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Sat 1st Aug 2009
Friendly
Stony Stratford 2-1 TAFC First team
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The First Team completed their pre season preparations at Division 1 Stony Stratford Town on Saturday and now the real thing begins on Tuesday against Hatfield Town in the Herts Charity Shield with our opening League game to follow on Saturday against Kentish Town, both games taking place at The Grass Roots Stadium.
For a supposed friendly this was an abrasive and tetchy encounter and the Referee had to work hard to prevent the game from boiling over. He was probably hindered by not having official linesmen which has been the case for a number of our friendlies and hopefully next year that can be put right.
We started well taking the lead after 6 minutes, albeit in rather fortunate circumstances, when Ashley Addison scored from close range after the keeper dropped a high cross from David Foskett after a good move down the right also involving Mark Burfoot and Tony Fields. Two minutes later we all thought we had doubled the lead when Andy Humphreys latched onto a Mark Burfoot flick and slotted the ball past the keeper, but unfortunately it went past the post.
After dominating the opening exchanges we appeared to become complacent and sloppy and we started to give the ball away in dangerous areas and were a mite fortunate that the home side failed to take advantage of these opportunities. However, it perked Stony up and it was no surprise when they equalised in the 23rd minute. Andy Humphreys did head the ball into the net but was flagged offside and the half ended all square.
HT: Stony Stratford Town 1 TA 1
There were the usual raft of substitution in the 2nd half by both sides and the game became a bit scrappy. The winning goal came 7 minutes after the re-start and was the direct result of some pretty poor play on our behalf. A wayward pass in midfield was knocked first time by the Stony full back into the inside left channel where his colleague was all alone and in acres of space. All he had to do was to run through on goal and keep his cool which he did giving Tom Vincent no chance to make the score 2-1 and it stayed that way until the finish.
Not sure what Phil Casserley would have got out of this game except that it was a chance to see a number of the younger players such as James Livingstone, Mark King, Gareth Lee and Sam Logan. There was some nice touches from Darren Franklin who many Athletic supporters will remember as a dangerous, goal scoring player with Welwyn Garden City, so he would be a very useful addition to the squad.
So now the posturing is over and the real stuff begins. Despite the result on Saturday there is optimism for the forthcoming season as there were a number of players either rested or on holiday. The squad looks strong and we look forward to another great season.
Team:
TA: Tom Vincent, David Foskett (Henry Thomas 70), Rob Duncan (Andy Humphreys 78), Chris Salmon, Henry Thomas (James Livingstone 68), Matt Myatt (Tony Fields 85), Dave Whicker (Mark King 52), Tony Fields (Gareth Lee 68), Mark Burfoot (Vinnie Iannone HT), Andy Humphreys (Sam Logan HT), Ashley Addison (Darren Franklin 45).
Goals:
TA: Ashley Addison (6)
SST: 23 & 52 Minutes |
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(No photos on file)
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