Geoff Springhell Cup 2009

Wendover Juniors 1 Holtspur FC 0

Cup winners - at last - reward for a very tough season and for disappointment in the league cup against Prestwood. It only took 1 goal to seal the win but it was such a close game with a real battle on their hands the boys did exceptionally well.

The boys lined up before the game and a very professional set up at Burnham Football Club all made the pre match build up extremely tense.

The breakthrough came quite early on with a fantastic run from the half way line and yet again 1 on 1 with the keeper Josh finished calmly and sweetly into the bottom left hand corner.

Once the second half had started there were more chances for Wendover but Holtspur really did push on and try and equalise. One move by Holtspur started from the halfway line and ended up with complete chaos in defence luckily Jack pulled of a double save which even Premiership keepers would have struggled with.....this really was the save of the season..fantastic Jack!

Bournemouth 2009

Here we are again on Tour - Year 5 for this team - makes me feel old!

Two 11 a side teams entered making this a good opportunity to win some games - although looking at some of the teams we are up against it could be tricky. The teams were as follows;

TEAM A
Declan, Andrew, Josh, Ed, Ben S, Georgi, Jake, Rory, Brandon, Matthew, James H, James C.

TEAM B
Adam, Angus, Alex, Dan, Chris, Luke, Connor, Thomas P, Ben W, Robbie, Sam, Max

Team B 0 vs 0 Christchurch FC Youth
I think it was inevitable. A long drive down to Bournemouth, unpack, kids in arcade till goodness knows what hour, well fed and watered. The result just had to be. In fact its only highlight was the comment of the week from Nick - in fact the comment of the last 6 years of managing the team. Yes amazingly Nick said and i quote "well done ref" - i know its hard to believe but its true - he actually praised a ref - you could just tell he was on holiday.

Having said all of that Alex Collier was the highlight of the game - i think he was the only one who may have had an early night and Chris was superb in goal - nice job boys you carried the team in this game.

Learnings: Bore Draw - wake up boys!


TEAM A 0 vs 1 Redhill Rangers
OK. First game done by Team B, it was Team A's turn and they did not disappoint! The biggest disappointment was the opponents manager who was 3 yards on the pitch and seemed to give the decisions for the ref. The ref was intimidated all game and it took a controversial moment to win it. James C was in goal and was judged to have handled outside of the box - Graham Head was the linesman and clearly stated that James let go of the ball before it crossed the box but to no avail - free kick on the edge of the box! I must admit it was a great free kick and Redhill Rangers scored - 1 nil!!
Ed had a great game and teamed up well with Josh going forward, could have made it 1-1 but the keeper made a great save.

The highlight was yet to come. Man of the Match James Cronin was pulling off save after save, but after a foulin the box had to face the ultimate - a penalty - the goals were full size and although James is quite tall he just didnt look tall enough...........up stepped their No.7.....witha sly grin on his face. He struck the ball to James' left and James got down and SAVED IT!!!!!!

Learnings: Well done boys - great performance - unlucky - as Julie wrote in the notes - the ref was worse than Graham Poll (thats Poll not Cook).

TEAM B 2 vs 7 AFC Wimbledon
This was one of the games we were all looking forward to. The professional arm of AFC Wimbledon had just won promotion from the Conference South and every team below them within the club were winning trophies galour. Could we really expect a result here.....err no.

Within 1 minute AFC had scored and before long it was 2. Then a glimmer of hope - Angus on the edge of the box had a speculative shot and with some help from a defenders head got the ball into the top corner...could there be an upset - who knows? Sam was in goal and made some really good saves but this team were far too strong. Connor tried his hardest in defence but to no avail. Last attack of the game saw AFC get another after hitting the bar and following up calmly.

The second half saw as good a goal as i will ever see on tour unfortunately it was AFC that scored it. A volley edge of the box across the goal into the top corner, Sam had no chance. With that they turned on the style, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, 7-1 was it ever going to stop. Yes - it was and Dan had the final word. A penalty after some fantastic work from Wendover - and such a sweet finish - nice goal Dan!!

Learnings: Beaten by a very good side - learn and move on - "NEXT!!"

Team A 1 vs 5 Leigh Ramblers
5 minutes into the start and Team A are 1-0 down it was a very good goal, an overhead kick which had everyone beaten.

A cracking move and goal by Team A made this a great game to watch. Ben S after loads of work put in a great ball to Ed who, with his right foot caught a sweet half volley and it flew into the net - 1-1!!

Unfotunately heroic defending and some great saves again by James C, especially one that was tipped over the bar could not keep out the goals. Soon enough it was 2-1 and after 3 more goals it was beyond repair.

TEAM B 2 vs 2 Hughenden Valley
What a great game this turned out to be. Robbies debut on tour in goal. Well at last a goal to us - yes to us........we are in the lead thanks to Angus with a great assist from Ben W. Hughenden had an attack almost immediately and with a hard shot the ball just skidded underneath Robbie...so unlucky 1-1. Just before half time they had another attack and this time they took the lead. Half time - 2-1 down in a game that should be ours!!! Robbie had to work hard in the second half and pulled off some excellent saves and Max had such a great game that there was always hope.....and hope indeed there was - 3 minutes to go Max was being chased by a defender and crash down he went in the box...PENALTY! Dan after such a sweet penalty in the previous game stepped up again - surely he couldnt do it again - OH YES HE COULD - 2-2!!!

TEAM A 1 vs 4 Sheen Lions
James Cronin yet again had to try and pull off some saves in this game to keep us in it and Josh up front could have had a hat full of goals. Before you could blink Sheen were 3 nil up - and even there keeper seemed to have been drinking Red Bull because he certainly had wings when Josh went through 1 on 1 and the keeper saved it again!!!! After they went 4 nil up surely a break through was on its way - we didnt deserve to not score - and then Josh finally got a goal but not any old goal no - this was a strike straight from the Ronaldo book of goal scoring - right in the top corner - as Andy Gray would say "TAKE A BOW SON!!"

TEAM B 2 VS 1 Sandbach United
Sorry did i just type that 2 -1 to US ..... did i? I did!!!!
Chris Howarth yet again went in goal and did a sterling job. Ben hit the side netting after great runs from Dan and Max and it all looked as if this was another game that was going to slip from grasp. Well Max - you couldnt score an easier goal.....Angus crossed the ball for Max to tap in 1 nil!! Max really was on fire in this game and was the difference between us winning and losing!! Before we knew it Max scored again with a great shot over the keepers head - superb. 2-0!!!

Sandbach scored at the end but it was too little too late - Wendover had won a game!!
Well done boys - you deserved that one.

TEAM A 1 vs 0 Boscombe Albion
I am going to say it again - ready.................WE WON ANOTHER GAME!!!!
This was a great game of backs against the wall - Man of the Match Declan cleared off the line twice and all of the back 4 did such a great job. Finally Ben S scored and put the game to bed......... WELL DONE GUYS GOOD JOB!

TEAM B 0 vs 6 Coventry Sphinx
Well a team affiliated with Coventry FC - could we get a result - unfortunately not....quite a tough affair thsi one seeing a few injuries - Adam received a nice stud scar for his efforts as well as a dead leg!! Angus went in goal for the first half and Chris H for the second. Max did well clearing over the bar with a header - well done Max - this was Team B's last game ...now some of the parents could relax!

TEAM A 1 VS 2 Atherstone Rangers
It didnt take long and Team A were losing - 1-0 down it didnt look good but then some good work from Josh and Ed ended up with a great goal from Ed..nice one ED!!! 1-1. James again was performing heroics and made some great saves. Jake was so unlucky conceding an own goal just before half time this combined with Andrew being injured it really did look as though this game was destined for a defeat. The second half carried on in much the same vein....an injury...Josh took a knock and it all looked as though the inevitable was going to happen when the last attack of the game Matthew had a shot which came flying off the crossbar...Brandon followed up with a great shot but it just went over.........with that the final whistle went! Unlucky boys.

OTHER PICS FROM THE WEEKEND

Tom was great - he put on another one of his BBQ's you know
the one where he sits drinking Red Wine while Rob and I
do all the cooking!!!


You know what i mean Harry!!


And see if you can spot in the pic below something the ref didnt see!!

Well done boys - great tour - great weather - great weekend!

SPECIAL THANKS TO:-
Nick Collier - Manager that likes refs and sometimes chases the pretty ones! (see photo)
Nick Seaton - Manager of team A and top drinker!
Tim Norton - Super helper
Martin Burnell - Healing hands getting Josh back on the pitch
Graham Head - Flag master
Nick Piper - Flag master 2
Julie East - Those pants
The Howarths - That Seagull fight! (oh and the wine)
Tom Kerr - that great BBQ!
My Wife - for making notes when i was watching Reading lose again
oh and THE BOYS!