Ascension : 9-A SIDE Football, sponsored by “The Saints Club”
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 24.04.2008 (Article Archived on 08.05.2008)

VC1 v Saints Club - Most of the first half saw both teams battling it out in the middle of the pitch. Both teams played some great approach play but failed to create any significant chances.

Most of the first half saw both teams battling it out in the middle of the pitch. Both teams played some great approach play but failed to create any significant chances.  The deadlock was soon broken when a long VC1 ball was collected by JJ Buckley who took on Saints Club’s left back Clayton Yon and forced the defender into a fowl and a penalty which was converted by Ryan Backhouse.  After the restart Saints Club attacked VC1’s goal and Neil Lawrence chased down a long ball and went into a brave challenge with VC1 goal keeper Paul Thomas.  He beat the advancing keeper to the ball and managed to clip the ball over the keeper and into the goal for the equaliser.

With the scores even the second half started with both teams playing conservative football.  Saints Club came close to scoring from a well struck Martin Joshua free kick that had the VC1 keeper beaten but clipped the cross bar on the way out for a goal kick. VC1 earned a corner.  Anthony George VC1 Centre back and Capitan lost his marker in the Saints Club penalty area and turned the ball into the goal to give VC1 their second goal.  With a narrow lead VC1 attacked the saints club goal with greater confidence.  They created a number of chances but Saints Club Keeper Darrel Henry pulled of some crucial saves to keep his team in the Game.  The sustained pressure from VC1 paid of.  Man of the Match Jeremy Constantine collected a ball on the edge of the box and fired a brilliant shot in far left corner to seal the Game for VC1.

NAAFI 1 v VC2

Both teams played a good passing game in the first half but both lacked a cutting edge.  Most of the attempts on goal were shots taken from outside the penalty area.  Darren Henry of NAAFI 1 came close with a header and at the other end a great curling effort from VC2’s Errol Thomas was saved by Alwin in the NAAFI 1 goal.

The second half saw VC2 create a few more chances but NAAFI 1 soaked up the pressure and a brilliant performance from keeper Alwin Kept NAAFI 1 in the game.  The first goal of the match was scored when Wayne Crowie VC2 keeper miss kicked a goal kick and Dennis Leo collected the ball and beat the keeper who had come of his line in a desperate attempt to make amends for his earlier mistake.  NAAFI 1 continued to soak up everything VC2 had to throw at them.  They scored a Second goal through Man of the Match Carlyn Yon.  The goal made sure that there was no way back into the game for VC2 and NAAFI 1 earned their 2^nd win in 3 games.

2 Boats Club v NAAFI 2

2 Boats Club got of to a flyer and were a goal up within 5 minutes.  Duane March picked up a loose ball in NAAFI 2’s penalty area took on the defence and beat the NAAFI 2 Keeper with a cool finish.  NAAFI 2 got in to the game and stared to player better football.  But 2BC battled hard to stay in the match and found themselves with a 2 goal lead when Eugene Bennett rounded the advancing NAAFI 2 Keeper and tapped the ball into an open net.  NAAFI 2 continued to play good football and created a few chances.  NAAFI 2 got a goal back when 2BC club failed to clear a loose ball and Gavin Pare was awarded and penalty kick after being barged of the ball by 2BC centre back Martin Henry.  Man of the Match Adam Robinson Converted the Penalty.

The 2^nd half began in the best possible way for 2BC.  Eugene Bennett latched onto a loose pass from the NAAFI 2 defence and smashed in and brilliant goal to give 2 boats a 2 Goal cushion.  NAAFI 2 threw everything at 2BC for the remainder of the half but they battled hard and defended their lead to hang on and take all 3 points.