What's New? Hants & Isle of Wight Wing

Regional Inter Wing Senior Football

Sunday 5th March 2006

RAF Lyneham

THE CHAMPIONS!!!

This year’s Senior Football competition was held at RAF Lyneham. Hants & IOW Wing were champions the past 10 years and this year we would see if the team could successfully defend the title and make it the eleventh win in a row. If we could, Hants & IOW Wing would have completed the double as the junior team had won earlier in the season and this would echo last years performance.

The games in this competition are 20 minutes each way. The teams are split into two leagues and the winners of the leagues play each other in a final to determine the overall winners.

The first game was against Plymouth & Cornwall, Hants & IOW had their goalkeeper HUGHES L to thank for two fine saves only minutes after kicking off but from then on we looked strong and had most of the possession playing into the wind. As usual the weather caused a problem for both teams but the leading goal scorer from the junior team opened the scoring. HOLLOWAY latched onto a throw in from STEPHENS and he fired it into the back of the net. Just before half time, HOLLOWAY flicked on from a corner, which SMITH connected with, giving us a 2 goal lead at half time. The second half saw a fine effort from the captain, HUGHES A. A strong run down the left channel, then a left footed strike in the bottom right corner. A good win for the first game!!

Hants & IOW 3 - Plymouth and Cornwall 0

The second game in the round was against Thames Valley, one of the stronger teams in the past and from the looks of the team a very tough game ahead. Thames Valley’s team seemed to have grown over the year and several of their players looked like fully grown adults. But this did not deter us. With our strong back four committed to the task, and this was evident in FAWCETT tackling their right winger, when they stood next to each other, FAWCETT’S head was level with the other player’s elbow.

Hants & IOW did not take advantage of the wind in the first half, strong tackling from the midfield partnership of FRY and PALMER saw us dominate the midfield, but Thames Valley continued to threaten. The second half was a different story, a good through ball from PALMER saw SMITH released and a good strike saw us take the lead. This deflated Thames Valley and right on the final whistle, Hants & IOW got a second, debatably off of SMITH or HOLLOWAY, both strikers where they should be – the right place at the right time.

Hants & IOW 2 - Thames Valley 0

A final, which was a repeat of the Junior’s final against Bristol and Gloucester. Hants & IOW went into the game full of confidence, but this lead to a costly mistake. Bristol & Gloucester had upped their game and took a well struck goal to take the lead. Hants & IOW’s heads though did not go down, they knew they had the ability to win the game and battled to half time, doing everything but scored.

In the second half, FRY moved up front and SMITH to the left wing. This seemed to assist us and 5 minutes into the second half a well struck goal by FRY drew us level. Two minutes later a good ball into the area with HOLLOWAY closing in saw Bristol & Gloucester put into their own net. Al though a home goal, a deserved lead for Hants & IOW as the pressure was all theirs. A late appearance by OLD on the left wing, our reserve goal keeper, showed that he had some silky silks on the pitch as well, a lovely run the length of the pitched, relieved the pressure and saw us to the final whistle.

Hants & IOW 2 - Bristol & Gloucester 1

A magnificent effort by all team members, the whole squad got an opportunity to play on pitch, but be they a player who spent 5 minutes on the pitch or a full 120 minutes; everyone was a winner and played their part in a great team effort.

Eight players from Hants & IOW Squad were selected to represent South West Region in the starting squad; with a further 2 non travelling reserves, they are indicated in BLUE below. This showed how dominant and strong our team were.. Well done to those selected for Region and good luck at RAF Cosford.

A continuing record breaking run, one which will hopefully be published in the next Air Cadet news.

Squad names:

Defence:

Sgt HUGHES 1927 - Goalkeeper

Cdt Old – Goalkeeper and Left Wing!! 1308

Cdt FAWCETT 1927

Cdt STEPHENS 1927

Cpl PLUNKETT 1927

Cdt BLACKLOCK 1189 – non travelling

Sgt Blagley 2412

Midfield:

CWO HUGHES 1927 - Captain

Cdt PALMER 2327

Cdt FRY 2327

Cdt Gray 413 – non travelling

Strikers:

Cdt HOLLOWAY 424

Cpl Smith 1216

Cdt Price 1391