Here we are in early December, almost half the season through, and still no sign of winter. Pitch condition is pretty good, and certainly more grass than in previous seasons. Plenty of games to catch up on, beginning with 3 games played on 20th Nov...

U9s
Albury Eagles 2-1 St Annes Blues
Tom Cantoni 2
Brockham Black 1-1 AlburyGriffins
Phillip Smith

U8s
Albury Eagles 4-2 Albury Griffins
In a tight fought game, the Eagles overcame the Griffins with a strong 1st half performance. The Griffins opened the scoring with an excellent opportunist goal from Adam Clark, the Eagles hitting back almost immediately with a powerful finish from Fraser Millis. The Eagles then took control scoring three more goals before half time through Tristan Moses, Oscar Sharpe (on his debut) and a second for Fraser Millis.
In the second half, the Griffins came out fighting and there were chances at both ends. Adam Clark in goal for the Griffins made some exceptional saves and down the other end the Griffins won a penalty which was coolly blasted into the left hand corner by Will Onslow (also on his debut).
Nick Sanders

Matches played on 27th Nov...

U7s
Albury Eagles 0-0 Brockham
Albury Eagles 5-1 Brockham
Albury Griffins 0-2 Brockham
Albury Griffins 0-4 Brockham
Both Eagles and Griffins had exciting matches against good and strangely somewhat bigger competition. All games were played in an open manner, with noticeable improvements in holding field positions and passing the ball, as well as some good individual ball control. Albury Eagles started off first with a well played draw. Albury Griffins were then unlucky not to score in their first match with some good runs by Thomas Wall. Albury Eagles, now ready to go for it, played again and came off with an excellent 5-1 win (Lewis Heldenby 2, Thomas Heldenby, Ned Hussey and Timothy Brooks). Good teamwork and full commitment was shown by all the team. In Albury Griffins' second match they were very unlucky again not to score, but some excellent moves took place, not least some good dribbling runs by captain Alistair McGuire. The Man of the Match award went deservedly to Timothy Brooks. Unfortunately Albury U7s could not compete against Brookham Badgers in one department. They had a girl player. Come on Albury girls! Where are you?
Tim Foulsham

U8s
Albury Eagles 2-4 Priory Panthers
Albury lost this game conceding two goals in the first ten minutes against the strongest side we have faced this year. Once we started competing, the game was much more even. Harry Ford scored the goal of the season to date to get us back in the game with a 25 yard shot into the top corner, however, we conceeded another goal before half time go down 1-3. In the second half we could have
clawed our way back into it if we had converted all our chances, however, this was not to be and another goal from the Panthers killed the game. Fraser Millis popped up with a consolation goal five minutes before the end to keep his excellent scoring record going. Nick Sanders

BrockhamWhite 1-1 AlburyGriffins
Martin Doubtfire
The Griffins good away form was restored following last week's end to end game against the Eagles and the previous 4-0 defeat against the Priory Panthers. The Griffins defence looked much more solid and the midfield took control of the first half. The Griffins took a deserved lead when Martin Doubtfire's long range effort bamboozled the keeper and Alex Connolly had two fine efforts that just whistled over the bar. The second half was less eventful. The Griffins were unlucky to concede the equaliser after Oliver Stephens saved a good effort only to see Brockham's follow up shot take an unfortunate deflection. A much more solid all round performance from the Griffins with man of the match Will Onslow making some strong interceptions.
Trevor Stephens

U10s
Albury Eagles 8-1 Priory Panthers
This Saturday saw the Eagles finally achieve their first win of the season and in some style ! Having conceded an early goal and with the coach rapidly preparing his resignation letter, Jack Gill raced up the wing and levelled the scores. With nerves settled, the team then started to play some great attacking football and the goals began to flow. Ollie Harris scored a second, James Hern lobbed the keeper and Ollie scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-1 at half time - fantastic. The second half carried on in much the same way. Ollie secured his hatrick and was replaced by the ever enthusiastic Danny Hunt, who went on to score the sixth. Josh Campling added a seventh and Jack Rose wrapped it up with an eighth. Very difficult to award a man of the match with so many great performances (well done the two Jacks for getting their first goals for the club) but Ollie just made it with his three goals. David Harris

U12s
Maidenbower 2-4 Albury Eagles
Following six straight defeats, the u12s season finally took off with this win in sight of Gatwick’s runway.
A nervous start by Eagles saw the Crawley side take the lead, before Eagles clawed their way back into the game with two Sam Kaye swoops to lead 1-2 at the break. Soon after half time, Will Hern comfortably headed a third direct from a corner to give us a nice cushion. Maidenbower then raised their game, eventually bundling the ball over the line in an amazing goalmouth scramble, to set up a tense finish. Sam Kaye ensured the win, and his first hat-trick for the club, with a splendid diagonal top corner strike from the edge of the area.
Commendable performances today too from Hugh Graves (sweeper), Lewis Upton (goal) and Jack Reddick (right midfield). Tony Hern

Matches played 4th December..

U8s
Tadworth Tigers L-L Albury Eagles
Albury Griffins 0-2 Brockham Reds
The Griffins poor home form returned. After dominating possession in the first half scores remained 0-0 at half time. Brockham's keeper grew in confidence as the game went on and despite having the lion's share of possession the Griffins only created one good chance when Joe Mapp's clever back heel created a good shooting opportunity which was blocked on the line. The Griffins worked hard throughout the match and are due a change in fortune. Player of the week Alex Connolly put in another robust performance but the second half continued in much the same vein with the Brockham keeper making a number of comfortable saves. Brockham were resolute in defence and broke away to score two quick goals in one on one breakaways with the Griffins defence caught upfield.
Trevor Stephens
U9s
Onslow FC 0-3 Albury Griffins
The Griffins beat Onslow away 3-0, playing our best football of the season with some very nice passing and a structure to the game. Chris Brookes scored 2 nice goals before half time and Phillip Smith scored a third in the dying minutes. One fantastic save from Laurie Owen towards the end of the match. Player of the week went to Tom Gill.

Albury Eagles 0-2 Brockham Blacks
Chances for both teams but Brockham were more consistent in their play and on balance deserved to win. Good peformances from Jack Childerstone in goal and Tom Cantoni in midfield.
John Duff

U10s
Tadworth Tigers 1-2 Albury Eagles
The Eagles came away from Tadworth with their second win of the season
courtesy of two first half goals from Ollie Harris and James Hern. Whilst
the team looked to be in control up until the interval with some neat
passing, tough tackling and impressive support play up front, they appeared
to run out of steam in the second half and Tadworth began to take control. A
spell of continued pressure from the home team finally saw them force in a
corner which came off either Ollie or James (neither are taking the credit !) but despite trying to grab an equaliser, the Eagles defence held firm for
a 2-1 victory. Man of the match went to Jack Madden who was very solid in
goal and pulled off some great saves in the second half when the team needed him. David Harris

AlburyGriffins 2-3 WaltonWarriors
Griffin U10’s were at home and took on high flying Walton Warriors. Walton started strongly and had a lot of early possession which paid of with 2 goals, leaving the Griffins down 2-0 at half time. In the second half Albury were a different side, with some solid defending and good passing again from James Connelly allowing us to break quickly. Daniel Cannon had taken several consecutive corners which finally lead to Joe Simpson scoring his first goal for the Griffins, this unsettled the visitors. After good pressure Henry Schoen had picked the ball up just inside their half and showed great control to run with the ball and slot it home. The well deserved point was robbed in the very last seconds as a Warriors short corner was blasted in giving them a 2 – 3 victory. Man of the match went to Henry Schoen. Mark Hurman

U12s
Albury Eagles 1-4 OckleyAcorns
This was always going to be a tough game for us, without recognised strikers, but a spirited Eagles did well to hold second in the table Ockley for so long, two late goals in the last quarter finally giving Ockley a rather flattering winning scoreline. Ockley scored early in the game, but Eagles deservedly equalised through Will Westcott, soon after the break. The defence was performing pretty soundly, with towering performances from especially Hugh Graves and Finlay Grogan (Man of the Match), and only midfield sloppiness cost us the game late on.
Play was held up for two minutes following Ockley’s third goal, whilst the ref and his assistant discussed the finer points of the offside rule!
Tony Hern

TOP CLUB SCORERS

From across the club, the leading scorers are:

Tristan Moses u8s 13
Matt Foster u8s 7
Ollie Harris u10s 7
Sam Kaye u12s 7
Fraser Millis u8s 7
Chris Caley u11s 6
Harry Good u10s 5
Harry Ford u8s 4
James Hern u10s 4
Oliver Scott u9s 4
Phillip Smith u9s 4

CHRISTMAS PARTY
An Open Invitation to all Eagles, Griffins and siblings..

Our annual Xmas Party will be held at Albury Village Hall, next Saturday afternoon, 18th December, between 3 and 5pm. There will be a disco, party games, and our very important visitor, Santa Claus, will be along to hand out presents.
RSVP to Tony, and would each child kindly bring a plate of party food with them. We will do the children’s soft drinks, whilst mulled wine and mince pies will be on tap for the grown ups.

CHRISTMAS BREAK
Last full training will be Sat 18th December, matches resume in the New Year for most sides on Sat 8th January 2005.
Have a great holiday!!

And on Christmas Eve, it’s
The Christingle Service...
At Albury ( St Peter and St Pauls)
Church at 4.00 on Christmas Eve.
(Please contact either Sarah Stevens on 01483 533881 or Cathy Garthwaite 01483 202546 if children would like to be in the service - readings, walk on parts, solos, musicians etc)
ALL WELCOME, THANKS, SARAH.

Next Year Event...
In the New Year, Eagles Quiz Night will take place on Saturday 15th January in the Drummond Arms, Albury. A sell out for the first two years, we can only take 60 entrants, 10 teams of six – so pledge your support to this fund raiser a.s.a.p to guarantee a plaice.
OK, no more fish jokes.

FOOTBALLERS WANTED
We have space in the squads for a few more children at u7 (school year 2), and there a couple of u10 spaces available.
Otherwise, Eagles and Griffins teams are running waiting list status, with club membership having rocketed to 128 in less than three years.

KEEPING UP TO DATE WITH EAGLES
Check out results and tables by logging onto:
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