Photos

I have a request for all of you who will be at the tournament on Saturday. If you have a digital camera, can you bring it along and take some photos of the games. Email me the best ones and I will post them on the site.

I've posted a few below of the type of photo that may not get used!!! But you can send them to me anyway.


Not only is this one dark, distant and grainy. It's not even one of our players!!













Even Freddies mum didn't want this one.













I'm not sure what happened here!













Our first guess the ear competition. I'll give you a clue: It's not Freddie.

Will his mum recognise it?

Post your answers on the comments page.

Another football video

There are loads of these videos on line. Watch out for the amazing skills and brilliant goals.

We might see a few of these at our games next season!!! Get practising over the summer.

Training

There will be no more training on Thursdays or Saturdays until next season.

We still have other tournaments to play in. We will let everyone know who is playing in these.

Also there is the presentation day on the 4th June. Our time for presenting the trophies is at 11am.

We hope everyone can make it.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Stowmarket

The Semi final against Stowmarket was to be our last game. We had been given some insider info from our local friendly rivals Kirton Kestrel as to how good this team were. They had cruised through all of their games and hadn't had to play any extra time as we had.

From the very start of the game we were under pressure. For a lot of the game we had a goal keeper, 5 defenders and our only striker Charlie helping out in defense!! But they couldn't break us down. We defended brilliantly and began to break out of our half and worry them.

We even broke through, again some great passing between Jack, Freddie and Ryan, got the ball to Charlie who managed to beat the keeper with his low shot, only to see it go narrowly passed the post. (My view was partially obscured at this point by Charlies dad, Colin, jumping about in front of me!!! We were all getting very excited)

The game ended 0-0 and again we were into extra-time. We remained unbeaten in normal time and had only conceded 2 goals.

Extra time began and there were a lot of tired legs on the field. It was only a matter of time before they broke through. When their striker got behind our defense and had a clear shooting opportunity Sam had two choices, watch and let the striker blast it leaving Ollie with no protection, or try a last gasp tackle. As expected he went for the second option and could only stretch as far as the strikers legs. It was a definite penalty. But at least Ollie had the chance to maybe make a save.


Ollie standing still in this photo. Moments before going into his Dudek routine in an attempt to put the penalty taker off. (Also known as a Grobbelar, depending on how old you admit to be!)

The penalty that followed was one of the best I've seen at this level. Blasted hard and fast into the top corner. Dudek had no chance.

Soon after this we were two down. We never gave up though. We decided to throw everything forward and make them work for their place in the final.

We came close to scoring again before they swept forward. Their first attempt was cleared by our defense but after an excellent passing manouvre they had the ball in the net and it was 3-0.

Stowmarket went on to beat Woodbridge A in the final. We can be proud of our record of playing both finalists and neither were able to beat us, or even score against us in normal time.




We battled hard for every ball and deserved our place in the semis.












No one felt the pain of losing a semi final more than Connor. He and all of the squad can be proud of themselves and hopefully look back on a great day where we got to play loads of football and enjoy some success on the field.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Woodbridge B

The quarter final was against the other Woodbridge team. I have to say this was my favourite game of the tournament.

The game was delayed slightly as the ref couldn't find the ball! When it did kick off we started off brightly and had the better of the early exchanges. After some excellent passing from defence to midfield the ball fell to Ryan who passed it forward between two defenders right in front of Charlie, who continued his run and confidently slid it past the keeper. Proving the point that a good striker must forget his misses and only remember the goals.

One nil up at half time and looking comfortable.

The second half started and I think we must have gone to sleep for a minute. They kicked off and ran up the pitch and scored!! We kept playing but couldn't find the passing rythm we had in the first half. Our defence settled in and battled for every ball. At one point three attackers had broken down the wing. Luke was first on the scene and tackled every one of them before Sam got across and got it clear. They couldn't get passed Lukes speciality brand of "Close Combat" defending. Again any breakthroughs were dealt with by Ollie.

It was a real battle in midfield. Both Imaani and Brandon picking up injuries through their strong tackling. Both however battled on and kept the tackling going.

The game ended 1-1 and we were into Extra time. We changed a few thing around and set ourselves up for another gruelling encounter. After 4 games in one morning a few legs were getting tired.

As soon as extra time kicked off we were all over them. It was like watching a different game. We got our passing back. Freddie's throw ins were getting better and better, launching the ball forward with height and distance. A special mention is also needed for our corners. Ryan took most of them and Charlie took some when Ryan was off the pitch. They were superb. Whipped in at speed and causing panic amongst the defenders. We were unlucky not to score more goals from them.

Eventually our passing and movement was rewarded when Charlie struck his second of the day. Ryan followed it up with a third giving us a two goal advantage. Imaani sealed the game with a powerful, low shot. We were 4-1 up and cruising into the semi-finals.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Martlesham

Our final group match was against the mighty Martlesham. We had to get at least a point here to ensure a good draw for the quarter finals.
The game started well for us. We matched them all over the pitch. Our midfielders worked very hard defending and supporting in attack. It was a tight game and they never looked like scoring until disaster struck!!!
Our defenders and their attackers found themselves in a scrum right in front of our goal. The ball was being kicked back and forward, they couldn't get a shot in and we couldn't get it cleared. Suddenly the ball popped through and landed comfortably in Ollies hands. How he managed to drop it between his legs, I'll never know!! We were one down to a freak goal.
We kicked off and ran straight up towards their goal. The ball broke loose to one of their defenders. Freddie tackled him and won the ball on the edge of the box. He took it past three players then passed it forward into the box to Jack, who side stepped the last defender and shot low and hard. Right through the keepers legs!!! 1-1. Who would want to be a goalkeeper. You make loads of brilliant saves and you get mentioned for the one that goes through your legs!!!
The game ended and we had finished second in the group on goal difference. We had got the quarterfinal draw that we were after.

We were on a roll.



I was using the zoom on the camera here, so these pictures are a bit more blurred.

Imaani and Jack discuss tactics, while Charlie and Brandon get ready for kick off.











Jack getting into position.













A great tackle and clearance by Connor. I love this action photo! It was typical of all our defenders, Connor, Luke and Sam. Not many players got past them. If they did they had Ollie to beat.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Woodbridge A

As soon as the Claydon game finished we were straight in to a tough match against Woodbridge Town A (The beaten finalists)

They started off really well and we needed all of our defenders and midfielders to work very hard to keep them out. We defended brilliantly and Ollie pulled off a wonder save to keep us in the game.

At the other end of the pitch we were making chances. A fantastic ball from midfield from Jack found Charlie up front. He still had a lot to do and managed to get himself into a shooting position. Unfortunately as he attempted the final shot a wicked bobble took the ball over his foot. Woodbridge were lucky not to be behind. Charlie also broke through and almost beat the keeper in a one on one. The keeper played very well to stop him. They also had some good efforts and had a shot hit both posts before bouncing clear and our defenders belted it clear into their half.

The game finished 0-0. We were still unbeaten. Another point in the bag.




Freddie and Ryan linking up well in midfield. Beating the defender with a nice passing move.














Brandon and Jack bringing the ball forward whilst Ollie, Sam and Luke are ready to deal with any attacks.










Freddie and Brandon getting forward to help in attack.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd v Claydon B

The squad all ready. Feeling fit and happy. Looking forward to an enjoyable tournament.














Our game was on second, so it was time to eye up the opposition.

We weren't looking too worried.


*Note* For the match descriptions I'll need your help to fill in more detail than I can remember. With 5 matches to cover, I can remember most of what happened. I just can't remember which game it happened in!!

Also some of the photos didn't come out very good. I've posted some of the less blurry ones as you can make out who is in them. (Also apologies that Freddie is in most of them. I had to take lots for his mum to see. Next season I want more cameras at the games than Sky Sports, so get your parents to bring them.)





Our first game kicked off against Claydon B. We defended really well and started to make some good chances.

Charlie opened the scoring for his first of the day and Jack got the second to give us a comfortable win.

A very nice start to the day.

Woodbridge Tournament

Well done to all the players who played in the Woodbridge tournament. I will be posting match reports over the weekend, so feel free to add your comments.

What a fantastics result. We got all the way to the semis and only lost to the eventual winners after extra time!

I don't know how you lot are feeling, but after five great games, I've lost my voice.

Let me know how you felt it went by posting comments. but I think you can all be very proud of yourselves.

Well done.

Bloopers

Here are a few things I'd rather you don't do during a game!!



These things always make me laugh.