Under 15’s – Division 3
Aylesbury Vale 5 – Downley Dynamoes 0
Aylesbury Vales under 15’s continued on with their winning streak after the short break in fixtures yesterday, (Sunday). The visitors, unable to field a full compliment squad, put up an ambitious fight to keep the home team contained but were outnumbered from the start & out-paced within a very short time.
Vale made a move for goal in the opening minute, Ashley Kent knocking the ball into the box as Luca Forchione made his way to receive; the forward managed to get a toe to it but tipped it just over the bar. The Downley defence & (the drawn back) midfield battled to keep Vale away from threatening the goal mouth, the attacking Vale had space & numbers to pass the ball around; they only needed to bide their time to allow the visitors to become weary. Vales Pat Hurst set up the first goal. A cross from the right wing had keeper, Daniel Ridgley, stretched out & though he punched the ball away it was only as far as Chris Hawes, who returned it on the volley back over Ridgley’s head. With the constant bombardment from Aylesbury it was heroic defending from Downley & accurate decisions from keeper Ridgley that prevented the goal tally racing away but an error in grip on a loose ball across the goalmouth gave Forchione his chance to push the ball just inside the left post. Pat Hurst added his name to the score sheet as well, a fantastic lob in from just off the right wing 30yds surprised both players & spectators alike as it dropped pitch-side of the bar. Downleys “never say die” attitude & despite being three goals down they pushed to redeem a goal. From the kick the visitors made a move along the right side & managed to put a surprise cross in, Myles Whichelow running through from midfield had Vale keeper, Gary Bidgway, stretched to dive on top of the loose ball.
The second half opened in the same manner as the first. James Marsh, (left back) took a run along the wing, incoming Whichelow made a valiant attempt to dispossess but Marsh turned, dummied then sprinted on through to the box but having hurdled another tackle was wrong footed for the blast at goal; the cleared ball fell just ahead of Vale team-mate Nathan Scarfe who was more successful as he slotted inside the left post. Downley never let their heads go down & battled to keep the rising goal count stable. Halfway through the period the Dynamoes had another glimmer of hope, a break on the left side of centre gave Ross Smith his chance, having cleared past the midfield and moving in on the right back he swung the ball back at goal, Bidgway came out to block & deflected the ball just passed the far post for a corner which wasn’t capitalized upon. After a series of corners awarded to Vale, a cross from the right was palmed away by Ridgley out to the incoming Jordan Murphy who despatched the opportunity with a spectacular overhead kick.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Normal service will resume shortly
No youth football this weekend, (I blame the teachers.... yet another holiday)
But back in action this coming Sunday 24th
...... Now somewhere in the back of my mind I know I know someone who knows/knew the young lady above..... She is Carole Hersee, but for the life of me I cant remember who originally told me they knew her..?
Perhaps it'll come to me by next Monday..!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Groundhog Day
(Well except for the weather)
What a fantastic weekend;
What a fantastic weekend;
Saturday, myself & the Mr H finished marking out mini-pitches for AV's partner club Aylesbury Town. With that finished off it was time for a "swifty" before watching Vale's Seniors play.
Sunday, back to the club for TWO home youth matches, (with Town's U8's buzzing around the newly marked pitches) & as if that wasn't enough..... It was all bathed in sunlight & without the need for (the more recent) several layers of jumpers & coats!!
Sunday, back to the club for TWO home youth matches, (with Town's U8's buzzing around the newly marked pitches) & as if that wasn't enough..... It was all bathed in sunlight & without the need for (the more recent) several layers of jumpers & coats!!
Anyway, the 15's & 16's matches went like this;
Under 15’s – Referee’s Cup 4th Round
Aylesbury Vale 3 – Aylesbury Town Youth 0
Aylesbury Vale moved into the semi-final stages of the Referee’s Cup with a resounding win over Aylesbury Town Youth.
Left-back, James Marsh made the first break for Vale with a run & dummied the opposition until he made the cross in the last yards, which was cleared but was a glimpse of the home teams mindset. Town had to take an onslaught; Chris Hawes was denied an outstanding head at goal by the post. Luca Forchione opened the scoring for Vale in the 13th minute. That was the wake up call for Town; they replied with a right wing attack that skimmed across the goalmouth for a goal kick & retrieved the ball in midfield to make another attempt. Town became determined to make breaks & improve on their opportunities. A break in the 31st minute for Vale, with Nathan Scarfe making the running on the left & tipped in for the oncoming Forchione but was scuffed just right of target.
With the second half well underway & Town doing all they could to level the score, Vale’s Chris Hawes wanted his efforts rewarded. A speedy run up the right saw him on his way to achieving it but was dispossessed & had to make his way back. He did get his target as the ball came back up field, doubling Vale’s advantage in the 54th minute. Vale maintained the pressure on the visitors; an attack that was cleared by the keeper, Matt Dean, fell in front of the now returning Forchione who gave a spectacular overhead kick that hung in the air for an eternity; coming down just wide of the top right corner of the goal. Again Town tried to get back into the game with the help of the tall right-forward Jamie Sturges & his teammate Kris Byrnes but without success on the chances that came their way. Pat Hurst finished off Vales scoring 10 minutes before the end. Taking on right-back Richard Parsons & coming away cleanly with an open run across for goal which he tidily slotted away in the bottom right corner. Town now made every attempt count. An advance on the Vale goal left keeper, Gary Bidgway rushing forward to protect & although he stopped the ball it became loose & Byrnes was in the thick of it, he scrambled for the touch but was only able to lift the ball over for a goal kick. A poor goal kick & Byrnes was able to collect but unsuccessful on his strike. The last 2 minutes of play & Vale put in three final warning shots at Town; the first a Jordan Murphy blast from just inside the 18yd box & keeper, Matt Dean, did extremely well to see it off, a minute later & Murphy was on the receiving end of a forward pass from Vale midfield which he raised inches over the bar. From the goal kick, Town got a final break that was challenged by the Vale midfield allowing a move up the left side; the cross in to Forchione was lifted over seconds before the final whistle was blown.
Town’s manager Mark Stevens said; “Vale camped in our half for the 1st 15minutes but then we switched on & played good football. We were up for it till the end & never thought we were out of it. It shouldn’t have been a 3-Nil result, we just couldn’t hit the target.”
Under 16’s – Division 1
Aylesbury Vale 0 – Widmer End Utd 0
Aylesbury Vale met Widmer End Utd again yesterday, (Sunday) this time for a league match.
The game started with incredible pace. Vale closed on the visitors in the opening minute with a cross into the box from the left wing. Widmer End narrowly avoiding the attack with a clearance off the line. As the ball returned to midfield, Vales Lewis Roots was a away with another break on the left which he crossed at the last second to team-mate Aaron Grant, Grant took the ball on the volley but pushed it just wide of the right post. United had a chance 8 minutes in; a free kick awarded left of the 18yd box curled in & after receiving glancing heads from two forwards past just wide of the right post. The next Vale threat wasn’t long coming. From a corner, the ball floated over the 6yd box & was positively headed by the Vale new comer Rob Goldney & an outstretched Callun Akerman managed to palm the ball over the bar. Both sides were determined in their advances through the first half but neither one could break the deadlock. 5 minutes before the break, Aylesbury’s Jason Street got a break on the left which he crossed in, Akerman fumbled the loose ball & although it was put away from the goalmouth the advancing Luke MacDonald put it back in to the fray. A scuffle to clear it to safety left the scores at nil-nil.
The Second Half opened in the same way. 4 minutes saw Mo Waqar take a loose ball in midfield & send it up the pitch to the attacking Ben Goody. It was a great opportunity just right of centre, but as Akerman came out to block, Goody struck the ball again right of target. 56 minutes & a break came from Widmer End’s Callum Sagar. His run & perfectly timed cross in to Scott Marshall had Vale keeper, Nathan Davis, stretch left to palm the ball out for a corner. An Aylesbury free kick, in almost identical position to that of United in the first half, gave Lewis Roots a chance to open the scoring. The ball was lifted well over the wall but just beyond the forwards & Akerman came out confidently to retrieve it. Widmer End started to increase the pressure, Ollie Grasham getting thoroughly amongst the action. Forward Gavin Scoffeld was also in on the deal & had a strike that was lifted inches over the bar. The pressure was only maintained for a short time however & it was Roots who was to give Vale the final chance of breaking the scoring. A hard strike gave a “thwack” that echoed around the park as Akerman stood his ground & managed to block the challenge.
Under 15’s – Referee’s Cup 4th Round
Aylesbury Vale 3 – Aylesbury Town Youth 0
Aylesbury Vale moved into the semi-final stages of the Referee’s Cup with a resounding win over Aylesbury Town Youth.
Left-back, James Marsh made the first break for Vale with a run & dummied the opposition until he made the cross in the last yards, which was cleared but was a glimpse of the home teams mindset. Town had to take an onslaught; Chris Hawes was denied an outstanding head at goal by the post. Luca Forchione opened the scoring for Vale in the 13th minute. That was the wake up call for Town; they replied with a right wing attack that skimmed across the goalmouth for a goal kick & retrieved the ball in midfield to make another attempt. Town became determined to make breaks & improve on their opportunities. A break in the 31st minute for Vale, with Nathan Scarfe making the running on the left & tipped in for the oncoming Forchione but was scuffed just right of target.
With the second half well underway & Town doing all they could to level the score, Vale’s Chris Hawes wanted his efforts rewarded. A speedy run up the right saw him on his way to achieving it but was dispossessed & had to make his way back. He did get his target as the ball came back up field, doubling Vale’s advantage in the 54th minute. Vale maintained the pressure on the visitors; an attack that was cleared by the keeper, Matt Dean, fell in front of the now returning Forchione who gave a spectacular overhead kick that hung in the air for an eternity; coming down just wide of the top right corner of the goal. Again Town tried to get back into the game with the help of the tall right-forward Jamie Sturges & his teammate Kris Byrnes but without success on the chances that came their way. Pat Hurst finished off Vales scoring 10 minutes before the end. Taking on right-back Richard Parsons & coming away cleanly with an open run across for goal which he tidily slotted away in the bottom right corner. Town now made every attempt count. An advance on the Vale goal left keeper, Gary Bidgway rushing forward to protect & although he stopped the ball it became loose & Byrnes was in the thick of it, he scrambled for the touch but was only able to lift the ball over for a goal kick. A poor goal kick & Byrnes was able to collect but unsuccessful on his strike. The last 2 minutes of play & Vale put in three final warning shots at Town; the first a Jordan Murphy blast from just inside the 18yd box & keeper, Matt Dean, did extremely well to see it off, a minute later & Murphy was on the receiving end of a forward pass from Vale midfield which he raised inches over the bar. From the goal kick, Town got a final break that was challenged by the Vale midfield allowing a move up the left side; the cross in to Forchione was lifted over seconds before the final whistle was blown.
Town’s manager Mark Stevens said; “Vale camped in our half for the 1st 15minutes but then we switched on & played good football. We were up for it till the end & never thought we were out of it. It shouldn’t have been a 3-Nil result, we just couldn’t hit the target.”
Under 16’s – Division 1
Aylesbury Vale 0 – Widmer End Utd 0
Aylesbury Vale met Widmer End Utd again yesterday, (Sunday) this time for a league match.
The game started with incredible pace. Vale closed on the visitors in the opening minute with a cross into the box from the left wing. Widmer End narrowly avoiding the attack with a clearance off the line. As the ball returned to midfield, Vales Lewis Roots was a away with another break on the left which he crossed at the last second to team-mate Aaron Grant, Grant took the ball on the volley but pushed it just wide of the right post. United had a chance 8 minutes in; a free kick awarded left of the 18yd box curled in & after receiving glancing heads from two forwards past just wide of the right post. The next Vale threat wasn’t long coming. From a corner, the ball floated over the 6yd box & was positively headed by the Vale new comer Rob Goldney & an outstretched Callun Akerman managed to palm the ball over the bar. Both sides were determined in their advances through the first half but neither one could break the deadlock. 5 minutes before the break, Aylesbury’s Jason Street got a break on the left which he crossed in, Akerman fumbled the loose ball & although it was put away from the goalmouth the advancing Luke MacDonald put it back in to the fray. A scuffle to clear it to safety left the scores at nil-nil.
The Second Half opened in the same way. 4 minutes saw Mo Waqar take a loose ball in midfield & send it up the pitch to the attacking Ben Goody. It was a great opportunity just right of centre, but as Akerman came out to block, Goody struck the ball again right of target. 56 minutes & a break came from Widmer End’s Callum Sagar. His run & perfectly timed cross in to Scott Marshall had Vale keeper, Nathan Davis, stretch left to palm the ball out for a corner. An Aylesbury free kick, in almost identical position to that of United in the first half, gave Lewis Roots a chance to open the scoring. The ball was lifted well over the wall but just beyond the forwards & Akerman came out confidently to retrieve it. Widmer End started to increase the pressure, Ollie Grasham getting thoroughly amongst the action. Forward Gavin Scoffeld was also in on the deal & had a strike that was lifted inches over the bar. The pressure was only maintained for a short time however & it was Roots who was to give Vale the final chance of breaking the scoring. A hard strike gave a “thwack” that echoed around the park as Akerman stood his ground & managed to block the challenge.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Now where's my lotto numbers..?
& wasn't that Halleys Comet..?
A busy weekend at Haywood Way. Both youth squads playing at home in cup matches. Despite a bitter wind blowing through the park, both teams put in sterling efforts.....
Under 15’s – Referee’s Cup 3rd Round
Aylesbury Vale 3 – Chiltern Athletic Colts 2
A fantastic match yesterday, (Sunday) at Haywood Way. Chiltern Athletic made the first move at an attack but were quickly closed down, Vale tightened up their game and started to apply pressure on the Colts midfield & defence. The first goal was for the home side, Pat Hurst making a 25yd lob from the right of play in the 9th minute, which left Athletics keeper, Tom Sperring, stunned. Colts had to wait a further five minutes before they managed to get a break, with the disadvantage of playing into the wind, a through ball taken up the pitch & then touched across to Oli Raabe to finish. Vale, having learnt from their mistake, set to work at retaking the lead. Dominating the possession with short accurate passes & winning the ball in challenges. The effort paid off when Luca Forchione slotted the ball past Sperring, two minutes before halftime.
The second half opened with the home team playing into the wind, Chiltern Athletic however didn’t exploit their advantage. The Aylesbury squad still looked tight & determined for a good result. Play was into the 62nd minute when the Vale combination of Hurst & Hawes clicked into place. Pat Hurst lifting the ball & Chris Hawes getting his head behind it leaving Sperring scrambling backwards to try & palm the ball over the bar. The stretch was too much and the ball squeezed in. In an attempt to get back into the game Colts reshuffled their line up, moving 4 up front. Play continued with little change in tempo until the 76th minute, a free kick awarded to Athletic on the left wing. Hayden Stevenson lifted the ball towards his teammates waiting on the edge of the box. With the assistance of the wind his shot curled clear of the waiting players including the Vale keeper Gary Bidgway.
The spirits of the Colts lifted, and with the deficit reduced, the away team pushed even harder to at least pull a draw, (& therefore extra-time) but just couldn’t get the better of Aylesbury Vale in the final minutes.
Under 16’s – League Cup 4th Round
Aylesbury Vale 1 – Widmer End United 0
The under 16’s met Widmer End Utd at Haywood Way yesterday, (Sunday). The match was to be an epic event. With only the first five minutes passed, Aylesbury’s Mo Waqar received a superbly placed forward pass & having taken a run towards the right of goal swung the ball back in, to everyone’s astonishment the ball struck the left post then travelled along the goal line before rebounding back into play off the right post. Vale continued to be a threat, Lewis Roots, receiving another accurately placed forward ball to his feet, made his turn to protect the ball from the defence & continued around to lift the ball at goal. Unfortunately the shot was high & Widmer End were reprieved again. United came back at Vale but lacked the accuracy & finish to make anything. 20 minutes in & Mo Waqar was pushing forward again, through from the centre Mo tipped the ball over the keeper, Callun Akerman, and managed to put it on its way to the net, but a sharp response from a lone defender put it out for a corner. Neither side could get a finish on any chances that became available & the first half closed 0-0.
The second half & Widmer End got straight in with the forward advance, Vales Nathan Davis having to put in a strong save. Vales response was immediate. Waqar receiving the ball, he charged forward, striking it hard Akerman blocked the ball with his feet. The rebound came back to Waqar who touched it back at the now open goalmouth. 41 minutes and the deadlock had been broken. Determined to maintain their lead Vale battled doggedly against the United squad that was equally determined to even the score line. Widmer End raised pulses among the Aylesbury faithful as they closed in on goal & made the Vale defence really work hard. The clearance came from a defender but fell to the feet of Gavin Schofield who was denied the equaliser by Nathan Davis. The stalemate from the first half returned & although Vale were putting the effort in they weren’t seeing it rewarded. As the time elapsed Widmer End went on the offensive again, Gavin Schofield & Alex Zacharek making Nathan Davis stretch to defend his goal. The clearance by the defence to Luke MacDonald, who in turn placed the ball inches ahead of the forward running Ben Goody. An almost clear run along the right wing had Goody turning to swing the ball in at goal but was dispossessed by the right back for a corner. United made a last challenge but with the final whistle blown it will be Vale that go through to the Quarterfinals next month.
Vales new signing Rob Goldney had an excellent game & was instrumental in several of the midfield advances.
A busy weekend at Haywood Way. Both youth squads playing at home in cup matches. Despite a bitter wind blowing through the park, both teams put in sterling efforts.....
Under 15’s – Referee’s Cup 3rd Round
Aylesbury Vale 3 – Chiltern Athletic Colts 2
A fantastic match yesterday, (Sunday) at Haywood Way. Chiltern Athletic made the first move at an attack but were quickly closed down, Vale tightened up their game and started to apply pressure on the Colts midfield & defence. The first goal was for the home side, Pat Hurst making a 25yd lob from the right of play in the 9th minute, which left Athletics keeper, Tom Sperring, stunned. Colts had to wait a further five minutes before they managed to get a break, with the disadvantage of playing into the wind, a through ball taken up the pitch & then touched across to Oli Raabe to finish. Vale, having learnt from their mistake, set to work at retaking the lead. Dominating the possession with short accurate passes & winning the ball in challenges. The effort paid off when Luca Forchione slotted the ball past Sperring, two minutes before halftime.
The second half opened with the home team playing into the wind, Chiltern Athletic however didn’t exploit their advantage. The Aylesbury squad still looked tight & determined for a good result. Play was into the 62nd minute when the Vale combination of Hurst & Hawes clicked into place. Pat Hurst lifting the ball & Chris Hawes getting his head behind it leaving Sperring scrambling backwards to try & palm the ball over the bar. The stretch was too much and the ball squeezed in. In an attempt to get back into the game Colts reshuffled their line up, moving 4 up front. Play continued with little change in tempo until the 76th minute, a free kick awarded to Athletic on the left wing. Hayden Stevenson lifted the ball towards his teammates waiting on the edge of the box. With the assistance of the wind his shot curled clear of the waiting players including the Vale keeper Gary Bidgway.
The spirits of the Colts lifted, and with the deficit reduced, the away team pushed even harder to at least pull a draw, (& therefore extra-time) but just couldn’t get the better of Aylesbury Vale in the final minutes.
Under 16’s – League Cup 4th Round
Aylesbury Vale 1 – Widmer End United 0
The under 16’s met Widmer End Utd at Haywood Way yesterday, (Sunday). The match was to be an epic event. With only the first five minutes passed, Aylesbury’s Mo Waqar received a superbly placed forward pass & having taken a run towards the right of goal swung the ball back in, to everyone’s astonishment the ball struck the left post then travelled along the goal line before rebounding back into play off the right post. Vale continued to be a threat, Lewis Roots, receiving another accurately placed forward ball to his feet, made his turn to protect the ball from the defence & continued around to lift the ball at goal. Unfortunately the shot was high & Widmer End were reprieved again. United came back at Vale but lacked the accuracy & finish to make anything. 20 minutes in & Mo Waqar was pushing forward again, through from the centre Mo tipped the ball over the keeper, Callun Akerman, and managed to put it on its way to the net, but a sharp response from a lone defender put it out for a corner. Neither side could get a finish on any chances that became available & the first half closed 0-0.
The second half & Widmer End got straight in with the forward advance, Vales Nathan Davis having to put in a strong save. Vales response was immediate. Waqar receiving the ball, he charged forward, striking it hard Akerman blocked the ball with his feet. The rebound came back to Waqar who touched it back at the now open goalmouth. 41 minutes and the deadlock had been broken. Determined to maintain their lead Vale battled doggedly against the United squad that was equally determined to even the score line. Widmer End raised pulses among the Aylesbury faithful as they closed in on goal & made the Vale defence really work hard. The clearance came from a defender but fell to the feet of Gavin Schofield who was denied the equaliser by Nathan Davis. The stalemate from the first half returned & although Vale were putting the effort in they weren’t seeing it rewarded. As the time elapsed Widmer End went on the offensive again, Gavin Schofield & Alex Zacharek making Nathan Davis stretch to defend his goal. The clearance by the defence to Luke MacDonald, who in turn placed the ball inches ahead of the forward running Ben Goody. An almost clear run along the right wing had Goody turning to swing the ball in at goal but was dispossessed by the right back for a corner. United made a last challenge but with the final whistle blown it will be Vale that go through to the Quarterfinals next month.
Vales new signing Rob Goldney had an excellent game & was instrumental in several of the midfield advances.
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