quality when needed.   No way back for the Warriors as the game came to a close, with a bit more belief Warriors could have made it more of a difficult day for a very good team.

Still waiting for their first league win of the season, Warriors next opportunity to take maximum points in the Chad Mansfield Youth League U15 Div 1 was a home fixture against opposition Shirebrook Rangers. Warriors started brightly and soon got control of the midfield, some quality touches and good vision from James Starmore kept the Warriors going forward in search of the opener.  Just the start Warriors needed as they netted to take an early lead, midfield action man Adam Fox firing in an unstoppable shot from 18 yards following some good link up play with forward Bernie Kirk. Warriors started to play some of the best football of the season as they continued to push forward in search of doubling their advantage, limiting the visitors to the odd break forward into Warriors territory which was dealt with without too much trouble by Captain Sam Stewart and the ever reliable Andreas Kokkinou. With fullbacks Luke Atter and Dan Mitford pushing forward at every opportunity a confident looking Warriors side looked always in control of this one, the only disappointment was that Warriors had not converted more of the chances created as the first half came to a close. The second half started with Warriors continuing to be the better team, but they still needing to convert some of the chances created to give themselves some breathing space between them and the visitors. With Warriors pressing they were awarded a corner, up stepped Charlie Miller to fire in the corner kick right underneath the crossbar leaving the Shirebrook keeper to push the ball into the roof of his own net for Warriors second.  Chances kept coming for the Warriors as the hardworking Ben Clurow and Regan Scott continued to be a thorn in the side of the visitors as they couldn’t contain the quick link up play and passing of the Warriors players.  A deserved third for the Warriors came from Matt Brierley being rewarded for his efforts, an easy finish from 2 yards at the far post after being found from a cross by Kirk.  A fourth wasn’t long in coming as Man of the Match Adam Fox continued to push the Warriors forward, good play involving Sam Wells saw Warriors get a freekick from 25 yards central to the visitors goal up stepped Kokkinou to hammer the free kick which took a slight deflection off a Shirebrook player and into the net as Warriors now looked out of sight. The only blemish for an excellent Warriors performance was as they switched off towards the end of the game seeing Shirebrook net a consolation goal but overall really good Warriors team performances as they got their first league win of the season.

On paper what should have been a comfortable fixture against second division visitors Manor FC for the Warriors in the Chad Mansfield Youth League U15 Benevolent Cup and boy did the Warriors make hard work of this one. Warriors started brightly enough and soon took control of the game limiting the visitors to the odd break away as Warriors looked like it would be only a matter of time before they took the lead. Good creative play in midfield from the skilful James Starmore as he linking up with hard working Ben Clurow and wide player Matt Brierley kept the Warriors going forward in search of the opener.

The Warriors eventually got the breakthrough following a strike from 12 yards by Regan Scott as he showed great technique to volley the ball past the keeper after being picked out with an accurate cross from Sam Wells. Warriors should have kicked on from this but a hatful of squandered chances kept the lead to the minimum. With Warriors unable to increase their lead the visitors levelled up the score as a route 1 ball from the Manor keeper was not dealt with by the Warriors defence leaving the visitors forward to head the ball over the advancing Warriors keeper Jack Mitford and into the net.

All Square as the second half started and Manor came out looking like a team that were not going to give in easily. This one was getting to close to call as Warriors continued to huff and puff in front of goal without causing too many real problems for the visitors defence. Finally Warriors got a second following a sustained attack involving Man of the Match Matt Brierley who managed to keep the ball alive and doing well to hook the ball back into the danger zone for Bernie Kirk to bravely throw himself at the bouncing ball and into the net from 2 yards. Warriors managed to see the remainder of the game out without conceding another goal and go into the hat for the next round, but they need to be more clinical in front of goal and take advantage when they are on top. Credit though to the visitors who made it an uncomfortable match for the Warriors

Always a close game between visitors Interski and the Warriors as the home side went in search of their first league points of the season in the Chad Mansfield Youth league U15 div 1. Warriors started tentatively as the ball became a hot potato with no Warriors player taking the responsibility to control the game, only full back Dan Mitford seemed to have any sort of composure during the opening forays as he tried to get the Warriors going. Interski looked the most likely to take the lead as the Warriors defence came under mounting pressure and only some good defending from Captain Sam Stewart, Bernie Kirk and Luke Atter  kept it all square as Warriors struggled to get a foothold in the game. With Warriors relying on the break to go forward it was going to take something special that would give the home side any chance of taking the lead, and that it was as Charlie Miller unleashed one of his trade mark 25 yard howitzers that flew past the Interski keeper to give the Warriors an unlikely lead.  This should have settled the Warriors into taking control of the game with some good passing football to give the hard working forward James Starmore some better service up front.  Unfortunately rather than building on the lead Interski levelled it up as they got a break in front of goal that was dispatched past keeper Jack Mitford without any challenge from a Warriors player. Things went from bad to worse as once again Warriors paid the penalty for some poor defending as they conceded a second before half time.

A slight improvement in the second half as Warriors started to play some passing football in patches as they looked to get level.  Warriors were using both wings and some good link up play between Sam Wells and Matt Brierley on one side and Michael South and Regan Scott on the other looked the best way of creating some chances against a resolute defence.  With Warriors going forward they were awarded a free kick from just outside of the box following a foul on forward Ben Clurow, up stepped the outstanding Andreas Kokkinou to fire in the what looked like a certain goal only to see the visitors keeper make an excellent save to deny the Warriors parity. Just as Warriors looked like getting back into the game they were hit for a third following a harsh looking penalty decision awarded for a foul by the Warriors keeper after the Interski forward was put through on goal. Two down but not out as this seemed to spark the Warriors into action with Man of the Match Adam Fox showing great commitment as he lead the battle along with Andreas Kokkinou.  It was Kokkinou that halved the deficit with a powerful charge on goal and stunning finish to give the Warriors a glimpse of hope as they continued to push forward.

With Warriors in the ascendancy they finally drew level, once again involving Kokkinou as he put in cross that was met by Clurow on the stretch to deflect past the Interski keeper and into the net for the equaliser.  Towards the end of the game forward Jordan Tovey continued to chase lost causes to keep the pressure on the visitors defence as it looked like this one could go either way.  All square at the end as Warriors managed to salvage their first league point of the season.

Warriors were away at Drezden Colts for their match in the Chad Mansfield Youth League U15 Div 1 fixture. Both teams started brightly as both began to play some good football and create some chances to take the lead. Good efforts from the hard working forward Ben Clurow saw the Warriors go close to getting their noses in front. Unfortunately for the Warriors it was Drezden that drew first blood after  the visitors defence failed to clear the danger leaving the home side player to pick his spot past Warriors keeper Jack Grainger.  Against a good Drezden team Warriors did not let their heads drop as they tried to get back into the game with the battling Adam Fox leading the response. The equiliser finally came, Matt Brierley worked hard chasing a lost cause managed to put in a cross that was well controlled by Bernie Kirk to set up James Starmore who finished well with a pin point strike into the corner of the Drezden goal. Honours even at half time and it was going to be the team with most desire that was going to win this one. Drezden started the second half the better and looked most likely to take the lead as Captain Sam Stewart and Andreas Kokkinou were working double time to keep the homeside at bay.  With pressure mounting soon it was to be a second for Drezden as Warriors shot themselves in the foot once again as the defence failed to clear the ball to safety giving the homeside  the opportunity to take the lead. Drezden were on the up as they netted a third, a good finish from the unopposed homeside striker.  Man of the Match Starmore showed some nice touches and composure in mid field as he linked up with Regan Scott who worked tirelessly trying to create goal scoring chances for the Warriors, but once again Warriors showed their defensive frailties as the homeside made it four from what can only be described as a game of goalmouth pin ball with the ball ending up in the back of the Warriors net. No way back for the Warriors as they succumbed to a fifth another defensive howler that presented the Dresden striker with an easy finish. For periods of the game Warriors played well and matched a very good opposition but at times a lack of composure and belief was the biggest problem for the Warriors to overcome.