Club Notes 3 September 2017

Another (eventually) good day for Achilles with the Seniors triumphing, after several scares, in a 10 goal thriller against Westerfield United at the excellent Ipswich School sports complex in The Street, Rushmere.

Watched by ITFC hero and manager of the complex, Roger Osborn, the Seniors turned up having avoided conceding even one goal and scoring seven in their first two SIL Senior League matches. This mini record soon disappeared as the homesters, keen to get their season underway with a first win, went into a two goal lead with both our defence and mid-field not certain where they were!  A, perhaps, generous penalty was then well saved by the home 'keeper only for Danny Garrad to convert the rebound just on the break and Danny brought the scores level early in the second period. Westerfield, not to be outdone, then went ahead again only for Liam Hillyard to bring the scores level at 3-3. Would you believe it, our hosts went ahead again but, then, despite hampered by injury, Josh Merritt scored no less than three times to produce the final score at 6-4 to Achilles.

After such a promising start to the season, which included two excellent results against Eastern Counties Leaguers, Hadleigh and Ipswich Wanderers, a trouncing of SIL Division 1 hosts, Wickham Market, and a home win against further Division 1 opponents, Old Newton, the relative weaknesses in defence and midfield were, to say the least, puzzling, if not troubling. However, by all accounts and with the introduction of Club captain, Keiron Donovan, for his first outing of the season, Achilles' second half performance was much improved. An additional worrying feature was the injury list which saw Achilles finishing with 10 men and four possibly relatively severe problems.

Meanwhile, the Inter As were hosting their counterparts from East Bergholt and with the lack of signing-on activity in the close season, until most recently, further praise must be given to the Seniors' Asst Manager, Jamie King, who has stepped down to run the squad, well assisted by new "signing", Chris Crick, and when available, Reece Nunn. Recent hard work has produced an amazing response from former players and, despite an average age into the thirties, and after the 6-0 win against Sporting 87 the previous week, the form was continued via a 4-0 win with Matt McCarthy recording his second hat trick in successive Saturdays together with a close "nudge" from "Polar" Dellar. A most appreciative crowd watched the proceedings testament to the support Achilles receive from the south-west area of the Town.

This coming Saturday the Seniors welcome League "champs" Henley Ath' to Salmet Close while the Inter As make the reverse trip to Henley.