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picture taken 1st October 2008

Wednesday 15th April  2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  U18  5 - 0  Hadleigh United  U18   (2-0)
The Seasiders ended this season's campaign in style going Nap at Dellwood Avenue this evening. Matt Mackenzie scored twice in the first half with Miles Powell adding a third midway through the second period before Jordan Matthews added a brace to complete the scoring.

TEAM: NOON / HAIGHTON / POWELL / ELLWOOD (CAPT) / BUTCHER ( WAINWRIGHT),REYNOLDS ( MURRAY)   SMITH T / MCCALLUM / SMITH J / MACKENZIE / MATTHEWS. 

After nearly a month off, as other teams caught up with their fixtures and unfortunately with us in the league, the boys returned to action boasting a squad that contained 6 lads that have represented the 1^st team this season and 4 more who have played for the reserves, a great credit to the senior management team for giving them the chance, lets just hope some of them  grasp it and go onto play regular football at Ridgeons senior level and hopefully for Fxt & Walton.
Two other lads that have already played for our reserves the injured grinner Hopkins and Kyle Clover who is recovering well from his broken leg were watching from the stands. 

A calm warm night so different from the snow storm that brought this fixture to a standstill earlier this year greeted the players as Felixstowe went straight into the attack and the ever willing Matthews lobs the ball wide as he is approached by the keeper.
Tommy Smith is soon in the action and a trademark through ball finds Reynolds out wide but his cross is well taken by the Hadleigh keeper. It does not take long for the deadly duo to get going as Matthews through ball finds Mackenzie he  goes wide of the keeper before slotting home 1-0

Matt nearly makes it 2 when this time he latches onto a George McCallum pass but the keeper saves with his legs and the ball diverts for a corner. Jordan Matthews never stops running and again wins the ball out wide before producing a great cross that finds no one in  the 6 yard box to finish off his fine work. Hadleigh are putting up a fight and the game becomes a bit scrappy with plenty of free kicks and for a period of time we drop our standard of play.
Mackenzie breaks down the left wins the ball and is brought down in the area but the ref gives a free kick on the edge, Hadleigh are not happy perhaps they thought it was a penalty, Butcher pops over the kick and Mackenzie rises like a Tasmanian Trout and gets his 2^nd of the night to make it 2-0

The very pacey Josh Smith fires in a shot which is well taken by the keeper and the weather turns, thunder lighting and rain surely not ! and here we are all standing in a metal stand. It does not seem to affect the very elegant Miles Powell and the not so elegant Ellwood who are supreme at the back as they have been for most of the season, it does seem to affect Tom Noon between the posts who completely misses a back pass and has to make a sliding tackle to keep the Hadleigh striker from tapping in and save himself from the wrath of Manager Clarke.

Tom is  soon is back in action and does well to hold onto a deflected shot and the half ends with Matthews just shooting wide, you have the feeling the game is over and won as half time comes.
But 2-0 is never safe. 

We are all ready to kick off apart form our favourite Marurice Schrivener, lino for the night apart from the fact he has left his flag in the dressing room, officials never make mistakes who said that.  

The next period of play shows a lot of huff and puff from both sides but not a lot to cheer until Josh Smith skilfully beats a player out on his favourite right side and flights a ball that just goes wide of the far post, this lad has plenty of skill, if he can put that together with a bit more all round effort he still could become a very dangerous player.
Hadleigh strike back as a free kick is parried by Noon and the oncoming Hadleigh striker should score but shoots over, a bit of a let off,  we are becoming more involved with the off the ball antics that have turned the game very tetchy and for a while Hadleigh are on top having more efforts at our goal than we are at theirs. 

The referee’s book is out again and a third Hadleigh player contributes to the Suffolk F.A.’s retirement fund. Reynolds makes way for Murray, and Powell moves into central midfield with McCallum going out left and we start to play again, Miles Powell breaks from midfield and a perfect shot enters the goal at the near post from the edge of the area  3-0. The cry of 'Clarkey is a genius' should go up from the home faithful but it does not and the game goes on.

Matthews has a stone wall penalty turned down, before Mccallum playing well on the left produces s good cross Powell chests down but fires over. Hadleigh are reduced to 10 men as the little no 11 is given his marching orders, he seemed to be on a one way ticket as soon as the game kicked off.

Weenie replaces Liam at left back and Jordan produces one of those great persistent runs before shooting across the keeper and into the  net for a great individual goal  4-0.
The extra man is now counting as Powell fires in a shot that finds the keeper's arms before Matthews gets his 2nd goal as he flicks in from close range following a corner 5-0.
Its all Felixstowe now as Matthews has a shot blocked, McCallum fires wide before Kristian, who has had a sound game, has his shot well saved. 

The final whistle goes and the season comes to an end and its hard to believe that a team that has played such good football, showing so much individual skill as well as a great team ethic, will only finish 4^th or 5^th in the league.
If only, if only a couple of those 2-1 defeats could have and should have been 2-1 wins if only.

All I can say is that I and many of those that have watched this season have been totally entertained with the way this squad of players have played their football and the evidence is in the 1^st paragraph  of this report. 

Hardest job of the season, Manager Clarke’s to pick Player of the season, I can think of 5 straight away.  Congratulations to Clarkey and Big Kev, when he has been in the country ,and to little Kev and to all the Dads with their battle with the floodlights. Also to Mick Southernwood who has never let the U18’S down on the Hospitality side. 

6 of tonight's squad and the Grinner now move on from the  u18s Good luck to them all. 

C u next season
Colin

Player Updates 10th March 2009
Kyle Clover who suffered a double break to his lower leg in the reserve team game against Woodbridge on 31stJanuary has avoided having a pin being inserted and it is hoped the long cast he has on at present will be exchanged for a much smaller one soon. We hope to see Karl at the last U18s game this season against Hadleigh on the 15th of April and wish him all the very best in his rehabilitation. We hope it will be not to long before he is back playing the game he loves.

Will Fuller is still enjoying his time with Ipswich Town F.C. and I understand has been on the reserve team bench, as well as training with Richard Wright. We wish him all the very best of luck for his quest for a new contract next season.

Matthew Mackenzie and George McCallum have been selected for the squad to play for Suffolk u16's against Cambridgeshire on the 15th of March and Matt also selected to play for Suffolk u18's against Essex on the 19th of March - a great achievement.

Wednesday 4th March 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  U18  5 - 0  Diss Town U18   (3-0)
A strong all-round performance from the Seasiders saw them produce a Nap hand against a hard working Diss team. Powell scored the opener following a corner on seven minutes with Mackenzie doubling the lead two minutes later. Mackenzie went on to complete his hat-trick before Smith netted the fifth just before the final whistle.
The under 18s final game is at home to Hadleigh United on Wednesday 15th April.

TEAM;  NOON / HAIGHTON / POWELL / MURRAY / BUTCHER/ REYNOLDS (SMITH J)/ SMITH T/ McCALLUM/ HOPKINS (WAINWRIGHT) / MATTHEWS/ MACKENZIE ( WHITE)

 A team meeting was called prior to the getting on of the kit, not quite sure who called it but it was agreed that last weeks disappointing 2^nd half performance needed to be put right tonight.
Skipper Ellwood moved to the bench after playing for the 1^st team the night before, reward for the rich vein of form he has been showing, Big Al came into the centre of defence. 

The game started with the Diss keeper being brought straight into the action as he palms  a good shot from Matthews over the bar after receiving a  a pass from Mackenzie. The corner and one soon after come to nothing but we are having plenty of possession and testing the Diss defence early doors. Will Reynolds clears up at the back,  before we win another corner the Grinner himself  knock’s the ball to the near post and their is Miles ’the lurch’ Powell to slip the ball into the net and give us the early goal we where looking for. Miles  then turn’s on a touch of class breaking inside his own half  he waltz's past 3 players before planting a through ball that  proves just to long for the willing Matthews. 

Mackenzie make’s it 2-0 soon afterwards as as he tuck’s away a nice shot from the edge of the area and one feels the game as a contest is nearly over even though we have only played  10 minutes. Matt is now working very hard and his persistence wins a corner that the keeper takes well, but we drop the early pace of our game and it goes very quite with Diss not really giving our defence too many problems.
The game comes back to life Hopkins gets on the end of a bouncing cross ball just outside the area  keeps his head down and produces a good shot that brings a fine save from the keeper, he then tries his luck with a long range effort but this is straight at the goalie. The Luke Hopkins show is now n full flow as his next effort clears the bar after receiving a pass from Matthews. 

Diss start to press and a corner is headed well clear by Tommy Smith as we build down the right. Kristian to Jordan who puts Will away down the wing until he is fouled, the resulting free kick from Kristian brings a good header from George McCallum but the ball just nips past the post. Tommy is getting the ball down well and puts Jordan through and he is only stopped by the bravery of the Diss keeper who dives in at Jordan's feet and holds onto the ball. The two M’s up front again combine as Matthews heads on a free kick which puts Matt Mackenzie one on one with the keeper  he makes no mistake as he slides the ball into the Diss net to give us a 3-0 lead. 

Liam and Luke interchange passes down the left and Liam's cross is met by Wills head but he can't keep the ball down and over the bar it goes, this is followed  with the same result soon after from a Haighton shot. Diss struggle to get hold of the ball ,but are still putting in a lot of effort. Our next attack  is a Matthews flicked header from a Hopkins  cross which goes close. Will Reynolds is working hard and puts in a great tackle the ball runs loose to Luke he makes ground but his shot is too high to bother the keeper.
Matt Mackenzie is next to show off his talents as he dribbles past various defenders before just putting his shot past the post. The half ends with Tommy and George in total control in the middle of midfield with both spraying some nice passes around the pitch.  

The 2^nd period starts with Miles stopping a Diss striker in his tracks with a solid tackle as his performance on the night continues to impress. More corners are won and it is nice to see us trying some short moves before delivering the ball into the area. There is no doubt Jordan Matthews put more effort into a football game than anyone I can remember watching, he must be a nightmare to mark and one can only hope he takes the next step up the ladder and starts playing reserve team football soon, hopefully at our club.
Tom Noon is rudely awakened as he saves a shot but also takes a kick to the head, a bit dazed but ok to go on. Luke, George, Jordan and Liam combine well down the left before the move ends in a foul. The free kick  from Mackenzie is cleared. Powell cuts out a pass,  floats past a couple of player and distributes a good long ball to Luke, lovely stuff as we continue to boss the game with plenty of possession football. 

Our game down the left gets better Matthews and Butcher swap passes but Liam's cross is cleared, before Jordan is involved again this time with Hopkins, this time the cross sails across the area with no one getting on the end of it. Liam produces a great long ball that puts Matthews away he beats a player on the edge of the area pulls the ball back to Smith T who sees his shot tipped past the post by the keeper. We can not find that next goal, the defence again open up for Liam  but his shot does not test the goalie. Manager Clarke makes changes Josh for Will and Weenie for the Grinner who has had a fine game. Josh gets straight into the game and his cross finds Tommy who looks odds on to score until his shot is blocked. The inevitable happens, a McCallum free kick is floated to the far post and it is Mackenzie who is on hand to tap the ball away for his hat trick, the 2^nd  against Diss this season. He is rewarded with being taken off as the green boots of White enter the game. 

McCallum is having his best game for the U18’s so far with some nice passes and a shot that the keeper takes low. The game is coming to a close but the hard working Matthews still has time to fire over and then put a great through ball to White who is just caught off side, but Tommy nearly makes amends soon after when his fierce shot is well saved. Weenie has made a good impact on the game and gets in a good cross after a break by Smith but again no one is in the area to put a finish to a very good move.

The pressure finally pays off and the game finishes with a goal as Josh Smith fires home past the keeper who seems to be wrong footed to make it 5-0
A good all-round performance from the boys and a special mention to big Al at the back, who does not make a fuss of what he has to do and really did not put a foot wrong all night.  

MOM seems to be shared between Jordan and Miles both put in very impressive performances and deserve to share the spoils.

Colin

Thursday 26th February 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Leiston U18  2 - 1  Felixstowe & Walton United  U18    (0-1)
Top of the table Leiston maintained their unbeaten record  at Victory Road. with a narrow win against the Seasiders.

TEAM: NOON/ HAIGHTON / ELLWOOD (CAPT)/ POWELL / BUTCHER / REYNOLDS ( WHITE) / SMITH T / McCALLUM (WAINWRIGHT)/ HOPKINS ( SMITH J )/ MACKENZIE / MATTHEWS. 

A  big task but one we all felt the boys fully capable off after the inspiring performance at Woodbridge this  time against league leaders Leiston who were sporting an unbeaten league record. Will Reynolds due to his fine performance the previous week at right mid kept his place as did George McCallum in centre mid.  

Within  5 minutes we had conceded 3 free kicks all in dangerous positions, the first sailed right across our area, the 2^nd Tom took well and the 3^rd was cleared, we put this down to over eagerness and and got on with the game. Jordan back in the starting line up had a looping shot that lacked power and just made it past the post, but we settled down with George McCallum making two great searching passes to introduce himself into the game. A good move down the left involving Tommy, Luke and Liam was well blocked by the good Leiston right back.
Trouble in the crowd as Liam and Tommy’s Mums react to home crowd comments it does not quieten the home support but I am sure they have gained some new words for their vocabulary. 

We where starting to take control with Mackenzie stopped in full flight by a good tackle in the Leiston area, shortly afterwards the keeper just wins a race to a ball lobbed into his area as Matthews  bears down on him. Smith and McCallum are winning the midfield battle and George puts another sweet ball through as we probe and prod for a clear opening, this nearly comes from a Kristian free kick that finds Matt's head but the keeper made a good stop as the off side flag goes up.
Our football is now very good playing some nice one touch  keep ball with Leiston finding it very hard to get into the game, but on the other hand defending well.  

Hopkins and Matthews both have efforts that fly over and Matthews bundles through but his shot lacks power and is saved. Leiston have a good spell and a corner is headed clear by Kristian, followed by a free kick punched away by Tom Noon, but a Leiston  goal would have been well against the run of play as we are dominating the ball without really carving out any clear cut chances. Again we break down the left Hopkins finds Butcher whose low cross is well cleared. Mackenzie then finds space on the edge of the area turns but yet again the shot clears the bar it's Leiston’s turn down the right  a forward leaves two of our defenders in his wake before Ellwood tackles and concedes a corner,  we clear, but start to give away more free kicks in dangerous positions a lot of these could be avoided if we held our discipline and stopped diving in, and at this stage you feel the only way Leiston will get on the score sheet  is from a set piece as we look in full control at the back. 

Jordan turns on the by line beats a defender and puts in a good cross that Matt rises for but the ball goes over the bar. The deadlock is finally broken, Matthews challenges for a ball in the Leiston area  and it squirms off his foot into the Net with just enough pace to cross the line. A lead the team deserved for a  solid performance against the league leaders.
The half ends with Butcher putting in a good cross but it is well cleared from just outside the 6 yard box.

A great half that saw Leiston doing a lot of the chasing and Felixstowe well in control of the game. Manager Clarkes only problem at half time is for the team to close the gaps between the defence and the midfield and for the midfield to get closer to the forwards  but everyone is happy 3 more points in the bag is on the cards.
Leiston come out fired up but we continue as we finished, Will finds good space down the right maybe should have shot as his cross goes in behind the waiting Mackenzie. 

The game is hotting up as Leiston start to put in some solid tackles and their midfield come to life, but it is still Felixstowe who create as Hopkins crosses and Miles heads over followed up by Mackenzie who is put in by Matthews but his shot  beats the bar. Plenty of efforts on goal but few testing the keeper ! 

The wheels come off - A long cross field ball is not cut out by Butcher, the winger controls with skill and strides into our area as he bears down on goal Alex crashes in and a penalty is awarded and converted  1-1 Alex is booked.
And for the 1^st time in a while we become very wobbly at the back, clearances going everywhere and players being caught out of position, a Leiston free kick is not cleared with distance and a striker just shoots wide. We are now all at sea the Leiston attack that was nowhere in the 1^st half begin to function and their centre forward breaks clear with Tom coming to the rescue as he makes a good stop.
The Grinner and Liam make some ground down the left and win a corner in between the corner being taken Matthews gets a booking  which can only be for verbal, the corner is cleared to Kristian whose shot is saved and the ball is cleared.  

Kristian breaks from out of defence his pass finds a Leiston player who passes to a fellow team mate just inside our area, weather Tommy gets a touch on him or not he goes down 2^nd penalty is awarded and put away don’t quite believe it but we are somehow 2-1 down. The 3^rd penalty given away in two week’s against teams you just can't afford to give these luxuries to bearing in mind the other Woodbridge goal was direct from a fee kick.  

All three subs are introduced and changes are made to positions and we all expect the boys to mount a charge it does not come, Leiston strike the bar from a cross and although we win a few corners we do not look like getting back into a game that should have been won by half time and to cap a very frustrating night Jordan gets  sent off for a 2^nd yellow card  and Butcher pick’s up a booking for a clumsy tackle. I have given this team a lot of praise this season in the reports, so I hope they can take a bit of a bashing now, we never looked like getting back into the match, the team looked tired and lacking in ideas all over the field, we got outfought in midfield as Leiston got stronger and our defence looked very unsteady. 

Manager Clarke’s only comment that can be printed was we lost with a whimper, That’s the problem lads when you set the standard you have played this season it comes as a bit of a shock when that standard drops. It will be interesting to see how this team now responds two games left lets see if they finish with a flourish.  

MOM hard to say but Tom Noon did all that was asked of him, he cant be expected to keep out penalties.  

It was interesting to see and hear the Leiston celebrations after the game and how much it meant to them to win this game, a game I think they thought was out of their reach at half time.

  Colin

Thursday 19th February 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Woodbridge Town U18  2 - 1  Felixstowe & Walton United  U18 
Two goals from Severy saw the Woodpeckers maintain their unbeaten record in a close and entertaining game with Matthews replying for the Seasiders.

Team: Noon / Haighton / Elllwood / Powell / Butcher / Reynolds (White) / Smith T / McCallum / Smith  J  (Matthews) Mackenzie / Hopkins
Sub not used Wainwright. 

The late running Jordan Matthews was replaced by Hopkins upfront with Josh Smith coming in on the left side of midfield for this top of the table clash against the favourites for the league and much was expected after the feast of football served up earlier this season in the corresponding fixture at Dellwood.
Woodbridge look to have fielded a very strong line with many players from both sides already representing their clubs at reserve level.Big Kev found time to be at the match before jetting off again this time to the far east. Our very own Judith Chalmers, have a nice time Kev. 

Woodbridge started in typical Woodbridge style, no more than two touch football from back to front and it was proving very hard for us to get hold of the ball, and from one of  these moves the sturdy Severy fire’s over when he might have done better. We needed to get tighter to the Woodbridge boys and somehow try to stifle their impressive passing game and this we did led by Tommy Smith we started to get our tackles in and were becoming competitive, but it took a Tom Noon save to keep us in the hunt after a loose back pass was not cleared, and he had to perform again as a good cross from Woodbridge is again not cleared and Tom has to make a block, at this stage Woodbridge are taking the honours.  

We slowly but surely  start to get into the game Butcher shoots from distance the keeper saves but does not hold onto the ball,  we have nobody coming in for the rebound and the keeper has time to regain control. Our first real chance of the game comes Liam plays in a floating ball Mackenzie gets in front of  the keeper flicks on with his head and the ball just rolls narrowly wide of the post. Matt starts to come to life he breaks down the right gets a shot in,  the keeper again saves but  can not hold onto the ball but as before has time to recover and the danger passes.
Just when it seems we are getting into the game we go to sleep a cross from the right finds a Woodbridge player totally unmarked he has all the time to size up his shot which beats Tom but not Kristian who makes a great goal line stop the ball rebounds, the striker must score this time but  Kristian is in the right place again to clear off the line ‘ great defending’ We only just get through this drama when the ref awards a free kick to Woodbridge on the edge of our area, up steps the left footed Severy and he fires around our wall into the left hand corner of the net giving Tom no chance 1-0 to the Peckers. 

We hit back Kristian fires a good deep free kick into the Woodbridge area nobody deals with it and it goes through for a goal kick after causing some anxiety Felixstowe start to string together some good moves Hopkins has a shot saved before putting Matt through with a good pass that finally goes for a corner which is taken well by the keeper. Even though he is playing upfront The Grinner is making some good telling passes and from one of these the keeper again just gets in ahead of the closing Mackenzie. Tommy gets in on the act and cracks a shot past the post, while at the other end Haighton breaks up a good move but  concedes a corner which comes to nought. Butcher and Josh interchange passes down the left before Josh’s cross is taken well by the keeper. Will Reynolds has a shot from long distance as our attempts on  goal  increase but as yet most have been at the keeper or wide.
Miles Powell finishes the half with a great long pass to Mackenzie who wins a corner but again the cross is to close to the keeper and he takes it with ease. 

Despite Woodbridge’s possession we have created more openings and just need to get in that killer finish, but what a good game between two very talented set’s of players. Half time comes with us still trailing by the one goal but very much in the game, one observation we are not as noisy as we can be.
Wood bridge start the 2^nd half by winning two corners, one after a stop by Miles halting  a good attack down our right, the corners are defended well and we go on the attack, Mackenzie breaks from the half way line and gets in a shot that goes wide. We are now having most of the attacking play and a lovely little lob from Luke nearly gets us level but the keeper stretches and saves well. Will Reynolds is well involved down our right seeing plenty of the ball and playing well, while Tommy and George in the centre of midfield are more than holding their own.
Kristian is having a good game and again knocks in a long free kick that causes the keeper problems,  the ball just falls just wide of  Powell and the danger passes. 

A lovely passage of play follows Ellwood who is having his normal solid game in defence wins a great tackle gets up chases and stops the ball going out for a Woodbridge throw  and plays a good ball to get us moving again  ‘Total Determination and Grit’ Butcher starts a attack down the left finds McCallum who sets up Tommy for a shot but again it lacks the pace to trouble the very useful Woodbridge Keeper. Manager Clarke brings on Matthews for Josh and Hopkins reverts to left midfield.
Felixstowe are now on top but just can’t find the opening, Mackenzie breaks again and perhaps should have laid the ball off to Reynolds who has found good space, but in the form Matt is in who can blame him for having a go on his own.
Liam cracks in a looping shot that the keeper palms away for a corner, the corner is again caught well. Woodbridge start to get going again and Alex makes two great tackles to break up dangerous looking attacks and from one of these he comes away with the ball and kick starts a attack.
But then very much against the run of play a innocent looking ball is played in low into the edge of our area, the striker tries to turn makes contact with Miles goes down and the keen eyed ref gives A penalty.   The striker Severy takes his chance and we find ourselves 2-0 down.  

We need a early reply and should have got it Reynolds feeds Mackenzie down the right, he puts in a good cross but Luke can only head over. A very unlike Woodbridge move sees a long ball latched onto by a Woodbridge striker and it takes a great blocking save from Noon to keep us in the game. The 2 M’s start to function and win a corner which the keeper takes again, we do not seem to have learnt our lesson of putting the ball in to close to this man who is very good at taking crosses. The green booted White replaces the hardworking Reynolds but it is the 1^st change that proves Clarkey knows what he talking about, The Woodbridge keeper kicks into touch to allow a injured player to be treated, Jordan returns the ball to the keeper who rolls it out to his defender Matthews tackles the defender and lifts the ball over the keepers head and into the goal.  

Woodbridge strike back and win a free kick Luke gets a booking, I wish I had a pound for every times I have reported that this season, the free kick sails over our bar. Time is running out but we are still creating chances Miles plays a one two with  Matthews and his low shot is saved by the keeper who in my view is turning out to be Woodbridge's man of the match. The ball enters our net  again after a long ball and a bit of a tussle but the lino’s flag is up. We  go straight back to the other end and a Powell corner finds Jordan but his effort is saved. Our last chance of the game comes as a Luke Hopkins header floes into the area and all it needs is a knock in at the post, but its not to be and the ball goes just wide.

So defeat and  the players are really down, but many of the watching crowd and management think the performance made up for any disappointment of losing. Everyone has put in solid performances against a very good skilful and technical team and more than matched them.  

My man of the match was hard to pick with so many having good games but Alex Ellwood  proved what a very good defender and Captain he is becoming and my vote goes to him.

Colin

Thursday 12th February 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  U18  3 A 1  Hadleigh United U18  Abandoned after 68 minutes
The snow started shortly before kick off and steadily increased until the white lines disappeared and abandonment became inevitable. Haddow put the visitors ahead on eight minutes with Mackenzie scoring twice for the Seasiders to lead at half time. Matthews increased the lead on the hour but as the weather continued to deteriorate Mr Scrivener was forced to bring proceedings to a halt.

Team:  Noon / Haighton / Ellwood ( capt) / Powell / Butcher / Reynolds / Smith T / McCallum/ Hopkins / Matthews / Mackenzie
Unused Subs ; Wainwright/ SmitH J / White / Murray

There where rumours it was snowing in Ipswich, But it never Snows in Felixstowe so with the Referee happy that  the pitch was ok and at that stage it looked good we started in pursuit of 3 more points to put the pressure on our rivals many now who have 7 games in hand, but we have points in the bag.
Tom Noon was making his debut in goal for the U18s with Dec away in Cuba and Miles Powell was back at Centre half, With both Will Reynolds and George McCallum starting in midfield, This meant 3 players from our u16s in the starting line up. 

Hadleigh start well and it needs a good clearance from skipper Ellwood to clear the danger after Smith is deposed as he turns just outside our box. Kristian Haighton is looking strong and a cross from him is well cut out, before Mackenzie starts his night with a shot that just goes wide. Haddow makes a strong run into our area Ellwood slips and he has all the time to lob Tom to give Hadleigh the lead not the first time this year we have gone one down. 

But we steady the ship and a through ball from Will find’s Matt who spins and shoots it deflects off a Hadleigh player before  the keeper pushes away at his near post for a corner. Not to be out done his partner upfront Jordan soon after rounds the keeper but just cant keep the ball from crossing the by line. It is still Hadleigh who are quicker to the ball as we struggle to get our game going. It start’s to snow Mackenzie gets in another shot which is deflected away for a corner which comes to nothing. At the other end Alex makes a great tackle to beat off Hadleigh again who are still looking dangerous. Matt breaks through but shoots wide but you feel it is only a matter of time before he puts one away.  

The snow is getting a bit more heavy Butcher breaks down the left he is tackled on the edge of the area, the ball falls to Matthews his neat little clip finds Mackenzie and he rolls it into the net 1-1 We are beginning to play some nice football Liam has a shot just wide, before the ever grinning but looking quite cold Hopkins picks out Mackenzie with a great ball he goes past the keeper with skill but can only find the side netting with his shot. Not to worry soon after Hopkins again feeds Mackenzie with a good floating pass, this time Matt controls well and fires into the back of the net 2-1 and the tide is turning.  

The crowd are now in turmoil about how much snow needs to fall before the ref calls it a day, Surely its not that bad at the moment, and comments like we played in a lot worse in our day are heard. It’s the turn of Matthews to plant the ball home after a through ball from Matt but he is marginally off side. Hadleigh are still in the game and a mazy run from their left winger puts two of our players on their bums before he fires into our side netting. Tommy and George are playing well in central  midfield, and still the chances are coming for Matt Mackenzie as yet again his partner in crime puts him through but his shot goes past the far post. Butcher is brought down after a good run to the edge of the area but we make nothing of the free kick as half time comes. 

The snow is now very heavy and most of the crowd expect the ref to call it off, Hadleigh seem very up for a early evening and who can blame them with a trip home to be made. One happy member of the crowd comes out with the current advert quote of ‘don’t worry lads it seems to be brightening up’ The ref is happy he can still see the lines, which is amazing really as we could hardly see him and don’t ask me if we made any subs it was all a bit of a white out over that side of the pitch. So after a short break we get on with it and a early ball over the top of us, results in Tom making a save. A lot of the play is down our left so I cant really say what is happening but it sounds good with the conditions in mind, we are still trying to play football all over the pitch. McCallum make’s a great tackle, Tommy picks up the ball and feeds Luke whose cross is well taken by the keeper ‘a good move’ Alex Ellwood who is having a solid game with Miles at the back is unlucky to be booked if it was for the tackle,  if it was for mouth it’s a waste of money we will see when the paperwork comes in’ Credit Crunch Remember’

The ref stops the game again and again we carry on, Kristian who is now  marauding down the right passes to Matt and his shot is pushed round the post by the Hadleigh keeper who is having a great game to keep the score down. Plenty of credit to our boys who have played in some bad weather this season but always seem to want to get on with it. Tommy then finds Matt who shot is well parried by the keeper, the ball comes back to Matt but this time his shot has no power in it. Matt is in the thick of things and he shoots after a Cross from Liam and yet again the Keeper saves on another night he would have had four or five, but full credit to him for being in the right place to receive the passes and crosses he has had. George McCallum finds Mackenzie who plays in Jordan and he dinks the ball over the keeper for a well deserved goal.  3-1 

Kristian picks up a booking before Jordan is pulled down, was it a penalty or not the Ref can’t see the lines on the edge of the area and after a estimated 64 mins in which we played some nice football and where heading for 3 points he calls a end to the game.
The correct decision but a sense of Disappointment was aired in the clubhouse from the management team and the spectators not so the boys who like all young men where busy playing in the snow, waiting for the lino to make a run for it to his waiting car, by the way has anyone seen Lee since.  

It never snows in Felixstowe ‘who said that’

Colin

Wednesday 4th February 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  U18  6 - 1  Ipswich Wanderers  U18   (4-1)
A spirited performance from nine man Wanderers but the Seasiders made the numerical advantage count to run out comfortable winners. For the second game running Matthew Mckenzie netted a hat-trick with a brace from Jordan Matthews and a well struck goal by Josh Smith completing the scoring. Paul Theobold scored the goal consolation goal for the visitors from the penalty spot.

Team: O’Brien / Haighton/ Ellwood  (capt) / Murray/ Butcher / Smith J (Hopkins)/ Smith T (Wainwright) White ( Stopher) Mackenzie/ Matthews. 

A bit of a change round this week Murray and Butcher replacing  Powell and Wainwright at the back while Glencastle and White in Midfield replaced  the unfortunate Kyle Clover and the ever grinning Hopkins who took his place on the bench this week with the management team,  still missing Big Kev who we understand has just been voted  the youngest looking 50 plus on his saga cruise. 

Total drama as the team returned to the theatre of dreams for their first home match since November 08 Wanderers have only 9 players of which 3 do not look to eager to play, with the game in the balance and the poor Wanderers manager trying to make the best decision for all concerned the gallant 9 take up the challenge and the game is on. The regular support are all in attendance and we take a good amount on the gate to cover our three I must say very amicable officials. All those that have played football will tell you that it is not always easy to raise your game against fewer players especially when you have already beaten a full strength Wanderers team 7-1 earlier in the season. 

The whistle goes and we are off  a early Glencastle corner is pushed onto the bar and a Josh shot brings  a good save from the keeper as we start the game heeding the gospel words of manager Clarke knock it around and tire them out. Mackenzie starts where he finished off at Diss by cleverly beating a defender before slipping the ball into the corner of the net 1-0  and the early breakthrough that games like this require is achieved. Matthews get his first chance as he breaks free but his shot is saved, Manager Clarke changes the Formation, Butcher Pushes into midfield and we go to three at the back.
Kristian produces a great cross which  Liam gets on the end of it but fires wide, while on the other side of the field Tommy White bravely challenges the keeper and wins a corner. But our game plan is beginning to fade to many long balls over the top, and to many players getting caught off side and to many players trying to do to much, Andy Clarke is heard to express his feeling’s from the bench, I tremble let alone the players, Hokins grins. 

Wanderers go forward and win a free kick which is well cleared by Murray, but this drives us on and a good pass from Tommy finds Josh who cracks the ball home to make it 2-0.  Wanderers keep going and hit back our defence fail to clear and Dec is forced into a good stop again this shakes us into action Kristian find’s Butcher with a good pass and he produces a low cross  Josh comes in at the far post and but fires wide from 3yds or maybe 2. But two goals become three, White breaks into the area is pulled down, and up steps Matthews to fire home the penalty. And he quickly make’s it two for the night as he plays pinball with the Wanderers defence before placing  the ball just Inside the near post  4-0 and the game as a contest is over. 

Josh and Liam interchange passes and a good cross comes in from Josh that Tom White just  heads over the Wanderers bar. Dec then saves at our end and Big Al is on hand to clear for a corner after a good run by the Wanderers striker. Wanderers show grit and Dec makes a stop the ball rebounds players fall and either Alex or Dec is accused of pulling down the Wanderers striker what ever the penalty is converted and Wanderers have a goal which could have been doubled as they fire in a shot that just clears the bar.  We finish the half on the attack great ball from Josh find Nathan whose cross is just missed by Jordan Ht 4-1

Manager Clarke reminds the boys keep it short two touches play football. Matthews to Mackenzie who rounds the keeper and knocks in from an angle 5-1, the two M’s up front are really building up a good exciting partnership and next it is the turn of Matthews who beats two or three with one of his bustling runs before the keeper blocks the shot. The game goes quite and a certain sister of one of our players comments that one of our players walk’s a bit  Like a penguin and various spectators then proceed to do the impersonation  some good some bad but all a bit of a laugh on yet another bone chilling night. The game continues and Tommy finds Liam with a great crossfield ball, Butcher slips it to Sam Stopher who has replaced the green booted White and his cross strikes the bar. Hopkins also take’s to the field to replace Josh who again has got his name on the score sheet and Weenie replaces the hard working Tommy Smith who always give value for money. Kristian moves into central midfield while Weenie fits into the right back spot. Jordan has a couple of chances one after good build up between Kristian and Matt  that’s bobbles wide of the goal, while the other flys over after a pass yet again from Mackenzie. 

The subs soon make a impact Weenie to Luke who puts in a great low cross and Mackenzie is on hand to tap in for his 2^nd hat trick in consecutive games. The skipper then enters the refs book ,a bit harshly for a tackle that never made contact with the player or the ball. We are now playing some nice football down the right Weenie finds Matt and he shoots wide, this is quickly followed by a Weenie ball out wide to Luke he finds Nathan who crosses from the by line where Matthews shot is blocked by the keeper. On the bad side we are still getting caught off side on far to many occasions when a bit of chatter might have helped.
Still down the right Nathan to Luke who finds Weenie and this time his cross is well taken by the keeper. The M & M partnership continues to blossom Jordan to Matt but the shot goes wide.  

Felixstowe continue to dominate a fierce shot from Haighton brings a Good save from the keeper.  Butcher fires just over and the game comes to a end, not a performance on par with the previous 3 weeks but the points are in the bag. Full credit to the 9 Wanderers players who gave their all and did not let their heads go down. The nights work is not finished as the dedicated dads take down the floodlights and are rewarded with one of Micks Cornish pasties and sausage rolls a lot of work goes on off the field to make sure a match can take place.

No mom this week , But a special mention to Dec who has only conceded 5 goals in his last 5 games not bad stats. 

Colin

Thursday 29th January 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Diss Town  1 - 5 Felixstowe & Walton United  (1-3)
Matt Mackenzie netted a hat-trick in a controlled and measured performance from the Seasiders at Brewers Green Lane this evening. Steve Dungar turned the ball home at Obrien's left hand post following a free kick to put the Tangerines ahead after only three minutes. Matt Mackenzie produced a stunning 30 drive to bring the sides level on 15 minutes and Luke Hopkins gave the Seasiders the lead on the half hour with a curling shot from the edge of the area. Diss enjoyed a spell of pressure as half time approached before an injury time goal from Josh Smith saw the visitors comfortably ahead at the break.  Matt Mackenzie scored his second two minutes after the restart following neat interplay with Jordan Matthews on the edge of the area and completed his hat-trick with a header at the far post from Powell's right wing cross four minutes later. The home side continued to work hard but the visitors remained in control to the final whistle.

TEAM: OBRIEN /  HAIGHTON ( REYNOLDS)  ELLWOOD CAPT / POWELL / WAINWRIGHT / SMITH J SMITH T ( MCCALLUM )  CLOVER / HOPKINS (WHITE) MATTHEWS MACKENZIE

One change from the winning team at Debenham Weenie Wainright coming in for Liam Butcher who was nursing a sore back and a recall for George McCallum on the bench. After visiting both Tescos and Morrisons on route to the ground ( Jan was reading the map)  we found the pitch and facilities at Diss As some of the best on our travels this season.

Our 3^rd away match on the trot in January started brightly with Matt Mackenzie breaking across the Diss area and putting in a Fierce shot that was pushed over by the keeper, it was to be the start of a very impressive performance from Mackenzie that can only lead to a 1^st team call up if he can continue in this strain of form. But it was Diss that looked the more likely and it took a great tackle by Josh on the edge of our area to stop a dangerous break, the resulting throw led a free kick being awarded to Diss, the cross was not dealt with and Steve Dungar popped up at the far right  post to tap in 0-1.

Diss continued to play some nice football coming forward in good shape and we found ourselves on the back foot but containing the situation. Slowly we start to come into the game Josh Smith has a half chance after a Powell free kick, before Matt wins a corner after some good work, the corner falls to skipper Ellwood who fires over. A typical bursting run from Jordan Matthews after a good through ball from Kyle sees him beat one and he is only stopped by a good block from the keeper as he tries to round him ,  the ball goes for a corner.
Diss continue to be dangerous from spot kicks as they have a number of very tall lads in their team, something manager Clark points out at half time that we have not really come up against this season.

Our improved play finally pays, as Matt Mackenzie ends his recent goal drought with a cracking shot from 25yds that  gives the useful Diss keeper no chance 1-1 The boys are now well on top with Luke Hopkins involved in a lot our good play with others showing some great touches a lovely chest down and pass from Mackenzie is followed by some  great  touches from the ever improving Powell who is showing great skill, awareness and distribution while being  backed up by the solid Ellwood. Diss continue to make a fist of it and Dec stops well as a forward bustles through and another free kick sails across our area but this time is tapped wide of the goal without any one taking responsibility to clear, an area of our defending that perhaps needs looking at. 

Matt fires in again from outside the area after more good build up work and this is followed by a Josh Smith dribble and shot but on both occasions the Keeper makes good saves. Mackenzie then controls again with his chest turns and runs at the defence he is tackled but Matthews wins the ball back, and plays it across the area to the waiting grinning Luke Hopkins who curls his shot beautifully into the yop right hand corner of the net 2-1 

It’s a old saying I first heard it to describe a certain Ipswich winger Charlie Woods, when I heard someone say he was on fire, well Mackenzie was on fire after a good ball from Smithy cant quite remember if  it was Tommy or Josh so ill just say Smithy he turns beats his marker easily and brings yet another save from the keeper. At this stage the grins fades as Luke takes a nasty knock on the back of his lower leg and has to leave the field of play to a standing ovation, enter the green booted Tom White. Felixstowe continue to press and Josh Smith wins a corner after a great run and cross, the corner comes in and Powell rises like a Scottish salmon seems to hover in midair and just nods over, he seems to have acquired a new nick name from the manager ,’ Lurch’ seems a bit unfair but who's going to argue if they want a game the following week. 

Diss are finishing the half well without really testing our goal, until Mackenzie breaks and his good pass finds Josh Smith just inside the area who lifts his shot over the advancing keeper 3-1 HT. 

I arrive in the dressing room to find manager Clarke grasping Jordan Matthews left leg high in the air and quoting if you don’t use it more it was coming off, things calm down and he goes onto say the next goal is vital.

Straight after the break Tommy Smith finds Matthews who barges through the defence and passes to Matt Mackenzie whose well struck low shot whizzes past the keeper from just inside the area 4-1
We are now attacking down both flanks and a crafty free kick by Powell finds Weenie who has had a solid game and he puts in a good cross that the keeper does well to hold. The next attack seals the game and is one of the best worked goals  of the season. Jordan finds Miles with a great pass down the right, Miles takes the ball to the dead ball line and puts in a lovely tempting cross and who’s their but Matt Mackenzie to head home and complete his well deserved hat trick. 5-1 

Kyle Clover is the next to test the overworked Diss keeper who saves his shot well, and he then palms away a Powell effort. George McCallum and Will Reynolds replace Tommy Smith and the well built Haighton who has had a very solid game at right back and brings a few wolf whistles from the crowd as he makes his way to the dressing room. Our defence is sill holding up as Powell clears over is own bar from a corner, and from this Dec punches away. The game is starting to fizzle out as Matthews put Mackenzie through and again the keeper saves, this is followed soon after as Matt has the ball in the net but is ruled out off side from a Powell free kick. Smith blazes wide when in on goal, and Matthews does well again to hit the by line but his cross is a bit to hard and flashes across the area. Mackenzie is still working hard tackling back on the half way line, but it is Dec who has the last say as he closes down a Diss Forward when in on goal, Dec sometimes gives the faithful a few heart stopping moments but only 4 goals  conceded in the last 4 games says a lot for him and the defence.  

Their was no need to ask Manager Clarke who was MOM a great all round performance was shown by Matt Mackenzie backed up by the whole squad.  

On a much sadder note I am very sorry to have to report that Kyle Clover who has been in great form for the U18s and Reserves broke his leg while playing for the reserves on Saturday.  We all wish Kyle the very best and a very quick return to the game , he will be missed.

Colin Butcher

Wednesday 21st January 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Debenham LC  2 - 4  Felixstowe & Walton United  (1-0)
An excellent performance from the Under 18s as they recovered from a goal down at the break to defeat Debenham who held a 100% record going into the game. Second half goals from Josh Smith and Jordan Matthews turning the tide and bringing the points back to the coast.

Team : O.Brien/ Haighton/ Ellwood Capt / Powell / Butcher (Wainwright)/ Hopkins T.Smith ( Glencastle)/ Clover/ J. Smith ( White) / Matthews /Mackenzie. 

With assistant manager big Kev away on his winter saga cruise accompanied by his carer Lee and Sam Stopher absent, Manager Clark returned Josh Smith and Kyle Clover to the starting line  with Wainwright and Glencastle returning to the bench.
We also welcomed Kevin Canham to the dug out who is going to be helping out Andy for the rest of this season and next. 

The pitch was just about playable with every step the lads making causing a amazing splodging sound that I had never heard before, but with Debenham only playing 6 league fixtures so far they were keen to get this game on and increase their unbeaten run of six wins out of six.
Tommy and Kyle made a positive start in the centre of midfield as we took control very like the Walsham game without really troubling the sizable Debenham keeper and a good early cross from Tommy  was not given the attention it deserved from our strikers. 

The goal area we were defending was in a poor condition and Dec took time to pass a ball out to Butcher who was tackled, with the resulting angled shot well held by Dec. Dogged persistence by Butcher won us a corner down the left as we continued to try and knock the ball around, this corner was followed by another but again not creating any real chance to open the scoring. This chance then came ! A Debenham goal kick was headed firmley back into the DLC half by Kristian, Matthews gained control and slipped his pass through to Mackenzie and with the goal screaming ‘Let me have it’ he blazed over.

Debenham where now coming more into the game playing a more direct route to goal, and a break down the left  after Kristian lost the ball results in Dec making another good stop at his near post. We where trying hard but it was not just happening even though we still had the majority of the play with the hard working Clover and Matthews giving their all. At the back Miles was having an up and down game overrunning the ball at times as it got stuck in the mud but then producing a great tackle to thwart a dangerous looking Debenham attack.
A good looking ball in the DLC area was just missed by a flick of his head from Jordan while a Debenham midfielder was given to much time on the ball as his shot clears the bar. 

Remember Bryan Gunn local derby Norwich vs The Town & Paul Robinson England vs Croatia you can now add Declan O’Brien Fxt & Walton vs Debenham and I am sure he won’t be the last. Powell, perhaps should have knocked the ball out wide, plays the ball back to Dec it bumps slips slides so does Dec and somehow ends up in our net with I think a Debenham player just getting a touch as it crosses the line and saving Miles from getting on the score sheet.
Stunned Silence from the away support.

We try and hit back Matt is narrowly offside from a Tom Smith  through ball and then has a shot well held by the keeper. Alex rallies his troops as again Debenham come forward a good move finds a  DLC player free in the area After he turns our defence but with only Dec to beat he puts the ball over 2-0 at this stage and it could have been a bit dodgy.
And for the 1^st time in a few games we are being outfought, not clearing our lines in the sticking mud and generally looking on the back foot. A Debenham free kick flashes across our area and goes for a corner, which is well punched away by O’Brien who has done well in what is a mud bath of a area.

The half time whistle comes at the right time, and as our legions head for the warmth of the bar I decide to go to our dressing room sure that it would be quite hot in their as well. But the anger management classes must be working as a very calm Andy Clarke sits them down and goes through what is and what is not not happening. They listen ,they take it in and return to the field of play and it says a lot about this group of players they then put it into practise, but not before Butcher decides not to head a ball clear but then blocks the resulting shot to save his blushes.

So we begin to take Debenham apart a Josh Smith cross finds the grinning Hopkins who misses with when one on one with the keeper. Liam fires in a shot from 25 yards that the keeper does very well to push onto the post and out for a corner. He then makes a run starting from inside his own half beating two players before going in between two more and only the keeper making a great block as he runs out of pitch denies him from what would have been a goal to remember. But the equalizer was not long to come from the resulting corner taking by Luke,  Josh Smith is on hand to tap in 1-1.

Tommy feeling a pull in his leg departs after putting in a lot of hard work and is replaced by the returning and gifted Nathan Glencastle. The pitch is really starting to tell and at times looks like the chair fence at the Grand National with players dropping all over the place, but too our credit it is the Debenham players who seem to be feeling it more than us, as all 3 of their subs are quickly used up. We continue to press and Matt fires wide after being put through by the impressive Clover.
The ref  then makes 2 decisions on penalties a Powell challenge in our area and then as Matthews rounds the keeper he also is brought to the ground but the ref who is having a good game in very poor conditions gives play on in both cases.
The lead is taken, Luke Hopkins turns and shoots the keeper saves and again Smith is on hand to finish. 2-1, I am told one of Joshs goals was a overhead spinning special, I must have been to far away to confirm this.

Next it is Glencastle who breaks from midfield and  shoots and in the scramble that follows Jordan Matthews gets the final touch a goal his performance deserves, We need this boy to progress at our club he must be a defenders nightmare with the work ethic he has, or for those not sitting GCSE’S he works hard.
Glencastle shoots just over before we seal the match, Clover crosses Matthews controls and shoots on the turn and into the net 4-1, A amazing comeback from a talented bunch of players that could go far if they want it enough.

Wainwright for Butcher and White for J.Smith as Debenham go down to 10 men as one more of their players picks up a injury. And you know what they say about 10 men and Debenham prove this by picking up their game and getting a goal back with a tremendous shot that loops over Decs head from 25 yds. But we finish with a flourish with Wainwright and Hopkins combining well down the left to set up a good cross, and a Glencastle shot again parried away by the keeper and finally Matthews being denied his Hat trick when well tackled at the last minute. 

Final whistle and a great 2^nd period and three fully deserved points ‘ WELL DONE BOYS YET ANOTHER ENTERTAINING EVENING’ 

Manager Clarke gives MOM to Kyle Clover followed closely by Jordan Matthews for myself it was just the other way round but again all the boys proved what a good team they are becoming with very few players not living up to the standards being set.

Colin Butcher

Thursday 15th January 2009 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Walsham le Willows  0 - 1  Felixstowe & Walton United  
Miles Powell scored the only goal of the game to secure three points and 2nd place in the table for the Under 18s this evening.

TEAM; O’BRIEN; HAIGHTON; ELLWOOD (CAPT); POWELL; BUTCHER; HOPKINS ( REYNOLDS); MATTHEWS; SMITH T; STOPHER (WHITE); MACKENZIE; WITCHALLS  (CLOVER) 

THE FIRST GAME OF THE NEW YEAR A TOUGH ONE AGAINST WALSHAM WHO HAD ALREADY GAINED A GOALESS DRAW  ON THEIR VISIT TO DELLWOOD THIS SEASON. WE HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO BIG ROD, WHO FOLLOWING HIS INJURY AT WANDERERS,  HAS DECIDED TO CONCENTRATE SOLELY ON HIS PROMISING FUTURE IN GOLF, WE WISH HIM ALL THE BEST OF LUCK AND CAN ONLY GUESS HOW FAR HE COULD HAVE GONE IN LOCAL FOOTBALL 

WITH NATHAN GLENCASTLE NOT CHOSEN FOR THE SQUAD TOMMY SMITH CAME IN FOR HIS LONG AWAITED START IN CENTRAL MIDFIELD. A VISIT TO OUR CHANGING ROOM PRIOR TO THE START SAW THE TEAM CAPTAIN  PLEADING THE CREDIT CRUNCH AS TO WHY A CERTAIN FINE HAD NOT BEEN PAID, I DO THINK SOMETIMES THE PRE MATCH DRESSING ROOM CAN BE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN SOME MATCHES, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO GO TO MY SEAT WHEN A CERTAIN CENTRE HALF WAS THREATENED WITH PHYSICAL HARM IF HE DID NOT HURRY UP AND GET OUT FOR THE WARM UP, I’M SURE CLARKEY WAS ONLY TEASING ! 

AS THE LAST GAME FINISHED THIS ONE STARTED BOTH TEAMS NOT GIVING A GREAT DEAL AWAY, BUT WHAT WAS EVIDENT FROM THE START WAS THE WORK OF TOMMY SMITH GETTING IN SOME TELLING TACKLES AND JUST FAILING TO OPEN UP THE WALSHAM DEFENCE WITH  SOME WELL MEANT PASSES JUST BEING INTERCEPTED.

OUR FIRST EFFORT OF NOTE WAS CREATED BY SAM STOPHER WHOSE CROSS FINDS MACKENZIE, BUT HIS SHOT GOES OVER. THE GAME REMAINS TIGHT BUT  THE FEELING WAS THAT WE HAD THE EDGE AND WERE DOING MOST OF THE ATTACKING, LEADING TO A SHOT WELL TAKEN BY THE WALSHAM KEEPER  FROM HOPKINS.
MOST OF THIS SQUAD IN MY OPINION HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF SKILL AND IT WAS MILES POWELL WHO LIT UP THE NIGHT, FROM A FORWARD WALSHAM PASS HE SHOWED GREAT CONTROL TO CUT IT OUT, GOT THE BALL DOWN WALTZED PAST TWO PLAYERS AND THEN PLAYED A LOVELY BALL THAT WAS JUST CUT OUT THAT WOULD HAVE SENT US FREE DOWN THE LEFT,  IT WAS WORTH THE ENTRANCE FEE, IF I HAD PAID. 

SLOWLY WALSHAM STARTED TO CREEP BACK INTO THE GAME AND AFTER ONE GOOD PASSING MOVE IT TOOK A GREAT TACKLE FROM ALEX ELLWOOD DEEP IN OUR OWN AREA  TO DENY A SHOT GOING IN. WE NEED TO MAKE OUR POSSESSION COUNT AS ONE CROSS FROM MACKENZIE ROLLS RIGHT ACROSS THE WALSHAM AREA WITH NO ONE ON HAND JUST TO TAP IT IN, WHILE ANOTHER CROSS FROM THE LEFT FROM STOPHER IS CHALLENGED FOR BY MACKENZIE AND THE KEEPER HAS TO PUSH AWAY FOR A CORNER.
AFTER THIS CORNER BREAKS DOWN A BIT OF FRUSTRATION FROM BUTCHER LEADS TO A HEAVY TACKLE THAT EARNS HIM A BOOKING, OH DEAR  WHAT ARE GOING TO SELL THIS TIME LIAM. 

THE BOYS ARE NOW IN TOTAL CONTROL AND PLAYING THE BALL AROUND WELL ON WHAT IS A VERY HEAVY SURFACE - WE JUST NEED THAT FINAL BALL TO BREAK DOWN THE WELL ORGANISED WALSHAM DEFENCE LED BY THEIR VERY GOOD CAPTAIN AT CENTRE HALF.  KRISTIAN IS SEEING A LOT OF THE BALL DOWN THE RIGHT AND WITH LIAM ON THE LEFT BOTH OUR FULL BACKS ARE GIVING US SO MANY ATTACKING OPTIONS AND CAUSING WALSHAM GREAT HEADACHES. BUT STILL WE CANT GET THAT GOAL THAT ORE PLAY DESERVES AND THE WALSHAM KEEPER AGAIN DOES WELL TO TAKE A GOOD CROSS FROM JORDY MATTHEWS WHO NEVER SEEMS TO STOP AND HAS ENERGY GALORE. 

FINALLY KRISTIAN DRIVES IN A FREE KICK FROM JUST INSIDE THE WALSHAM HALF AND IN GHOSTS MILES POWELL TO GLANCE HIS HEADER PAST THE KEEPER  1-0 AND A BIG SIGH OF RELIEF CAN BE HEARD FROM MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTERS. BUT AS WE HAVE DONE BEFORE OUR FOOT COMES OFF THE PEDAL WALSHAM WIN A CORNER AND DEC DOES AMAZINGLY WELL TO PUSH  IT AWAY FROM THE DANGER AREA. WE HIT BACK AND MACKENZIE FIRES WIDE AND THEN IS JUST ROBBED AFTER A GREAT THROUGH BALL FROM SMITH  PUT HIM IN ON GOAL.
THE HALF ENDS WITH WALSHAM HAVING A GOOD PATCH WITH A SHOT OVER OUR BAR BUT NOT REALLY THREATENING OUR SOLID LOOKING DEFENCE. 

HALF TIME COMES AND  TWO QUESTIONS COME TO MIND.   HAS KRISTIAN GOT A FUTURE IN FOOTBALL OR SHOULD RUGBY BE HIS SPORT AND WHY DID KEVIN NOT BUY LEE ANY SOCK TIE UPS OR TAPE FOR CHRISTMAS, STRANGE BUT TRUE. A GOOD HALF TIME CHAT WITH FIRST TEAM MANAGEMENT WHO AGAIN HAVE SHOWED HOW COMMITTED THEY ARE BY COMING TO WATCH THE U18’S AGAIN AND A HOT CUP OF COFFEE MEANS I MISS WALSHAMS BEST CHANCE OF THE MATCH AS DEC BEATS THE WALSHAM FORWARD TO THE BALL  AND CLEARS WELL. 

BUT WE SOON GET BACK INTO OUR FLOW AGAIN, MACKENZIE CREATES A CROSS AND THIS TIME ITS LEE WHO CANT KEEP HIS SHOT LOW AND IT GOES OVER THE BAR. A GOOD BALL FROM STOPHER FINDS MATTHEWS WHO ROUNDS THE KEEPER BUT JUST RUNS OUT OF SPACE WHEN READY TO SHOOT. WE ARE FLOWING NOW, BUTCHER THREADS A PASS THROUGH TO MATTHEWS HE SETS UP WITCHALLS WHOSE SHOT IS CHARGED DOWN AND HAIGHTON’S FOLLOW UP SHOT IS WELL SAVED BY THE KEEPER.
IT REALLY IS GOOD STUFF BUT WE NEED THAT 2^ND GOAL STOPHER IS JUST CAUGHT OFF SIDE WHEN THROUGH ON GOAL AND MATTHEWS GETS BOOKED FOR WHAT WAS NO MORE THAN A BIT OF ARGY BARGY BUT OVERALL THE OFFICIALS ARE HAVING A GOOD GAME.
MY ONLY WORRY IS THAT WE ARE MISSING A SNIFFER AROUND THE 6 YARD BOX AS SO MANY CROSSES HAVE GONE IN WITH NO ONE ON DUTY IN THAT PART OF THE FIELD. 

MATT MACKENZIE IS STILL WORKING HARD AND A HAS A GREAT MAZY RUN THAT EXCITES THE CROWD, THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A GREAT MOVE DOWN THE RIGHT,  KRISTIAN FREE’S LUKE HIS GOOD CROSS FINDS LEE WHO HAS MADE A GREAT RUN TO THE FRONT POST BUT AGAIN HIS SHOT IS WELL SAVED BY THE WALSHAM KEEPER WHO IS HAVING A GOOD NIGHT. KYLE CLOVER REPLACES LEE WITH MATTHEWS MOVING UP FRONT. SMITH CONTINUES TO HAVE A GREAT GAME HE FEEDS HAIGHTON WHO GETS THE BALL OUT TO HOPKINS WHO GOES ON A GOOD RUN BEFORE PASSING TO MACKENZIE HE BEATS HIS MARKER BUT THEN BLAZES OVER -  WHAT A GOAL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN !

BUT THE PLAY NOW COMING FROM OUR BOYS IS AS GOOD AS SEEN FOR A LONG WHILE, AGAINST WHAT IS A VERY USEFULL WALSHAM TEAM. BUTCHER AND STOPHER CONTINUE TO CAUSE PROBLEMS DOWN THE LEFT AND A CROSS FROM THE BY LINE AFTER A GOOD RUN FROM BUTCHER GOES FOR A CORNER. KYLE CLOVER CRACKS A SHOT JUST PAST THE POST BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THE ONE GOAL AND HOPE  OUR DEFENCE CONTINUE TO DOMINATE, THIS THEY DO AND ELLWOOD MAKES SOME GREAT INTERCEPTIONS AS WALSHAM LOOK TO GET BACK INTO THE GAME. 

WILL REYNOLDS MAKES HIS DEBUT REPLACING THE GRINNING HOPKINS WHO HAS HAD A FINE GAME AND TOM WHITE COMES ON FOR SAM STOPHER WHO HAS RUN HIMSELF INTO THE GROUND AND HAS JUST HAD HIS FREE KICK FROM THE EDGE OF THE AREA SAVED AFTER MATT MACKENZIE WAS HAULED DOWN.  WE SHOULD NOT HAVE WORRIED THE FINAL WHISTLE GOES AND ENDS A GREAT TEAM PERFORMANCE THAT HAS LIMITED WALSHAM TO JUST A FEW ATTEMPTS ON OUR GOAL. 

BUT WHILE YOU ARE ONLY 1-0 UP AND THE REF IS PLAYING A GREAT  AMOUNT OF EXTRA TIME AND THE PERSON YOU ARE SITTING NEXT TO KEEPS SHOUTING THINGS LIKE “SHALL WE BOOK OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION REF” NO NAMES NO PACK DRILL BUT I’M MARRIED TO HER YOU DO GET SLIGHTLY WORRIED THAT YOU MIGHT NOT GET  THE RESULT YOU SO SURELY DESERVE.  

MANAGER CLARKE NAMES TOMMY SMITH MAN OF THE MATCH FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY LIAM BUTCHER, BUT PRAISES ALL THE TEAM FOR A GREAT PERFORMANCE.  FOR MYSELF IT WOULD BE UNKIND TO PICK ANY ONE PLAYER SO MANY PERFORMED WELL, ALL I CAN SAY IT IS EXCITING TO THINK WE HAVE ALL THESE GOOD YOUNG PLAYERS IN THE RED AND WHITE OF FXT & WALTON AND NEED SHOOTING IF WE DON’T MAKE THE MOST OF THIS.

    Colin Butcher

Thursday 18th December 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Framlingham Town  1 - 3  Felixstowe & Walton United  (1-1)
The Under 18s moved to 3rd in the table with a win at Framlingham this evening thanks to goals from Kyle Clover (2) and Lee Hopkins.

Team: O'Brien: Haighton: Powell: Ellwood : Butcher : Smith ( White) Clover: Matthews: Hopkins:
Witchalls: Mackenzie
Sub not used Wainwright

With manager Andy Clarke absent due to his Christmas Jolly I managed to wangle my way into the inner circle assisting the poet Witchells for the evening. A small squad with several familiar faces missing travelled to Fram a team well beaten by us not too long ago.
It was still a strong looking line up that took to the pitch, a pitch which looked good from a distance but once trod upon was very heavy, and the goal areas quite boggy.
We looked good at the start without creating any clear cut chances, but it was soon obvious this was going to be a harder game as Framlingham with a couple of new faces looked up for it, and they started to cause us problems from a series of corners and free kicks, resulting in a goal being disallowed from one corner that was judged to have gone out of play before being headed in.
This sparked us into life and Josh Smith exploded down the right and his good low cross was bundled in by the grinning Luke Hopkins although the goal seemed to be claimed by many others. 1-0

We pushed on looking for a 2nd decisive goal with Jordan Matthews covering amazing amounts of ground and causing great problems for the Fram defence who seemed to want to play the ball from the back in Woodbridge style but not quite getting it right.
Then something stated to go astray one or two seemed to go off the pace as if they where saving their energy for the pulling of the Christmas crackers, and a worried frown appeared on the caretakers managers brow.
Fram take a quick free kick the player is not closed down and his shot is deflected past Dec 1-1 they celebrate like the league and cup double has been achieved ' good to see'. Fram again break in midfield, again the player not closed down this time the shot bobbles, looks like it is going to bounce over Dec who manages to get a hand to it and somehow it hits the bar and goes over.
Half Time comes at the right time.

Inside the dressing room, it was decided this was not the sort of pitch to run with the ball to much, it was not the sort of pitch to make long passes on and it was time for us to go out and win the game, or as one player put it lets not spoil flipping Christmas and he did use the word flipping.

Anyway we went out a changed team Clover and Matthews took total control in the middle of midfield and Josh Smith moving to left mid created three good chances for himself within the first 10 mins the first bringing a good save from the Fram keeper when one on one.
We continued to press, Mckenzie had a good run holding off defenders but again his shot was well saved as was Jordan Matthews who found good space in the area but not the back of the net.
Finally our improved performance paid off with Kyle Clover netting with a good shot from just inside the area 2-1 , and it was the same player given the advantage by the ref who took a speculative shot from range that kept low and went into the corner of the net 3-1 and game over.
Relief all round, more goals could have come from a Powell header and a Powell shot that was disallowed
but maybe this would have been tough on a Fram side that had given a good account of themselves.

This was a well earned victory in a very physical game with tackles flying in a plenty, on a very heavy pitch, So well done to all the boys and lets look forward to getting some good results in the new year against some of the teams at the top of this division.
My man of the match was Miles Powell who has that great knack of never looking hurried creating space for himself and has great distribution of the ball not always a feature of centre halves. The whole of the defence looked good going forward as well as in their main task of stopping the opposition
from scoring.
Kevs mom was Kyle who had a great 2nd half and with Jordan was the main reason we dominated in the 2nd period.

Finally the Suffolk F.A. would like to thank Liam, Grinning Luke and Jordan for their £ 24.00 contribution towards their Christmas bash.
I would like to wish all at the U18S players and the inner circle a very happy CHRISTMAS

Colin Butcher

Wednesday 26th November 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  3 - 6  Woodbridge Town   (1-4)
Another high scoring game for the under 18s with Matthews, Ellwood & McKenzie on the score sheet for the Seasiders but the talented Woodpeckers doubled that score to take the points from an entertaining contest.

TEAM: O’BRIEN, HAIGHTON, POWELL, ELLWOOD, BUTCHER, HOPKINS ( SMITH J)
GLENCASTLE, CLOVER ( SMITH T ) STOPHER,  MACKENZIE, MATTHEWS ( WITCHALLS)
SUBS NOT USED WAINWRIGHT, REYNOLDS.
 
NOTHING BETTER THAN A LOCAL DERBY TO STIR THE BLOOD, AND WHEN YOU ARE
PLAYING A  TEAM FROM WOODBRIDGE YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN FOR A HARD GAME, AND THIS WAS THE CASE EVEN WITHOUT SOME OF THEIR MORE EXPERIENCED
PLAYERS ON SHOW, THE TEAM THEY FIELDED WAS FULL OF GOOD PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE.
 
WITH ONE OF OUR MAIN MEN BIG ROD OUT TILL AFTER CHRISTMAS DUE TO THE
INJURY SUSTAINED AT  WANDERERS, MILES WENT BACK TO CENTRE HALF WITH
KYLE CLOVER GETTING A CHANCE IN CENTRE MID OR CENTRAL MIDFIELD FOR THOSE NEARER THE END THAN THE START. SAM RETURNED ON THE LEFT WITH NEW SIGNING TOMMY SMITH ON THE BENCH.
 
THE FIRST CHANCE OF THE GAME FELL TO MATT MACKENZIE WHO FIRED OVER WHEN WELL PLACED FROM A STOPHER CROSS AFTER GOOD BUILD UP PLAY. 
WOODBRIDGE STEPPED UP THE PACE AND BROKE DOWN OUR RIGHT THEIR FORWARD WAS NOT CLOSED DOWN AND WAS GIVEN TIME TO HIT A SHOT FROM THE EDGE OF THE AREA THAT TOOK A DEFLECTION AND LOOPED INTO THE NET 0-1.
 
IT WAS VERY EVIDENT THAT  WOODBRIDGE HAD SOME VERY STRONG AND QUICK FORWARDS AND THAT THEY WHERE VERY CAPABLE OF KEEPING THE BALL FROM AS FAR BACK AS FROM THEIR KEEPER, A TACTIC WOODBRIDGE  ARE NOW BECOMING WELL KNOWN FOR. EVEN SO IT WAS FELIXSTOWE WHO NEARLY STRUCK NEXT A GREAT CROSS FROM KRISTIAN, RESULTED IN A SHOT FROM MATT BUT THE KEEPER WAS WELL PLACED. 
FROM ANOTHER QUICK BREAK BY WOODBRIDGE A FREE KICK WAS AWARDED AND THE RESULTING SHOT FROM AROUND 25YDS STRUCK OUR BAR. A WOODBRIDGE PLAYER REACTS FIRST AND HIS CROSS IS SLAMMED INTO OUR NET  0-2
 
THE HOME CROWD ARE HUSHED ALL IS NOT WELL. TO THE BOYS CREDIT WE PICK UP OUR GAME GLENCASTLE PUTS A GREAT PASS TO STOPHER ON THE LEFT HE FIND MATTHEWS WHO CROSSES HARD AND LOW AND MACKENZIE BUNDLES THE BALL HOME  1-2  BACK IN THE GAME. 
WHEN ARE YOU AT YOUR MOST VULNERABLE ?  JUST AFTER YOU HAVE SCORED! LOAD OF NONSENSE, WOODBRIDGE BREAK DOWN THE MIDDLE, DEC COMES OUT PARRIES THE SHOT AND THE REBOUND IS  STRUCK FIERCELY INTO THE NET  1-3 NONSENSE 
ITS RAINING GOALS AND WE ARE GETTING MORE WET THAN WOODBRIDGE, WE ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO CLOSE DOWN THE PACEY WOODBRIDGE STRIKE FORCE AND NEED TO STEP UP OUR GAME
 
AND THAT’S WHAT WE DID, STARTING DOWN THE LEFT WITH LIAM FEEDING SAM BUT HIS GREAT CROSS NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION IT DESERVED, FOLLOWED BY CLOVER INTO MACKENZIE BUT AGAIN THE SHOT IS STRAIGHT DOWN THE KEEPERS THROAT,  GLENCASTLE FIRES OVER AFTER A CORNER FROM STOPHER WE ARE NOW WELL IN THE GAME WITH PLENTY OF POSSESSION AND CHANCES FALLING OUR WAY  BUT THEN THE UNBELIEVABLE WOODBRIDGE BREAK DOWN OUR RIGHT , THE WHOLE DEFENCE SEEMS TO GET PULLED OVER TO THE BALL AND NO ONE IS LEFT TO MARK AT THE FAR POST AS THE CROSS IS  THUMPED HOME 1-4.
 
ON EVERY OCCASION SO FAR WOODBRIDGE HAVE COME AWAY FROM A ATTACK WITH A GOAL, THANKFULLY THIS SCENARIO ENDS WHEN A WELL STRUCK SHOT IS SAVED BY DEC. 
WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE WITH SOME VERY GOOD PASSING MOVES, LIAM PUTS IN A GOOD CROSS WHICH AGAIN WE CAN NOT GET ON THE END OF. 
AGAIN DOWN THE LEFT SAM HAS A GOOD RUN AND CROSS WHICH IS CLEARED,  WE STRUGGLE TO MAKE WOODBRIDGE PAY FOR THE AMOUNT OF POSSESSION WE ARE HAVING  THE HALF ENDS WITH A LONG SHOT CUM CROSS FROM KRISTIAN NICELY PALMED OVER THE BAR BY DAWSON IN THE WOODBRIDGE GOAL AND A STOPHER HEADER THAT SAILS OVER.
 
HT 1-4  THE MANAGEMENT TEAM MUST BE PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT,  WELL KEV ANYWAY TO HAVE SO MUCH OF THE BALL AND BE THREE GOALS DOWN BUT A ENTERTAINING HALF WITH BOTH TEAMS SHOWING PLENTY OF QUALITY PASSING AND MOVEMENT
WE COME OUT MEANING BUSINESS A HOPKINS FREE KICK JUST SKIMS PAST MILES HEAD AND WE ARE BEGINNING TO GET OUR TACKLES IN, UNFORTUNATELY SAM STOPHER PICKS UP A BOOKING FOR NOT GIVING 10 YDS FROM A FREE KICK. 
SAM SOON MAKES UP FOR THIS,  A MOVE STARTS WELL IN OUR OWN HALF BUTCHER TO STOPHER WHO FINDS JORDAN MATTHEWS, AS HE ATTEMPTS TO GO PAST THE KEEPER HE IS PULLED DOWN, GETS UP AND  SCORES FROM THE RESULTING PENALTY 2-4 THE KEEPER IS LUCKY TO BE STILL ON THE PITCH NOT EVEN SPOKEN TO BY THE REF. STRAIGHT AWAY THE PACE OF WOODBRIDGE AND AGAIN OUR LACK OF CLOSING DOWN CAUSES DEC TO TRIP A WOODBRIDGE FORWARD AS HE MAKE’S HIS WAY ACROSS THE FACE OF OUR DEFENCE, PENALTY  SMASHED HOME 2-5
THE KEEPER IS LUCKY TO BE STILL ON THE PITCH NOT EVEN SPOKEN TO BY THE REF. WOODBRIDGE PLAYING SOME NICE CONTROLLED FOOTBALL  NEARLY INCREASE THEIR LEAD WHEN A CROSS FROM THEIR LEFT RESULTS IN A SHOT HITTING THE POST. 
MANAGER CLARK MAKES CHANGES BOTH SMITHS APPEAR TOMMY MAKING HIS DEBUT AND JOSH REPLACING LUKE HOPKINS  AND KYLE CLOVER. THE SKIPPER ELLWOOD BECAME THE 2ND FELIXSTOWE PLAYER TO BE BOOKED SHOWING HIS FRUSTRATION BY KICKING THE BALL AWAY,  A £ 8.00 KICK. AND THE EVENING GOT WORSE AS A GREAT THROUGH BALL FINDS THE WOODBRIDGE SUB WHO LEAVES LIAM BEHIND HIM ROUNDS DEC AND NEATLY PLACES THE BALL INTO OUR NET  2-6 , A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HITTING US ON THE BREAK WITH PACE, A PROBLEM WE HAD FACED ALL EVENING WITHOUT GETTING TO GRIPS WITH IT.
 
EVEN SO WE DID NOT GIVE IN AND CONTINUE TO CREATE CHANCES JOSH SMITH HAS A BLASTER THAT IS WELL SAVED, WHILE THE LUCKLESS MACKENZIE HAS A COUPLE OF HEADERS THAT HE CLIMBS WELL TO BUT JUST CANT FIND THE TARGET WITH. 
LEE WITCHALLS REPLACES JORDAN MATTHEWS AND IN THE SHORT TIME HE IS ON HAS A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS ON GOAL. THE EVENING FINISHES ON A HIGH NOTE AND A WELL DESERVED GOAL FOR THE BOYS EFFORTS.
AS ALEX ELLWODD RISES LIKE A NORWEGIAN SALMON AND HEADS IN FROM A STOPHER CORNER FINAL SCORE  3-6 WHAT A ENTERTAINING EVENING WITH PLENTY OF GOOD FOOTBALL FROM BOTH TEAMS AND WATCHED BY A GOOD SIZE CROWD.
 
MANAGER CLARK WAS NOT TO UNHAPPY, AND QUOTED PACE WILL ALWAYS CREATE PROBLEMS AS IT DID, BUT WAS HAPPY THAT WE ALSO CREATED AS MANY CHANCES AND WAS JUST MISSING THAT DEADLY TOUCH IN FRONT OF GOAL, THAT WOODBRIDGE HAD IN ABUNDANCE. QUICKER REACTION IN DEFENCE AND  CLOSING DOWN IN MIDFIELD ARE TWO AREAS TO BE WORKED ON.
 
MY MOM WAS SAM STOPHER ALWAYS A THREAT DOWN THE LEFT FLANK WHILE THE MANAGEMENT TEAM WENT FOR MILES POWELL YET AGAIN COOL AND COLLECTIVE ON THE BALL WITH GREAT DISTRIBUTION.  
LOCAL FOOTBALL LOOK LIKE IT HAS A LOT OF GOOD  TALENT COMING THROUGH BASED ON THIS MATCH.
 

Colin Butcher

Thursday 20th November 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Ipswich Wanderers  0 - 7  Felixstowe & Walton United   (0-4)
A magnificent seven for the Seasiders at Humber Doucy Lane this evening with goals from Matthews, McKenzie, Butcher, Clover, Hopkins, Smith and an o/g to complete the scoring.
Team: O’Brien, Haighton, Ellwood, Harston, (Parsley) Butcher, Hopkins, Glencastle, (Clover) Powell, Smith (Wainwright ) Mackenzie, Mathews.

The evening started badly when I was caught at the gate for the first time this season and  had to pay, but every cloud has a silver lining and luckily I had the wife with me, so while she delved into the  handbag I got a sneak team line up from the assistant manger.    

Two changes from last week Smith back from injury in for the missing Stopher and Matt Mackenzie returning to the starting line up instead of Lee Witchalls who also was absent.   

It did not take long for Felixstowe to find the Wanderers weak spot, the ball inside the right full back, twice in the first 10 minutes one a great pass from Powell set first Mackenzie then Josh Smith free on goal but on both occasions they seemed to overrun the Ball and the chances missed. In between this a well flighted free kick from Haighton was met with a fierce shot from Miles Powell that brought a super save from the Wanderers Keeper who pushed the ball over the bar.
Again down the left Butcher was put through but his cross was cleared and the early promise of a goal faded as Wanderers came more into the game and a promising attack from them was broken up by a fine tackle from Ellwood.

Felixstowe took a 2^nd breath and Powell again put Smith through but his shot sailed over the bar, this was followed by a Hopkins corner met by Powell but his effort went straight at the keeper who took it well, The pressure was building and a Haighton free kick was headed clear. Finally after some good passing in midfield Hopkins was put though down the right and his fine low cross found Mackenzie who tapped in from close range.   

Wanderers nearly struck back straight away, as we went to sleep at the back and a through ball found the Wanderers winger whose fierce shot forced Dec into a  good diving save, but generally our defence was on top with Rod winning some great balls in the air and Alex Ellwood cleaning up nicely behind him. The nails in the coffin came soon, Liam Butcher picked up the ball outside the area and after a mazy run that he put down to a stud missing from his boot fires pass the keeper who gets a hand to the ball before it crosses the line  2-0.
Nathan Glencastle frees Hopkins who is having a great half and again he fires in a  low cross which this time is diverted into the net by Jordan Mathews  3-0.
At this point I looked over to our version of Capello and Pearce, its up to you who is who, but both were smiling and relaxed, Football is a great game when your team are on top.
Glencastle and Hopkins were now playing some lovely football down the right and from one great move  that included  three 1/2s,  Luke again got in a good cross but Smithy could not take the chance.
Felixstowe playing  nice controlled football finished the half with a Smith corner being headed towards goal by Rod before the rebound was blasted into the net by the deserving Hopkins my man of the first half  4-0. 

Manager Andy Clarke sporting his New York Rapper gear went into the dressing room a very happy man after his team had given a great first half performance. 

The second half started slowly and it looked like both teams had accepted the result but Felixstowe continued at regular intervals to create chances, Mackenzie fired over and Luke and Kristian combined well before Kristian also put the ball over the bar. Kristian then made a great run that started from his own half and from his cross the luckless Josh Smith headed over. Felixstowe continued to probe the overworked Wanderers defence and Mathews seemed to be pulled back when through on goal after a great ball from Rod but no free kick was given, he then fashioned his own shot from the edge of the area that also cleared the bar.  By now manager Clarke must have had his next training session worked out how to get a shot or header under the bar. The game then hit a sour note, Rod who had been in great form all night landed badly and seemed to twist his ankle. He was taken from the field with the away supporters hoping the injury was not too bad as he would surely be needed for the big games coming up. Miles went to centre half with Jamie Parsley filling the central midfield slot. 

It took a while for Felixstowe to settle after the changes and Wanderers pressed for a goal which they nearly got when Dec trying to catch the ball headed it out to a Wanderers striker The shot was headed off the line by Ellwood but again the ball was struck towards goal and this time Butcher cleared off the line and the Felixstowe goal remained intact. Felixstowe pressed on and Kristian from another good run set up Smithy for a shot which the Keeper parried but soon after Josh Smith finally found the net with a strong shot from around 20yds after a Mackenzie effort had been blocked 5-0.
Five soon became six as Mackenzie’s shot was again saved by the keeper but he managed to cross the ball from the rebound and the luckless keeper put into his own net while trying to make up his ground. 6-0,

But it was not all over and Dec stopped a shot from a free kick in text book style “Oh if only the cameras where at the ground” and then pushed a good effort over the bar. Wainwright and Clover replaced the impressive Glencastle and Josh Smith and it was not long before Kyle Clover made his mark, Parsley who had done well since coming on fed Mackenzie down the right he pulled the ball back for Clover to place his left footed shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the area 7-0 and a well worked goal. 

There was still time for Dec to make one more good save before the final whistle went on what had been a impressive all round performance by the boys.
The match was well run by all 3 officials, and a big thank you to lino Les King who kept us entertained when things got quiet in the 1^st half with his floor show. Manager Clarke’s man of the match went to Liam, my own choice was Luke Hopkins followed closely by a host of players.

People have asked me to mention minutes of when things happened in the match,  In my opinion football is timeless broken only by periods of life that act as Half Time’s.
Now was that a Kevin Witchall’s moment.

    Colin Butcher

Wednesday 12th November 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  5 - 1  Framlingham  (3-0)
Goals from Glencastle 2, Powell and Matthews saw the Seasiders move to third in the table following a positive performance.
Team; O’Brian, Haighton, Ellwood, Harston, Butcher, Hopkins, Glencastle (McCallum), Powell, Stopher (Wainwright)  Witchalls, Matthews (Mackenzie)
Subs not used: Clover, Murray 

I had good feeling about this one with manager Andy Clarke able to put out a very experienced and strong squad, and I was proved right.
Keeper Declan O’Brian made his league debut in place of Will Fuller who has started a 6 week trial at Ipswich and in some ways we hope not to see Will back at Felixstowe.From the start Felixstowe ploughed into Framlingham and a early shot from Matthews was only parried by the keeper but no one was on hand to follow up.It was all of a bit of a rush but Felixstowe started to create down both flanks with both full backs getting forward and Haighton having a good cross cleared. 

Framlingham did cause a problem from a free kick that took a age to clear but this was only a small blip as a snapshot from Witchalls again rebounded off the keeper and was followed by some nice approach play down the right which resulted in a Kristian Haighton shot just going wide. For a time the game began to even out with Felixstowe failing to make the most of their possession and it took a great tackle from the fit again Alex Ellwood to stop a Fram striker in his stride.  A series of corners came and went with the takers not clearing the first man, but it was the impressive Miles Powell who had taken control of the midfield who came closest to giving Felixstowe the lead but his strong header from a Haighton free kick found the keeper well placed. Powell then released Matthews with a great pass but good defensive work pushed him wide before he got a shot in.

It was then the turn of the left and Sam Stopher who had already made some good runs found himself in space but his shot went unfortunately for a throw on the opposite side of the field. The pressure continued and in a goal mouth scramble Stopher had 2 shots followed up with a header from Witchalls but still the ball stayed out of the Fram goal and was cleared for a corner. The corner was taken short and Butcher put in a cross that was headed into the goal but was called off side surely a goal was not far away.
Rod Harston headed wide from another Haighton free kick As Felixstowe really started to knock the ball around but this was halted when a Fram player beat off the efforts of 3 Fxt defenders but  shot over. Finally the good football and pressure paid off a cross from Sam was headed into his own net by a unfortunate Fram defender, but the goal was made by Jordan Matthews never say die attitude as he chased down a ball that looked lost.

It had taken 25 mins to get the goal and within 5 minutes we had two more, the 2^nd a Luke Hopkins corner headed down by Rod and slammed away by the deserving Miles Powell. The 3^rd again a cross from Hopkins knocked back by Stopher and this time Jordan Matthews was on hand to finish and make it 3-0.
It was now all one way with Felixstowe moving the ball well from one side of the pitch to the other, Matthews fired over from yet another through ball from Powell and 2 crosses from Liam Butcher resulted in a missed chance from the grinning Hopkins and a header from Ellwood that struck the bar. Matthews again bustled his way through but the Fram keeper pushed the shot over the bar.

Halt time 3-0 with my man of the half being Miles Powell followed closely by the rest of the Team.

An interesting cup of coffee delayed my attendance at the start of the 2^nd half and  I missed the Fram keeper making two good stops from shots from Glencastle and Hopkins. The moves where coming thick and fast Witchalls to Butcher to Matthews and the finish from Nathan just going over the bar, this was followed with a Butcher cross being taken well just under the bar by the Impressive Fram keeper.
It was about now that Nathan Glencastle put his print on the game it started with a shot the keeper saved well,  but the keeper had no chance when from a good cross from the hard working Haighton, Nathan Glencastle powered his header into the back of the net and the fifth was soon to follow as Matthews released Hopkins and his rolled back pass found Nathan Glencastle who’s left footed curved shot found the top corner of the Fram net. And the game was well and truly over as a contest. 

Felixstowe continued to probe the Fram defence both down the left and right and Stopher went close from a Haighton cross, but to Frams credit they stuck to their task and it took a crunching tackle from Haighton to break up a Fram attack, before they finally got a consulation goal when a cross was not dealt with in the Fxt area and ended up being prodded into our net.
Just prior to this manager Clarke had brought on his 3 subs and especially Matt Mackenzie wanted to get into the act and was involved in most of what went on in the final part of the game and could easily have grabbed a hat trick.

It started with a Powell, Butcher move with Matt’s shot going  just past the post, then a great run and pass from Matt put Luke in but his shot cleared the bar, George McCallum then fired wide before Mackenzie again fired over from a good through ball. With time running out it was Butchers turn to miss a chance clean through he tried to round the keeper as advised by his manager but went to wide and his pulled back cross found Mckenzie but his header was again well saved.
Just before the whistle another good cross from Hopkins was just missed by Matt.

A splendid performance from the boys who played some very nice football, lets hope they can now carry this forward to some of the harder fixtures that are looming up.
After speaking to Andy Clarke he made Kristian Haighton his man of the match a much deserved choice, but all the boys did themselves proud.
Many of the boys spoke to me afterwards about the way they where lifted at half time by Asst Manager Witchalls who seems to have become a Poet !!

    Colin Butcher

Wednesday 29th October 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  1 - 2  Debenham LC  (0-1)

Team: Fuller; Wairwright (Clover); Powell; Murray: Butcher: Stopher: Glencastle: Hopkins ( Smith )
Witchalls (McCallum) McKenzie.
With 3 senior players missing in the shape of Ellwood, Harston and Haighton it is a credit to the squad that they still took to the field with a strong looking lineout against a Debenham team that had won all its four league games so far this term.
Felixstowe started brightly in what was going to be a tight encounter from the start with Luke Hopkins having an early chance, which was followed by a powerful shot from Lee Witchalls that just cleared the bar from outside the area.
The game was being battled out between the two areas with both keepers having little to do until a free kick from Debenham on 28 mins was knocked into our area, a nice bit of skill from Debenham's Reece Turner a product of the Kevin Witchalls' Academy allowed his team mate to fire the ball into the net giving Will no chance with Debenham's first real attempt on goal.

Felixstowe continued to play some bright football but were finding it hard to progress especially down the right hand side which seemed very congested and when they had the chance to transfer the ball to our left the option was not taken or the pass delayed, Just before half time Sam Stopher did get the ball whipped past the full back and floated over a great cross to the far post where Luke's shot was well blocked by the Debenham keeper and our best chance of the half was gone.

Man of the half was Miles Powell making his debut for the club he looked very composed at the
middle of a defence that had kept Debenham down to very few attempts on our goal.
The boys came out with a purpose in the 2nd half and for 25 mins played some of their best football
of the season, Stopher continued his runs down the left and put in two good early crosses but with
no one getting on the end of them, Then Liam Butcher broke forward but his shot just went wide, This was followed by another good cross this time from Hopkins that the Keeper took well and then Mckenzie found some space but fired over.
With the pressure building Stopher chasing back won the ball it was then played out to Lee Witchalls on
the right flank and from his fine cross Matt McKenzie rose high above his marker to power in a header.
A great finish to some lovely football and no more than Felixstowe deserved.
Felixstowe continued to press Hopkins had a shot on target, and then a good cross from Glencastle was
bundled past the post by Stopher when a goal looked likely.
From this point on and with Witchalls having to go off injured the game began to change, Debenham nearly took the lead after a mix up, but shot wide, but this was soon followed by a cross from the right that was allowed to carry across our area and was tapped in at the far post to give Debenham the lead very much against the run of play.
This seemed to deflate the boys and Debenham looked the sharper of the two teams for the remainder of the game and nearly added a third after a goalmouth scramble but Will made a great stop with his legs.
Clover and Smith were introduced but could not change the outcome and the game finished with all the points going to Debenham a bitter blow to the boys who at least deserved a share of the spoils.
Still onwards and upwards, we will now see what this bunch of lads are capable of with the next two games against Wanderers and Framlingham giving them the chance to get back on track.

Man of the match for me was Jordan Matthews who never stopped running and kept Debenham on their toes throughout.

In a brief after match interview manager Andy Clarke commented he was pleased with the all round performance but still had areas that he needed to work on, but the game had been a good advert for
Ridgeons Youth Football.

On a post note it was good to see the new Clubs Management team having a look at the Lads, I hope they saw enough to give them some real hope for the future.

Thursday 23rd October 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Hadleigh United  4 - 3 Felixstowe & Walton United  (3-1)
 

Manager Andy Clarke had to reshuffle his side for this visit to Hadleigh on what proved to be a entertaining evening played in wet and windy conditions.
Felixstowe started brightly but a mix up at the front post from a Hadleigh corner
handed our hosts the lead. We battled back and Matt Mackenzie scored a fine goal with a well placed shot from just inside the area and we now looked well in the game.
Jorden Matthews making a return from injury jinked through the Hadleigh defence but had his shot well
stopped while at the other end Will Fuller made a great pin point save to keep us on level terms.
At this point the game changed with Hadleigh playing a very direct approach and using the
conditions to their favour, A good swinging cross was headed in and then a long distance effort
found its way over Wills head and into the net to give Hadleigh a two goal lead, which was nearly
cut just before half time when a good through ball from Liam Wainwright put Matthews
through on goal but his shot went wide of the Hadleigh goal.

A few changes at HT saw the impressive Nathan Glencastle move into midfield and Alex Ellwood to centre half which produced a much improved performance from Felixstowe unfortunately this was not helped by a 4th Hadleigh goal which again resulted from a mix up in the Felixstowe area.
From here on in it was all the Seasiders and two goals from Luke Hopkins, and angled shot and a shot from a worked free kick put the seasiders back into the game,
Sam Stopher and Kyle Clover where introduced as we went all out for a goal and Sam was unlucky when he saw his shot rebound off the post, The remainder of the game apart from one more smart save from Will pushing a cross cum shot onto his bar was a mixture of back to the wall defending by A now agitated Hadleigh outfit and perhaps to many through balls from Felixstowe that ended up in the hands of the Hadleigh keeper or found our forwards in off side positions.

So defeat on the night to a team that used the elements well and cashed in on some indecisive work in our penalty area, But i cant help feeling the team that tried to play Football lost.

Many Congratulations to Will Fuller, Matt Mackenzie and George McCallum who have all been selected to represent Suffolk U16s vs Essex on the 2nd November at Hadleigh GOOD LUCK BOYS.

Wednesday 15th October 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  0 - 0  Walsham-le-Willows 
A very tight game that for long periods both defensives where in control of.
Felixstowe shaded the 1st period with Luke Hopkins heading over from close in after a great cross from Josh Smith.
2nd period to Walsham with the highlight being a great goal line headed clearance from
Alex Ellwood keeping Felixstowe on level terms. Late on Nathan Glencastle who worked his socks off in Midfield had a good chance to wrap up all 3 points for Felixstowe but fired wide.
Good strong performance's put in by Rhodri Harston and the skipper Alex Ellwood
at the centre of the seasiders defence. Probable about a fair result in the end with Walsham also having a good chance from close range that they to could not find the target with.

Wednesday 8th October 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  4 - 1  Stowmarket Town

Wednesday 1st October 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League - Central Division
Felixstowe & Walton United  1 - 2  Leiston  (0-1)

Wednesday 24th September 2008 - F.A. Youth Cup sponsored by E.ON - 1st Round Qualifying
Cambridge United  8 - 2  Felixstowe & Walton United  (3-0)
The Under 18s gave a good account of themselves against a strong Cambridge United (CRC) side at the Abbey Stadium. Jordan Matthews from the penalty spot and Josh Smith scored for the Seasiders in the second half but Cambridge United showed their class scoring eight and will be strongly fancied to progress a long way in this year's competition.

Wednesday 17th September 2008 - Ridgeons Youth League Cup
Wivenhoe United  2 -1  Felixstowe & Walton United  (1-0)
A goal down at the break the Under 18s produced an excellent second half performance with Jordan Matthews finishing a flowing move to drill home the equaliser from Matt Makenzie's excellent cross. With extra time looming Wivenhoe edged ahead with a deflected goal five minutes from time to progress to the next round.