Results - 20 & 23 august

On wednesday 20th, the first team (at last) made their debut in Senior football v Devizes Town Res. Sadly, despite a decent and promising performance, we lost 1-2. After dominating the early exchanges where we could have easily have gone 3 up, some sloppy defensive work led to a devizes goal. However, character is something we have plenty of in the squad, and Luke Holborough equalised less than a minute later with a forceful run and calm finish. A short time later, Si Manifold pulled up with a hamstring injury and a re-shuffle was forced upon us, with Nath Pritchard becoming an emergency centre half. Unfortunately, devizes retook the lead before we could get properly sorted. Yet again the character came through and Andy Churcher(on his 100th appearance for FCCY adults) had a 1 0n 1 within a minute to level the scores. Sadly it was saved. The 2nd half was a much tighter affair with the FCCY defensive work much improved (after a few words in the dressing room!) and despite creating much the more threatening work, including a last minute 1 on 1 after a great run from sub Aaron Merryweather, we couldnt manage the equaliser. It was good to see an extremely welcome and encouraging turnout of over 50 people as well.

On saturday 23rd, the firsts took on last years champions, Wroughton. This game was always going to be hard work, and so it proved. The team shape defensively was much better, the workrate improved and our ability to rip the away defence to pieces on the break with pace and vision was superb. After 15 minutes Andy Churcher was put through, and after having a quick read of "War and peace" and a cup of tea, he very calmly slotted the ball past the keeper. 1-0 and the first time we had led at this level!!!!! A few speculative pot shots from the opposition followed, with Pete Hussey making the most of the "photo opportunities", but there was never a serious threat and we continued to cause complete panic in the Wroughton defence every time we attacked. Eventually, a free kick from wide left resulted in 3 FCCY players, the Wroughton keeper and the ball having a private game. Andy Churcher "dummied" the ball, to allow Chris Meaton to blast the ball into the prone keepers face from a yard and John Ingram to show them both where the back of the net is. Chris later claimed he had "dazed" the keeper thereby allowing John to score! A further chance seconds before half time would have wrapped the game up, but it wasnt to be. The second half continued with Wroughton taking increasing chances at the back in an attempt to get back into the game and FCCY catching them on the break. Eventually, after one Wroughton pot shot had been tipped onto the bar before being cleared, we got the third goal. Andy Churcher once again showing great calmness to slot it away. A late Wroughton goal kept things a little nervy, but a great team work ethic maintained the score at 3-1 and so we claimed our first win deservedly. Sadly, the crowd was down a bit to around 35, but still most welcome.

The 2nds took on Marlborough Town Res (who the 1sts had failed to beat in 4 attempts last season) and lost 1-2. The fact that we went a goal down in under 20 seconds probably wont have helped the confidence of goalkeeper Mat Webb on his reappearance from injury that had meant no training for over a month (thats the excuse he used anyway) and the young central defensive partnership of Craig Ewles (17) and Rich Hudson (16 and on debut). However , as I said earlier, we dont lack character in this squad and despite going 2 down by half time, a long distance strike from Lewis Surry made it 1-2. Despite lots of pressure and maybe a lack of fortune, the score remained the same. Still encouraging though! Dan Smith made his 100th appearance for FCCY adults in this game.

The 1sts are 10th and the 2nds 6th as it stands. Early days though.