With the Seniors benefitting from a bye in the 3rd round of the Bob Coleman SIL League Cup and the Inter As "idle" no action for Achilles last Saturday.
As a result of the heavy rain before last Saturday no fewer than seven games in that Cup competition were postponed and, therefore, whether the Seniors meet Waterside or Stanton in the 4th round remains to be decided. On the other hand the Inter As are well aware that, this coming Saturday, they welcome Grundisburgh's Inter As to Salmet Close in the Gipping Press Cup.
Away from the park the annual Xmas Draw was held in the Pauls' clubhouse last Sunday and, not least, the hard work of managers, Lee Osborn, Shaun Deller and Jamie King, ensured a healthy interest on the part of most of the players resulting in a fine financial surplus for Achilles.
Looking to 2015, that recent bad weather means that the SIL's hard-working fixture secretary has had to re-jig, in particular, the Senior League fixtures one product being that, if Cup games are counted as well, the Seniors have no fewer than six (or is it seven?) consecutive home games coming up shortly.
Finally, some both sad and happy news - after a long run of poor health former Achilles' stalwart, Mark Horsfall. has passed away and, a much more uplifting message, Adam Burrows is a dad!
Despite several absences, another successful week-end for Achilles with the Seniors moving to second position in the SIL Senior Division table, via a thumping 6-2 win at Haughley, while visitors Ipswich Valley Rangers Inter As were shaded 3-2 by our plucky Inter As lifting them to the top if the Inter A table. By all accounts our hosts at Haughley were very much in it to the extent that they were in the lead until virtually the half time whistle at which point Achilles brought the scores level.
The second half turned out to be a different affair with excellent forward play on our part bringing three quick goals. Matters then turned rather feisty, although, perhaps, the referee could have dealt with matters without brandishing as many "yellows" as he did. However, the outcome was that our hosts were reduced to 10 men, Achilles received four "yellows" and a further three goals were registered - two to Achilles and one to Haughley leading to that final score-line.
Dom' Arnold, starting as a sub', was Achilles' man of the match and in addition to his two, other marksmen were Chris Leys (2), Andy Coote, and Jack Wilkinson.
Meanwhile, at Salmet Close, sickness, Xmas, and other calls meant that, despite his absence since the season started, and with fears of severe knee ligament trouble, Brent Richards was called back to service and played an absolute blinder in defence against a very strong IVR team. Another veteran, Doug Mustoe between the sticks, also had a blinder, including a brilliant penalty save, preventing our visitors taking the lead, and in the end the lads just shaded it in the best of five. Marksmen were former IVR stalwart, Matt McCarthy (2) and Andy Richards.
One of the Senior team absentees was Keiron Donovan and we wish him and his bride every success in their married life.
This Saturday the Seniors welcome Capel Plough to Salmet Close while the Inter As are down the road at East Bergholt. Some way off but an event to place in the diary - Achilles' Annual Golf Day, Friday 3rd July at Seckford Golf Club (£35) to include welcome snack, post game meal, shotgun start at 1 30 pm. Finally, a Happy Xmas and a Prosperous New Year to all.