Club Notes 12th November 2017

A brief reflection, first, on the Seniors' and Inter A's matches the Saturday before last.
First of all, the Seniors welcomed Bramford Utd to Salmet Close for a match which, on the current form of both teams, pointed to a comfortable outcome for Achilles. How wrong can you be! From the outset our visitors, with their strongest squad for several weeks, took the match to us from the outset, Munson registered a "stunner" from some 25 yards and, from thereon, aided by one or two interesting non-decisions by the referee, sadly without two official linesmen, there was to be only one result - an away triumph! At 3-1 down midway through the second period, the real turning point came when Bramford's 'keeper saved our rather weak penalty effort and this was contrasted by two further efforts for our visitors to bring the final score to a deserved 5-1 victory for them. There were situations over the 90 minutes which could be criticised but, it was the same for both teams, and well done to John Parker's outfit (how on earth they lost at home to bottom Club, Ransomes, this Saturday is a real puzzle!).

Meanwhile, the Inter As were over at Felixstowe for a SFA Senior Reserves Cup match and the full information on this match is still awaited.

This Saturday the Seniors were engaged in a "top of the heap" encounter with old adversaries, Crane Sports. The pre-match ceremony was so well oberved by both squads and a sizeable crowd at the rather breezy Greshams complex and a most attractive "battle" ensued with both teams contributing to a "see-saw" set of score-lines with our hosts taking an early lead, Gav' Van Oene equalising, David Grimwood putting us ahead, Cranes converting a penalty to bring the scores level at 2-2, and then going ahead, only for livewire, Lee Grimwood, to bring the scores level at 3-3 and a point each for both teams. Far from this being a disappointment for Achilles other results meant that we've gone back to top spot, albeit with several Clubs on the same points total but Achilles enjoying a superior goal difference and matches in hand.

Meanwhile, the Inter As welcomed Cranes' counterparts to Salmet Close and, indeed, another attractive 90 minutes ensued here with six goals shared out for a 4-2 win for Achilles. It must be said that both of our visitors' goals were stunning efforts matched by one from Adam Sturman. With our "lads" faltering and just seconds left our visitors' excellent 'keeper went up for a last corner, the ball was cleared and sub Louis Collins was there, just over the half-way line, to thrash the ball home to secure the 4-2 final score. Finally, a quick note that, next Saturday, both teams will be in battle with Hoxne - the Seniors at the village for, hopefully, a defence of the SFA Senior Cup while the Inter As have another SIL "A" match against the villager's top of the table team.

Finally, Achilles' annual Xmas Draw tickets will shortly be on sale and each player will be expected to sell £10s worth (two books), in addition to meeting outstanding requirments for both SFA fines and Pauls' memberships.