The pre-season schedule & preparation for HIFC reserves squad has gone somewhat unnoticed under the dark shadow of the Didcot Festival Cup!!! So I just wanted to bring the club up to speed as to what has gone on. The squad is pretty much unchanged from last season and all of the same reliable stalwarts are back, ready to go, signed on and have PAID their fees!!

This season sees a couple of new additions to the squad - Toni Thornhill has moved up from the ‘A’ Team and takes up a starting roll along side the team captain Stu Head in midfield. Adam Heal has join the squad from Cholsey and looks to be settling in well in the back 4, Pocket Rocket Nathan Wright has joined us from the notorious Thong Rangers, complete with his six pack - and minus the thong! Kevin Jones has come out of retirement (again!) to back up the team when needed… ever reliable and very keen! Mikey V has been drafted in as kit man, manager’s helper, tactics advisor (!) and all round team moral booster.

PRE-SEASON MATCHES

The squad have played 4 pre-season Friendly matches against varying opposition and included in the squad was a couple of members of the ‘A’ Team - Johnny E & Jamie C - thanks for your assistance and the door is always open for a place in the Reserves. Assistance was also sought in the nets as Brett the Jaw was injured, so in stepped Conference Craig and Manx fan Chris to fill the net, again thanks to both of them.

MATCH RESULTS

HIFC Res 5 Vs Harwell Village Res 4

HIFC Res 0 Vs Botley Utd 2

HIFC Res 6 Vs Childrey Utd 4

HIFC Res 3 Vs Blewbury Res 1

As you can see, 2 good results against two Div 3 teams and 1 against Div 4 new boys Harwell Village (who played a number of first team players). The demon of Botley lives on but not all was lost in the 2 – 0 defeat as the team played well and showed good character and fight against a superior team and an appalling pitch which was the cause of both goals.

MOVING FORWARD

The season opens on the first Saturday in September and sees the Atomics pitched against Hanney Utd at home followed on Sat the 8th against Long Wittenham, again at home, Two games we should win and open our book with 6 points and a hat full of goals (that’s if Rob on target NOT can manage to find the direction of the goal) and ‘I wont be late again for a match’ Boots Student McGregor can find that killer instinct in front of the nets.

POSITIONAL NOTES

Keeper: Brett, Chris.

That 18 yard area is your yard. Keep it safe and under control at all times, respect no intruders that venture into it. Talk to, and position your back 4. let them know what they can’t see and as to where you want them to be. On set plays position you defence well, be strong in the air and on the ground and make your decisions early - either go or stay but don’t do both at the same time or you indecisions will be you undoing.

Back 4 squad: Eddie, Andy, Pixie, Whell Adam, Danny, Kev.

You need to stay focused and alert right from the first whistle. Remain committed in the challenge, back each other up, talk to each other all of the time, don’t jump in, stay on your feet and don’t always use the long ball but instead work it through the mid field and build the play up but not always through the centre but using the width of the pitch as well. Don’t be scared to play it back if there are no other options. You must organise quickly on set plays against us and push up, to close the gaps between you and midfield during attacking play. Stay organised at all times and remember the game is 90 minutes so lets not give away those silly goals in the last minutes of either half, our goals against last year was excellent, now lets improve on it. Oh last point, NO silly free kick on the edge of the 18yard box.

Midfield Squad: Wayne, Stu (Captain) Toni, Lee, Nathan, Barry.

You’re the play makers who need to be supplying the front 2 and also be backing them up during attacking play. You will be the ones to cover the most ground during the game, (so Need to be the fittest!!) being prepared to both attack and defend. The two wide players must be prepared to come back and pick up the ball and hold it up to allow time for the others to get into attacking positions. Don’t run into blind alleys and out of room, cut in and use your pace to turn defenders. Centre mid is the hub of the teams defending and attacking - you should be dictating the run of play and the link between the strikers and back 4. No balls in the centre of the park should go unchallenged - be strong in the air and aware of where the options are. Dictate the pace of the game and react to the opposition’s positional changes. If the opportunities come your way… use them and have a few strikes on goal, but when the play breaks down recover your ground and get your shape quickly. No one can tolerate a lazy mid field player, you’re the work horses and don’t forget it!

Strikers Rob, Boots, Barry, Nathan, Porter (when he returns from his holiday)

We can defend as much as we like and keep our goals against tally low but if you as a unit cannot provide goals at the other end then the defenders may as well stay in the changing room. You need to be sharp, sharp, sharp, work as a unit, link up well, run of each other and have that killer instinct and an eye for goal. Remain composed on the ball, get good body shape and get over the top of the ball before striking it. Don’t always wait for the ball/play to come to you, go searching for the ball, be a nuisance and get in the oppositions faces. Get in to positions early and watch the line and above all take you chances, even 1 could win a game. Remember the other members of the team are working hard for you now give them results… (NO Pressure!!)

Team Captain Stu Head

You run the game, make the calls, keep the discipline, keep the team moral, encourage, demand, and above all talk all the time to the whole team. You’re the gear box of the engine. Dictate the pace of the play, make decisions early and keep the team working as a unit - when either up or down the team will be looking to you for inspiration, so give it to them. You will have my full backing on all you do or call, now get that team working.

SUMMARY

Let’s have a good season; you all know you have the beating of all the teams you will come up against. I will do everything to prepare you, make sure you know where to be and what time, supply the kit for you to wear and the liquid you need to keep going. I’ll be the back up and support behind the scene and give an angry word when needed, but when that first whistle blows, it’s up to the 11 on the pitch to perform. No prisoners this season. if you’re not performing and producing what is required of you then the squad has strength in depth and you will be replaced. And if that happens, be a man and admit you where crap and don’t try to bluff the old soldier (I’ve heard it all before). Come on lads don’t let yourselves down, I have faith in you, now believe in yourselves. Winners not losers.

Paul Small
Here we go again football manager.

Paul Absolom has his eyes on a run in the Reading Evening Post Junior Cup after he found his side reinstated in the competition earlier this week.

The second chance comes as Henley Town Reserves, who knocked Inter out in the previous round, have been thrown out of the competition for fielding 2 illegal players.

Inter were unlucky to be knocked out by the Berkshire outfit in December, finally going down 3-1 after extra time in an end to end match.

The chance for his side to compete again for silverware this season was met with obvious enthusiasm by Absolom. “I want to see all of my boys training in the coming weeks, the league may be beyond us now, but this is a great chance to put something in the trophy cabinet and give us something to show for our efforts this season”.

Unfortunately our long awaited clash with Henley Res had to be cancelled due to bad weather on Friday 17th November which saw the pitches being deem as un playable (strange how the Rugby matches went ahead!!!!!!!!!) Perhaps they play on magic grass that rain doesn't affect.

Anyway down to the business of next Saturday and Hanney Utd at home with a KO time of 2pm. This is a match we need to win to keep up with the league leaders, Botley (who look to be running away with it) Followed by Childrey and Challow, who are in striking distance.

At training on Wednesday we worked on a few ideas but unfortunately only 6 of the regular reserve team players were there !!!!!! so only half the squad knows what we are doing (could get confusing) are you sure you are all committed to doing well this season???

You have all now had a weeks break from your beloved game so therefore should be raring to go. It would be nice to see you all at training on Wednesday so that we can come together as a squad and prepare ourselves for the demolition of Hanney Utd on Saturday. Lets get our goal difference back up and show the rest of the division that we still mean business and that none of them should take us lightly.

See you all on Wednesday for some Taliban Snipers, Kaiser Spin (without the Bike), and some other activities that i will keep till the night. Its a good opportunity to escape from the wife/girlfriend/lover or calls from the bank manager.

Paul Small
Up for it football manager.

Tom MacGregor is poised to make his first appearance in a Harwell shirt since September, after being included in their squad for Saturdays Berks & Bucks Junior Cup clash against Uffington.

The man known as 'Boots' has been nursing a ankle injury for the past four weeks and it was expected he would be kept out of action for another few weeks as he steps-up his rehabilitation.

However, a behind-closed-doors training session on Wednesday saw MacGregor impress with a lively cameo and it has been enough to convince Atomics boss Paul Absolom that he is ready for a run-out.

"Boots did very well yesterday and after talking to him, I have decided to put him on the bench for Saturday," Absolom told the club's official website.

"He is very positive about everything and I know it is one of football's oldest cliches, but it will be like having a new player in our squad."

Speaking to www.theatomics.co.uk manager Paul Absolom has warned his players against complacency following the 5-1 victory over Wooton at the weekend.

The win has propelled Inter Reserves into third in the table and installed a real belief around the club that promotion is a distinct possibility this season.

“Saturday was great for the boys, but there is a long way to go yet” warned Absolom. “We need to keep winning every Saturday and turn some of these draws into wins”.

The Reserves will turn their attentions to the cup over the next two weeks, with Absolom keen for his side to prove they can mix it with the big boys when they meet Division 2 side Shrivenham A.

Absolom was absent for the Wooton game as assistant manager Eddie Cowan again took control. The number one will be back in charge for the visit to title rivals Uffington in this weekends Junior Cup tie.

Although promotion remains the clubs number one goal, Absolom has never hid his desire to bring a trophy back to the club and is likely to field his strongest side in both matches.

“There is a lot of competition for places now with the likes of Stuart Head and Boots to come back in over the coming weeks”. “Everyone needs to be performing week in week out to keep their place”