Peacehaven Town vs ASC Strikers: Sunday 7th April 2013

Final Score: Peacehaven Town 2 ASC Strikers 3 - - - Regan [1], Josh [2]

Eastbourne Town [I think] vs ASC Strikers: 17th March 2013

Once again not at this one - some of us TRUE football fans were at another game - but I'm told we WON 4-4! I was also told who the goalscorers were but I deleted the text - soz

So - one more win out of the two games left and we stay up! EASY! [Gulp]

Anyway, here's a picture of the ASC game:

And here's a picture of the OTHER game:

Full time: Eastbourne Town [I think] 4 ASC Strikers 4 and . . . . 

The Mighty Brighton & Hove Albion FC 3 Crystal Palarse a big, fat NIL

West Hove Dynamos vs ASC Strikers: Sunday 10th March 2013

FIFTH IN THE LEAGUE! We are staying up - said we are staying up!

Of course, not being there I can't really give any facts or details about the game apart from "we played cracking and deserved the win" and "Fin's mercurial footwork caused a rash WHD tackle in the box winning a penalty that Regan slotted home with ease".

Here's a picture of an amusingly dressed dog:

 

 

Full time: West Hove Dynamos 0 ASC Strikers 1

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Popular demand in this case meaning a couple of people saying "Not doing the blog anymore, John?"

So it's not the usual insightful, Pulitzer nominated, gonzo-journalism of old but more of an overview of the past few months, with a few hilarious pictures; most of it made-up. No change there then.

The first match is the Ratton Rangers Cup game of 21st October 2012[!] which we lost 0-3; at least it gave us a chance to concentrate on the league [more of that later].

Ratton, as we've seen, are a good team but this was to be their only victory against us this season. Big, fast lads that liked to pressure the silky, continental style players of ASC and that pressure told after five minutes with a ball in from the right that landed in the vast expanse of the modern day u11 goal.

The ASC defence were getting all the plaudits as they kept at bay wave after wave of Ratton attack; our own attackers were called in to help stem the tide; as a result, if we did break there was nobody up there to support. In muddy, cold conditions this was never going to be easy to endure and sure enough on 24 mins, an identical move increased the visitors' lead.

The second half was a frenetic affair with a much better performance, but still no goals from the boys in yellow. A highlight of the game was a certain parent receiving a smartly struck ball into a particularly private area. It almost knocked his Union Jack bobble hat off. And yes, pedants - I know it's not a Union Jack unless it's on a boat.

50 mins in and a goal for ASC seemed certain with Reggie hitting the post, the two Matts bossing the defence and Fin orchestrating things from midfield. However, Ratton had other ideas and sealed our fate three mins from time, this time with a ball in from the left. Bum.

[I'm not sure Matt was that happy with Joe and Caldé as they left the pitch saying, "Oh well, we've always got 'Minecraft'!"

On the 11th November we exacted our revenge with a 2-1 victory away to Ratton; a team that were already looking good for sparkling success in this league. Get in.

Fast forward to 18th November and we face an old foe in Hove Park Colts at Buck Park. Again, we lost the game but were somewhat stymied by the non-impartiality of the lino who was directing his team whilst officiating. Not cricket in my humble opinion.

An early HPC goal was put to one side by the boys with Fin and Josh breaking free to grab the equaliser; the latter's finish as clinical as it gets. Fin soon followed suit with a silky move around the keeper to make it 2:1. As the lino orchestrated things for the visitors, ASC gave away a free kick on the edge of the box which was converted with aplomb. End to end stuff and honours even at half time. Is this the cliché edition again?

Six minutes in and controversy reigned; was the ball kicked out of the keeper's hands? Nope, apparently. 2-3.

The rest of the half was a hard fought affair with some tough midfield battles and brave keeping from Joe. Four minutes from the end and Cameron slots home to bring on some extra-time. Or not. Two minutes later Joe makes a save that rebounds out to an HPC forward who dinks it on to the head of a team-mate. 3-4. Damn and blast.

As the chill hit the air in early December [the 2nd to be exact] we hosted Hollingbury Hawks with Fin and Owen getting on target in a deserved 2-0 victory. Harrumph and Huzzah! There's no notes for this one as it rained I think and I couldn't write anything. I'm sure it was a cracker though.

The vagaries of the fixture list saw the return fixture away to Hollingbury Hawks only a week later on 9th December in the wind-swept splendour of East Brighton Park. Reggie scored from a corner early on to take the lead and a splendid Barnes Wallis 'bouncing bomb' manoeuvre increased that lead to two; caught here in this stunning visualisation by a local graphic artist:

It looked like it would be a brace of victories against HH to take us into a joyous Xmas. Oops.

Hollingbury scored four [yes, FOUR] second half goals to take the spoils at 4-2 leaving Matt declaring that surely we couldn't play that bad again? Oops [again].

Xmas came and went and on 6th January we were at home to Eastbourne Town. A penalty won by Bill saw Reg uncharacteristically put it wide. 'Flip!' we all shouted from the touchline. Redemption came in the shape of a trademark Regan 40 yard screamer a few minutes later. Eastbourne replied with a slick through ball that drew them level. Here we go again, we thought.

The second half saw a marvellous display, Matt's promise of post-match beatings paying dividends [that's a joke, Child Protection Team!]. Reg, Cam and Stockers getting on the end of some fine moves to bring it in 4-1. Felicitations in abundance!

And then this happened:

FOUR MATCHES POSTPONED due to inclement weather conditions. Crikey.

When the sun finally did appear we met our friends from the north, Forest Youth. Surely, the hoodoo would end on a gloriously sunny day on the 17th February at Buck Park?

Nope. 0-1. Cripes.

It was Ratton's Return on Sunday 24th February with a side that seemed to be running away with the league. It was a well fought and tough affair with the other Joe W. making the difference with a fine looping shot that landed in the bottom left corner of the net. I never actually saw the goal at the time as I was putting a semi-moribund Border Terrier into my wife's coat. And that's not a euphemism. 1-0 to the good guys.

Riding on the crest of a wave, we finally arrive at yesterday's game. Sunday 3rd March at home to struggling Peacehaven Town. Well, they won't be struggling very much longer with a bravura performance and the help of one or two howlers in defence and the inability of our strikers to score that led Matt to send out a text asking for the Mums to take-over lino duties from now on. I don't blame him really; frankly, they're not pulling their weight, apart from Owen's Mum who knows a rice krispie cake when she sees one.

So come on Mums; it's just not enough to stand there looking beautiful - get those flags out! Oo-er, missus!

Anyway - I'm sure we'll be ok this year - with this lot taking us forward, how can we lose? Gulp.

ASC Strikers u11s vs West Hove Dynamos: Sunday 14th October 2012

We are the West Hove Dynamos
Only come alive when the old moon shows
We are the West Hove
We are the West Hove
West Hove Dynamos!

One for the teenagers there - a song popular Showaddywaddy wannabes , Matchbox almost sung in 1980 but one I sing every time we play them. West Hove Dynamos that is; not Matchbox.

Today's team were all smiles again as they faced a side that was rumoured to have a 'big lad' up front. They'd beaten Forest Youth last week so we knew it wasn't going to be an easy ride. We were all chuffed to see Ryan back in the team after his pencil related dramas; above all, it was nice to have Scott back running the line! Oh - and no Rhys today as he was off having his head polished and nickel coated.

A gloriously sunny day and from the kick off ASC were having the better of the exchanges; Caldé, Fin and Reg were looking particularly sharp. Owen won the first corner of the game which was cleared by WHD. They were soon to settle in though and it wasn't long before their threat became apparent. A well worked move out on the right and a zipping drive across the goal left a few of us taking a collective sharp intake of breath.

They did indeed have a 'big lad' but it certainly wasn't all about one player today. WHD looked a very good side with a combination of deft touches and power. For some of us [me] it's quite difficult not to react every time one of our players are beaten off the ball through sheer muscle, but it's just a part of our boys growing up I suppose. And don't policemen look young these days?

Henry was looking good in the middle and swung a beautifully weighted pass out to Owen on the wing. Fin, always in the thick of things tried a speculative shot from distance and ten minutes in it had become a cagey affair with little goalmouth action. That's a euphemism for 'boring' I'm told [I couldn't possibly comment].

Matt was having a good game in defence and has obviously been watching the Spanish masters, intelligently passing his way out of defence rather than resorting to heeding that age-old British war cry from the touchline 'GET RID OF IT!'. ASC were now having to soak up a lot of pressure from a fast and skilful WHD side. Still the boys made the best of their chances with Josh nippy through the midfield and clearly causing problems. At times the boys seemed to be bunching around the ball so there weren't many yellow shirts in space when the ball broke free.

Max was once again cool at the back; never afraid to take on an approaching attacker, his close control and vision out of defence were easing the worried brows of the parents. WHD's No.4 certainly is a big chap but he had a good touch and a monster of a right foot. The first time he was able to release it  - six yards from the halfway line no less - Joe pulled off the first of a number of classy saves. Fin was getting the measure of the strong WHD tacklers and gave as good as he got, but our opponents were growing stronger as the half went on. The cross bar was our saviour after a looping cross/shot from the by-line and the WHD defenders were able to ally pace with strength in keeping our forward threat at bay.

As the half time whistle blew we were wondering where Lance Armstrong was with his special thermos.

Half time: ASC 0 WHD 0

Owen, Henry and Max made way for Fraser, Cameron and Sunny. Josh was clearly ready for action with a screaming run down the left; unfortunately, his ball into the box fell only to the feet of a boy in blue. Down the other end Joe was the saviour again with solid blocking from the WHD attack. It was getting stressful on the line as the ASC parents and relatives called out for a free kick when Caldé was hustled off the ball; no Louis Suarez that boy - his attempts to stay on his feet just too much. Henry joined in soon after with a crunching tackle which, had it been against us, we would probably have been shouting about. Fair play to the ref - he was having a good game and let things flow.

The WHD pressure was really beginning to tell and Joe was called on to keep things even once again. Josh was also realising that he needed to be strong in the tackle and was the catalyst for a brief revival in ASC midfield fortunes.

Our main threat was a break from midfield with Fin causing problems for the solid WHD defence. It was going to take something special to break them down. Owen replaced Reggie and the dynamics changed somewhat. Matt battled well out on the right and for the first time the WHD defence were left standing as he zipped a corker in towards Owen who was unlucky not to make a connection.

Back came WHD in the 42nd minute forcing a freekick wide out on the left. It was with a sense of inevitability that this time the No.4's ball found the back of the net. Sweetly struck and virtually impossible to save. ASC 0 WHD 1

A few bottom lips stuck out on the sidelines in the ASC parental ranks as WHD had achieved that essential trick of silencing the home crowd. Pressure continued and Joe was brave at the feet of an oncoming attacker. Into the 47th minute and for the first time in the game WHD lost concentration leaving Owen to exploit a gap through defence for Fin to break through. Just as it seemed he'd had one too many touches and was going to get destroyed in a WHD pincer-movement, he tapped the ball just under the keeper. Time stood still as it rolled gently over the line. Great goal. ASC 1 WHD 1

That horrible old cliché of being a bad time to score [see previous blog] came true; unable to clear their lines, the ball dropped to that No.4 again on the edge of the box. With all the time in the world he placed his shot up where the spiders live*. ASC 1 WHD 2

Two minutes later and it was all over as fast WHD movement down the right saw a ball fly across the six yard box and on to the waiting foot of the WHD attacker. ASC 1 WHD 3

ASC continued to make forays into the WHD area; Fraser and Fin had a couple of shouts for penalties waved away but the referee had made the right decision on both occasions. Joe was forced into another near post save and played a big part in keeping the score respectable. Today was just one of those days where the boys came up against a well organised side with one or two game-changers in the team. A classic case of the best side won.

The biggest plus was the return of Ryan with a MotM performance; battling and calm in equal measure. Perhaps the unexpected injection of graphite has turned him into some sort of super-hero? Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO - it's PENCIL BOY!

Final Score: ASC Strikers u11s 1 West Hove Dynamos u11s 3



* copyright Mr M. Langley 2011

Hove Park Colts u11s vs ASC Strikers u11s: Sunday 30th September 2012

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run

Thus spake John Keats in 1819 in his little ditty, 'To Autumn'. And as the nights draw in [only three weeks till the clocks go back], the boys gathered for another match-up on a dreary morn against a HPC team that's battled well against us in recent times.

I think they're laughing at the word 'bosom' in the opening paragraph

The home team started strongly, passing it around well and making the most of the space available to them. Rhys was called into early action clearing a corner with that head of his and being solid in the tackle. This was big pressure to be soaking up though and HPC headed just wide - they were out like a train for the first four minutes. 

Excited by their pressure, their defenders pushed up slightly further than they ought to have done; a break from midfield and Owen was able to battle through for a goal against the run of play. A solidly struck ball into the bottom left hand corner and we'd calmed the storm. HPC 0 ASC 1

The times they were a-changin' and it was ASC's turn to put the pressure on. Caldé threaded a precision ball through to Cam - just offside. A high energy game evened out nicely with sweeping exchanges across the park. Reggie's pace was always a problem for the home team and a power run through midfield resulted in one of his trademark scorchers sneaking just wide. Inspired by his team-mate's speed, Cam embarked on a run himself forcing a great one-on-one save from the HPC keeper. He had a chance to repeat himself two minutes later but his shot was gathered nicely once again.

The second of a few controversial offsides came next as Cam broke through - surely it was only a matter of time for him to get on the scoresheet? A change of attack saw HPC break into the ASC box out on the right, resulting in a somewhat panicked tackle and our third conceded penalty in as many games. HPC 1 ASC 1

This elicited a fabulous response from the boys and within two minutes; a shot from Caldé that clattered into the body of the defender fell to Cam and this time there was no flag. HPC 1 ASC 2

Once again, tails up and ASC came a-huntin'. Reg hit a beautifully weighted cross goal shot that clipped the post and fell to the feet of Josh who was very unlucky in knocking it just over. Things were looking good as the half-time whistle blew.

Half time: HPC 1 ASC 2

Sharpy, Fraser and Henry now made an appearance and were able to give our hosts something to think about. HPC resorted to some strong-arm tactics but good refereeing enabled Sharpy to pick out Caldé with a deftly struck free-kick. HPC resumed their early power-play but the ASC defence stayed cool and kept their opponents at bay. Rhys's head should be insured for billions as he cleared his lines again and again.

An X-Ray of Rhys's bonce [probably]

Joe was gathering balls well but a loose one from a HPC corner fell to their attack on the six yard line - that's a lot of net to hit from that close in. HPC 2 ASC 2

It was HPC's turn to be buoyed by their efforts and now the attacks came in waves. The boys in yellow were all at sea, and no mistake. But this is no time for a barrage of maritme metaphors. We were struggling to not only get out of our own half, but even our own area. Owen and Reg eased things with a fine ball from the latter allowing the former to shoot. Once again, the keeper was equal to it. A short while later and Owen was through in the box; a good hard shove got him away from the ball and the whistle blew. Penalty, surely? Nope - the curvature of the Earth made for an optical illusion that made the ref think it was outside the box. To be fair to him, the push was so hard that Owen did end up outside the box - almost in a different postcode in fact. Ross's free-kick was beautifully struck and forced the Keeper into yet another fine save - the HPC sticks-man was having a great game.

Back came HPC with fantastic nippy play in front of the ASC 'D', forcing a free-kick. A well struck shot coupled with a nasty deflection made it impossible to keep out. Blinkin' flip and Crikey Moses. HPC 3 ASC 2

ASC pushed on well from kick-off; a good shout for handball went unheard and it looked odds on for an equaliser as Owen screamed through on goal in the last minute. The linesman adjudged Caldé's through ball had been struck just as Owen creeped in front of the last man. I still need to work out how to describe a low, angry seething sound emanating from the Shoreham half of the field - perhaps this will do:

The ref noticed the upset and blew up with 20 secs left on the clock but it seemed that a way back was going to be difficult. Another frustrating away-day but the boys made a good show of things and strong defending kept things respectable. Sometimes, things just don't go your way but we are certainly due a big win; I can feel it in me water.

Full time: Hove Park Colts 3 ASC Strikers 2

On a more positive note there was no Ryan today after a freak accident at school saw him impale himself on a pencil! He's ok thank goodness and we're hoping for him 2B back in a few weeks.

ASC Strikers u11s vs Pevensey & Westham u11s: 23rd September 2012

Today's Squad Photo. The rain was quite heavy.

Our first home fixture and the heavens well and truly opened. It really is at times like this that we show our true devotion to our offspring, stood as we were in our 'Goretex' therma-dry waterproofs and 'Hunter' wellies while all they could do was moan about how wet it was out on the pitch. I tell you, if I'd heard one more complaint of 'I think I'm going to be sick!' or 'I can't feel my fingers!' I would have screamed. Kids today? Pah!

Once again the parents were able to opine on all things football with some deeply entrenched and knowledgeable observations on the current state of the British game. Among them, one of the ladies bemoaned the intricacies of zonal marking, while another put forward the notion that utilising the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) would see a marked improvement in the boys fitness levels, although it did have a drawback in that it involved minimal ball-work. Somebody also said that as the boys moved on to larger pitches, the games would be a lot more low-scoring. The blind fool.

An attempt to write up anything of significance was washed away, literally, as a months worth of rain that had been storing in the skies above emptied itself on to Buck Park and my notebook [that's how meteorology works, isn't it?]. As such, this report will probably be seen through the mists of my imagination. [Who shouted 'no change there!' at the back?]

So - turn off your mind, relax and float down stream . . . .

Could we keep Pevensey at Bay? [arf arf]. This was the question on everybody's lips and within five minutes of the kick-off we had our answer. A very slippery surface with a nasty bobble but officiated by the BEST REFEREE WE'VE EVER HAD at Buck Park saw our visitors up after 5 minutes. Don't worry, it'll be a low scoring game - plenty of time for the equaliser. ASC 0 P&W 1

Owen was getting a bit of grief from the P&W defender who thought he'd turned up for a game of rugby but the BEST REFEREE WE'VE EVER HAD was keen to keep the game flowing - and rightly so we all agreed with broad smiles on our faces.

The pressure stayed on at our end. Rhys was called into action with his head of iron [this weeks metal of choice] and saved a sure-fire goal off the line, but as P&W looked to consolidate, ASC broke away with Josh going just wide. The wet weather made sure of a fast paced game. Caldé was clean through but decided to take half the pitch with him on his shot; the keeper wasn't sure whether to pick up the ball dribbling slowly towards him or avoid the 8" clod of turf screaming at his head. P&W were a very good side, aided and abetted by a man with a foghorn screaming inanities from the touchline. Max was called into action with a couple of great defending tackles but a drop-kick into the wind allowed the boys in two shades 0' blue to stretch their lead with an easy tap-in. ASC 0 P&W 2

It would have been so easy for heads to drop but there's too much skill and pace in the side for that to happen. Bill was strong in the right back position vacated by Matt - out with a hamstring injury, but still willing to stand in the rain and cheer his mates on. Cam and Owen were getting the measure of the P&W defence and it wasn't long before a ball through to Reggie on the left corner of the box saw him shoot with precision across the face of the goal and into the top right hand corner. ASC 1 P&W 2

A minute later, Reg had scored what we thought was the equaliser but the BEST REFEREE WE'VE EVER HAD had to agree with his assistant as he ruled offside. I wasn't looking, have no knowledge or experience in officiating a game of Association Football and was standing in completely the wrong spot. But I know he was wrong. Boosted by the rank unfairness of somebody having a much better view of the defensive line than any of them, the boys pushed on and Reg shot in off the post. Honours even. ASC 2 P&W 2

We were going in having pulled things equal - or so we thought. The boys were having other ideas. Josh, with a great individual run split the defence and slotted his left foot drive past the keeper, right on the stroke of half-time as the BEST REFEREE WE'VE EVER HAD was about to blow.

Half time: ASC Strikers 3 Pevensey & Westham 2

A round of half time subs [Henry for Ryan, Sunny for Bill and Fraser for Cam] mixed things up for ASC, which seemed to confuse the opposition. Within four minutes of the re-start Owen, who'd been a real problem for the P&W back-line executed a chip of Zamora-esque proportions [check out the video below - about 0:14 secs in, but with his right foot]. Curiously, as he was about to strike, the P&W defender appeared ready to make a speech as he raucously cleared his throat. Was he trying to put our nippy winger off? Surely not! ASC  4 P&W 2

Two minutes later and it was a brace from Owen. A simple strike and the boys were cruising. It was going to be an easy victory . . . . . . wasn't it? ASC 5 P&W 2

Quietened for the minutes surrounding the interval, the noise from the touchline picked up again. As boys and parents alike looked across to see what the commotion was about, P&W sneaked in a cheeky goal to keep ASC on their toes. ASC 5 P&W 3

Three minutes later and the BEST REFEREE WE'VE EVER HAD had no choice but to award a penalty [our second in as many games!]. Once again, Joe might as well have taken the time for a quick break - them goals ain't small. ASC 5 P&W 4

Surely the comeback wasn't going to be ruined? ASC kept harrying but there were clearly nerves at play throughout the side. Even those of us who advocate the calm passing style out of defence were inwardly screaming 'GET RID OF IT!' P&W hadn't scored their openers through luck and their effort was rewarded as a combination of wet grass, poor communication and hypothermia [a heady mix] saw the second great comeback of the day. ASC 5 P&W 5

Blimey and blinkin' flip we all muttered to ourselves. Five minutes to go and they've thrown it away. As parents phoned ahead to get relatives to put their son's meals into kitchen bins and to prepare implements for beatings, Owen saved his team-mates' bacon by securing his hat-trick as the P&W defender in his wake coughed and spluttered behind. 'He's trying to put me off!' Owen shouted after his pass into the bottom left corner. I don't think so, mate - I just think you were hearing the signs of a rapidly developing chest infection. ASC 6 P&W 5

The BEST REFEREE WE'VE EVER HAD soon put everybody out of their rain-sodden misery. A hard fought game and the P&W parents were very gracious in defeat. It was a good lesson for the boys in very difficult conditions.

Our first points on the board! You can keep up with our league progress here -

http://full-time.thefa.com/Table.do?divisionseason=279027156&league=1697069 

Full time: ASC Strikers u11s 6 Pevensey & Westham 5