2^nd March 2009

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Snow in early February put paid to any action in the first weekend of the month, and with half term following ion quickly, we did not get back to a full programme of games until last weekend.

These are the reports in from around the club starting with the u15s.

U15s Horsham League Division A

28.02.09

Copthorne 6 – 2 Albury Eagles

A mad 5 minutes at the end of the second half cost Albury at least a point. After trailing 1 – 0 at half time, the second half started badly as Copthorne scored to make it 2 – 0. Albury then pulled a goal back as Luke Cannon fired home after a mazy run to the edge of the Copthorne box. Albury then levelled after Jake Nurse fired high into the net after an Albury corner. Albury had started to play with confidence as Matt Evans started to control the game from the centre of midfield. With 6 minutes to go Albury had a corner, there was a scramble in the box where Zac Smith had a shot cleared off the goal line and Copthorne managed to clear. Albury then went into self destruct after playing so well in the match. In 5 manic minutes Albury let in 4 goals and ended up losing 6 -2, when it looked like a point and even 3 points were on the cards. It now means we go into their game at home to Brockham next week knowing that nothing short of a win will do.

John Caley

U14s Horsham League Division C

28.02.09

Royal United 2 – 3 Albury Eagles

Albury played only their 2^nd game since early December, this showed as within the first few minutes we were 1 down. The boys worked hard and drew level through Dan Cannon and we then took the lead after Harry Good lobbed their keeper. In the second half, Albury started to have more possession, we passed the ball very well for Dan Cannon’s second and Albury’s third. Royal counterattacked well and pulled one back, this made for a nervy ending and thanks to a great save from Will Walker, Albury took all 3 points.

Man of the Match was Harry Good.

Mark Hurman

U13s Horsham League Division A

28.02.09

Roffey Robins Wanderers 1 – 5 Albury Eagles

For the second match running the Albury under 13s  chalked up five goals and a win to keep the Eagles’ spirits flying high in the Horsham and District League. Christopher Brooks opened the scoring, soon followed by two more from Harvey Marshall (Man of the Match) and Nathanael Farrant. Albury travelled to Roffey with just the bare 11 needed, but coped superbly showing a great attitude and work rate coming off the heavy pitch at half time 3-0 up.

With good inter-linking play and solid defending by the whole of the team, Christopher Brooks was able to gain his second goal of the day after being put through by Nathanael Farrant and as the Roffey keeper raced out to bloke the shot he calmly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper and high into the net. Roffey rallied towards the end of the game as the Eagles tired but Laurie Owen finished off the day with a low fired shot into the bottom left hand corner of the goal and Albury came away as deserved winners.  

Neil Marshall 

U12s Horsham League Division B

28.02.09

Southwater 1 – 2 Albury Eagles

U11s Horsham League Division D

28.02.09

Northchapel 1 – 4 Albury Eagles

Eagles moved to the top of Horsham League Division D with a determined display against a tough-tackling Northchapel side.
The visitors got the best possible start when after just two minutes, Jacob Caldwell latched on to a through pass from William Potts to finish in style. Eagles maintained their grip on the game and it was no surprise when the lead was doubled ten minutes later. George
Thompson latched on to a defensive mistake, ran 40 yards and cracked the ball home. Albury kept up the pressure but wasted two good chances when Thompson burst through again and shot straight at the keeper and Elliott Cozens struck the crossbar with a fierce shot.
Having been let off the hook, Northchapel came back strongly and broke through the Albury defence to grab a goal back five minutes before 
half time. And it could have been 2-2 when a similar move again cut open the defence but ‘keeper Alex Thrower was equal to the task.
Northchapel upped their efforts in the second half but, with tackles flying in, Albury held their nerve and kept the home side at bay. The victory was assured when Cozens broke through the home defence to rifle in from the edge of the area. And in the final minutes Albury produced the best football of the contest when a superb flowing move was finished by Thompson for his second goal.

Mark Thrower

U12s Horsham League Division B

21.02.09

Three Bridges 4 – 1 Albury Eagles

U11s Horsham League Division D

21.02.09

Storrington & Sullington Vipers 1 – 6 Albury Eagles

Albury Eagles leapfrogged Storrington into second place in the league and kept their dreams of league glory alive with one of their most impressive and determined performances of the season.
The match was over in the first five minutes as Eagles ripped into the home side. Elliott Cozens drilled home a fine shot in the first minute and Tom Hartley doubled the lead firing after a corner. Eagles continued to press throughout the half and George Thompson made the game safe with a third. An offside flag twice denied Eagles further goals before half time as the speed of Cozens, Hartley and Thompson caused constant problems to the home side’s defence.
Storrington came into the game more in the second half but they threatened only rarely with Owen Bracey, Billy Tompkins and Dan Foulsham solid in the Eagles’ back four. Thompson added his second goal of the game and Cozens smashed home a penalty after he was 
brought down. Although the home side did pull a goal back after a scramble at a corner kick Tom Hartley restored the five-goal margin in the closing 
minutes.

Mark Thrower

The late winter weather has ravaged the fixture list, and after much swapping around of fixtures, this is the latest guide to what is left in the 11 a side programme.

Matches to be played Saturday 7^th March

U15s v Brockham Badgers ‘A’

U14s v Kirdford

U13s v Cranleigh

U11s v Lingfield (Plate ¼ Final)

Matches to be played Saturday 14^th March

U15s v Maidenbower

Upper Beeding v U14s

U13s v Royal Utd

U12s v Lingfield

Horsham Tigers v U11s

Matches to be played Saturday 21^st March

U14s v Brockham B

Horsham Sparrows v U13s

Matches to be played Saturday 28^th March

Ockley v U15s

U14s v Twin Oaks

Steyning v U13s

Ockley v U12s

Matches to be played Monday 30^th March

U13s v Hurstpierpoint (6pm ko)

Matches to be played Wed 1st April

Roffey v U15s

Matches to be played Saturday 4^th April

U13s v Northchapel

U12s v Horsham Crusaders

U11s v Holmbury Wolves B

Matches to be played Saturday 18^th April

Royal Utd v U15s

U14s v Heron Olympic

Hurstpierpoint v U13s

Editor  -  Tony Hern

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