ALBURY EAGLES Football Club

Albury Cricket and Football Club

Annual Dinner Dance

Albury Heath

Saturday 26^th April

Further details to follow

Another good result that keeps us at the top of the division. After a great start where Albury roared into a 2 – 0 lead after 9 minutes through goals from Chris Caley and Dan Kelly. The game then went a bit flat as Albury let Forest Row back into the match without the home side really threatening too much. This was a good clean game that had chances at both ends. Albury went into the break maintaining their 2 – 0 lead. In the second half Albury had many more chances and Dan Kelly scored two more goals to complete his hat trick. Ben Smith popped up to slot home a rebound from a corner to give Albury a 5 – 0 lead. Then with the last kick of the game Forest Row scored to make the final score 5 – 1 to Albury.

Scorers – Harry Good (4), Jack Wadsted (3), Own Goal, Henry Schoen, Steven Lake

Albury Eagles under 12s and top of the table Lingfield Youth were involved in a 1-1 draw in a league match which saw a pulsating encounter at the Heath on Saturday. In a high-tempo game, Albury took their chance early in the first half when Nathanael Farrant raced menacingly towards the danger area and tucked the ball low and to the keepers right to score for the Eagles. At the other end, Lingfield had their chances but keeper Laurie Owen made two or three diving saves to deflect away low shots from the Lingfield attack, allowing the Eagles to come off the pitch at half-time one goal up.
In the18th minute of the second half Albury's defence did well to keep out Lingfield but as a ball was charged out it fell to a Lingfield player who lifted the ball high and over the keepers head to level the score. Albury survived some anxious moments under pressure in the box but defender Colby Silver was on hand to clear the dangers and earned himself the man of the match award. Chances came and went for both teams as the game came to an end, with the best chance falling to Philip Smith for the Eagles but the Lingfield keeper managed to hang on to his shot and a draw seemed to be the fairest result for both sides on the day.

Woodmansterne Hyde 3 – 2 Albury Eagles
There was heartbreak for Eagles as a last-minute winner denied them a hard-fought point at Woodmansterne. With time appearing to be running out at the end of a suspiciously lengthy second half the home side finally converted one of the many chances they had created.
A close contest seemed to be highly unlikely when Woodmansterne took the lead after just two minutes, bringing back memories of the 6-0 drubbing Eagles had taken earlier in the season. But within three minutes Elliott Cozens’ skilful turn and shot had put the visitors level after William Potts fierce shot was only parried by the goalkeeper. With confidence growing and a greater determination flowing through the side, Eagles traded chances but fell behind five minutes before half time when Woodmansterne scored a breakaway goal.
In the second half it was Eagles’ turn to make the most of a breakaway. Put clean through Elliott Cozens kept his head and finished with a fine strike from the edge of the area. Although Woodmansterne dominated the remained of the match, a determined defensive display kept the home side at bay until that final minute.
Eagles remain rooted to the foot of the table but can take heart from an improved, determined and confident performance.
Mark Thrower

A hard fought result against a very good side today. We continue to maintain our good form and stay top of Division B. Drawing 2 – 2 at halftime after goals from Dan Kelly and Harvey Owen, the second half was a very tight affair. Albury had squandered many chances whereas Twin Oaks had taken their only two good chances. But Albury took the lead after a shot from Harvey Owen was fumbled by their goalkeeper into the net for Harvey’s second goal of the game. As Twin Oaks pressed to get back into the match a deflected clearance came off Jake Nurse for his first goal of the game and wrapped things up for Albury with a 4 – 2 scoreline.

Albury Eagles under 12s hosted the A league team Horsham YMCA at the Heath in the quarter final of the Frank Giess Memorial Cup this week. The Horsham team imposed themselves on the Albury side from the off, and turned early possession into a goal, but the Eagles soaked up the pressure and equalised the scoreline with a counter attack finished off by Christopher Brooks. Horsham continued to play their passing game and retook the lead, but Christopher Brooks again fully deserved his second goal of the day shortly before the break and this made for an entertaining second half.
Albury dictated the pace of the game in the second half and chances came and went, with the Horsham Keeper proving to be hard to beat. The Eagles own goal keeper Laurie Owen also pulled off a stunning save when the ball seemed to be goal bound , but he managed to superbly palm the ball away . By the end of normal time nether side were able to score a winning goal so the game went into extra time.
It was going to take a bit of magic to break the deadlock and after a goalless first half of extra time it was George Duff that showed he had the magic wand as he strode into the Horsham area to score with a low struck shot straight into the bottom left hand side of the goal. Horsham now seemed to tire a little which allowed Albury to increase their lead through Phil Smith with an unstoppable strike and then Tom Cantoni took Albury in to the Semi - finals of the cup with a penalty right at the end. This was a fantastic effort by all of the boys and although everyone showed a great spirit to get through this game it was Tom Gill who was awarded the man of the Match trophy for a fine defensive performance.
Neil Marshall

Match-day Refreshments

Did you know that you can now get a match-day refreshment at the pavilion?

The breakfast ladies are always looking for extra hands to share the work out.

Just bowl up and see what you can do to help.

It also generates some useful cash for the club!

Match Day Reporting

This newsletter keeps us all up to date with results and scorers. If your team does not feature here, it will be because nobody is filing a report.

Simply write a report and email it to Tony– a few lines is ample! – and it will be printed.

No input, no output. Ed.

Girls Football

I am getting one or two enquiries in per month from clubs wishing to play us with their girls’ sides. The trouble is, we don’t have our own girl’s side yet!

All it will take is for a group of seven girls to get together with a coach, and we are up and running.

Ladies, over to you then…………..

Situations Vacant

Your club committee is seeking a responsible parent to take on the role of Child Welfare Officer.

John Duff, our u12 manager, has handled this position for a number of years now, but would now like to pass on the baton. The position requires some paperwork, and the attendance of one or two meetings each year.

If interested, please contact Club Secretary, thank you.