Ashdown House
PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Wednesday, 16th November

Football v Hilden Grange
1^st XI Drew 1-1
This really was a game of two halves!  Hilden Grange took the lead with an early goal and had plenty of chances to build on their lead.  We didn't seem to get out of the blocks until the last five minutes of the first half.  We regrouped at half time and were certainly still in the game.  We managed to put some nice passes together, but the final ball just wasn't accurate enough.  Osho forced an excellent save from the Hilden Grange keeper, who managed to tip the shot onto the woodwork.  With five minutes to go, Elliott pushed forward to provide an extra attacking option and the chance came in the dying moments when Kleinwort was able to thread a ball through to the ever present Osho.  Final score 1-1 and once again they showed tremendous spirit to come from a goal behind.  This has been a most enjoyable season with its highs and lows!  I would like to thank the 1st squad for all their effort and in particular William Payne for captaining the side with aplomb.  I wish them every success for the forthcoming Rugby season.  PM

2^nd VII Lost 0-2
It is a shame to have to report that we did not finish the season on a positive note. It was one of those days where nothing went right and after the match we all agreed that this had been one of our worst performances of the season. The two sides were very evenly matched and I really felt that we could have won, but we made so many basic errors that we never really had any control over the ball. Often we would work hard to win the ball back but in 75% of cases we would pass the ball straight to the nearest member of the opposition team. I can only assume that players, like coach, were distracted by the glorious thought of tomorrow and the start of the rugby season! In all seriousness, this has been a really fun team to be involved with. They are a delightful bunch of boys who, apart from today, have given their all throughout. Thank you for giving me so many enjoyable moments. CS

3^rd VII Lost 0-3
The 3rd VII travelled at full strength to Hilden Grange in Tonbridge for the final match of the season.  The match was fairly even in terms of the ebb and flow of play.  There were chances at both ends and both 'keepers had work to do.  Adeoluwa Pearse had a solid game in goal for Ashdown.  Hilden Grange took the lead in the first half with a penalty after we committed a rather unlucky hand-ball in the box.  Jay Darling was unlucky not to score twice in quick succession, with one shot going agonisingly wide with their 'keeper beaten and his second shot hitting the post from a tight angle.  Jay and Magnus Merryweather both had chances in the second half, but we went just wide again.  Archie Boyle had another terrific game at right-back and foiled numerous Hilden Grange attacks.  Jay played well and got through plenty of good work and there were some solid contributions from Luke Walters and David Qian.  Hilden Grange scored twice more in the second half for a 3-0 win, but the game was much closer than the score-line suggests.  So we finished the season without a win, but the players have made considerable progress.  MH

Colts A Lost 0-4
Hilden Grange arrived as an unbeaten team and unfortunately for us, they left as an unbeaten team. We started the game with an inspiring pace but missed an early opportunity. Our opponents quickly turned our missed chance into a goal (which is exactly what good teams do) – and if the season has been anything to go by, the first goal is crucial for our confidence. What happened next, saddened all concerned – they scored another 3 goals. Sam and Marcus were once again brilliant and Jack played his best game of the season. A superb way to finish the football season albeit another defeat. Tomorrow is start of the rugby season – may success be waiting for you all on the horizon! RS

Colts B Lost 1-4
The Colts B played their final football match of the season today with an away match at Hilden Grange. In very cold weather the team was surprised with an early goal from the opposition, not the start the Colts B was hoping for. Unfortunately, after a good period from the blues, Hilden Grange scored another goal, a replica of the first one. Ashdown decided then to answer, and Sim Lee did it beautifully just before half time with a stunning volley from outside the box which ended under the crossbar, the lads couldn't expect for a better result. But after the break, Hilden Grange starting to besiege Ashdown's goals and the defence led by Toby Moon contained the assault. The Colts B were even close to scoring an equalizer on three occasions by Simeon Lee again and twice by the striker Freddie Smith, but the attempts were every time saved by the opposition goalie. Hilden Grange scored their last two goals, a really harsh result for Ashdown House Colts B.  SR

Colts C Lost 1-2
A really even contest and end to end stuff, though we were too slow to get the ball forwards. However, whenever we did get through, Misha looked dangerous and early in the second half he put us into the lead with a well struck shot. Sadly we thought we had won at this point, and some sloppy defence meant that we gifted them a goal to even the score with five minutes remaining. Then, in the dying minutes, a rebound took the ball across the face of our goal and, with nobody to defend once again, the ball was trickled in for a second. This was a shame, as this was a match that we could easily have won; too often we lost concentration though, and allowed our opponents into a game where we dominated up front. Vadim, Will and Misha all competed for the ball well, with Will stunning the crowd with a couple of skilful back-heels. It was a shame that we did not pass the ball earlier however. Nonetheless, Misha had several good shots on goal and Bradley covered a huge amount of ground in midfield. Ben was again sound in defence and Alex did his best in goal.  JB

Football v Tavistock & Summerhill
Under 9 Won 10-0
What a fantastic way to end the season! It all seemed to come together in the boys’ final game. Everyone ably combined the skills and knowledge they have learnt throughout this term into a terrific performance. Ollie (2 goals) enjoyed a first half stint between the posts where he made several useful saves as well as giving the team a huge advantage with some thumping punts down the field. As ever the defence was led by Callum who capped off a great season by not giving the opposition any chance to score during the match. Jolly and Henry worked tirelessly down the flanks, feeding Freddy (3 goals) and Morten (5 goals) with some great long passes which they both finished skilfully. Roland was once again invaluable in his ‘roving’ manner around the pitch making some very important tackles to ensure we won the ball in great attacking position. Once again Theo worked constantly with a great attitude and was always willing to run back to help the others defend. Our captain for today was Arthur who again showed his strength and ability to play both on the field, creating some great chances for others to score, and in goals, where his experience helped Ashdown keep a clean sheet.  

Many thanks to all the parents who have come to support their boys both at home and away matches throughout this term. The Under 9s have enjoyed a very successful season and I look forward to monitoring their progress up the ranks! BW

Wednesday, 17th November

Football v Hilden Grange
1^st XI                1-3             
Well this wasn’t the end to the season which we all wanted.  Things were looking bright when Park gave us an early lead, but we failed to capitalise on this and sat back too much.  Full credit to Hilden Grange who pressed us and played with more urgency.  We were not without chances but today our finishing was not clinical and, as the game wore on, our play became a little more desperate.  Unfortunately this was not our best performance and perhaps we should have got something out of the game.  However, the boys should feel extremely pleased with their season as a whole and I wish them every success for the forthcoming Rugby season.  Thank you to Oliver Line for his excellent leadership as captain.  PM

2^nd VII              5-5             
What a fantastic way to finish the season. Admittedly it was not a win but, result aside, this game really reflected our season. As per usual, the boys played the game with a smile. There were moments of real class, moments that we would like to forget and moments of complete absurdity (JT trying to head the ball but necking it instead being an example!). In attack we were at our absolute best today. Gus spearheading the attack scored multiple goals again, Ivo and Henry also getting on the score sheet. The three of them kept their attacking shape beautifully and the goals really were superb. In defence, we were less effective, but there was no lack of energy and enthusiasm. Special mention must go to Ollie who had plenty to do and showed bravery and commitment. As the seconds ticked down to the final whistle it looked as if there might be a twist in the tale. The ball was cleared from a Hilden attack; a few passes later we were in their half - the ball fell to Gussie with his back to their goal, he swivelled, volleyed, beat the goalkeeper but couldn’t beat the woodwork. The ball hit the underside of the bar and bounced out! End result 5-5. Well done to everyone who has represented the school in the 2^nd VII this season. It has been a truly enjoyable season.  CS

Colts A            0-4             
We travelled to Hilden Grange on Wednesday afternoon to play our last game of the season. We knew that they would be a strong team and tried our best to play a good brand of football.  Although we started strongly, we failed to find the back of the net. They played extremely well and had it not been for Cameron in the goals, we would have conceded at least 10 goals in the first half. Luckily for us the score was only 1–0 in their favour.

The second half unfortunately did not go our way and they scored another three goals. We did have a few shots on the goal but failed to find the back of the net. Dominic and Sam had good games in attack, as did James in defence. Well done boys on a very spirited performance.  RS

Colts C            2-1   
Off we went to Tonbridge for our final game of the season against Hilden Grange (playing their Colts D), and what a cracking match it was!  We were not at our best for the first ten minutes or so, taking the ball into tackles instead of passing quickly on a big pitch.  Our control of the ball was sloppy at times and we often won possession, only to gift it straight back.  Hilden Grange scored after our defence parted like the Red Sea, but this finally seemed to kick us into gear.  We put together some better passing moves and Archie Boyle equalised with a well-hit shot from 20 metres out.  In the second half play was very even and went from end to end.  Charlie Abate had a superb second half in goal, making a number of fine blocks and saves, stopping our hosts from scoring on four or five occasions.  Archie scored a second with a smart lob over the ‘keeper and somehow we held on for a 2-1 win.  The boys were delighted at the end to record their first win of the season.  Robbie Brooks and Carlos Espinosa were generally solid at the back and much more pro-active in terms of attacking the ball in the second half.  We did, however, have a few Keystone Cops' moments in defence, but got away with it!  Andrew Taylor, Fred Cox, Daragh Massey and Archie covered acres of territory and their passing and link play improved as the game went on.  After seven losses, the boys have done terrifically well in the last week to come away with two well-earned draws and a win in the final three games.  Well done to the whole team!  MH

Colts D            1-6             
In sub degree temperatures, a strong Colts D team set out to Hilden Grange. We started off extremely well with all players steaming off the mark to make an impression, immediately chasing the ball. Some good through balls from Pat Athakravisunthorn helped Magnus Merryweather place some good shots on goal. Unfortunately a good opposition keeper prevented us from scoring in the first half. Sadly after this, we let our heads drop in the first half and Hilden Grange managed to capitalise, scoring three goals before the half time whistle. 0-3 at half time, not the best position to be in. Yet the boys soldiered on and pulled their fingers out for the second half.

Having swapped sides, the boys were raring to go. Adeoluwa Pearse produced some spectacular runs and managed to convert with a stunning long shot into the opposition bottom right hand corner. This lifted the spirits of the boys tremendously. But sadly it was not to be, Hilden Grange continued to advance, and even with the formidable defence of Will Barker and Nick Berry and goal keeper Alex Young, they managed to score a few more. The final whistle blew resulting in a 1-6 defeat. An unlucky end to a good season. Man of the Match is to be awarded to Pat for his extreme perseverance and quite literally playing every position. A fun and enjoyable season to coach, well done!  NHH

Football v Fonthill Lodge

Colts B           1-2              
A great performance to wind up the season, we started with determination and, despite the biting cold, persevered to the end.  Playing up the hill on a much larger pitch, we repelled persistent attacks and, from a combination of Philip at the back alongside Lex and Edward, kept a clean sheet. We passed the ball nicely and had many attacks on goal – our weakness was in waiting too long to make the final pass or to take the shot.

No score at half time and playing down the hill, we were feeling more confident, but a lugubrious and telegraphed pass back from the centre saw their danger man pounce on the ball, dribble it through and after a couple of attempts, scramble the ball into the net. Though we fought back and played some of our best football of the season, Fonthill went two up with an exceptionally fierce header from a corner of which any coach would have been proud. We were not beaten yet however, and we again attacked, having several good chances. William blasted in a penalty after an obvious handling to put us back in the game and we sensed a draw might be on the cards, but we were beginning to tire (and get cold!) and it was not to be.

Well done all of you, especially Will who ran tirelessly and took control of the midfield to great effect. Juan had a great game, getting many long balls through for the unlucky Ollie to chase – if only Ollie could have kept one or two under control things might have been different. Aaron was solid up the left, passing beautifully and taking on a couple of big defenders with much more confidence and physicality. Philip also made a couple of cracking saves to keep us in the hunt and has the bruises to show for his courage, as has Lex!  All in a terrific end to the season – well done the team!  JB

Under 9          2-0              
On what felt like the coldest day of all time,we set about our final match of the season. We made a solid start with some hard tackling and quickly established a decent period of possession. It was a battle in the midfield and Alex Keen and John Richards really got stuck in to the battle. We took the lead with a very fancy back heeled goal from Freddie Smith and then doubled our advantage when Dominic Yorke lashed one in from mid-range. Marcus Prest controlled the game from a deep midfield position. Charles Harrison was very secure in defence. Making his debut for us was Vadim Novick who made his presence felt with some strong challenges. Josh Burvill was called upon once and dealt with it well. We had a few chances in the second half but it was so cold I think we were all relieved to hear the final whistle! It brought the curtain down on a tremendous season. Well done to each and every boy. They have listened and improved beyond recognition. They have been a pleasure to have as my team.    GdeM

Saturday, 13th November
Football v St Ronan’s

1^st XI                1-1        
This was a solid performance from the boys.  We took a little while to get going and found ourselves evenly matched in the first half.  We went into the break at 0-0 and were unfortunate that the whistle had gone as Line’s lob had gone over the line.  An own goal gifted St Ronan’s the opener, but credit to the Ashdown team for battling away and raising their game following this.  Some good pressure resulted in a corner and an unmarked Berry was able to power home a super header to take his tally of the season up to three!  We had some more chances with Beale and Atkinson shooting just wide, and then some super defending from Keen towards the end kept us in the game and subsequently a draw to take away.  We deserved to get something out of the game and well done to the boys for coming back from a goal down.   PM

2^nd VII              5-0         
The 2^nd VII produced their finest performance of the season today, beating St Ronan’s 5-0. There were many wonderful individual moments but the highlight for me was the style in which the boys played. The ball was moved around with precision and accuracy and Gus proved to be deadly in attack, scoring three fine goals. Henry Smith was calm in front of goal and took his chance thanks to a wonderful cross from Ivo and JT made the most of his brief time as a striker with a fantastic finish. Well done to all concerned and a special thanks to St Ronan’s who were utterly charming throughout and played the game in exactly the right spirit.  CS

Colts A            2-3         
Losing a game is never much fun but today was almost the exception to that rule. We scored first. Sam continued in his good form to score a screamer of a goal – well done, it really looks like you want to score now. And then St Ronan’s scored. The half time score was one goal each. We had the lion’s share of possession in the first half but that is not what wins games.

The second half was more evenly matched. Max scored our second goal and it all looked done and dusted until our visitors stepped up their game. They looked hungrier than we did and as a result scored two goals which secured them the victory. We would have liked a draw but truth be told, we were beaten by a team that looked like they wanted the win more than we did. The result: a 3–2 defeat. Cameron was once again brilliant in the goals.   RS

Colts B            1-3         
With the same team as the Wednesday game, we started rather slowly and appeared reluctant to go after the loose ball. In contrast our opponents were a little sharper and, although we tackled well at times, we failed to get the ball up-field with any purpose.  After a couple of well taken shots were blasted in at narrow angles, Lex got one back in the first few minutes of the second half after the keeper could not hold on to his powerful shot and we seemed to wake up a little. Philip again made some good saves, though our marking at the back left a bit of a hole at times and we looked vulnerable, though both Lex and Archie played much more confidently in a defensive role with the ball at their feet.

Towards the end we started to put the ball through nicely and made some good moves up the middle. With Juan booting it up to Oliver, we had a couple of chances. Edward also harried the opposition midfield very effectively, forcing errors that we were able to seize upon, and Aaron showed both skill and tenacity on the left. Though we allowed them another easy goal with some poor marking, our performance was generally much better in the second half and the contest more even. We were less hesitant and more determined.  A shame that we took so long to get going, but encouraging overall.   JB 

Colts C            1-1         
The Colts C team had a very exciting draw away at St Ronan’s.  The match was generally very even with play flowing from end to end.  St Ronan’s took the lead with a 20-metre shot which eluded everybody and, despite some promising moves and good half-chances, we were unable to equalise before half-time.  In the second half we played some very good football, attacking with intent and defending desperately when needed.  Charlie Abate was excellent in goal, regularly coming a long way out from his goal to see off any danger.  He made several fine blocks.  Robbie Brooks and Carlos Espinosa both defended well and often cleared the ball 20 to 30 metres with well-struck passes or occasionally with a good old-fashioned hoof!  Andrew Taylor, Daragh Massey and Fred Cox played well in midfield, covering acres of ground and putting together some clever passing moves.  Alexander Young worked hard up front and linked well with his midfield.  Mid-way through the second half Fred went on a determined run, beat a couple of defenders and slipped the ball passed the ‘keeper to make the score 1-1.  Both sides kept attacking and there were a few goal-mouth scrambles and desperate blocks at both ends, which kept the large crowd of about 18 royally entertained.  However, there was no further score and a draw was a fair result.  MH

Wednesday, 10th November
Football v Lingfield Notre Dame

1^st XI                 2-3            
This was a much better performance from the 1^st XI.  Our passing was more accurate than in the Woodcote game and we were able to penetrate the Lingfield defence and create chances.  Despite going a goal down, Atkinson equalised and we went into the break at 1-1.  Atkinson added to his ever-growing goal tally with another fine finish following some good work from Kleinwort on the left.  However, despite playing a little more defensively, we went to sleep and perhaps got too complacent.  A well worked goal down the left and then some poor marking from a corner cost us the game.  However, there were many positives to take from today so the boys should not feel too disheartened.  Well done to Charlie Keen for an excellent game at the back.    PM

Football v Fonthill Lodge

Colts A             6-1            
We hosted Fonthill Lodge on a glorious sunny day. William was rested today so that meant no substitutes for the team and another change was Cameron back in the goals. That meant that we had the usual (and reliable) pairing of Max and Dominic in the mid-field. They played brilliantly together and Max managed to register his second hat-trick of the season. Dominic was the outstanding player of the game and thoroughly impressed our opposition’s coach. Cameron was once again solid in the goals and James, moving up the field in the match, managed to find the back of the net on two occasions – not bad for a full-time defender! Charlie had a shaky start to the game but soon found his confidence and played well in defence. Sam also managed to score a goal and hopefully this will be the turning point for him in terms of his confidence – he really does need to convert more of his chances. Luke was just too strong down the right-hand side of the field and fed the strikers with plenty of ball. We scored plenty of goals and eventually won the game comfortably by 6 goals to 1. Well done boys!   RS

Football v Cottesmore

Colts B             2-1            
This was the second time the teams had met – and this time we were not missing any players in France.

It was important to keep warm on a cold but sunny afternoon and we started well. We got the ball forward successfully through Juan hoofing up the middle and skilfully via Aaron on the left, and went a goal up after five minutes when Juan blasted in a half clearance in front of goal. Edward (captain for the day) played with much more energy and determination and we stole the ball from the feet of our attackers on several occasions. Lex and Archie held their positions at the back and repelled most attacks, and Philip kicked long at the clearances. Ollie got onto a lot of ball and we broke through several times but were not able to get too much power into our shots. Philip also made a couple of cracking saves from close range shots and we were two up at the break thanks to a good turn-and-shoot from Edward at a corner which went in off the far post.

Cottesmore came back strongly at the start of the second half but we kept at our task well, thwarting the attacks and getting the ball upfield more quickly. The opposition got one back luckily when a deflection from the back of Lex’s head somehow found the back of our net and both sides had good chances thereafter.

Nonetheless, you held your nerve, kept attacking and thoroughly deserved your victory. Tremendous stuff – you all worked hard and it paid off.  JB

Colts C             0-0            
This was comfortably the best performance of the season by the Colts C team.  We played much better as a team.  We had more than our fair share of possession and territory, but, if there was an area where we were a little weak, it was in our shooting.  We had plenty of half chances, but too often our shots on goal lacked the necessary power or direction.  That said, all seven players demonstrated a terrific work-rate and battled right to the end on what was a cold afternoon.  Charlie Abate was sound in goal and was quick to see off any danger.  Robbie Brooks and Carlos Espinosa in defence both made numerous tackles and cleared the ball powerfully upfield.  Andrew Taylor, Daragh Massey and Fred Cox worked very hard in midfield, won a lot of tackles and put together some excellent passing moves.  Magnus Merryweather up front had plenty of ball and looked lively, although he was closely marked by the Cottesmore defenders.  Although the game ended in a 0-0 draw, the team should derive plenty of confidence from this performance.  MH

Football v Holmewood House

Under 9            1-5            
“It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated...it is finished when it surrenders.” Ben Stein
I have learnt much more from this defeat today than I have in all the victories we have claimed this season. We were outclassed by a fine Holmewood House side. Yet we never gave in to the inevitable, we stuck to our task well and did the school proud. It is fair to say that we were a little naïve at times and we played into their hands, however these boys will be all the better for this experience. We have enjoyed an excellent season and have one game to go. This was no disgrace losing to a classy opposition and if we learn from the mistakes we made, it will serve us well. GdeM

Football Triangular v Fonthill Lodge and Brambletye

Under 8            4-2, 4-1      
Ashdown House kicked off against Brambletye on a sunny Autumn's day. Ashdown took the lead early on thanks to a composed finish by Freddy Floyd. However Brambletye equalised soon after due to the midfield not getting back to help the defence. Despite this Ashdown looked stronger going forward and throughout the two games Freddy, Arthur and Hugh showed they could pass the ball confidently around the pitch. A stunning Hugh Innes free kick put Ashdown ahead at half time.

In the second half the under 8s got more of a grip defending but still conceded a second goal. However a further two Hugh Innes goals sealed the game and the final score was 4-2.

Fonthill were a stronger side going forward. But with Freddy Floyd playing more defensively, the under 8s worked better with Jolly and Callum covering well. Morten Tilley playing outfield linked well with Hugh Innes and Ashdown went 2 goals up at half time with two fine finishes from Hugh.

Fonthill fought back in the second half scoring early on. They should have added a second to their collection, but for a heroic effort by Arthur Lindsay in goal. Two fine goal line clearances by Hugh and Callum helped keep Forthill’s attack at bay. When Hugh, Freddy and Morten moved the ball around the pitch Ashdown were at their most deadly with Morten scoring two more goals to help secure the win thanks to two fine assists from Hugh.

A great effort from all six players, scoring 8 goals and only conceding 3, keep it up lads!   JBa

Saturday, 6th November
Football v Woodcote House

1^st XI              0-3           
After a rather close opening 20 minutes, Woodcote made the breakthrough and didn’t really look back from there.  They were solid at the back and although we managed to penetrate their defence a few times, our shots were not enough to trouble their keeper.  At half time the score was still 1-0 but once Woodcote’s second went in, our heads went down and we lost our shape.  This said, there were some encouraging signs.  Once again, Oliver Line led by example in midfield and Eric Park battled well on the right.  Rory Craig also had another superb game in goal.  PM

2^nd VI             6-1        
After a slightly delayed kick-off, and without a thought for the England/All Blacks match (honestly), the game got under way and the teams seemed fairly evenly balanced. However, Gus and Ivo were linking up well which led to the first goal. Despite periods of pressure from Woodcote and some powerful shots by their inspirational captain, JT, Alex and Felix soaked up the pressure and Gus and Ivo continued to find space. Five minutes before half time, Gus completed his hat-trick but, with only seconds to spare, Woodcote scored a super team goal.

Colts A          4-6           
After a long and sleep-inducing drive to Woodcote, we arrived to find our field. It was easy to spot as it was so much bigger than any field that we have played on this season. The big field and the long journey seemed to take its toll on us in the first few minutes of the game and we found ourselves three goals down in next to no time.  We did however manage to salvage a late goal in the first half.

The second half was another story altogether. Our legs found their life and we started to play good football. Dominic and Luke played very well in the mid-field and gave Cameron (playing out of the goals for the first time) plenty of scoring opportunities. The result was that Cameron scored a hat-trick! Well done.

Max played in the goals for the first time and, although admitting that it was much more difficult than he ever expected, looked promising and made a few telling saves. Charlie and James had a much better game in defence and found the form that has made them a formidable defensive pairing. William scored a brilliant goal from the right hand side of the box and Sam had a bucketful of chances but it just wasn’t his day – he may not have scored any goals but it was great to see him creating the chances.

Well done boys on a spirited come-back. RS

Colts B          0-2           
This was a better performance that in our previous game. However, we lost to a team who communicated more effectively and passed the ball with less hesitation.

Juan played a decisive role as captain, holding the midfield well and putting through some good ball for Oliver who played nicely up front and should have had one straightforward goal!  Sadly Aaron hurt his leg near the start meaning Edward came on as substitute and played for the rest of the game; after a slow start he grew in confidence and distributed the ball nicely. Archie played with more determination and energy, putting in some useful tackles and Lex was solid at the back holding his position well, communicating effectively and working the ball up the wing.  Philip made many excellent long clearances from the hand which Juan and Oliver were able to get onto the end of quite often and we certainly had our chances. Robbie played his usual role at the back but could have moved more and chatted less!

Basically we conceded the first goal in the first minute – a soft goal that everybody watched with the ‘someone else will deal with that’ kind of attitude. After that we bucked up a bit, but then conceded a second from a goal kick which was gifted tamely to an opposition striker with nobody covering the goal!

The second half was much better, with Philip making a couple of good saves and with the opposition keeper having to earn his keep too. 1-2 would have been a fairer result and the play was end-to-end with both teams making some effective moves.

If we just do the basics right – stopping and controlling the ball, working the throw-ins up the line and cutting out silly errors at set pieces we should win a few more games.  A good game to watch – much better all of you.  JB

Colts C          0-6           
A very enjoyable match, with Woodcote House deservedly taking the honours.  We had our moments, but couldn’t quite convert several half chances whereas Woodcote were more clinical with their finishing.  It was 4-0 going into the final few minutes, but Woodcote added two more late goals to win 6-0.  Charlie Abate played well in goal, with several fine saves.  Daragh Massey had an excellent game, with a terrific work-rate and he never stopped running.  Carlos Espinosa worked hard in defence and made a number of thumping clearances and excellent long passes out of defence.  Fred Cox played well in midfield and looked lively on the ball.  Well tried, everyone!  MH

Under 9         3-1           
On a chilly Autumnal afternoon we took the long coach journey to Woodcote House, knowing we would be in for a battle. How right we were. It was a very tough physical match. It was nip and tuck in the early stages before Marcus Prest squeezed a shot by the opposition goal keeper to give us the lead. We continued to come under pressure and Charles Harrison and John Richards needed to be at their most alert at the back. A mazy dribble from Dominic Yorke created an opening for Freddie Smith, who added to his tally for the season. Another mesmerising run from Yorke end with him rounding the keeper to give us a three nil lead. This probably flattered us and Woodcote hit back after half time. They scored once and if it was not for some splendid keeping from Josh Burvill and a brave block from Alex Keen it could have been more. As it was, the match ended 3-1 to us. You could tell be the exhaustion afterwards that we had been in a real battle. It was a good scrap between to very even sides. Man of the match was Dominic Yorke. Well done chaps! Up next we have a fixture with Holmewood House this Wednesday that is not in the calendar.   GdeM   

Under 8         7-0           
The under 8s coped very well, playing on a much larger pitch than usual. Some great attacking football from Ashdown led to 2 goals being scored in the first half by Freddy Floyd and Hugh Innes.

In the second half Ashdown showed their dominance of the game. Swapping Morten Tilley with Arthur Lindsay in goal made us more deadly in attack, with Hugh, Freddy and Morten linking well. Freddy Floyd scored early in the second half; however the fourth goal scored was arguably goal of the season. Freddy, working hard in defence, wins the ball and plays it to Hugh who dribbles with the ball before releasing it to Morten Tilley who finely finishes, scoring in the bottom corner. A great counter attacking team goal. Hugh, Morten and Freddy all scored again making the game 7-0 to Ashdown.

A great performance in both attack and defence led to our largest win, with a great hat-trick from Freddy. But also our first clean sheet of the season, thanks to Jolly Koska and Callum Hynes’ rock solid defending. A brilliant team display, which is always excellent to watch, well played lads.  JBa

Wednesday, 4th November
Football v Copthorne

1^st XI                2-0                
We got off to a rather slow start with Copthorne playing some super passing football.  Fortunately Rory Craig was equal to their shots and gradually we came back into the game.  Park and Beale swapped positions and this gave us more width.  Almost immediately Park, Smith and Line linked up down the right and a ball was played across the edge of the box for Kay to finish confidently.  At half time we were 1-0 up and once again Copthorne came at us in the second half.  There was some last gasp defending with Keen making some important interceptions.  Finally we got the two goal cushion which we craved with a super ball played through the middle for Beale to run on to and he finished superbly.  A fine win, although we will need to tighten up on our clearances.  PM

2^nd VI               2-1                
A record turn out of players for the season and another win! The game started at a frantic pace, so much so that Gus and Ivo looked exhausted after ten minutes; having only one in midfield and one in attack, it is hardly surprising! Ashdown had the better of the exchanges early on and Gus put us ahead from an acute angle, early in the first half. In the second half, we continued to press and were rewarded by a goal from Ivo with the help of JT. The back three of Felix, JT and Alex Cayley covered an awful lot of ground and tackled ferociously. Ollie was solid between the sticks but was left with no chance when the Copthorne striker’s shot ricocheted off JT for Copthorne’s first and only goal. Ashdown rather went to sleep in the last five minutes and Copthorne created some chances but failed to capitalise on them. Well played one and all - a thoroughly entertaining encounter.  CS

Colts A            2-6                
We played Copthorne earlier on in the week, at the Brambletye 6-a-side tournament and went down to them 1–0. We beat them in the penalty shoot-outs for the place in the semi-finals. With that in mind, we arrived at our hosts, confident but also very wary of our formidable opponents.

Confidence though doesn’t always convert into goals. We had 19 shots on target throughout the game, but only managed to find the back of the net on two occasions. Our hosts, on the other hand, had 8 shots on target but found the back of the net 6 times. We may have played well on the day, but we were convincingly out-played by a team that looked hungrier for the victory. Yet another learning curve, boys – the past doesn’t guarantee success, the present does! We will need to lift our game for the remaining few games of the season. The result: a disappointing 6–2 defeat.   RS

Colts B            0-5                
This was the first disappointing performance of the season as I feel some of you never really got going. We were certainly beaten by the better team, though our marking was poor and our passing weak and inaccurate. The pitch was on a strong slope and we misjudged the lengths that a goal kick would go on several occasions, giving their strikers an easy opportunity. Winning the toss and electing to kick off rather than take the slope was also a mistake.

Philip played well in goal, though too often a lack of marking at the back gave our opponents an easy run in leaving him little chance. We were playing on a bigger pitch with bigger goals too, and we tended to stay static in the middle of the field rather than exploit the open spaces, unlike our opponents.

Robbie put in some good clearances alongside Archie at the back, and Edward trundled around in midfield, though we were far too slow and casual in clearing the ball. Aaron, in his first school match did well on the left and held his position better than any other player, getting in a couple of shots. Ollie stayed up front and controlled the ball quite well, but a lack of passing meant we lost the ball most of the time trying to get through one tackle too many.

I was pleased with the effort of Juan who worked very hard and covered a huge amount of ground in midfield, and Fred came on for the second half in defence where he persevered in the tackle.

Sadly, poor passing, little communication and a rather lacklustre approach overall gave us little chance against a side who clearly wanted to win more than we did. Perhaps it was because your usual coach was refereeing at an away fixture ……  JB

Colts C            0-3                
A strong Colts team, led by Captain, Andrew Taylor, set out with confidence on a muggy November day to face Copthorne. The game started well with the team keeping a strong formation from the word go. A solid defensive unit composed of Carlos Espinosa and Daragh Massey held the Copthorne attack at bay. Unfortunately a clever piece of football led to a well worked goal from the opposition, but this did not dampen our spirits. Andrew led by example and strong play and clever passing resulted in Ahsdown’s first real chance of the game. A powerful shot by Magnus Merryweather threatened the opposition but unfortunately we were robbed of a goal by a good save.

Under 9           7-5                
If you are a fan of defensive resolve and clean sheets then please look away now! This was a match that oozed goals from start to finish. After the half term break we looked to build on our impressive first half. We went a goal down after a minute, looking half asleep. We then hit back with some stunning attacking football. Yorke fed Smith for the equaliser and then set up Prest who finished lethally putting us ahead. An own goal a moment later increased our lead before Copthorne hit back with a second. Smith recorded his second a moment later and then completed a first half hat trick just before the break.

Any feeling of comfort was soon destroyed as we conceded two goals to begin the half. Had it not been for some crucial interceptions from Harrison and Richards it could have been much worse. At 5-4 we were rocking until a good through ball from Keen allowed Yorke to get behind the defence and he skilfully applied the finishing touch. A thunderbolt from the inspirational Prest increased our lead a moment later. Copthorne were by no means done, scoring one more and peppering our area. There it finished after a breathless encounter! A 12 goal thriller, yet our man of the match was goalkeeper Josh Burvill, who repelled shot after shot in a fantastic display. What a game! GdeM

Under 8           3-1                
During the first half the game looked pretty tight. Ashdown was slow to get off the mark, which led to Copthorne taking the lead with a well worked individual goal. However, in our typical fashion, Ashdown bounced back. The team worked hard which led to a much deserved goal from a long range shot from Hugh Innes, leaving the game 1-1 at half time.

Ashdown made a positive start to the second half, keeping possession and working hard in all areas of the pitch. Copthorne was unlucky to concede early on due to an own-goal from a well struck Hugh Innes corner. At 2-1 the under 8s continued to play well passing the ball around the pitch. It was much better to see Arthur, Hugh and Freddy linking passes together, moving the ball with more purpose while going forward. The third goal was scored deservedly by Freddy Floyd with a well composed finish from a good through ball from Hugh. Floyd worked hard all game.  Copthorne battled hard throughout the game and would have scored a second if Morten Tilley hadn’t made such a brilliant save in goal for Ashdown.

The game finished 3-1. It is great to see the team working hard, having fun and improving week in and week out. If the lads keep working hard in training and keep playing with a positive attitude, I am sure they will finish the season on a high.  JBa

Monday, 1st November
Brambletye Six-a-Side Football Tournaments

1^st VI         Semi-Finals          
Our opening game was against Cumnor House and we seemed to start quite well.  However, some careless mistakes were quickly punished by Cumnor and we were unable to make anything of the chances we created.  This said, Rory Craig was outstanding in goal and caught the eye of some of the coaches on the touchline.  Our next match was against Cottesmore and we had to get something out of this game to progress to the next round.  A well taken Park finish was enough to claim the victory although Cottesmore were always dangerous and once again, Craig was called upon in goal to make some super saves.  The semi-final was against Ardlingly who are always a strong side.  Once again, our mistakes were punished and we couldn’t capitalise on the chances we made.  However, the boys played some super football at times and should be proud of what they achieved.  In particular, Oliver Line and Archie Kay should be commended for their grit and determination, despite having just stepped off a long-haul flight from Hong Kong!  PM

Colts VI     Winners                 
Our first day back after half term was eagerly anticipated by eight boys – it meant the Brambletye 6-a-side Tournament.

In our group, we were up against Copthorne and Cumnor House. We beat Cumnor House 1–0 but lost to Copthorne. The result was that the three teams in our group tied on equal points. The only way to decide the semi-final place was penalty shoot-outs. Dominic, Luke and Max were chosen to carry the hopes of the team on their shoulders. The boys made us proud and kicked our way in to the semi-finals. Cameron was brilliant in the goals and saved a few vital attempts, not only in the penalty shoot-outs but also in the group stages.

We met Cottesmore in the semi-finals – a team that had previously beaten us in the league matches. But we were hungrier and more determined and won the game 1–0. Charlie and James were solid in defence and we certainly looked the best defensive team on the day – well done boys, you were very disciplined and brave. The result meant that we were in the finals against none other than Cumnor House.  Although we had beaten them on two previous occasions, we knew that it would be a tough game. In fact, the pressure was certainly on us to win the game…for the second time today. The first half saw no goals. Luke, William and Sam ran themselves ragged and never gave up. They can be very proud of their commitment throughout the tournament.  The pressure and tension was mounting. The second half was a real ding-dong battle and then it happened. Dominic, who was the outstanding player of the tournament, passed a ball to Max in the in-goal area. Max received the ball, which he controlled in the air (off his chest), and then smashed it in to the back of the net – for the one and only goal of the match. This secured the win and the winner’s trophy.

Well done boys on winning the tournament and for trying so very hard. It’s all about staying positive and taking your chances! Congratulations. On behalf of the team, I would like to thank Mr Stanton and Mr de Moraville for all of their support and encouragement throughout the day.  RS

Saturday, 16th October
Football v Brambletye

1^st XI                  0-2          
Brambletye pressed us right from the word go and we took far too long to get out of the blocks.  In the first half, our passing and controlling was below par and we made far too many unforced errors.  Indeed, we were fortunate to go into the break at 0-0.  However, the second half saw a much more spirited performance from us, with Line, Atkinson and Park linking together for some nice moves.  However, we never really threatened the Brambletye keeper who was protected by a talented sweeper.  Brambletye always looked dangerous from their set pieces and their two late goals came from a corner and a superbly taken free kick.  The boys will feel disappointed with the result, but I am pleased with the way they battled in the second half.  They now have a well-deserved break before the Brambletye 6-a-side tournament.

Colts A              2-2           
The miserable weather wasn’t going to stop us from enjoying an afternoon of football. We had won the triangular on Wednesday afternoon and were supremely confident when arriving at our neighbours and local rivals, Brambletye. The heavens opened but the game began.

The first half saw us dominate in all areas of the game. Cameron was decisive and solid in goal and our defenders, Charlie and James, proved once again that they are a formidable pair in defence. The half time saw no goals but plenty of opportunities.

The sun came out, the players found their rhythm and the goals came in thick and fast. We scored first – a brilliant goal by Dominic, scored from an almost impossible angle but, unfortunately for us, Brambletye responded soon after this. We scored again and looked to have won the game until our opponents responded with a sublime individual goal in the dying minutes of the game.

Max played his best game of the season thus far – proving to be a real thorn in the side of the defenders. Sam, William and Luke all had a chance on the wing and on various occasions, managed to threaten the opposition’s goals. The end result was a 2–2 draw. I am sure that both teams believed that they should have won the game – an indication that a draw was probably the best result for the day.  RS

Colts B              2-1           
Our best performance of the season so far, Philip went to keep goal and Juan came out into midfield. From the outset we tackled furiously and attempted to pass the ball to good effect;  both sides had chances but we looked the more confident side.

After a while Ollie ran onto a good ball forward and skilfully went round a defender to blast home our opener and we led at the break. We carried on in the same vein in the second half, throwing up the line successfully and clearing well from the back; eventually from a half clearance after a great Lex corner, Ollie blasted one so hard at the keeper that he was unable to hold it and we were two up. Although Brambletye came forward strongly, we held our nerve, continued to play well and despite conceding a goal, emerged as winners.

It was a super team performance today. Philip played with confidence in goal and made some spectacular dives to save, Magnus and Edward were sound at the back, and Andrew stuck to his attacker like a limpet making life difficult. Robbie was back on form with his clearances and midfielders Lex and Juan covered an enormous amount of ground in both attack and defence. Ollie had his best game to date, getting on the end of long balls well and deserved his two goals.

So much better – the opposition coach said that you looked like footballers in the way in which you played, which made my day. And a victory too – well done everyone! JB

Colts C              0-9        
The Colts C team were well beaten today by Brambletye.  Although scheduled as a seven-a-side match, both sides had two reserves, so we agreed to play nine-a-side and give everyone a full game.  Brambletye were much better than us at passing the ball and getting players into space and their play consequently had much more fluency than ours.  We were down 4-0 at half-time and they scored five more in the second half.  It could have been more were it not for a super performance in goal by Charlie Abate, who made several fine saves and numerous blocks on opponents as they approached goal.  Archie Boyle worked very hard at right-back, making a huge amount of tackles.  Alexander Young put plenty of effort into his game at right-midfield.  Carlos Espinosa had his moments in the centre of midfield, while Fred Cox was lively up front and was unlucky not to score when his shot beat the ‘keeper only to bounce back off the post.  The boys can now have a good rest over half term, before we meet Copthorne in our next match.  MH

Under 9             4-1           
This was undoubtedly our best performance of the season. We were a little short handed as we were without the services of Dominic Yorke, due to injury. His team mates really picked up the slack. We scored two goals early in the first half. Freddie Smith pounced once again for our opener and the impressive Hugh Innes doubled our lead when his free kick took a wicked deflection and left the goal keeper with no chance. We then came under serious pressure from our opponents and were fortunate to go into half time with our two goal lead intact, Josh Burvill to the fore with some fine saves. John Richards and Charles Harrison did a fine job in defence and gave Josh some good protection. We started well in the second half and put a third on the board when a Brambletye boy unfortunately put into his own net. William Harris was his usual pesky self in the midfield, really making his slight presence felt. We got our fourth when the irreplaceable Marcus Prest played in Freddie Smith for his second of the game. Brambletye scored late on and, were it not for a crucial block from Alex Keen, we would have conceded another. We held on for a great victory. Well done boys, you deserve your half term break!    GdM

Wednesday, 13th October
Football v Cumnor House

1^st IX                 2-0                  
This match completed our third win on the trot courtesy of two fine finishes from Atkinson.  The two teams were evenly matched, but perhaps we had the slight edge in competing for 50-50 balls.  I felt we were rather slow out of the blocks and it wasn’t really until the second half that we started to pass the ball around more freely.  Oliver Line was excellent at closing down the ball in central midfield, while Eric Park moved into some good positions out on the right.  However, we did give possession away a little easily at times so this, together with communication, is something which we still need to work on.  Well done to Simon David, Michael Berry and William Douglas for their solid defending and also to Rory Craig for his first clean sheet of the season.  PM

2^nd VI                4-0, 1-1            
Cumnor House were kind enough to provide two mixed teams of six from their 4^th XI and the games were to last ten minutes each way. In the first game, Ashdown played some great football and the goals came. Charlie and Henry played particularly well up front but mention must also go to JT for his tireless work and Felix for some good passing and an excellent finish. In the second game, we played the stronger of the two Cumnor sides. The game ebbed and flowed but eventually Charlie Keen found the back of the net late in the second half. However, we relaxed our guard allowing Cumnor to score a fantastic late equaliser. The game ended in a very creditable draw. Well done to all.  CS

Football Triangulars with Cumnor House and Great Walstead

Colts A             0-0, 2-0            
We travelled to Cumnor House to play in a football triangular. Our first game was against Great Walstead. Once bitten, twice shy was ringing through our ears as we took to the field – we had met them earlier on in the season and lost 8–0. But something was different. We had practised hard and were far more determined and disciplined as players and a team. Charlie and James played superbly in defence – never allowing the attackers an opportunity to threaten our goals. As a result, Cameron had to make a few tame saves, which he did easily and comfortably. Dominic and Max were outstanding. They ran themselves ragged and took plenty of shots at goal – they epitomised commitment. Will played solidly on the right wing, while Sam played nothing short of outstanding. He was aggressive, tough and spirited – he ran with purpose and showed a great level of maturity and skill. We completely dominated the game but failed to find the back of the net. The end result was a credible goalless draw. Our final game was against our hosts, Cumnor House. We continued to play well in this game and scored early on in the first half. Luke made an impact when we came on to the field and scored a brilliant goal to seal the game, the victory and the triangular. Well done boys on a marked improvement.  RS

Colts B             0-3, 0-5            
Playing Great Walstead in the first of two 20 minute games, we kept a clean sheet until the half time whistle when one bounced off a defender at the near post after some sustained pressure. Thereafter we continued to try hard but were outplayed by the more skilful team.

Against Cumnor there was no score at the midway break after some sterling defence, but we tired rapidly, stopped marking and let the attackers run at us at will. Our heads then went down after a scramble score as we lost heart, allowing the flood gates to open -  which was a pity after some encouraging football.

Philip worked hard and did his best up front as did Ollie who got through the defence on several occasions. Lex covered the field very well and made many splendid tackles, as did Magnus on the right before running out of steam. Robbie was busy in midfield and thwarted many an attack and Andrew played gallantly on the left, barging the opposition off the ball whenever he could. Man of the match was probably Juan who had another busy time in goal making many fine saves, though a couple squeezed past him on the inside from a narrow angle.

What we lacked today was pace – all too often the loose ball was snaffled up far more quickly by our opponents. We also failed to get the ball forwards on the first or second touch and thus our attackers had to rely on Juan’s clearances from the hand to get over the defence.

Though outplayed by two more accomplished teams, you gave them both a good run for their money and enjoyed yourselves. Well tried again, even if you did come second.   JB

Under 9A          1-3, 4-2            
On a breezy afternoon we hosted a triangular event against Great Walstead and Cumnor House. Our first game came against Great Walstead. They were a big, imposing side and we knew we would have to match them physically if we were to stand a chance. We went 1-0 down in the early stages but kept fighting. Josh Burvill kept us in the game with some key saves and Charles Harrison made some crucial interventions.  We drew level when Marcus Prest found Freddie Smith, who finished clinically. We then had our chances, despite Dominic Yorke carrying a nasty injury. We fell behind to a well worked goal. However we kept fighting to pull level, in doing so this left us quite exposed at the back and Walstead scored a third on the break. We had our chances but the better side won.

We next met Cumnor, our local rival. We got off to a flying start with Freddie Smith scoring a great goal early on and following it up with a fine second. We were 2-0 up at half time. We increased our lead after the break with a tremendous team goal, Marcus Prest to Freddie Smith who held the ball up before passing it into the rampaging Hugh Innes who slotted home first time. A wonderful goal! Marcus Prest added a fourth from range. We then weathered an onslaught from Cumnor, who scored two splendid goals. We were slightly hanging on at the end but that didn’t spoil a fantastic performance. Well done!   GdeM

Under 9B          1-3, 0-4             
The U9B team played very well in their triangular with Cumnor House and Great Walstead.  The 5-a-side matches were played over two eight minute halves.  Cumnor beat Great Walstead 4-2 in the opening match.  We played Cumnor House in the second match and went down 3-1.  Much of the match was fairly even, although Cumnor passed the ball to each other better than we did and were more clinical in front of goal.  Hugh Innes worked tirelessly and was rewarded with a fine goal in the last minute.  Hugh then went to play for the A team in place of Dominic Yorke, who had a slight leg injury.  Dominic played in goal for the Bs and did very well against Great Walstead in the final match.  We were down 3-0 at half-time, but fought hard in the second half and conceded only one more goal.  Well played to Freddy Floyd, Alexander Keen, Will Harris and John Richards.  MH

Under 8                  -                 
A different scenario for the under 8s lead to a team of 4 playing in a triangular tournament at Cumnor House. This consisted of 5 short games to help improve the basic skills.

Ashdown started of with a game of line ball. This is where a point is scored for stopping the ball dead on the line, helping players improve control. Afterwards they played a game called Middle goal. Two goals were placed in the middle of the pitch which could be scored either way. Next was a game with four goals, each team defending 2 goals to help players with awareness. The under 8s went on to play a match without a goalkeeper and then a match with a goalkeeper to finish the session.

I believe the under 8s had a very enjoyable, as well as a successful afternoon, winning most of the games played, as well as scoring a number of goals. I do hope the under 8s do keep on improving and keep enjoying the rest of their football.   JBa

Monday, 11th October
Copthorne U-13 Six-a-Side Football Tournament

1^st VI       
Blue skies and a gentle breeze greeted everyone taking part in this year's tournament.  Ashdown made a solid start drawing 0–0 with a strong Duke of Kent side. Next up were local rivals Brambletye who just edged a close encounter 1–0. The boys were still playing a little tentatively but the loss seemed to spur them on and they played much better in their next match drawing 0–0 with Copthorne. The final group match brought them up against Cumnor House who won 1–0. Having played four matches and not scored a goal, the thought of a 3–0 win in our final match against Cottesmore seemed very optimistic indeed. We did however finally ‘click’ and two goals from Greg Atkinson and one from Eric Park gave us that illusive win. All the boys contributed during the afternoon but I must mention Oliver Line who was exceptional in the mid-field working tirelessly in all the matches.  D.G.

Saturday, 9th October
Football v Cottesmore

1^st XI              5-1        
A super overall performance from the team.  We took a little while to get going, but a goal from Atkinson settled our nerves.  This was an extremely competitive match with end-to-end action.  Park and Atkinson combined extremely well up front and Archie Kay proved a useful option on the left with a solo goal just before half time.  Cottesmore continued to press us in the second half and they enjoyed a lot of possession.  Consequently, they had numerous corners which tested Rory Craig in goal and they deservedly scored from one of them.  Two more break away goals from Atkinson sealed the game and the end to an encouraging week. Well done to all concerned and in particular to Eric Park for his thoughtful and unselfish play.  PM

2^nd IV             2-1        
The 2^nd IV played a thoroughly enjoyable VII-a-side match on the Cottesmore under XI pitch, on Saturday the IX.X.MMX. Confused? Me too. Cottesmore very kindly lent us three players and the match got underway. The game started off fairly evenly balanced but the first breakthrough came when JT knocked the ball into the net from the halfway line (he assures me this was no fluke and I believe him). From then on we defended rather too deep and the pressure mounted. Cottesmore got the equaliser and the battle was on again. The pressure continued to grow until, very much against the run of play, one of the Cottesmore-Ashdownians fired home the winning goal. A great match but hard to claim as a win. Honours even. Thank you Cottesmore for a highly enjoyable afternoon.  CS

Colts A          0-3        
On a beautiful and sunny Saturday afternoon, we hosted Cottesmore. We were fresh from a victory on Wednesday afternoon and we were very keen to continue in the similar vein – scoring goals. With some of the regular players in France, we welcomed Juan, Lex and Sam into the team.

The first half saw us trailing by 2 goals. The second half was a better performance, hitting the cross bar once and narrowly being denied a goal by a superb piece of goalkeeping.  Unfortunately for us, we failed to find the back of the net and lost 3-0.

Lex played very well (and was particularly strong when defending the high ball) in defence as did Charlie. Dominic, Luke and Max were skilful in the midfield and all three players made a number of good runs and decisive passes. Juan improved in goal throughout the game and looked promising indeed. And Sam, returning to form, made some telling runs down the left side of the field, threatening the goals on a number of occasions. Well done boys on a solid performance, although we once again realised that we need to be alert and decisive from the word go.  RS

Colts B          1-4        
By far our best performance so far, the scoreline does not do us justice even though we were beaten by a more skilful team.  We played six-a-side as some of the boys are in France so the team was not our stongest. Nonetheless, Carlos played bravely in goal, growing in confidence throughout the match against some very accurate shooting. His long clearances from the hand nearly resulted in a goal on several occasions. Edward played with much more energy in midfield, particularly in the second half as players began to get tired, and Philip covered much ground too, getting ahead of his marker late in the first half to score our only goal.

3-1 down at half time, things did not look great, but with some excellent play from all of us we persevered well and had our chances. I was particularly pleased with the way in which we battled for possession after the break and this spoiled many of our opponents’ chances whilst creating our own.  Magnus played his best game so far at the back, holding his position well and making clearances with much more confidence; Robbie was solid at the back too and Carlos was now saving with some determination. Oliver had a penalty well saved after a handball and made several good forays through the defence – had he managed to connect with a couple when the goal was unattended he might have had an even better game. He and Philip both played well up front and passed the ball earlier to great effect.

A super game, all the boys played well and could not have acquitted themselves better, especially in the second half - even if they did go 4-1 down after sixteen seconds after their inspiring team talk!

A nice fixture, played in good spirits the boys did their best. Well done chaps!  JB

Colts C       0-2                  
On a beautiful autumn day the Colts C team travelled to Cottesmore with the hope a sealing a great victory. The first half was a riveting one with end to end action, Fred Cox and Andrew Taylor worked well as a solid mid-field unit, with Andrew running all around the field and Fred making some terrific runs into the opposition half. The defence held their own too. Nick Berry and William Barker were a force to be reckoned with. Their resemblance was very much that of a stone wall with the opposition seldom breaking through.

Under 9        4-0             
It is not often you would describe an Under 9 victory as professional, but this one was. We got on top early, turned pressure into goals and then defended resolutely against a very committed Cottesmore side. Dominic Yorke and Marcus Prest each scored a brace, Dominic’s first being particularly memorable from long range. In defence we were very sound and gave Josh Burvill one of his quietest games in goal. Alexander Keen and Charles Harrison read the game well. John Richards put in his best performance for the school with some bustling runs. William Harris was everywhere and never stopped running. Freddie Smith did extremely well, holding up the ball, playing up front on his own. This was a decent, clinical win. Well done!    GdeM

Wednesday, 6th October
Football v Ardingly

1^st XI v Ardingly 2nd XI     5-2          
This was a much more promising performance with us executing the basics a little better than at the weekend.  An early goal from Park settled the nerves, but Ardingly fought back to bring the scores level.  However, we were much more competitive, particularly on the 50/50 balls and went into the break 4-1 up.  Ardingly 2nds tested Rory Craig in goal on many occasions, but he was able to make some impressive saves.  The second half was an even battle, with Atkinson getting the only goal of the half for Ashdown.  This was an encouraging performance and will hopefully build up a little confidence within the team.  PM

Colts A          7-0          
Desperate for our first win of the season, we took to the field eager to start the game correctly. We had made one change to the team since our last outing – welcoming Charlie Naylor in to defence. Charlie was solid in defence and can be very proud of his first game for the Colts A team.  We played brilliantly and scored a bucketful of goals. It was great to see the team have the confidence to take on the defenders and shoot at the goals – nothing ventured, nothing gained. But today was the turning of the tide. We managed to secure our first win and we will hopefully carry-on this momentum into the next game on Saturday. Well done on a 7 – 0 victory.  RS

Colts B          2-2          
A balmy afternoon was a surprise after a rather dismal forecast, the Ardingly pitch was lovely and green, and our spirits were up. Winning the toss we elected to keep the wind behind us and from the start it became clear that the two sides were evenly matched. The opening score came from our opponents who had several good shots on goal to our one or two – a hard shot was deflected off a defender giving Juan no chance. A few minutes later, Sam took a nice ball down the right and found himself in front of goal where a soft but perfectly placed shot off his left foot found the bottom right hand corner.

That’s how things stood at the halfway mark and it was again Ardingly who took the lead when we failed to mark on the left to give two attackers a clear hunt on goal. Only a couple of minutes remained and we played with renewed vigour, resulting in Lex pushing up well beyond half way. He smacked a half clearance straight back at the goal, from whence a defender deflected his great shot (off his head) to make it an unstoppable one, flying into the top left corner. Both sides had chances to win it in the dying seconds, but two-all it remained – probably a fair reflection on the game.

Juan, Captain for the day, was outstanding in goal, putting his body on the line and barely making a mistake on what was, for him, a very busy day. Lex and Robbie were both committed at the back, shoring things up well and making many good first time clearances. Edward was much more evident today in his midfield role and Philip was forever in the thick of the action up front (where he so nearly scored). Sam grew in confidence as the match developed, storming up the right and putting in many good crosses, though sadly Ollie was not able to get onto many of them, though these two began to play well together.

A great result and exciting to watch, you really tried to play football today, passing back when closed down and being more positive, making decisions quickly.  Great stuff boys!  JB

Colts C          1-5          
The Colts C team played well in patches away at Ardingly against their Colts D.  Ardingly were a bit sharper around the box and put away three chances before half-time to lead 3-0.  Ashdown were much livelier in the second half and spent much more time on attack.  After one sustained period of pressure Fred Cox slotted home a nice goal to get us back to 5-1 down.  Shortly afterwards Fred hit a cracking free-kick from 15 metres which hit the post, but that was the closest we came to scoring again.  There was a lot of good effort today.  Carlos Espinosa was solid in goal and launched some booming goal kicks.  Archie Boyle had a very good game at right-back, while Adeoluwa Pearse tried hard at left-back.  The midfield of Andrew Taylor, Magnus Merryweather and Fred Cox were busy, with a more creative display in the second half.  Alex Young up front had a good game and covered quite a bit of ground.  Andrew made some fine runs up the right wing and was arguably joint man-of-the-match with Archie.  Well tried, everyone!  MH

Under 9         2-2          
This was not so much a football match, more of a war. It was as physical an under 9 match as I have ever been involved in. That being said, it was played in the most tremendous spirit by two very competitive sides. We took an early lead as Dominic Yorke slipped in Freddie Smith for yet another goal. That is six goals in three games for Freddie who is absolutely lethal at the moment. He worked hard all game up front on his own. We then had a few chances to increase our lead, however Ardingly fought hard. The game started to turn and they began to create a few chances. John Richards came to the rescue and headed the ball off the line. Defensively we were excellent. Alexander Keen read the game well and made some crucial interceptions. William Harris, by no means a goliath, certainly put himself about and let the opposition know he was there with some crunching tackles. Ardingly equalised shortly after half time and really started to apply pressure. Josh Burvill in goal did a great job fighting back their attacks. It was huge misfortune that we fell behind when a corner bounced off Marcus Prest’s knee and ricocheted into our net. It would have been cruel for that to end the game. Marcus was magnificent throughout, showing tremendous effort and determination and it was only fitting that he was the one to strike a thunderbolt from 20 yards out to level the scores. Although we had a couple of late chances it ended as a draw, a fair result. Dominic Yorke played extremely well; however, the man of the match award is shared by Marcus Prest, for his all round display, and Charles Harrison, for his supreme defending and overall tenacity. It can not be overstated what a crucial role Charles plays at the back. This was a great result and a fine team performance. Well done!  GdeM

Under 8         2-4          
Ashdown came up against a strong, well organised side. Despite going 1-0 down Ashdown bounced back with a stunning free kick scored by Hugh Innes. However the defence struggled in dealing with wave after wave of attacks coming from Ardingly leaving us 4-1 down at half-time. But, as always, heads did not drop and the boys gave their all in the second half, getting a goal back thanks to an own goal from a deadly throw-in by Freddy Floyd. Ashdown did really well not to concede in the second half, largely due to Morten Tilley’s fine display in goal.  Despite losing 4-2 the boys played really well and are continuing to show signs of improvement. Well played lads.  JBa

Saturday, 2nd October
Football v Brighton College Junior School

1^st XI         1-5         
After our promising mid week draw, we never seemed to get out of the blocks, and came up against a technical Brighton side.  We were unable to impose ourselves on the game and consequently lost our shape.  Brighton, however, passed the ball accurately and did not let the challenging weather conditions get the better of them.  A late goal from Berry was some consolation, but we will need to be a lot sharper on getting the basics right.  PM

2^nd V         3-7         
On a rainy and wet Saturday afternoon, the 2^nd V took on Brighton College. Despite the tricky conditions under foot, the boys managed to play a good level of football. The teams seemed eventually matched for the first 10 minutes and then the flood gates opened – not the heavens but the goals! The spectators were treated to a glut of goals – 10 in total. Unfortunately they were not evenly distributed or in our favour. The final score was a 7 – 3 loss.  RS

 
Friday, 1st October
Ashdown House U-8 Football Tournament

Cup winners – Finton House A
Runners-up – Eaton House The Manor A
Plate winners – Broomwood Hall A

Wednesday, 29th September
Football v Windlesham House

1^st XI             2-2      
This was a much better performance all round.  William Douglas was recalled to the side and provided a bit of stability at the back from which to launch our attacks.  Windlesham had the better of the starts and got an early penalty.  Gradually we found our way back into the game and continued to press in open play and from set-prices.  A penalty from Greg Atkinson, plus a well-timed chip gave us the lead going into the break.  Once again Windlesham came at us in the second half and got a deserved equaliser from a free kick.  Our marking should have been tighter so this is something to work on.  Also out fitness seemed to fade in the last ten minutes but the boys should feel pleased with a draw at this stage of the season.  A particularly fine performance from Rory Craig in goal.  PM

2^nd V              5-3     
The 2^nd IV played against a Windelsham team comprising 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th team players. They kindly lent us a player and the result was nothing short of spectacular. The boys played some super football and should be proud of the way they performed. I was especially pleased with Alex Cayley’s debut performance as a striker, a goal scoring performance I should add. Well done team.    CS

Colts A           1-4   
Still seeking our first victory, we travelled to Windlesham on Wednesday afternoon. We started brilliantly and threatened our opponent’s goals on numerous occasions in the first half. Just before the whistle went for half-time, a goal was scored. But alas, it was against us. They scored another three goals in the match and all looked rather gloomy, like the weather. But the sun shone through, and the ray of light was caused by Dominic Prest. He scored a brilliantly executed goal which managed to lift our spirits. The end result: 4–1 down.  RS

Colts B           1-8       (JB)
We started the match well, playing downhill on a lovely grassy, but wet, pitch and things looked evenly matched for the first five minutes or so. We eventually went down 1-0 when a good shot hit the bar and bounced softly back to a lucky striker whilst Juan was still on the ground. They added a couple more before half time with some nippy runs, despite Juan’s gallant efforts. Indeed, had it not been for Juan, the score might have been 20 or more!

Robbie gave a sterling performance as captain for the day, clearing powerfully and decisively and with Lex tackling with fervour, we shored up the back nicely. Philip and Magnus worked hard up front and broke through several times, but were unable to get in many shots due to a solid, very quick Windlesham defence. Edward and Charlie both struggled in midfield against quicker players and after the break the opposition managed to get five goals in quick succession as their confidence rose.

We never gave up however, and I was pleased with the boys’ performance and resilience. We were beaten by a more skilful team (their coach said that their ‘A’s and ‘B’s were pretty much the same) but always fought bravely.  When Philip was brought down in the box, Robbie blasted the spot kick in to give us a few moments of glory.

A loss, but an encouraging performance from the boys, nonetheless. Well tried!     JB

Colts C           2-4      
The Colts C team played their second match of the term and had a very enjoyable encounter against Windlesham House.  We started superbly with a fine individual goal by Ollie Wills after one minute.  Windlesham equalised soon after, but Ashdown re-took the lead with another good strike by Ollie.  It was end-to-end stuff and Windlesham equalised again, then added two more to lead 4-2 at half-time.  The second half was fairly even, with the closest chance being when Ashdown hit the post from close range.  However, there was no further score and Windlesham were deserving winners.  Ollie Wills showed some good moments of skill and there were good performances from Archie Boyle, Carlos Espinosa, Fred Cox, Andrew Taylor and Alexander Young.  MH

Under 9          2-3    
This is undoubtedly the best prep school football match I have been involved in. It was not so much the competition, which was fierce, but the spirit and heart both teams displayed. We ended up losing; however there was nothing bitter about this defeat. We probably shaded possession in the first half, but we were a shade naïve and Windlesham were much more clued up about holding their formation. This meant that we became increasingly susceptible to the counter attack. Three times we were caught napping and three times we were punished by some accurate finishing. It is very easy, especially at this age group, to lose heart when falling behind, but we regrouped and forged our way back into the game. In the first half our shooting had been awry. In the second half we were much more precise. Nice passing between Dominic Yorke and Marcus Prest created an opening for Freddie Smith who finished nicely. It was Smith who battle his way to our second goal, again clinical in the finish. At 3-2 it really was game on. Both teams went on the attack and it was end to end stuff. Charles Harrison was marvellous, once again, at the back. Will Harris, Alex Keen and John Richards rolled on and off and provided good energy. Josh Burvill in goal was man of the match, he produced some great reflex saves and kept us in the game. With the last move of the match, Dominic Yorke picked up the ball in his own half. He then proceeded to re-enact Diego Maradona in Mexico ’86 (the second goal of that quarter final!). He danced his way past four defenders and chipped the ball over the keeper. Unfortunately the ball thudded against the bar and stayed out. It was a truly dramatic end to a fabulous game. Marcus Prest deserves great credit for the example he set in leading the team. Thank you to Windlesham who came out as victors on a great afternoon of football.    GdeM

Under 8          4-3    
A vast improvement since Great Walsted led to the Under 8s securing their first victory in Ashdown colours with great performances all round, especially by Jolly Koska and Callum Hynes in defence. However Ashdown were most deadly going forward with Freddy Floyd scoring the first goal of the season. Despite going 1 goal ahead Windlesham bounced back and at half time the game was tied 2-2, with Hugh Innes scoring the second for Ashdown.

Early in the second half Windlesham scored, but Ashdown heads didn’t drop. A fantastic performance by Hugh Innes lead to two more goals being scored, which lead to a well deserved hat-trick and most importantly a thoroughly well deserved win. I am very pleased with the team and I am hoping they look forward to the tournament this Friday.  JBa

Saturday, 18th September
Football v St Christopher’s

Colts A        0-6            
The Colts A team played their third match in four days, this time away in Hove against St Christopher’s.  Although we were well beaten on the scoreboard, there were plenty of positives to take out of the match, especially a much improved performance in the second half.  The match began with both teams playing well.  It was end-to-end action for the first ten minutes and both sides had several chances. Just when it looked as if the match would be very close St Christopher’s went up a gear and scored five goals before half-time.  We conceded a couple of fairly soft goals, but St Christopher’s were playing some attractive football and showed a certain ruthlessness in front of goal.  Cam Galloway made several fine saves in goal, but our defenders were caught out of position several times and our goal was being peppered with shots.  Our second half performance was much better.  We ran into space cleverly and this allowed us to string together some good passing moves of our own.  Dominic Prest made a lot of good runs in midfield, Will Brockman and Max Norris found space down the flanks and Sam Allen was able to receive the ball in good attacking positions.  Unfortunately he was not able to shake off the close marking of the St Christopher’s centre back.  Luke Berry and James Bradley, our defenders, were much sharper in the second half, breaking up plenty of opposition attacks and playing some good passes out of defence.  Galloway made some fine saves and was kept busy all game.  We only conceded one goal in the second half, but unfortunately we weren’t able to convert a number of opportunities in front of their goal.  Well played, everyone!  MH

Thursday, 16th September
Football v Trasmallo FC, Spain

Colts A         1-1        (MH)
Today we were very pleased to host the visiting team, Trasmallo FC, from Cadiz in southern Spain.  This football club was set up in the last couple of years by an Englishman (and former pupil of Brambletye) for his son and his son’s Spanish friends.  The team plays regularly in a local league.  The tour was arranged to give the Spanish boys a chance to visit English boarding schools and to play football against them.  The match was played in glorious conditions and it was immediately clear that Trasmallo would be a handful as their passing and movement were very good.  Trasmallo looked to be getting on top early on and our defence was working overtime.  Cameron Galloway in goal had to make a few early saves, but we kept our line intact.  Gradually Ashdown got back into the game, with Dominic Prest in central midfield making some dangerous runs and distributing the ball well to the flanks.  Trasmallo hit the post twice and then took the lead from a corner with a mis-hit volley which we couldn’t keep out.  In the second half play flowed from end-to-end and there was some fine attacking play from both teams.  We equalised from a corner when Luke Berry hit a thumping header, which their ‘keeper could only knock down.  Will Brockman was on hand to knock in the loose ball.  Trasmallo looked the more dangerous side, but Galloway made a string of superb saves and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.  This was a very encouraging performance from the Colts after Wednesday’s defeat.  Galloway was outstanding in goal, Berry and James Bradley grew in confidence in defence and made numerous tackles.  Prest was inventive in midfield and was our major threat with one rasping shot sent just over the bar.  Brockman and Max Norris, left and right midfield respectively, played well and improved throughout the game.  Up front, Sam Allen and Ollie Wills, who had half a game each, tried hard, although neither were able to breach the Trasmallo defence.  After team photos we hosted the Trasmallo players and parents for match tea before they returned to their hotel.  It was a very enjoyable afternoon for everybody concerned.  MH

Wednesday, 15th September
Football v Great Walstead

1^st XI             1-5           
After a promising start, with Park giving us the lead, two quick goals from Walstead seemed to knock the wind out of our sails.  We looked quite good going forward and posed a real threat from corners.  However, defensively we were not on top of our game and fitness levels will need to improve.  There is a little break before our next match which will give us time to work on simple passing and ball control.  Ollie Line captained the side extremely well and Archie Kay made a promising debut at this level.     PM

2^nd V            0-13          
The 2^nd V had an enjoyable, if not exactly successful, afternoon, against Great Walstead. Playing 20 minutes each way on a reduced pitch, the boys started brightly.  Ashdown kicked off and, for the first couple of minutes, passed the ball around with pace and precision. Unfortunately, we could not retain possession and every time Walstead got the ball, a goal was never far away. We found ourselves chasing shadows for much of the game and despite every member of the team trying their utmost, we conceded 13 goals and were unable to register any of our own. I am proud of the way the boys never gave up and am sure they will bounce back from this defeat. They definitely showed that they are capable of moments of enterprising football. Better luck next time chaps.   CS

Colts A         0-9           
Our first game of the season will not be one that will be remembered for the result. We were out-played, out-smarted and out-scored throughout the game.  Although we had a few chances, we failed to leave our mark on the game. The half time score was 5–0 in their favour and they went on to score another 4 goals in the final half. A positive though was that the boys remained disciplined and never for one moment looked like they were going to throw in the towel which was commendable. Lots to work on, boys!  RS

Colts B         1-2           
We started rather slowly and without much confidence but battled bravely, thwarting frequent Great Walstead attacks with some resolute defence from Charlie, Robbie and Edward. It was rather against the run of play when a high ball into the box came off the back of a Walstead head for an ‘own goal’ to hand us the lead. This gave us the bit of confidence that we needed and we started to play with a little more vigour. Things were fairly even until shortly before half time when a goalmouth scramble resulted in the keeper lying prostrate on the ground next to a pile of bodies, whereupon the ball rolled rather lamely into our net. I think a dribbling shot was deflected for a second ‘own goal’ and it was one apiece.  When Edward handled in the area, the spot kick was well saved by Juan to keep things level at half time.

After half time we began to tire a little and our opponents, who were the stronger team (aided by the fresh legs of substitutes), passed the ball forward nicely. Also we were caught napping a few times in defence and they had a couple of free shots at goal, some of which were fluffed and others well saved by Juan or Charlie and Robbie getting back quickly. Archie and Ollie tried to get the ball forward and we created several potential attacks.  Eventually the pressure told and an unmarked forward scored with a good strike to make it 2-1. In the dying seconds Ollie and Philip nearly managed to claw one back from a good goalie's clearance.

An encouraging start, our defending was solid and our clearances generally good. A little indecision let us down though – get the ball forward and move into space once you have passed, and you must be aware of where your opponents are to mark them!  Also, work hard for the full thirty minutes - go for every ball.  JB

Colts C         2-6        
The Colts C team put up a spirited performance, but in the end the Great Walstead boys came away with a well-deserved win.  The opening exchanges were fairly even, but after about ten minutes Great Walstead started to dominate territory and possession.  Eventually they scored and started to fire in shots on our goal.  Only the inspired work of Adeoluwa Pearse in goal kept them out with a string of fine saves.  We scored an equaliser through Magnus Merryweather, but relaxed immediately and they went ahead within seconds of the restart.  Down 2-1 at half-time, we were still in the game.  However, we conceded three goals quite quickly as Great Walstead played much more fluently and cohesively than us.  Lex Wills fired in a superb 15 metre shot to make it 5-2, but our hosts added one more to make the final score 6-2.  Pearse was excellent in goal, Wills worked very hard in midfield and there was plenty of effort from Fred Cox, Charlie Abate, Andrew Taylor, Carlos Espinosa, Merryweather and Alexander Young.  Plenty to work on before our next match!  MH

Under 9 v Great Walstead A            2-1      
We arrived at Great Walstead it great spirits. After a good week of practice we were gagging to get going. We got off to a slow start, losing the physical battle early on. It was thanks to some fine early saves from Josh Burvill and some brave defending from John Richards, that we stayed level. We fell behind to a sloppy goal but never lacked belief. Marcus Prest, captain, was inspirational, putting the team on his shoulders and dragging us back into the game with some fantastic passes. It was a Prest pass that created the opening for Dominic Yorke to equalise. Yorke turned provider a few minutes later, as Freddie Smith buried the winner. It was a fine performance and huge credit must go to the boys for not giving up when falling behind.

Under 9 v Great Walstead B            3-0                    
We were again slow to start and we needed some fine defending from Charles Harrison and Alexander Keen to prevent us from falling behind. Charles was a key figure all day, sweeping around at the back, an unsung hero. We took the lead as Freddie Smith rifled in a shot from a Prest through ball. He added a second a minute late, getting on the end from a fine cross from Yorke. Yorke scored the third after a mazy dribble and assured finish. Will Harris then pulled off a great save late on. It was a great end to a great start to the season. The effort from the outset was excellent and we should only get better from here. Well done boys. Man of the matches was influential captain, Marcus Prest.   GdM

Under 8        0-8         
The Under 8s came up against a strong, well prepared Great Walstead side that had been playing with each other for two years. After meeting for only six days Ashdown House put up a brave performance with Hugh Innes and Freddy Floyd giving gutsy performances, trying to keep possession of the ball. The under 8s shouldn’t be too disappointed with the 8-0 loss, which could have been extended, but wasn’t due to a good performance by Arthur Lindsay who volunteered to play goal keeper the day before.   JBa

Sunday, September 12th
Charterhouse Prep Schools’ Football Tournament
1^st VI          3^rd in group                   

The Charterhouse 6-a-side tournament is always a challenging and enjoyable event and such proved to be the case again this year. Last year’s results were less than impressive and we were determined to make a statement that would act as a yardstick for the rest of the season. After only two training sessions and the staff match (hence many creaking and hobbling staff members) there was always going to be the occasional mistake. However, we all agreed that effort and determination would be our trump cards and the boys went at their first opponents like a bull at a gate. The result was a 2-0 win against Cranleigh with Eric recording a double; a superb achievement. Buoyed by our success, we were in confident mood going into our second match. Unfortunately, we made two mistakes and Mother Luck was not on our side. Haselmere punished us with two excellently taken goals and, despite a late strike by Greg, we were unable to achieve parity (lost 2-1). In the last of our group games, we again committed two absolute howlers and paid the ultimate price. Keeping a clean sheet in the second half was some consolation. We finished third in our group and were drawn against the Harrodian school. The boys were slightly lacking in fitness and it is a credit to them that they never gave up. In a hard fought encounter, we lost 1-0 and, if we’re honest with ourselves, never really looked like scoring. Ollie Line captained the side and was our man of the tournament. He really demonstrated what it means to lead from the front.  CS