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ALBURY
EAGLES
FOOTBALL
CLUB
NEWSLETTER
Issue No 57
3rd January 2007
www.alburyeagles.com
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL PLAYERS COACHES AND PARENTS AT
ALBURY EAGLES FC
Firstly, an immediate date
for your diary…….
Sat 13 January
7pm for 7.15pm start
Eagles Quiz Night
Drummond Arms, Albury
Teams of Six Persons
Always a Good Evening !!
Booking Essential
The warm and dry autumn finally gave way to really wet weather during November. The sandy Heath surface came into it's own as a beautiful drainer, with all matches proceeding as normal, although there was one iffy weekend, with standing water on a Friday lunchtime giving way to a dry and nicely playable top by Saturday 9.30.
However, Albury teams venturing onto the Sussex clay, especially for any matches scheduled in Horsham Park, found most of their games called off.
Our teams have had a great autumn, with plenty of exciting games and good touch-line support.
With the club about to celebrate it's 5th birthday, here is a spot check on team progress………….
The U13s are second in Div C of the Horsham League, nicely placed for promotion. They are also in the last 16 of the Plate Competition.
The U12s, promoted to the much tougher B Divison are now finding wins hard to come by, and prop the table up at Xmas.
The U11s have had an excellent autumn, leading their Div C of the Horsham whilst also being in the draw for the last 8 of the 'Heron Way Cup'.
The U10s are in a proving year, establishing seedings for 11 a side competition from next September in the Horsham League. A great start has been interspersed with some indifferent results latterly, but generally, expectations look very good at this stage.
The U9s are doing well in the Tadworth League, Eagles 3rd of 6 teams in Div A, whilst the Griffins are 2nd of 8 teams in Div B.
The U8s have the Eagles well placed at 3rd of 5 teams in Div A, whilst Griffins are 2nd of 6 sides in Div B.
Meanwhile at U7 and U6, hard work during training sessions has led to some very encouraging play in some keenly and sportingly contested friendlies.
On now to the scores and match reports since Mid November ...
Matches played on
18th November
U13s
18.11.06
Albury Eagles 2-1 Roffey Robins
Another hard fought result this week. We were up against Roffey Robins who were 2nd bottom in the league. We made really hard work of this match. Roffey scored first after a couple of minutes where indecision in our defence allowed one of their forwards to steal in and score. Dan Kelly equalised just before half time to make it 1-1. Roffey’s goalkeeper had a really good game keeping out shots from Keith Fagg, Dan Kelly, George Stephens and Harvey Owen. He was definitely their man of the match. In the second half, Albury huffed and puffed and missed chance after chance and their goalkeeper continued to pull off good saves. Then with only seconds to go, and the game looking like being a draw, a corner came across and after a melee in the penalty area the ball fell to Harvey Owen who smashed the ball home for the Albury winner. Well done to everyone.
John Caley
U12s
18.11.06
Horsham P-P Albury Eagles
U11s
18.11.06
Albury 6-0 Horsham
Nathaneal Farrant shot the Albury Eagles under 11's into an early second minute lead in this match, and then went on to add another, that enabled the Eagles to win this Horsham league game with some ease. A hat- trick from Christopher Brooks made sure that the Eagles under 11's team remain at the top of the league table, and with the help of a very strong all round performance by the whole of the Albury team, a result other than an Albury win always seemed unlikely.
Goalkeeper Laurie Owen, made a late save from a rare Horsham breakaway attack, to keep hold of another Eagles clean sheet and only a collection of goalkeeping saves and the woodwork stopped the scoreline being greater than it was. This did not stop George Blackbee adding to the scoreline though, with his first goal of the season towards the end of the game, which rounded off a good day for the Eagles. Neil Marshall
U10s
18.11.06
Albury Eagles 1-3 St. Martins Harry Collins
Albury Griffins 5 -3 St. Martins Harry Ford (2)
Adam Clarke (2)
Tom Cain
U9s
18.11.06
BrockhamBlue 0-3 AlburyEagles
Eagles swept aside the challenge of Brockham Blue to record their first win of the season and pull themselves away from the wrong end of the table.
With Pearce McCarron finding space on the right and John McCoughlan and William Potts looking threatening at the spearhead of the attack, Eagles quickly grew in confidence and began to create openings. Midway through the half the Brockham goalkeeper could only parry a fierce drive from William Potts and John McCoughlan turned in the rebound from a seemingly impossible angle. The lead was almost doubled when a dangerous cross from McCarron somehow eluded three Eagles players any of who could have scored.
Brockham began the second half with more purpose but made little impression on a midfield dominated by Elliott Cozens and a defence splendidly marshaled by Toby Gibbs. As one Brockham attack broke down Eagles broke with speed, McCoughlan putting Potts through to thump the ball past the hapless Brockham keeper for his first goal of the season. To put the icing on the cake, McCoughlan hammered home his second of the game and sixth of the season to send the travelling Albury fans away happy along the A25.
Eagles Man of the Match:
John McCoughlan
U9s
18.11.06
Mickleham 0 - 2 Albury Griffins
On a crisp morning at Box Hill School, Albury took on Mickleham. In a tense opening spell, Mickleham forced 2 corners before Tommo nearly opened the scoring on a break. Dan and Tommo combined on the left wing, but the goalie foiled Dan's attempt on goal. After a period of pressure, Sam turned in Tommo's corner to put Albury into a well deserved lead.
Mathew made a safe pair of hands and triggered a quick break with a huge kick but Louis was unable to control the ball.
Owen and Billy provided a solid platform at the back with Fred and Sam providing midfield strength. By the end of the first half, Albury were well on top with their coach proclaiming it was their best half of football ever.
The second half continued with Albury pressure and Sam forced 3 excellent saves in quick succession from the Mickleham goalkeeper. Mickleham took a corner that flashed across the goal as the balance of power shifted slightly half way through the second half.
Albury fought back with Millo, Billy and Dan forcing a corner from which they went close. Tommo scored Albury's second from a break away to give them a cushion.
When the final whistle went, Albury completed their second win of the season. Shaun O'Hanlon
Matches played on
Saturday 25th November
U13s
25.11.06
OldDorkinians 4-0 Albury Eagles
I'd just like to say thanks to everyone for your efforts in yesterday's match. The scoreline really flattered Dorking. In a game where we lost one of our strikers 1 ½ hours before kick-off through illness, and our captain at centre half after only 10mins through injury, we tried really hard. Dorking had 4 chances in the match and took them all. We had around 104 chances and didn’t take any of them. We hit the bar and post twice but just couldn’t haul ourselves back into the match. Dorking led 2-0 at halftime after 2 identical passes over the top of our defence led to 2 goals. We had Dorking in their own half for most of the 2nd half but failed to convert our chances. As we pushed forward we were caught on the break and after Zac Smith fouled a Dorking player in the penalty area, Dorking scored the resulting spot kick. Then right near the end we were caught again and Dorking wrapped up a 4-0 win. We are still joint top with Dorking but they have a better goal difference. We now are relying on them dropping points as we do not have a match until 6th January 07. Man of the Match was Noah Pendle-Chambers who played well in defence and also had some good shots on goal. John Caley
U12s
25.11.06
Albury Eagles 1-3 Storrington
Saturday had us play our old rivals Storrington Vipers. This was a completely different Albury side to that which had turn out for most matches so far this season. We played with passion, determination and a desire to win. All of this was rewarded with a great goal from Daniel Cannon. We kept the lead till half time; after the break Storrington came out all guns blazing and equalised in the first couple of minutes. This minor set back did not affect our game and we continued to battle and compete for every ball. Unfortunately and unjustly we conceded 2 goals in the last couple of minutes giving Storrington a flattering 3 - 1 victory. If Eagles play like this every week I can guarantee we will win the majority of our remaining games. I was very pleased and proud of this week's performance
MOM this week for a superb defensive performance was Ben Turner. Mark Hurman
U11s
25.11.06
Horsham Crusaders P-P Albury
U10s
25.11.06
St Pauls Panthers 3-1 Eagles
Oli Stephens
St Pauls Panthers 0 - 6 Griffins Tom Cain(3) Joe Mapp (2) Harry Collins
Saturday 2nd December
U11s
02.12.06
Copthorne P-P Albury Eagles
U10s
02.12.06
Eagles 0-1 St Pauls
Griffins 3-0 St Pauls
Joe Mapp, Adam Clarke, Matt Foster
U9s
02.12.06
Onslow v Griffins P-P
U8s
02.12.06
Holmbury 2-3 Albury Eagles
The Eagles had a hard fought 3-2 victory vs Holmbury and remain genuine title contenders. Goals from Michael Upfold, Jago Roberts and Henry Stevens were reinforced by a man of the match performance by Alfie Minto in defence.
All to play for once the league resumes in the new year.
U8s
02.12.06
Holmbury 1-3 Albury Griffins
The Griffins kicked off against Holmbury Wolves on yet another very sticky pitch and got the better of the earlier exchanges to exert early pressure. Will Melhuish added to his fine scoring record with a well-taken opener after five minutes and soon added another to settle the Griffins into a good first-half display. The teams traded goals just before half-time (the Griffins' effort a great long-range strike from Josh Van der Meulen) to take the game into the interval at 3-1.
In the second half, the Griffins had the slope and some spirited attacking from the Wolves to contend with but they kept their concentration to close out the game with their two-goal lead intact.
There were many contenders for Man of the Match but it went to David Hill for a great attacking centre-half display in the second half.
Saturday 9th December
U11s
09.12.06
Albury Eagles 2-1 Cranleigh
David Hearns's blistering right-foot shot set the Albury Eagles under 11's team up for a fine win following a two week-lay off, due to bad weather. Although going a goal down in the first half , the Eagles battled hard and were unlucky not to have equalised before the interval, with several chances coming back off the post from Tom Cantoni and Harvey Marshall.
A second half dominated by the Eagles and tactical changes made by manager John Duff were eventually rewarded when Christopher Brooks slotted home to add to his tally and enable the under 11's to maintain their position near the top of the table. With games in hand, the team's hopes for a return to the top of the table in 2007 look favourable.
Neil Marshall
U10s
09.12.06
Albury Eagles 2-1 Greenway
Oli Stephens (2)
U10s
Friendly
AlburyGriffins 2-1 ThamesDitton
Adam Clarke
Tom Cain
U9s
09.12.06
AlburyGriffins 2-1 PrioryPanthrs
No report
Saturday 16th December
U12s
16.12.06
AlburyEagles 0- 2 EastGrinstead
Eagles played 2nd in the league on Saturday and produced a great performance. The defence were again very solid but did concede an early goal, but after this they raised their game and battled out an even first half. In the second half we applied more pressure and hit the post and crossbar but could not get that important equalising goal. Later on in the second half, they had a long range effort which sneaked over William in goal. The result finished 0-2. MOM Harry Good. Mark Hurman
U11s
16.12.06
East Grinstead 0-5 AlburyEagles
A cold and wet Saturday morning, didn't dampen the Albury Eagles under 11 team's challenge for the Horsham and District league title. On a heavy and in places waterlogged pitch the Eagles saw off this game early in the first half with two well taken goals from Philip Smith and great wing play from Jack Childerstone, who was later rewarded for his efforts with a goal for himself.
Nathanael Farrant added another to the total, and stealing in to the penalty area and reacting faster than any of the defence, Bayley Nicholson netted his first goal of the season with a low and powerful shot beating the keeper at the near post. Good performances from Colby Silver and a luckless Christopher Brooks, who struck the post and cross bar, could have made this score line greater, but this win will see the Eagles at the top of the league over the Christmas period and hopefully into the New Year.
Neil Marshall
U10s
16.12.06
HorshamCrusaders v Albury
Games were postponed due to a waterlogged pitch
U9s
16.12.06
Onslow 2-1 Albury Griffins
No report
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALBURY TEAMS
Check out the website and keep up to date with all the games and scores by clicking on the links in ‘Match Info’
PITCH CARE
On Saturday mornings, it would be a great help if assembled parents could help to ensure that the pitch surface is safe for play by flattening/filling any bunny holes that occur overnight. Please put a garden fork in the boot of the car.
SAMBA GOALS
We now have ten portable plastic 12ft x 6ft ‘Samba’ goals, but we need to ensure that they are in good working order.
Can those that use them please
report back to me with any
requirements for replacement
struts, goal nets, clips etc.
Thanks.
Editor - Tony Hern
01483 202936 07891 480343
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