Latest reporting takes in games played over the past three weekends, mostly those on 5th February……..

U12s
Albury Eagles 0-1 Reigate Priory
Eagles were desperately unlucky to lose this game, albeit to a scrappy goal 2 minutes from full time.
Finlay and Ross were outstanding at the back as Reigate attacks were repelled quite comfortably, and Lewis in goal this week to make some great saves, despite his knee injury – gaining him Man of the Match.
No danger of a repeat of the 9-0 drubbing we suffered in Reigate just beforee Xmas as the lads continue to improve their teamplay
Referee Tom Westcott also had a great game. Is there no end to this boy’s talents? Iain Grogan

U11s
Albury Eagles 8-0 Dunsfold
Just to thank everyone for a good performance yesterday. A fantastic 8-0 win! Nice to see we managed to boss the whole game with poor Alex in goal only having to make one save all match! Goal scorers were Chris Caley Hat-trick(3), Sam Bunyan (2), Harvey Owen, Zac Smith and Keith Fagg all getting a goal each.
But on a sad note, Tim Parsons suffered a broken collarbone in the fall he had during the first 10 minutes of the match. John Caley

U10s
Priory Panthers 1-3 Albury Griffins
The Griffins were away to the Panthers this week, keen to stay on their winning streak. The match started with the Griffins very much in control with 2 goals from Harry Good and 1 from Ben Hurman giving us a 3 - 0 lead at half time. We were a bit complacent in the second half and the Panthers had the ball in the net twice in a couple of minutes fortunately one was disallowed as it came straight from a throw in. We will have to concentrate more in our next matches if we are to put any pressure on the league leaders. The match finished 3 - 1. M.O.M this week Ben Hurman.
Mark Hurman
(No game for Eagles u10s this week)

U9s
Albury Eagles 1-5 Albury Griffins
Griffins won this 5-1. For the Griffins Phillip Smith scored 2, David Hearns Oliver Cose and Harvey Marshall one a piece. Nathanael Farrant scored for the Eagles. John DuffNow, Trevor Stephens writes on his developing under 8s Griffins squad………….

The Griffins ended 2004 on a high note on 12 December registering their first league victory of the season with 3-0 away win at Brockham Blue. For once the Griffins capitalised on their committed performance with player of the week Joe Mapp coolly finishing some sharp attacks with 2 first half goals and then securing the game in the second half with a well taken penalty to notch his hat-trick. However, the return match on 8 January was a disaster with the Griffins dominating the whole match but failing to threaten the Brockham goal. Player of the week Sam Lewis was particularly commanding at the back with the ever reliable and all action Alex Connolly and it seemed that with patience the Griffins would get the goal they deserved. However, as the Griffins pushed forward looking for that elusive goal they lost their shape and an isolated breakaway from Brockham Blue early in the second half led to a heartbreaking goal. The Griffins desperately pushed forward looking for an equaliser but with confidence low only mustered one serious chance when Oliver Stephens, playing out on pitch in the second half, had a close range snap shot saved by the keeper.

On 15 January, the Griffins faced a difficult tie at home to Walton Warriors. Some tactical changes were overdue to address the lack of goals and the team responded with a stirring first half pinning the Warriors back in their own half. Will Onslow and Sam Parsons dominated midfield and with Joe Mapp playing in a new forward role the team was much more convincing. Player of the week, Will Onslow grabbed the lead for the Griffins but was unlucky in having a penalty saved just before half time. The save proved crucial as despite a good second half from the Griffins, with a notable half from James Matthews in his best performance of the season, the Warriors came back into the game with one particularly tricky attacker who the defence couldn’t contain. As the game wore on the Griffins seemed to lose stamina with the Warriors grabbing an early equaliser and then two late goals.

On 29 January, after a week off for training and confidence building (coach considering his position!) the Griffins faced Tadworth Tigers at home. The Griffins appeared transformed and camped in the Tigers half throughout the first half. Will Onslow was again outstanding in midfield ably supported by Sam Parsons who was looking at home in his new midfield role. Up front Joe Mapp & Adam Clark both grabbed first half goals after both punishing the Tigers keeper’s poor kicking. Player of the week Adam Clark had returned to form and put in his best performance of the season, holding the ball up and linking play. The second half was a slightly different match with the Griffins playing a more contained game. The Tigers seemed to be making a match of it but weren’t threatening with Sam Lewis and Oliver Stephens clearing the lines well. Mid way through the second half the Tigers broke for a clear chance on goal but the strong shot was expertly tipped round the post by Oliver Stephens. The Tigers seemed to lose confidence and the Griffins midfield powerhouse Will Onslow broke away to score the deserved third and decisive goal.

And so to Saturday 5 February:
U8s
Albury Griffins 2- 0 Albury Eagles
The game that the coaches dreaded had arrived! The Eagles came into the game chasing league leaders Priory Panthers and the Griffins were looking to build on recent improving performances and ensure they climbed to mid table stability.
The Griffins were clearly pumped up and came out with by far and away their best performance of the season with, in particular, skipper Alex Connolly and Will Onslow putting in storming performances to drive the team on. As the Eagles attack dropped back to defend, the loss of the forward outlets just encouraged the Griffins even more and they grabbed 2 first half goals. Adam Clark got the first as the Eagles failed to clear their lines and this was followed by a similar attack with Martin Doubtfire knocking the ball through to Joe Mapp for another cool finish. The Griffins braced themselves for a second half onslaught from the Eagles, and it was a much more even encounter after the break, but the Eagles danger men Fraser Mills and Tristan Moses were closed down every time they got the ball and Harry Ford and Matt Foster were looking most likely to make a difference. Despite this, the Griffins were clearing ball from defence quite comfortably, with Oliver Stephens only having one serious shot to save and it was Will Onslow who twice went closest to scoring for the Griffins with a long range free kick well saved by Ralph Harvey Jefferson, shortly followed by a marauding breakout from midfield when he narrowly missed with the ball hitting the side netting. The performance from the Griffins belied their league position, and every player played his part. Skipper Alex Connolly was back to his very best and Martin Doubtfire ably supported Will Onslow in midfield with one excellent last ditch block when the Eagles were clear on goal. Jack Bewsey, Sam Lewis, Sam Parsons all battled throughout with Oliver Stephens clearing the ball well and up front the pairing of Adam Clark and Joe Mapp continues to go from strength to strength.

And 12th Feb……….

U8s
Walton Warriors v Albury Griffins
This game saw some disputed refereeing and the result is currently under review by the league secretary.
More later!

19th Feb……….
U7s
Albury Eagles 0-4 Guildford Saints

Tadworth League Players….
….a date for Your Diaries……….

Date: Sat 23rd April
Location: Tadworth Primary School
Time: 9.00am to 11.00am approximately!
We will organise some short friendly(!) matches from about 9.15 to 10.45 followed by the presentation.
The winner team of each age group will receive the year group shield (please can last years winners return the shields to me before the day).
There will be drinks and doughnuts for all children/hangers on!
Please can all coaches let me know (before Easter) how many teams/players they will be bringing so that we can arrange the games and catering?
Please pass this on to anyone you think I have missed!
Andy Bell, Tadworth League Secretary.

Half Term Training on the Heath
Albury Heath once again welcomed our friends at Planet Sport, Ripley, over 14th-16th February, who staged a three-day football coaching course.
The days were well attended, with the boys well wrapped up against the chilly northerly winds, but some neat skills still showed through.

A Goalkeepers-only day featured for the first time on the 16th, with an amazing 13 keepers turning out from u12 down to u7 age.
Former keeper Gary Haylock put the lads through an intensive series of drills, covering handling, positional awareness, but chiefly fitness.
Defintely to be repeated on this subject, the club happy to meet the cost of the coaching in this vital position on the field of play.

NOW, ATTENTION ALL MUSIC LOVERS………………..

Saturday 5th March, Shere Village Hall, there will be a
Rockin Good Night in Shere
One night only……from 7.45pm….
a fundraising event for re-surfacing the Shere School playground.
It should be a really great night with 5 different live music sets - Jazz, Blues, Soul, Rock..and one other!....and a Thai curry supplied by Beau Thai. Its more of a stand-up party 'do' so no need to organise tables of people. Get your dancing shoes on though!
Tickets are £10 and available from Alldays, Crumbs, Shere school office. Or phone Cathy Garthwaite on 07970 103560.

TRAINING TOPS AND HATS
We have just received the oustanding consignment of oustanding training tops, together with woolly hats to combat this icy blast from the East.
Please confer with your coaches to ensure that all league players now have a training top each. That goes for the coaches too!
The woolly hats – one size fits all – are supplied at cost - £7 to you and me – so please see your coach, Gerry Breakfast Meister or Lynne Smith our treasurer and clothing specialist.

KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH EAGLES AND GRIFFINS TEAMS
For teams in the Tadworth Leagues, u10s to u8s, click on
www.cleardesk.co.uk/tadworth

whilst for the Horsham League, try:
www.yellowjersey.co.uk

Editor - Tony Hern
01483 202936 07891 480343
Email: tonyhern@lineone.net