Back in the high life again...

Oh yes... its back to the rituals of the weekends. Lots to catch up on from the summer break.


Firstly a bit of closure on a subjest from way back. Cast your mind back to January & the clash between AVFC U16's & Aylesbury Town (posted 8th Jan). Dean Broomhead, who suffered an horrific injury in the match, is now back on the pitch & played approx 55 minutes for Aylesbury Town last weekend.

I also had a free opportunity to catch up with the Aylesbury Vale 1st team game on Saturday. An FA Cup qualifying round against Downton, which the home team took 2-0 (Full match details via the AVFC link). Draw for the next round is to be announced later today.
Being back at the club also gave me an opportunity to catch up with friendly faces from the last two seasons & Im encouraged to hear (& see) that the club, in its entirity is turning itself upward. Its good to see all involved so positive for the clubs future & the formerly retired Chairman, Steve McDonald, back doing his stuff! (I knew it wouldn't last long!!).

And finally..... Well only chronologically (Sunday coming at the end of the weekend & all that)
Sunday was the opening game of the season for Hale Leys Youth FC in the 2nd Division. Without doubt a battle... but as these boys have proved time & again... If it ain't a battle it probably ain't worth doing!!


Under 16’s – Division 2

Prestwood Colts 3 - Hale Leys Youth 4

The visitors went to work from the opening minutes & when a free kick was awarded to Leys within the first 5 minutes, Chris Hawes was inches from leading the scoresheet, the well-placed ball striking the right corner of the crossbar. The Colts managed to get a break a few minutes later when Gareth Chendlik, playing up front, received a lob that he then turned in at goal. Keeper Gary Bidgway, having moved forward to try & intercept was helpless except to watch the ball clear his reach before a final bounce saw it into the net (6th minute).
Hale Leys kept pushing at the Colts goal area & keeper Richard Smith had plenty of work to keep him busy. A corner delivery into the swarming 6yd box from Leys Kasim Zargar required lightning reactions from Smith. Chris Hawes also had another long strike that Smith managed to block & hurriedly pick up.
Hale leys made a lot of the play through the half but Prestwood were exceedingly dangerous on a sudden break, utilising the pace & timing of Chendlik & Luke Warner.

A few changes to the Hale Leys squad at halftime completely changed the dynamics of the visitors. 9 Minutes played and another set piece corner for Leys; this time delivered by Pat Hurst that found the head of Michael O’neill (capt). The levelled scores didn’t stay that way for long, Charlie Hudson punishing Bidgway for his poor goal kick.
Undeterred, the visitors maintained their focus. In an incident in the 55th minute that brought Luca Forchione down in the area, a penalty was awarded & Forchione sunk the ball away without hesitation. He was back again in the 58th minute when he received a forward pass but quickly had his options cut; passing the ball out left then receiving it back almost immediately he turned it in on goal taking the visitors ahead for the first time in the game.
A Prestwood corner in the 70th minute became a Prestwood penalty* that Chendlik placed beyond Bidgway to bring the scores level once more.
In a final push of determination for the visitors, Simon Dunn managed to battle through from the halfway line. Having got himself on the edge of the 18yd area he slotted the ball through the defence & left Smith too little time to get sight of it.


*Bemusement around the sidelines over this decision as none of the spectators could say what had occured to give rise to the decision; but as this wasn't the first or even the last 'unusual' decision made through the match, who are we to comment...??