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FC Abbey Meads (Home - 7th September 2008). Here we go again. Started game quite brightly but were not able to break down a battling side with long range efforts from EVANS and EDWARDS. To be fair their keeper was playing well until about 20 minutes in when EDWARDS scored from inside the box 1-0. ABBEY MEADS then had a chance which MILLER somehow clawed off the line (or did he?). Half time 1-0. Second half was one way traffic with the new lads EVANS, HAYDEN and VINCENT working well. Then with about 15 minutes left a good move by HAYDEN and BERRY was finished off by EDWARDS 2-0. Game over. Final score 2-0 “GOOD START BY THE BOYS”
STRATTON ' A' (Away 14th September 2008). A frantic first 10 minutes saw STRATTON take the lead with a good finish. 0-1. A very even fist half was finished off with BERRY scoring from close. HALF TIME 1-1. The second half was a real battle with every boy working hard against a big physical side. About 15 minutes in EDWARDS slotted home after some great work from SIMMO. 2-1. Soon after BERRY made it 3-1 from then on there was only one winner we then got a penalty which was calmly put away by (the flying winger) CATON-GARRETT 4-1. STRATTON then resorted to long range stuff which aided by the post never troubled MILLERS goal FINAL SCORE 4-1 “EXCELLENT - EXCELLENT”
SHAW A (Home - 17th September 2008). Not much of a report as I was at work and not at the game. First half we went 1-0 up with a goal by FEDAI. Went on to miss numerous chances. EVANS made a great goal line clearance with his head (it was his hand, the only person not to see it was ref ) half time 1-0. Second half was much the same as the first, only adding one goal by EVANS final score 2-0 “ANOTHER THREE POINTS WELL DONE”
WICKHAM (Away 21st September 2008). Very even start to the game with few chances(A REAL BATTLE) Highworth missed one chance from close in. Then a bit of nothing in Highworth’s penalty area ended with WICKHAM going 1-0 up. How would we react - well they fought even harder going in at half time 0-1 down. The second half was better football with Highworth getting their reward from close in by VINCENT 1-1. From then on Wickham looked shaky at the back, Highworth looked more like getting the winner . Final score 1-1.
1-1 AWAY against THE LEAGUE and CUP HOLDERS IS A GREAT TEAM EFFORT. FOR THAT REASON I AM NOT PICKING OUT ANY SINGLE PERSON. GREAT WORK BY ALL BUT BEWARE EVERYONE WILL NOW TRY TO RAISE THEIR GAME AGAINST US
Swindon Soccer Skills (Away 12th October 2008 (League Cup)) We took the lead after just 5minutes with a long range shot from EVANS “goal” 1-0. Then 6 minutes later it was 2-0 with KINSEY finishing a good move. Another 15 minutes saw EVANS score with his backside ? 3-0. VINCENT made it 4-0 straight from a corner. After 20 minutes SIMMO scored from a corner 5-0. Despite numerous chances to add to the score, HALF-TIME 5-0. The second half was the same with SOCCER SKILLS making no attempt to get out of their half in fact MILLER only touched the ball twice in the whole game. 47 minutes SIMMO scored with a nice volley 6-0. BERRY made it 7-0 after a good move. EVANS finishing a good move making it 8-0. EVANS again heading in 9-0. Finally FEDAI firing in to the roof of the net 10-0. FINAL SCORE 10-0 THIS WAS JUST A GAME TO SHAKE OF THE COBWEBS IT WAS NEVER A CONTEST WE WILL HAVE TO BE SHARPER NEXT GAME AGAINST LIDEN IN THE LEAGUE, BUT WELL DONE YOU CAN ONLY BEAT WHAT IS PUT IN FRONT OF YOU
Liden (Away 19th October 2008) In a hard fought first half not too many chances were created EDWARDS and EVANS had long range efforts saved. Despite being on top we tended not to get the ball in the box early enough. With two minutes left in the first half BERRY beat his marker and cracked home a great shot into the top corner (I think he thought it was going over) HALF-TIME 1-0 .Second half was strange as we didn’t play as much football but created more chances. Ten minutes in to the second half EVANS knocked a great ball for BERRY to run on to and score coolly 2-0. Then a number of chances EVANS hit the bar ,TYLER hit just over from long range ,FEDAI and VINCENT missed. With about 15 minutes left MILLER finally had to make a save which was only bit of a scramble, this shows how well TYLER had marked the normally free-scoring LIDEN centre forward. Then from a corner TYLER headed in 3-0
FINAL SCORE 3-0
AFTER AN EASY GAME LAST WEEK THIS WAS A GOOD WIN , WELL DONE ALL OF THE BOYS ..........NEXT UP WOOTTON BASSETT
WOOTTON BASSETT (Home 26th October 2008) Within the first 10 minutes Bassett took the lead when a player was left unmarked to head in from corner. We were soon level after some great work from EDWARDS who crossed in for BERRY to flick in 1-1. The game evened out a bit, MILLER making a couple of good stops. EVANS going close and VINCENT almost getting on the end of a good BERRY cross. The same BASSETT player was left unmarked again to put them in front again 1-2. Again Highworth fought back with BERRY hitting the post. From a free kick MILLER made an outstanding stop only for BASSETT to follow it in while the defence stood watching to make it 1-3. HALF-TIME 1-3. Second half was dominated by a midfield battle MILLER again made a great stop from another free kick. The ball unfortunately hit FEDAI on the back when we were clean through (this wasn’t gonna be our day) FINAL SCORE 1-3
WE PLAYED BETTER THAN THE SCORE LINE SUGGESTS, ONLY POOR MARKING ON THREE OCCASIONS WAS OUR DOWN FALL I ONLY HOPE WE LEARN FROM THIS....... KEEP YOUR HEADS UP AND GO AGAIN
Stratton Juniors B (Away 2nd November 2008) Nearly firework night but no fireworks in this game. In a poor first half EDWARDS made it 1-0. SIMPSON added another 2-0. HALF TIME 2-0. (I hope the second half is better) IT WASN’T...... SLINN scored 3-0. STRATTON scored with about 15 minutes left. In MILLERS defence I think he had been bored and frozen to sleep. Then finally FEDAI SCORED 4-1. FINAL SCORE 4-1
I GIVE PRAISE WHEN ITS DUE..... NOT THIS WEEK ..... POOREST GAME TO DATE GOOD JOB IT WAS AGAINST BOTTOM OF LEAGUE SIDE - MUST IMPROVE ON EFFORT AND PASSING. REMEMBER YOU CANNOT JUST TURN UP TO WIN GAME
Wroughton (Home 9th November 2008) For 20 minutes it was a good battle with MILLER pulling off some good saves. WROUGHTON having the upper hand aided by the indecisive referee. Wroughton went 1-0 up after some tame defending. Just on half time Wroughton went 2-0 up, again MILLER stopped the first shot but only a Wroughton player responded. Ten minutes into the second half BERRY headed in from a corner 2-1. Game on. The referee signalled a goal but then couldn’t make his mind up and disallowed it. For what I don’t know!! He didn’t know. So still 2-0. From a free header 3-0. Then after a clear hand ball in the box (which went unpunished ???) EDWARDS scored the penalty 3-1 Wroughton made it 4-1. EDWARDS missed from 5 yards. Wroughton went up the other end to score 5-1. After another fine save 6-1 FINAL SCORE 1-6
A STRANGE GAME IN WHICH WE GOT PUNISHED FOR EVERY MISTAKE,
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ....IF WE REPEAT THIS PERFORMANCE NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE IN TROUBLE
Ferndale (Away 15th November 2008) Started off ok. For 20 minutes we were the better team and the home fans were becoming frustrated. After a defensive mix up their striker slotted home when one on one with MILLER (it was a nice finish ) 0-1. It stayed that way until half time. Second half started evenly after 10 minutes I thought ''time for a change''. Just as I walked around to sort out the substitution another mistake 0-2, plan 'B' went out the window. To be honest the remainder of game was a blur we conceded 2 more one of these an own goal.
FINAL SCORE 0-4
DISAPPOINTING AS WE COULD HAVE GONE SECOND HAD WE WON
NEED TO PICK OURSELVES UP, SHOW SOME CHARACTER, WANT IT MORE
AH WELL , NEXT UP STRATTON YOUTH AND THEY ARE NO PUSHOVER
Highworth Town Junior J (Home 14th December 2008) LOCAL DERBY (how local can it get) As normal a good start to the game. But this time with some end product. After 10 minutes SIMMO made it 1-0 with an overhead kick (bit flash). We continued with some very nice PASSING football and got our reward with EVANS heading in making it 2-0. The good football continued until half time only one team in it. HALF TIME 2-0. OH WHY DID WE HAVE TO STOP FOR HALF TIME because for the first 10 minutes in the second half we were off the boil. GONE TO SLEEP? After MILLER made a good save we woke up again and started passing it about SIMMO and SLINN both just missing. Even the '' FLYING-WINGER'' BRAD was making runs to the by-line and getting crosses in? SIMMO made it 3-0 with a good finish. Within 2 minutes FEDAI made it 4-0 with a nice chip. Last chance fell to them with MILLER pulling off a good stop. FINAL SCORE 4-0
BETTER FOOTBALL TODAY MUCH BETTER TO WATCH ....SAME AGAIN PLEASE
Highworth Town Junior J (Away 21st December 2008) (Away local derby part 2) The first half had few chances VINCENT, SIMPSON and FEDAI all went close. We restricted the home team to only one chance, at half time it remained 0-0. Within a minute of the restart a nice through ball by BERRY was fired in by SIMPSON 1-0 (INSPIRED SUBSTITUTION OR JUST PLAIN LUCK). Within the next 10 minutes BERRY then put EVANS through, his shot was well saved but SLINN was on hand to make it 2-0 from close in. Credit to the home side who never gave in, but EVANS fired in a 25 yarder 3-0, their keeper then saved from EVANS, VINCENT, FEDAI, BERRY and SIMPSON before VINCENT made it 4-0 after some nice work from FEDAI. FINAL SCORE 4-0
CREDIT TO THE DEFENCE 2 CLEAN SHEETS ON THE TROT ,WHICH IS NICE TO SEE
CREDIT TO EVERYONE BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DOWN TO THE BEAR BONES AND SOME BOYS HAVE BATTLED ON WHEN CLEARLY NOT FEELING 100% THANKS TO THEM. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD XMAS DON’T EAT TOO MUCH
Stratton Youth (Away 18th December 2009) League Cup. Game started quite even with FEDAI and MISTRY doing some nice work down the left, not too many chances to speak of for either side. BERRY had a chip saved and TYLER had a header saved off the line. HALF TIME 0-0
Second half much the same (even with the slightly one sided ref giving free kicks for anything). STRATTON took the lead with about 15 minutes to go. We tried to reply had two efforts cleared off the line, one from EVANS which somehow the two strikers could not get on the end of. A couple of shots saved. FINAL SCORE 0-1
FIRST GAME FOR A MONTH SOME PLAYERS CLEARLY NOT UP TO MATCH FITNESS
AFTER THE FESTIVE PERIOD BUT OVERALL DEFEAT NOT DOWN TO LACK OF EFFORT AND IN THE FIRST HALF SOME NICE FOOTBALL DOWN THE LEFT
Liden FC (Home 25th January 2009). We started brightly with SLINN , FEDAI and BERRY linking up on a number of occasions but not quite getting the final ball right. With EVANS dominating in midfield deservedly scoring the first goal on twenty minutes with a nice shot that went in off the bar 1-0. We continued to keep pushing but at half time it remained 1-0.
The second half was just the same in fact for the whole game LIDEN only had one shot! There was some good approach play but the final ball was missing. After 10 minutes the ball fell on the edge of the box to SLINN who wacked it into the top corner 2-0. Within 5 minutes BODMAN headed in from a corner 3-0. Despite coming close on a few occasions the final score stayed at 3-0.
A GOOD WIN. PLAYED WELL ALTHOUGH THE TEAM, SHOULD HAVE WON BY MORE
ON ANOTHER DAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN 5 OR 6 ....WELL DONE.
Shaw FC (Away 15th February 2009 Played at Highworth - pitch problems.) Rather a slow start to the game with nothing much happening. 10 minutes from half time in one attack FEDAI, SLINN and HAYDEN all nearly scored. HALFTIME 0-0. Second half was totally different with HIGHWORTH going all out attack. FEDAI, VINCENT, BERRY and SLINN all going close. From a fine delivered corner from VINCENT, EVANS headed in 1-0. A couple of minutes later from another corner EVAN’S headed in again (oh it didn’t go in because the defender stopped it with his hand). Everyone but the referee saw this, the defender even ran off laughing, oh well.
SHAW broke away with MILLER pulling off a fine stop. Then after a mistake SHAW made it 1-1. EVAN’S, FEDAI, BERRY, HAYDEN, SLINN, and VINCENT all had efforts saved, that’s only the attempts I can remember. SHAW broke again from the onslaught only for MILLER to save well again. The one way traffic carried on with SHAW’S keeper keeping the score even. FINAL SCORE 1-1
SHAME ABOUT THE RESULT , SHOULD HAVE WON , BAGS OF EFFORT, AND I FOR ONE REALLY ENJOYED WATCHING IT
Pewsham (Away 22nd February 2009) Started quite confidently taking the lead through EVANS heading in from a corner 1-0. Despite having the better of the play conceded 1-1 (bad marking). Our defending at times leaves a lot to be desired. HALF TIME 1-1. Despite the home team fancying themselves going down the slope it was not going to be their day. 10 minutes into the second half EVAN’S hit in an indirect free kick 2-1. After a good MILLER stop BRAZIER fed VINCENT who finished well. 3-1. With seconds left EVAN’S got his hat-trick with another header off a well hit corner from VINCENT. 4-1. Final score 4-1
GOOD FINAL RESULT BUT WE MUST LEARN TO MARK CLOSER BECAUSE WE WON’T GET OFF SO LIGHTLY AGAINST BETTER SIDES - BUT WELL DONE
Wickham (Home 1st March 2009) A frantic first half with everyone battling hard with both sides struggling to create any openings WICKHAM BROKE THE DEADLOCK one minute before half time 0-1. The second half started more brightly for Highworth and for 10 minutes I could see us getting back into the game. A EVANS lob went over the keeper and seemed to go in and out the net GOAL - No ( I still think it was). Just to rub salt in the wound Wickham then made it 2-0. The boys heads never dropped even when they made it 3-0 with one of their players holding down MILLER so he couldn’t move. FINAL SCORE 0-3 CANNOT FAULT THE EFFORT FROM THE BOYS WILL NEED THE SAME AT LEAST NEXT WEEK BUT WITH A LITTLE MORE QUALITY WHEN IN POSSESSION
Wootton Bassett (Away 8th March 2009) On a boggy puddle filled pitch we started off well putting pressure on the home team. We were the better side for 20 minutes, then out of the blue BASSETT took the lead 1-0. No heads dropped, HIGHWORTH battled on within 10 minutes SIMPSON dummied the keeper and slotted home 1-1. The remainder of the half was a midfield battle. The second half was always going to be a battle with the wind picking up, making it hard to clear our lines. 15 minutes had gone it was hard to see where either side was going to score from. From a corner aided by the wind the ball HIT a BASSETT player and went in 2-1. The game became more stretched and BASSETT completed the scoring 3-1 this was not a true reflection on the game. Final score 3-1
EVERYONE BATTLED HARD AND THE SCORELINE FLATTERED BASSETT THERE WASNT THAT MUCH IN IT THE BOYS WORKED HARD IN DREADFUL CONDITIONS.
WROUGHTON (Away 22nd March 2009) The first half started even for the opening 10 minutes with neither side creating much, then WROUGHTON took the lead 0-1. That was it, heads seemed to drop the remainder of the half. HIGHWORTH went through the motions conceding two more goals. HALF TIME 0-3. After being asked to show a bit of character at half time there was a marked improvement all round with SIMMO playing at sweeper putting in a class second half. BERRY had a good effort go over and had a goal disallowed by the linesman for off-side (ha, ha, ha). From a corner MILLER was pushed into the post FREE- KICK... ? No!! - GOAL!!! 0-4. To rub salt into the wounds they made it 5-0 with a couple of minutes left FINAL SCORE 0-5
MORE EFFORT IN THE SECOND HALF WHICH SHOWED CHARACTER , BUT THE FIRST HALF WAS AWEFULL, NO EFFORT , NO WILL TO WIN , JUST WENT THRU THE MOTIONS BARE IN MIND THEY BEAT PEWSHAM 3-0 THE DAY BEFORE SHOWS WHAT A PERFORMANCE WE PUT IN , GOOD JOB WEVE ONLY GOT FERNDALE NEXT ..... HELP
Ferndale (Home 29th March 2009) As expected playing with 10 players Ferndale started on top and took the lead after 10 minutes 0-1. We could have folded then but slowly got a grip on the game and within 5 minutes SIMMO headed in from a corner 1-1. Soon after we just missed from another corner, Ferndale went down the other end and scored 1-2. Still the heads didn’t drop. SIMMO had a great free kick saved before EVANS SCORED from close in 2-2. In a manic last 5 minutes of the half BERRY had 2 good efforts saved and SLINN went close. HALF TIME 2-2. Injuries forced even more positional changes but we seemed to become even stronger with SLINN, FEDAI, BERRY and HAYDEN playing well in midfield and MILLER, MISTRY, SIMMO, EVANS, and BRAZIER staying solid at the back with CATON- GARRETT scaring the hell out of them up front (with a bad leg). EVANS went close, SLINN went close and CATON- GARRETT just missed. FERNDALE tried to change putting 3 up front but that didn’t work if anyone was going to win HIGHWORTH looked more likely to but FINAL SCORE 2-2
PAT ON THE BACK TO ALL THE BOYS BEST PERFORMANCE THIS SEASON CANNOT PRAISE THEM ENOUGH......WHY CANT YOU DO THIS EVERY WEEK, FERNDALE MANAGER EVEN SAID '' WE ROBBED YOU ''
Stratton Youth (Away 9th April 2009 played at Highworth) The first 5 minutes STRATTON looked quite lively but soon after FEDAI put KINSEY through with a fine ball which was well saved. Then with BERRY and HAYDEN working their socks off in the centre HIGHWORTH took control. From long CATON- GARRETT throw KINSEY hit home 1-0 , any STRATTON threat was stopped by good defending and it was no surprise to go in at half time 1 nil up. The second half was much the same with HIGHWORTH always a threat from set plays. From one of these BERRY headed in 2-0, BODMAN made a great goal-line clearance and any other chance was dealt with by MILLER. In the end a well deserved 2-0 win.
ANOTHER BATTLING PERFORMANCE WELL DONE TO EVERYONE KEEP IT UP. IT MAKES ME WONDER ....... WHAT IF WE HAD BATTLED AS HARD EVERY GAME .... WELL DONE ANYWAY
Stratton Youth (Home 19th April 2009) Started quite poorly with MILLER having to save us within the first minute. After 3 minutes we went 1-0 down, but we slowly made our way back into the game, FEDAI went close then after 20 minutes HAYDEN scored from 25 yrds with a good shot 1-1. Not much went on in an even first half. HALF TIME 1-1. HIGHWORTH started the 2nd half brightly with SLINN, BERRY and FEDAI all going close. From a long goal kick Stratton scored 1-2. We continued to press and create and from HAYDENS shot pass ? BERRY smartly headed in 2-2. With HIGHWORTH pressing FEDAI fed in SLINN who fired in off the post 3-2. in the last 5 minutes of the game KINSEY and SLINN went close to adding to the score but game ended 3-2
ANOTHER GOOD WIN , SHOWING GOOD CHARACTER AND WILLINGNESS TO WORK HARD , BUT AT THE SAME TIME SOME GOOD FOOTBALL AT TIMES
Pewsham (Home 26th April 2009) Had our usual slow start but after 10 minutes woke up with EVANS, KINSEY, BERRY and FEDAI going close then from a KINSEY cross BERRY scored from close in 1-0. Within 10 minutes SLINN made it two with a good header, 2-0 at half time. The second half was almost one way traffic with TYLER, BERRY, KINSEY, SLINN, EVANS and HAYDEN all going close. EVANS made it 3-0 with a good strike. The only other action was a brilliant header off the line by BODMAN. Final score 3-0.
EVERYONE PLAYED THEIR PART IN A GOOD SOLID DISPLAY. EVEN IF BIASED I THINK WE LOOKED A VERY GOOD SIDE ALL OVER THE PITCH WELL DONE LADS
Abbey Meads (Away 29th April 2009) On a very big pitch both teams struggled to find rhythm but HIGHWORTH created the first chances with' BOCA' CATON -GARRETT going close. FEDAI stuck twice, but finally KINSEY scored 1-0. Soon after 'BOCA' made it two with a good strike. HALF TIME 2-0. The second half was much the same with TYLER going close (a few times) before firing in the third 3-0. To be fair TYLER’S pace was scaring the hell out of them on the big pitch. From a nice through ball BERRY made it 4-0 after which TYLER had a couple more chances. It finished 4-0
A GAME WHICH WAS WON EASILY , BUT I THINK THE SUBSTITUTIONS INTERRUPTED IT TOO MUCH
Stratton A (Home 3rd May 2009) In a rugged battle for 20 minutes neither team could create much. Twice STRATTON went close as did HIGHWORTH. A few minutes from half time STRATTON took the lead 0-1 a bit out of the blue, half time 0-1. The second half was almost the same until EVAN’S sent TYLER through he lobbed the keeper 1-1. EVAN’S went close twice from 'BOCAS' long throws. The STRATTON foward just got to a through ball a split second before MILLER to make it 1-2. With only 5 minutes left that must be it? NO. A smart one two saw BERRY send TYLER through to fire in 2-2. KINSEY fired just wide. 2-2 was the final score which meant HIGHWORTH had broken into the top 5
TO BREAK INTO THE TOP FIVE MEANS WE HAVE MOVED ON FROM LAST SEASON AND I THINK WE CAN PUSH FOR HONOUR NEXT SEASON AS I’VE STATED RECENTLY WE FINALLY LOOK LIKE A TEAM SOLID. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SHOWN CHARACTER AND COME FROM BEHIND LATELY WELL DONE LADS ..... EVERY ONE OF YOU
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