March 30th saw the culmination of the St Albans District cubs football season with the final rounds of the Salwey cup which, dating back to 1922, is one of the oldest youth cup competitions in the country.

In their semi-final Impeesa were up against the 5/13th St Albans who had pipped them to 2nd place in the league, and so a tight game was predicted and so it proved to be with just one goal separating the teams – thankfully scored by Impeesa!

With this 1-0 win under their belts, Impeesa went into the final against runaway league leaders the 2nd St Albans who had won all their league games by at least 3 goals and had won the other semi-final 6-1. Not to be intimidated, Impeesa started strongly and were unfortunate not to score in the first few minutes before the game settled into an ebb and flow with chances for both sides, and the watching crowd was treated to an exciting game. However, it was the 2nd with the more clinical finishing who went into the half time break 1-0 up.

With the cup at stake, Impessa came out for the second half in determined fashion and had the chances to draw level but, needing to commit players forward, they were always open to the counter attack and it was the 2nd who scored the next, and last, goal of the match and finished as 2-0 winners.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on the trophy, Impeesa could look back on a good season with their runners-up cup medals, 3rd place finish in the league and, not to forget, their first place finish as District six-a-side champions in the pre-season tournament.

Well done to all the boys!

This was a very hotly contested derby between the 1st St Albans Impala and 1st St Albans Impeesa.

For the second week running 1st Impala were involved in an end to end game, where the difference was the finishing with 1st Impeesa running out 7-0 winners.

1st Impala started the game slowly and Impeesa took full advantage of this with a couple of chances in the first couple of minutes.

The first goal was an own goal, with the ball bouncing around the Impala box, Impala in trying to clear the ball diverted it in to their own net and nothing Joe Cox could do.

This woke up Impala who responded really well with Jack Burke pulling the strings in midfield and James Cox marshalling the backline.

Impala had a couple of chances through Ethan Roberts and Joshua Seeby which they were unable to convert and Impeesa scored there second from a counter attack with Nicholas Groves finding himself in a one on one and produced a cool finish.

The third and forth goals came in quick succession with Ronan Brandon and Nicholas Groves scoring from close range.

With the score 4-0 at half time Impala made a few changes with Joe Cox playing at left back and Nathan Seeby going in goal.

Impala came out for the second half and played some very good football but could not find that elusive goal with chances falling to Liam Zammett who poked the ball inches wide of the Impeesa goal.

Impeesa started to come back into the game and after some good football Nicholas Groves completed his hattrick when the ball slipped out of the goalkeeper’s hands and tapped the ball in for Impeesa fifth goal.

Lucas Do had a good run and played a nice one two with Alfie Cromwell with Lucas crossing the ball which went straight through the box with Charlie James collecting and having a shot which just went wide.

Impala kept pushing forward looking for there first goal which left spaces at the back which was exploited by Impeesa and Thomas Wilson scored for Impeesa to make it 6-0 with a good finish and then just before the end Ronan Brandon scored his second to make it 7-0.

Man of the match for Impala was Jack Burke who played some really good football and was full of energy in the centre of midfield.

Well done to both sets of players for a very good game and a more even match than the score line suggests.  

In what was an end to end game, the difference was the finishing with 17th ending 7-0 winners.

1st Impala started the game very well with Jack Burke finding space in centre midfield and playing in Nathan Seeby who put his shot wide.

17th then came back into the game and with a good finish from a tight angle went 1-0 up and nothing the Impala goalkeeper Joshua Seeby could do about it.

Impala kept pushing forward and were finding some great spaces which they were unlucky not to exploit due to some great goalkeeping from the 17th goalkeeper.

James Cox, Joe Cox and Jacob Butler were keeping the 17th from counter attacking as Impala pushed forward for an equaliser.

With 5 mins left of the first half 17th scored two quick fire goals to go in at half time 3-0 up.

The second half started much the same as the first half with Ethan Roberts of Impala making some great runs down the right-hand side and playing nice football with Lucas Do.

Against the run of play 17th scored an excellent goal from long range which Joe Cox, this time in goal could do nothing about.

In the space of a few minutes Impala had a few opportunities with Jack Burke and Joshua Seeby finding the 17th goalkeeper in inspired form making some excellent saves.

Again, Jacob Butler was stopping the counter attacks when 17th were threatening.

With 10 minutes left and Impala looking to get back into match 17th broke away and scored to make it 5-0 and then in quick succession 17th scored another couple of goals to make the score 7-0.

Joe Cox made a few good saves including a couple of one on one’s with the defenders, James Cox and Lucas Do helping out with some last-ditch tackling.

Impala did not give up looking for a goal even in the last seconds of the match the 17th goalkeeper made an amazing double save, first denying Ethan Roberts from close range and then Nathan Seeby with the rebound.

The game ended 7-0 to 17th but does not reflect the chances Impala had but for some amazing goalkeeping from the 17th goalkeepers.

Overall a more even match than the score line suggests.  Well done to both teams.

Congratulations to the Impeesa football team for winning the District 6-a-side football competition. Click here for the full report.

As the new term is about to start, we invite Cubs from either our Impeesa or Impala packs to join our Cub Football team(s) under the management of their new manager – Daniel Seeby.  He will be running an initial training session in Verulamiam Park, opposite the athletics track next to Westminster Lodge on Saturday 15th from 13.30 to 15.00.  Just turn up and join in !

Danial can be contacted on 07956 271198

Lets have another good season !

As advised the semi-finals and finals will now be held on Saturday 28^th April at Colney Heath School.

SALWEY CUP

 4^th St Albans v 1^st Impala

1^st Impesa v 2^nd St Albans

HAWKINS TROPHY 

Colney Heath v 16^th St Albans

Sandridge v 5/13^th

The itinerary on the day will be as follows

4^th St Albans v 1^st Impala and Colney Heath v 16^th St Albans will kick off at 13.30

1^st Impesa v 2^nd St Albans and Sandridge v 5/13^th will kick off at 14.30

The finals of both competitions will kick off at 15.30

Presentations of League Winners &  Runners-up, Salwey Winners & finalists and  Hawkins Winners & Finalists directly after

Please arrive in plenty of time for your respective semi-finals. The gates will be open from 12.50

Referees will be provided for all semi-finals and finals but it would be appreciated if each team could provide a linesman.

This years St Albans District Cub Football Finals will take place on the 28th April at Colney Heath School starting at 1.30pm.

In the Salway Cup, semi finals,   1st Impeesa will play 2nd St Albans and 1st Impala will play 4th St Albans.

Lets support our teams !

Lets also thank our football managers who are stepping down after these finals, Sincere thanks to Philip & Sarah, and Michael & Orla for all their hard work , commitment and passion!

CHAMPIONS !

1st Impeesa went into their final league match knowing that if they avoided defeat they would be crowned champions of the cub football league. An unusual start to the game as 2nd won the toss and decided to change ends which is not something I have ever seen in Cub football – was it mind games or wanting to attack the end with the better goalmouth?

Both teams started lively and the commitment to win was clear from all the players as tackles were won and lost and both teams began to create chances. The 1st were more dominant in possession with the attacking quartet of James, Ben , Jack and Tom linking up well to create some decent chances. Both James and Ben had shots blocked whilst Tom’s accuracy from the corner led to confusion in the penalty area but no final touch from a white shirt despite Jack’s best efforts.

Jack had been lively and when James’s long pass found him in space he out sprinted the last defender to finish clinically in the corner to give the 1st the lead. The 2nd responded and Dylan was called upon to make one excellent diving save and another with his feet. The defensive trio of Ozan, Charlie and Ronan were preventing further attacks. The introduction of Callum and Joshua changed the positions but not the format of the play as Joshua himself was unlucky not to double the lead before the break.

The second half was a long 20 minutes especially after the 2nd equalised soon after the restart as the attacker broke clear and scored despite Dylan’s valiant efforts to deny him. The game and the atmosphere could have become more edgy as the 1st knew that they could not afford to concede a 2nd goal. However it is often said that the best form of defence is attack and so it proved as within a couple of minutes Jack’s cross had been turned home superbly by Joshua for a 2-1 lead.

Thereafter the game became a bit of a midfield battle with James & Ben putting in some strong challenges to win back the ball. Ben himself had a great run and shot on the left and Tom had 2 or 3 shots blocked by different defenders. The defensive quartet of Sammy, Ozan, Callum and Ronan were put under more pressure but held strong to protect the lead.

The pressure from the 1st finally told as another corner from Tom caused chaos and Joshua was able to stab the ball pass the goalkeeper to give the team a 3-1 lead. In the final 10 minutes other chances came and went but ultimately the boys stood strong and refused to give away the lead and the result they had worked so hard for.

At the final whistle all the boys were ecstatic and the smile on their faces and their appreciation for each other as team mates was evident for all to see. We also saw sportsmanlike behaviour from everyone on both teams at the end which was great to see.

I think it is safe to say that the boys were very happy with the result and becoming league champions for 2017/18. Some people play football all their life and never win a league winners medal so it is rightly something to be proud of. We can all look forward to being presented with the trophy and individual medals on Finals Day

MOM as usual was difficult again as all the team played incredibly well. A special mention to Dylan for his goalkeeping but award went to Joshua whose clinical finishing scored the goals we needed to secure the victory and title.

Winning a league title is special at any age and the afternoon of Saturday 3rd February 2017 should live with them all forever.

 Another wet and dreary afternoon was brighten up again by the players from 1st Impeesa who took another giant stride in their quest to win the Cub football league.

The 1st half was a very dominant display although Dylan was called upon to make 2 fine saves with his feet and his hands. We managed to hit the woodwork 4 times in the fiirst half as both Jack (twice) and Joshua hit the post and Jack also saw an excellent shot tipped onto the crossbar as well.

In between the woodwork Jack scored an excellent double and James powerfully ran at the heart of the opposition defence to score a 3rd. The defensive trio of Callum, Charlie and Ronan were superb throughout and snuffed out most attacking intent from the opposition. Tom was his his usual industrious self and took a number of excellent corners which with a little more luck would have been converted.

The usual flurry of substitutions changed the personnel and formation but not the balance of the game as the 1st continued to create chances and force the goalkeeper into some good saves. We hit the woodwork again as this time James had had a shot rebound from the post and Sammy hit a thunderbolt of a shot which flew inches wide.

Joshua scored with a volley from James’ cross for the 4th before 2 further goals from James towards the end of the match completed his personal hat trick and sealed a 6-0 final scoreline. Other notable enjoyable moments include Jack’s back heel attempt on goal from Tom’s cross, Joshua double shot being saved in identical fashion and Ronan (now in goal) producing the one save which he needed too.

Ozan was a reliable as ever in the heart of the defence and a couple of forays into the penalty area nearly resulted in another goal. Both Charlie on the right and Sammy on the left were solid and took some good throw ins. Dylan’s perseverance along the left wing deserved much greater reward as his trickery set up a number of good chances for the strikers.

So a good all round team victory which sets them up nicely for the final match next weekend. MOM went to Sammy for being a real team player and for keeping to his position and supporting the team with some great defensive tackles in equal measure.