Kinson proceed to next round

Kinson Conservative went through to Round 4 of the Robbins on Sunday, as Loco were totally injury-hit. So Locoboys.co.uk has been investigating ten ways to prevent soccer injury!

Soccer is a growing sport among the youth in our country today. Notably, more
female athletes are choosing to play soccer. With this added participation, it
is inevitable that more injuries will occur. Many of these injuries are linked
to physical training and conditioning.

The most common injuries in soccer typically involve the ankle, knee and hip
region. Such injuries include ankle sprains, knee ligament sprains, meniscus
tears, and muscular strains (hip and groin). ACL injuries are now reaching epidemic
proportions, especially in the female soccer athlete.

Research has indicated that proper training programs can and do reduce ACL
injuries and will help prevent other sports related injuries. Much of the research
has indicated that strengthening, jump landing technique and agility training
affect the risk for this type of injury. The following list will outline how
to effectively reduce common soccer injuries.

1. Perform a periodized year round strength training program with special emphasis
on balancing the muscles of the leg and targeting the core muscles (low back,
abdominals and hip).

2. Understand the energy systems utilized in soccer and train them according
to performance demands. This involves the proper blend of training aerobic endurance
and anaerobic power to ensure explosive performance over the entire course of
a match. Fatigue late in the match can lead to injury.

3. Perform routine stretching to prevent muscular imbalance and tightness.
This refers to static stretching that should be done after a suitable warm-up
or at the end of practice.

4. Perform supervised, carefully planned plyometric (jump) training to teach
proper landing form and develop power.

5. Incorporate dynamic balance training to teach body control and reduce ankle
sprains and knee injuries.

6. Take planned periodic rests from practice and play to avoid overtraining.

7. Perform routine agility and quickness drills to improve footwork and cutting
ability. Many ACL injuries occur with non-contact cutting movements and it is
critical for athletes to cut on a bent knee and be able to control their momentum
during change of direction.

8. Perform a dynamic warm-up prior to practice and games that effectively simulates
sport specific movement. These activities will better prepare the body for the
demands placed upon it during competition. This can be further broken down into
general and specific functional warm-ups.

9. Perform yearly pre-season physical screening evaluations with an athletic
trainer or physical therapist to assess any musculoskeletal areas of weakness.

10. Perform pre-season, in-season and post-season fitness testing to assess
training methods, performance and conditioning. This protocol will allow the
coaches to adjust training volume, intensity and modalities to ensure that their
athletes are peaking at the right time and not training improperly.

All of these suggestions are important in developing complete athletes and
preventing common injuries. They will not prevent all soccer injuries, however,
they will greatly reduce the risk potential and enhance athletic performance.
The ultimate key to injury prevention is understanding the sport of soccer and
developing a program designed to address its demands on the body.

Thread-bare Loco gain point

Locomotive welcomed the return of Matt ‘Bomber’ Folds on Sunday, in a decent performance against Magpies and Woolsbridge, and he marked his debut with a goal!Loco had thirteen men available for this fixture, with Sean in goal. Across the back we had Westy, Steve, Will, and Scott; In midfield were Dave, Simon, Bomber and Mike; Up front was Ali and Sam. With Lee and Luke being valuable substitutes.

With Scott and Bomber back in the fold, Loco really pulled out a first half performance to be proud of. The whole team gelled really well, and with Cash being referee, the game flowed nicely.

The home side were having a lot of early possession, and we were having a lot of success down the left-side of the pitch, with Sam being given a lot of space to run the ball around his marker, and cut the ball back in to the penalty box.

On a couple of occasions, this didn’t result in much, but on the third occasion, Bomber was on hand in the penalty box to fire the ball close range into the left side of the net.

It was a good start for Loco, and we really could have had more goals, as we had a number of shots, many of which were Bomber-esque 40 yard slices - how good it was to have him back.

Similarly, it was great to have Scott back, and playing at left-back, he really didn’t look like he’d been away - and he put in a real gritty performance - something not seen in a red and black shirt for a few weeks now! His interceptions were timely, and he was really winning most of the headers and challenges - so Scott, well done.

Anyway, on 20 minutes, goal number two game for Loco, as their goal-keeper took a goal-kick, and it found the head of Dave Hutchings, who knocked it in front of his marker and into the path of Sam, who struck the ball first time from 30 yards into the roof of the net past the flailing keeper.

Just before half-time, Magpies managed to pull one back, with a defensive mix up enabling their striker to tap the ball home - and even though Sean got a touch on it, the power of the shot made it trickle over the line and into the goal.

Half-time: Ferndown Locomotive 2 - 1 Magpies and Woolsbridge

The second half saw Loco take their foot off the gas somewhat, and even though we managed to get a couple of shots on goal, namely through free-kicks, we did not look like scoring.

Instead we invited a lot of pressure on, and this ultimately rewarded in the 75th minute, when a bit of pinball in the box found their midfielder, who calmly lashed the ball home through a number of defenders - making the scores level at 2-2.

Luke and Lee came on in the later stages of the half, and Luke managed to get a bit of success on the right, whipping in a number of crosses - and lee too was impressive on the right, combining well with Sam and Dave - who by then had moved up front.

The remaining ten minutes of the game was nervous for both sides, as any side could have won it. However Cash blew the final whistle, and Loco gained a point, with the score being 2-2.

It was a better performance from Loco, and there were thirteen dedicated players out there. It very much reminded many of us of the Loco of old - great team spirit, superb banter, and a will to win. Unfortunately we did crumble in the second half, but it was a game in which many of us were proud to play in. I certainly hope this kind of atmosphere can carry on into the next game. We have over 20 players signed on, and on some weeks we find it difficult to get eleven men out on the pitch. This is not how it should be at all. Aside from injuries and the genuine reasons for being absent, there needs to be more commitments from all of the squad, otherwise unfortunately it will simply result in more players being brought in, and these players getting games ahead of original squad members!

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 2 - 2 Magpies and Woolsbridge

Royal scoop as Loco lose 4-1

Christchurch Royals managed to shake off the Loco curse on Sunday, with a convincing 4-1 win against thread-bare Locomotive, with the only Loco goal coming from Chris Brown.Christchurch took the lead in this fixture, before Chris Brown followed up a parried Scott Griffin shot - converting from the angle.

However, the fixture wasn’t to be, as three more goals were conceeded during the remainder of the game, with the home side eventually emerging 4-1 victors.

The Loco web-site will have a fuller account of this result soon. Unfortunately our freelance reporter from the Echo failed to show up - therefore we have been relying on word of mouth all week - in order to get a decent account of events on the pitch. We do know however that Loco were injury-ridden, and that we even had to play Westy again!

Anyhow, aside from these antics, we must however pay tribute to the loyal Christchurch Royals fans. After having just witnessed their side break their duck against Loco - they showed their relief in the stands at Christchurch Rec with some superb chanting.

PS: The bloke in the crowd is seemingly chanting the longest word in the world…

Joscelyne build on top form

Locomotive lost 5-1 on Sunday to Joscelyne Builders in a forgetful game at Strouden Park - a match full of some crazy decisions (and maybe a few spot on ones too!)Locomotive began the game in the usual 4-4-2 formation, with a defensive four of Steve, Andy, Mike, and Westy. In midfield we had Sam, Andy, Ali, and Chris. And playing up front we had Dan along-side Dave.

It was great to see Dan starting up-front, because as well know, he usually is on defensive duty, but he certainly played like a player posessed against Joscelyne, as he was making nippy little runs all over the pitch.

Loco did alright for the first 60 seconds of the game - until we conceded a very sloppy goal, with the final touch only needing to be a tap in from close range.

However we worked our way back in the fixture, but severely lacked a target man up front, however we did have a couple of efforts, including a side-netting bound effort from Dan.

The ‘turning point’, if there was one, was when we gave away a penalty on 30 mins. It wasn’t so much a penalty really, and infact was very similar to the spot kick that Spurs gained against Pompey at the weekend. Anyhow, the kick was cooly converted, and there was a two-goal cushion at half-time for the home side to sit back on.

Half-time: Joscelyne Builders 2 - 0 Ferndown Locomotive

..and sit back on it is what they did, as Locomotive equalised only three minutes into the second half. Some good work in midfield allowed Sam to play the ball through to Dave, who managed to take a touch before firing the ball into the left side of the net to make it 2-1.

At this point the momentum really should have been with Loco, however there were a few costly errors that eventually granted the home side with the game - one of which involved a very short back-pass, and then the next coming when Sean managed to up-end the oncoming striker, and give away a penalty.

Much to the despair of the diving keeper in blue, the spot kick was dispatched, despite the finger-tipped effort of palming it wide.

The game really fizzled out by 75 minutes. The home side lost their lustre, and Loco looked uninterested, and no-one was taking responsibility. On a brighter note though it was fantastic to see Dan up front proving to be extremely nippy and useful - indeed, this is a position that Paul may now feel suits the young player.

Again, Mikey on the right had another good game, and the return of Steve was essential in bolstering the right-side of defence. Also, it was fantastic to see Cash come back into the fold after a spell out with injury.

Thankfully, it seems that players are starting to come out from the initial injuries. With a bit of togetherness now Loco can really start to pull together and pull some results out of the bag. We are more than capable of doing it, and I’m sure with some determination and belief - it is going to happen.

With a couple of wins, this loss, against a team we usually beat, will be all forgotten. As a result of the win Joscelyne have gone top of the league, whereas Loco languish (all be it temporarily) in the lower half of the table.

Final Score: Joscelyne Builders 5 - 1 Ferndown Locomotive

I’m loving Angels instead

Ferndown Locomotive, with a squad size of eleven, were knocked out of the Robbins Cup on Sunday with a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Division Two side Tradelink Angel.Loco had the bare eleven players on the pitch, with no substitutes - so it was always going to be a tough encounter against a very well drilled Tradelink side.

Loco started with Sean in goal, and across the back we had Mike, Andy, Dan, and Lee. In midfield, Andy, Keith, Luke, and Sam. Up front, Dave and Ali.

The first thirty minutes saw the home side play some extremely commendable football. Although we didn’t really get that many chances on goal, we certainly ran them close on numerous occasions. Sam often managed to find a bit of space, and there were a couple of long range efforts fired in - Loco also picked up a few corners.

At the back, Andy and Dan played well together, with Dan coping admirably. Similarly, he combined well with Mike, who also deserves a special mention for putting in a top notch performance on the left.

Elsewhere on the pitch, Lee also was productive, and Andy and Luke got busy as per usual. Dave, was tracking back a lot too, which helped the work-horses of Keith and Ali quite a bit. (There, everyone gets a mention…)

Loco conceded two goals before half-time though, one more debateable than the other. The first one was very much considered against the run of play, as it was a swift counter attack followed by a precise finish that put Angel in front; and then on 42 minutes a dubious penalty was awarded to the home side after it was deemed that the ball was handled in the box - the penalty was dispatched to make it 2-0.

Half-time: Ferndown Locomotive 0 - 2 Tradelink Angel

Unfortunately, with no fresh legs, the second half didn’t get much better for Loco. We did have a couple of really good chances though, and some fantastic play - however we failed to hit the back of the net - whereas Angel managed to notch three.

Two of those three goals were pretty outstanding too, with the fourth resulting from a great curling cross landing on the head of their striker, who managed to beat Sean to the ball and nod goalwards into the back of the net - and then the fifth one was one of the most audacious goals I’ve seen…

A long (and some would say, hopeless) ball was played over the top of the home defence by their midfielder, and with their striker running away from the ball, he managed to stick out a leg, and clip the ball (which was behind him) with the outside of his left boot into the far side of the net. The leg movement was extremely similar to the pre-match exercise in which we jog, and get our heels touching our arses. Delightful goal explanation I’m sure you’ll agree.

The last three goals felt pretty undeserved, and with the final score being 5-0 to the away side, it was very difficult to feel positive about things. However, persistence will indeed pay off, and we just need to keep working together, and eventually, with the right attitude and a good team spirit - results will come.

Good luck to Angel in the next round - they were all a great bunch of lads.

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 0 - 5 Tradelink Angel