Club Notes 19 February 2018

Mixed blessings for Achilles last Saturday with the Seniors continuing their excellent SIL Senior League run with a fine 6-2 win over at East Bergholt while, however, the Reserves were beaten heavily in the SIL A Division by a strengthened Coplestonians' Reserves aggregation (see below).

By all accounts our hosts at 'Bergholt were relatively "easy meat" which, perhaps, was surprising considering their extra time victory in the SIL Bob Coleman Cup match at Salmet Close a few matches earlier. To be fair to our lads the earlier match saw Achilles' 'keeper banished from the match early in the second half, leaving the Senior League championship and the SFA Senior Cup the important twin targets for our Senior squad.

The Senior marksmen were Danny Garrod, Lee Grimwood, David Grimwood, Darryn Van Oene, and super sub, Gavin Van Oene (2), one of Gav's strikes a real "cracker". Wider news from the SIL, indicated that the "other of the three Van Oenes", an uncompromising defender with fellow Senior League club, Crane Sports, also notched two goals - a remarkable coincidence!

Meanwhile, the Cops' match at Salmet Close involved two teams within a touch of the top spot in the "A" Division and despite the apparent and unexpected strength of the visitors honours were even in the first half with Ryan Wragg signalling his hard work to return to Senior level after virtually a season out because of a serious injury, equalising an early Cops' goal. It seems that the real balance of the match turned on a tough penalty decision immediately after the break in favour of Cops' who then proceeded to score no less than 8 goals to finish more than comfortable winners.

Only then did this scribe learn that, with Cops' Seniors without a match. no less than seven or more Seniors were in their squad and every Cops' goal was registered by a Senior player. This really took the shine off that second half performance - certainly as far as I'm concerned!!.

This coming Saturday the Seniors are once again down the A12, this time at Capel Plough while the Reserves welcome Westerfield Utd's Reserves to Salmet Close. Finally, an early reminder that Achilles' Race Night is now on Saturday the 17th March and the Reunion Dinner Saturday 26th May. Also look out for news of the Annual Presentation Evening..