ALBURY EAGLES Football Club

Semi Finals Weekend

Saturday 8^th March 2008

Albury Heath sees two Horsham League Cup

Semi-Finals this coming Saturday

Our U14s and U12s teams are both drawn at home, and both to teams from Hurstpierpoint.

Come and give them your valuable support!!

Albury Cricket and Football Club

Annual Dinner Dance

Albury Heath

Saturday 26^th April 2008

The annual get together for the whole club.

Tickets are £22.50 per head. It would be really great if we could get together one table of 10 per each Eagles age group – that’s eight tables sorted then?!

Albury Eagles Fun Day

Sunday 22nd June 2008

Albury Heath

Noon til 4pm

Tournament play for all members

Barbecue, Bar, Ice Cream

Yesterdays result was a very satisfying hard fought draw. With only 11 players available, it looked an uphill task for Albury against a very good third placed Twin Oaks side. Albury’s top goal scorer Dan Kelly was missing due to a twisted knee, so the goals had to come from other parts of the team. With a gale-force wind blowing all through the game conditions were difficult for both teams. Albury were caught cold straight from the kick-off as Twin Oaks took the lead on their home ground where they haven’t lost all season. Albury could not get out of their half in the first half as the strong wind kept the ball pinned in their half of the field. Apart from a couple of breakaway chances which Harvey Owen couldn’t take, both teams basically cancelled each other out. Into the second half and Albury now playing with the wind pushed forward and kept Twin Oaks pinned in their own half. Half way through the second half Albury got their reward when Harvey Owen was put through to fire past the keeper for the equaliser. Both teams had a few more chances but the game finished 1 – 1. It was a fair result. Albury will be the happier as Twin Oaks needed the win to try and over haul Albury’s lead at the top of the league.

The Albury Eagles under 12s side knew that three points from this game would guarantee promotion for them into the A division of the Horsham and district youth league and become the first age group to do this in Albury Eagles Football club history !

With an emphatically superior goal difference to their third placed rivals, the Albury team were feeling confident of victory although they had been defeated in their last game to end hopes of another league title. It was important that the side remained focussed for the whole match but from the kick off, Albury failed to concentrate and let in an early goal..
The game restarted after a nervous beginning, but Albury gained possession and always looking dangerous on the break, levelling the score and taking the lead with goals from Nathanael Farrant and Christopher Brooks. Nerves returned slightly after Royal equalised but Philip Smith was on hand to regain the lead for Albury just before half time.
In the second half, Albury' s defence grew more assured as they dealt with all that Royal could throw at them. Colby Silver and George Duff were supreme at it's heart and slowly the Eagles confidence began to grow. Decisive goals from Christopher Brooks added two more goals to the scoreline and although Royal came back with another goal and a late penalty, Christopher added one more to make it four goals for him on the day and gain himself the man of the match award and to seal victory for the visitors. The final whistle went to the relief and jubilation of the Albury faithful, and the team went home to celebrate their promotion to their age groups ' premiere ' league !.
Another great season for the whole of the under 12s squad who should be congratulated on a fine achievement and their dedication to playing the game.

Eagles lifted themselves off the foot of the table thanks to a somewhat fortunate own goal midway through the second half but a slice of luck was only what Eagles deserved for a determined and resolute performance.
The two previous meetings between the two teams had been close encounters and the first half demonstrated there was little to choose between the teams. Eagles shaded the opening minutes, playing some neat football. Ned Hussey went close after five minutes while the impressive Pearce McCarron, who caused problems on the left flank the entire game, had a superb shot from the edge of the area tipped over the bar.
The second half was more open as both sides went for the win. Eagles were pushed back but the defensive line of Toby Gibbs and Owen Bracey held firm and keeper Alex Thrower made two point-blank saves to keep the home side in the game. As Panthers pushed forward Eagles found space behind the visitors’ defence with leading scorer Elliott Cozens thwarted twice by an impressive performance from the Panthers keeper.
But from a free kick on the edge of the area Cozens’ fierce drive was turned past the keeper by a Panthers defender. A tense final few minutes saw Eagles defence hold firm and three vital points were secured.

Once again a much improved performance from the Lions against decent opponents who beat them 3-0 earlier in the season. In tricky windy conditions the boys fought hard at the back and showed plenty of creativity going forward. David tackled well in defence, winning the ball time after time, with Harry making a number of searching runs down the wings. Sam Moldon, despite being less than 100% fit, scored a superb second goal with a surging run through the defence and a powerful shot. This after his sheer persistence had caused an error in the Hearts defence which gave Thomas an easy tap in for the first.

Oscar played in goal throughout, again looking solid and making a number of good saves - not least where he dived to take the ball at the feet of the oncoming forward coming out with a firm grip on both the ball, and the opponents right foot!

Man of the Match was William. Despite having to play at the back for much of the game (not his favourite position!) he always looked in control against the Hearts attack, and when he did come forward towards the end of the game, he nearly snatched a late goal as he met a swirling cross at the far post.

A lack of substitutes meant the boys tired a little towards the end which permitted Hearts to snatch the points with a winner in the last couple of minutes.

Albury managed to pick up the 3 points after a very hard fought win over Southwater. Albury went 1 – 0 down as Southwater played a very good counter attacking game which caught Albury on the hop. Albury got a corner straight after Southwater had taken the lead and it was

the partnership of Chris Caley’s corner and a Dan Kelly header which worked like the Cup match last week to bring the sides level. Southwater came straight back again on the counter to make it 2 – 1. Then Southwater made it 3 – 1 after converting a penalty. Albury came back again with 2 goals from Dan Kelly completing his hat-trick to make the half time score 3 – 3. The second half saw chances squandered at both ends before Albury took the lead with the move of the match. The ball broke out of Albury’s defence and Harvey Owen played a few intricate passes with Chris Caley; then the ball was threaded through to Dan Kelly who overpowered 2 defenders and hit an unstoppable shot into the net to make it 4 – 3 to Albury. As the final whistle drew close Southwater had a few good chances to equalise but Ben Walter in the Albury goal made a few outstanding saves to make sure Albury secured the win.

Eagles remain rooted to the foot of the table after this reverse at the feet of Holmbury Red on a skating rink of a pitch at Westcott.
Despite the scoreline, this was one of Eagles’ better performances of the season, characterised by some slick passing and striking the woodwork twice. But this is a team short on confidence at the moment and once top-of-the-table Holmbury had taken the lead after 12 minutes, Albury wilted. Six minutes later Holmbury had raced into a 3-0 lead and there was no way back.
But a goal early in the second half raised Eagles’ spirits. Pearce McCarron ran onto a pass from Eliott Cozens and reduced the deficit. Although Holmbury restored their three-goal cushion a few minutes later Eagles continued to push forward. A smart passing move from inside their own half was crowned by a delightful touch from William Potts that again put Pearce McCarron through only for his shot to come back off the post. Minutes later a 20-yard volley from Ned Hussey was tipped onto the bar by the Holmbury keeper.

The game as expected was a very tight affair and as predicted there was only going to be one goal in it. Cranleigh took the lead midway through the first half. Albury replied through a towering Dan Kelly header from a Chris Caley corner. Cranleigh squandered many chances and so did Albury. Into the second half and Albury had a header cleared off the line from another good Chris Caley corner. As both sides couldn’t take full control and continued to miss chances, it became a very open end to end type of game. Full time came with the deadlock not broken, so on we went into extra time. Chances were still had by both teams without a goal. Then just with 30 seconds left on the clock as I was thinking of my 5 penalty takers, the ball was played to Dan Kelly who jinxed past 4 Cranleigh players and hit a shot into the net for the winning goal. Well done to everyone.

Albury Eagles under 12's saw their chances of becoming league champions for the second year running disappear with a defeat by Storrington Vipers. Having had the best of the first half, Albury were only able to convert one of their many attempts into a goal when Nathanael Farrant broke through the Storrington defence to score.

The home team levelled the scoreline early in the second half and then rocked Albury with a second goal which the Eagles were unable to recover from. This was a very disappointing result, particularly after a very strong start to the season, but this being only their fifth defeat in all competitions in two years is a remarkable achievement for the under 12's team.

Relief at a point picked up tinged with disappointment at two points that got away after a highly entertaining game at the Heath. After racing into a 3-1 half-time advantage Eagles dozed off in the opening minutes of the second half and paid the penalty.
Usually slow starters, Eagles were quick out of the blocks for once and after just two minutes Sam Hoyland drove home from the edge of the area. Tigers rallied strongly and after a spell of pressure grabbed an equalizer. Within two minutes Hoyland had restored Eagles’ lead with a close-range effort.
In full flow now, Eagles strung together several flowing moves. From one, William Potts broke through the Hearts defence, unselfishly put in Elliott Cozens who finished confidently.
Whatever was said to the Tigers at half time did the trick as they tore into the Eagles in the second half. A defensive mix up allowed a speculative long-range effort to get Tigers back into the match soon after the re-start. Two minutes later a thumping header direct from a corner and Tigers were back on level terms. With the momentum going the way of the Tigers, Eagles woke from their slumber and traded chances, Owen Bracey going closest with a long-range effort that brushed the crossbar.
Mark Thrower

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.

have your say on the future of grassroots football in Surrey with a Top-name Guest Presenter

Surrey County FA is inviting everyone involved in grassroots football in Surrey to come and share their views on how football in Surrey should be developed & governed over the next 4 years up to 2012.

if you have some opinions and views on how you would like to see the game developed and you are a referee, a club secretary, a manager, a player, a coach, a league official or a volunteer involved in the grassroots game then please come and tell us at the following event:

NEWSLETTER