Mud, Mud, Glorious MUUUUUDDDDDDD...!

Aston Park Rangers Vs FAB Juniors

FAB Scorers

Lewis (4), Michael (2), Sam (2)

Lewis discovers that the ball has a tendency to ...STICK!

Sam and Michael, who both ran up front all day, close in to splat one of the opposition.

Charlie, wearing his high visibility gloves in case he gets lost in the mud and requires a search team, tries to navigate his way past both a swamp and the opposition defence.

Admittedly we were helped by the fact that one member of the opposition was too small to climb out of the mud puddle!

My apologies for the small number of pictures -  due to a logistics problem with camera batteries (I forgot to bring spares)

Match Report (Aston 29-11-09)

Hi Everyone,

Well that bloke was right when he said "It's a funny old game". What a magnificent team performance today from the whole squad against Aston, in what proved to be very tricky conditions. Seriously, this result has been coming for a long time. It was just a matter of getting our noses in front and concentrating on staying there, which we did with great style and determination. We didn't quite match Spurs for their effort against Wigan but we came very close, but with the guys from Aston putting up a much better fight than Wigan. As ever, the commitment from the guy's was awesome, with the skill and teamwork added to the recipe making the difference.

A big well done to everyone!! In fact the guy's played that well we are giving them the night off training on Tuesday Dec 1st. (Oh! did I tell you we can't have our training facility this week as the High School have exercised their right to pull rank and take it off us. Now there's a coincidence)

See you all the week after (Tue 8th Dec)
Mark

Hawarden Match (15-11-09)

Hi Everyone,

On a personal note, the game and in particular the result was very disappointing today. We are definitely locked in a pattern that is allowing us to match teams, and on some occasions play better than them, but the boys are all to often making it easy for the opposition to score against us and hence sending our heads lower than a 'Snake's Belly' , which we are finding it very difficult to recover from. The first goal conceded today was definitely against the run of play.

During one of the team talks at the breaks, we spoke about trying to play football and pass the ball around and all the benefits this would give us, to which the opposition did very well (They must of been listening to our talk) but I am afraid we were trying once again to be individuals instead of a team, and until we do this we will find it very hard to gain positive results. We will of course be working very hard as always, to rectify this in training.

Mark

Holywell Game (Sunday 1-11-09)

Hi All,

I'm afraid it's fast approaching that time of the season again, yes the good old British weather put paid to our fixture against Holywell at the weekend. The weather was atrocious on Sunday morning when Mark (Holywell Manager) phoned me to let me know the condition of the pitch and quite rightly called it off. Seriously though, we will always put the safety of the boys first.
I have invited them to rearrange the game to take place at our Training session on Tuesday 10th November, watch this space.

Mark

Match Report (18-10-09)

Hi Everyone,

I'm afraid it was a case of 'same old', 'same old' on Sunday against a very big and robust footballing side in Mynydd Isa Galaxy. We started exceptionally well and even went a goal to the good but, as in our friendly game against the same side, we gifted them a few goals which then sank us into the depths of despair until the Boy's realised that they could match this team in every department.
Subsequently, we ended the game as we started with the score line not really reflecting the performance. At the moment we do have a confidence problem but I am sure we can turn this around with a couple of wins under our belt.

Well done to the Boy's though for their effort, attitude and commitment, which can never be called into question.

Also, many thanks to Alan who has provided us with some excellent and very amusing photograph's of the games so far, they are very much appreciated. (I thought the beach ball one was good)

See you at Training on Tuesday...Don't Forget it's at the High School

Mark

Deja Vue... (almost)

FAB Juniors Versus Mynydd Isa Galaxy

FAB Scorers
Ryan, Dylan, Michael

Click for a bigger view... its almost ART!

Unfortunately the Galaxy goalkeeper is less distracted by the
beach ball than Pepe Reina was as Sam closes in to score

Kieran takes control of the ball.

The Galaxy player charges in like Usain Bolt as Dan clears up.

The surprise alien invasion of Earth is thwarted
by the rogue beachball as the players watch on.

You can tell winter is coming when the hail stones are THIS BIG!

Lewis marches down the wing.

A bad day at the office.

FAB Juniors Vs Penyffordd

FAB Scorers
Michael(2), Charlie.

Ellis seems confused over where his own arms and legs are
but manages to whip in a good corner anyway!

Confusion reigns in the defence ahead of conceding our first goal.

Maybe the guys weren't sure WHICH goal to defend.

Playing under the Flags!

I'm no expert but does anyone else think our defence is playing a bit deep when all of them are behind the goalkeeper?

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No its a..... eh? WHAT is THAT???

Steve, so bemused by our performance decides to cover his eyes.

Charlie and a Penyffordd player try out for the three legged race!

"Just like that",

Dylan practices his Tommy Cooper impression when he finds a bit of space.

Dylan protects the ball with his body.

Ryan takes a throw-in.

I'm worried when our own reserve goalkeeper is too scared to look!

"Eeek! It's a football-spider - Get it away from me... GET IT AWAY!!"

Match Report (4-10-09)

Hello Everyone,

Firstly, a big thank you to our kit Sponsor Dave, who came to watch the boys today. Unfortunately, we are not in the same financial position yet as Man City so, we couldn't offer him the 'Executive Box' (or any Executive Box for that matter) or prawn sandwiches for the visit. But I am sure he would have been tempted by the waft of 'Bacon Butties' emanating from the main stand area . Hope you enjoyed the game Dave, and many thanks again for your support.

So, it's on to the game. It wasn't the result we might of hoped for against a decent Penyffordd side who instinctively knew what to do in front of our goal. Yet again we where off to a sluggish start with the boys seemingly lacking the football 'nous' to deal with the opposition. The boys where all over the place position wise but I have to say we did show a marked improvement in the final two quarters with good performance's from some of the guy's. Consequently, it was too late to claw back the overall goal difference needed for a win. I keep repeating myself but, we will have to find a way of turning the skill and attitude that the guy's put into training and convert it into match winning performances on a Sunday.

We will have the full 'investigation' (and press-ups) on Tuesday. But I do believe we have to go through this albeit painful process of making mistakes in order for us to develop into better players for the future.

Many thanks to the Penyffordd Coaches and Players for their sportsmanship, which contributed to a good game of football.

See you at Training!!

Mark

Match Report (Sunday 13-9-09) Mynydd Isa

Hello Everyone,

What a beautiful day for a game of football, with our hosts being Mynydd Isa at their home ground of the Argoed Sports Club. We had a full squad to choose from, with the new players settling in very well. I would say we were very unlucky not to take the overall result as the boys played some good football at times with the odd lack of concentration costing us in the end.
Yet again, it's very difficult to fault the commitment and effort of this group of guy's.
We changed the positions slightly and the changes where accepted and very well adapted to.

Well done to everyone!!
Mark

A long time ago, versus a Galaxy far far away...

Mynydd Isa Galaxy V FAB Juniors U9s

FAB Scorers

Lewis (2), Dylan, Sam

"Everyone who remembers how to PASS raise your hands now!
... c'mon... someone? ... anyone? ... no one?"

Oh, look! Whats going on over there?

Ryan defending a throw-in.

A superb shot just clips the top of the bar leaving their 'keepr stranded.

Shame its the wrong Bar!

Kieran, who ran all, day heads off with the ball.

Head tennis!

Defending a corner.

Mynydd Isa whip in another corner.

Ethan gets his foot on the ball as Dylan Lewis and Ellis look on.

This is a football match, not a step class!

Kick IT!

Kieran hopes the referee doesn't notice hit new 'Knee In The Bum' tackling technique.

Ellis tries to distract the Galaxy with his shouts of

"Help my Arm's Fallen Off!!!"

Kieran, Lewis and Dan go for the same ball...

Space guys, look for SPACE!

Ryan shows that his levitation lessons are going well.

Despite the coaches many requests, the new lycra uniforms for the cheerleaders fail to arrive.

(here they are demonstrating their classic, "standing around watching" cheer routine.)

Sportingly Lewis avoids the trip instead of "Doing an Eduardo"

Well played!

Another Galaxy corner is chipped in.

He fell ooooooover... he fell oooooover!!!

err.... another corner!

(I'm running out of things to say about corners!)

Lewis is distracted by The Bells! THE BELLS!