Felixstowe & Walton Utd V Claydon FC

As we all know this was an end of season crunch game. We needed every player to be up for this one as a defeat in the A game would save Claydon from relegation and send us down instead!

The response for the players was superb. Hard work on the training ground has paid off with the boys playing more and more as a unit. Passing, moving and supporting each other. Both games were a joy to watch.

Here's the squad all ready for the games ahead. Connor and Dan Hart are the only players missing.

A Game

Squad: Ollie Will Sam Freddie Ryan Matty Jake Jack Charlie

The game kicked off and we needed an early goal to settle the nerves. (Ours, not the boys) After a couple of minutes of Claydon attacking, we broke away with Jake getting the only goal of the game. 1-0. The game then settled down into and end to end thriller. Both teams put in a enormous amount of effort and both teams had chances to score. Luckily for us the score stayed the same.

Freddie and Ryan help Jake celebrate his goal.

We had to defend strongly. Claydon played very well and both teams were very evenly matched.

Sam, Will and Jack tackled well at the back. Supported by the flanking midfielders Matty, Ryan and Freddie who never stopped running and working the whole game.

There was no way Will was letting anyone passed without a fight. He sustained an injury later in the game after making an excellent tackle. Had he missed it there would have been three attackers through with only Ollie to beat.

Jake and Charlie both came close to extending our lead.

Claydon came very close to getting an equaliser. Ollie had to dive at a strikers feet to save a certain goal and later on made a point blank save as an attacker almost scored from a well taken corner.

Game over! An excellent finish to the season with the performances getting better and better.

We knew we were in for a hard season when the leagues were first announced. We started off with a run of tough games and had to wait until the end of November for our first win. The second half of the season saw us put together a string of results that got us out of relegation and left our fate in our own hands.

Well done to all the boys for sticking with it, never letting their heads go down and getting on with enjoying their football. With that attitude the results are sure to follow!!

B Game

This was another fantastic game to watch. It was a definite game of two halves. We lost the first only because we couldn't get our shots on target. We did everything right. We were passing moving and suporting each other brilliantly, leading to a number of chances that we just couldn't finish. Claydon brought on an A team player who I later found out missed the A game because his parents car got a puncture!! His first involvement was a run from his own half to score. We were soon 5-0 down. Aidan managed to lob the keeper after collecting his goal kick to make it 5-1 at half-time. During half time we decided to pretend the score was 0-0 again and go out and win the second half. Again we started well and passed even better than the first half. We had Luke and Joseph in defence, both played out of their skins. Joseph saving, by far his best performance for the last game and earning himself a chant from the crowd!!

Brandon, Connor and Frenchy battled well in defence and midfield, switching positions to make room for substitutions.

At the other end Charlie B found his shooting boots and got the goal he had so richly deserved for the last few weeks. Finishing off a nice passing move with Aidan and Frenchy.

Claydon equalised (went 6-2 up) but we continued to battle and try to play good football. My favourite bit of the match was hearing Frenchy call to his team mates "Play it wide, like we did in training!!" It's comforting to know that they actually take notice of what we say occassionaly!!

Aidan got his second of the day to round off his season. Charlie B after coming so close over the last few games doubled his score for the day to make the final score 6-4 to Claydon (3-1 to us in the second half) An exciting end to the season.

All ready for kick off.

Harley just couldn't get to this one. He did make some great saves and has had a terrific season

in goals.

This was Charlies best effort of the first half. This narrowly missed the post.

Aidan celebrates a fantastic lob over the keepers head that dipped perfectly into the goal.

No way through. It took several tackles to break down this attack but between them they managed it.

Charlie B cuts them off whilst Man of the Match Dan French come in to mop up.

Frenchy's tackling and running was superb as was many other players on the day, what set him apart was his reading of the game and communication on the pitch.

That's the end of another exciting seaon of football. Last season we were on a cliffhanger on the last day trying to win some medals. This time it was to avoid relegation. No boring middle of the table endings for the Young Seasiders!! I think they thoroughly deserved to stay in the top division. Next year we can go from strength to strength.

Well done to all the boys for a great season.