"....a 3-1 half-time lead which was then
carried through to the final whistle..."
PUSFC opened the 2008-09 IFA season with a win against local
rivals Cambridge United. The lads from the Abbey actually took the lead in this
one, but a Sean Gavaghan penalty, Wade Lester tap-in, and Craig Buckley
scrambler gave PUSFC a 3-1 half-time lead which was then carried through to the
final whistle. Thanks to Ben/Richard for getting a side up to 'boro at very
late notice when Orient dropped out - we'll see you guys on Sunday, and
hopefully again later in the season for the return fixture if we can find a
suitable date.
"....Our luck ran out at that point
though, as we were drawn to face RC Lens..."
PUSFC returned to Leeds to compete in WorldNET for the
second time, and once again enjoyed a fantastic weekend of football. Things
could not have gone much better in the group stages as we played three, won
three, and didn't conceed a single goal! Our luck ran out at that point though,
as we were drawn to face RC Lens, the 2007 champions, in the knockout stages.
We battled hard, but Lens eventually proved too strong for us and scored twice
in the second half to run out 2-0 winners. Huge thanks to everyone we played
over the weekend: Port Vale, Halifax, Watford, Hull, Vale of Leven, Preston, RC
Lens, and Manchester Utd. We'll be back for WorldNET 2009, we'll take a
stronger gazebo, and we might even all buy some boots that fit ;-)
Darlington couldn't bring a side down for the last day of
the season, so Real Whittlesey stepped in to provide us with some friendly
opposition for the day. And what a last day for us, as we played some of our
best football of the season to quickly take a lead that we would never
surrender for the rest of the match. By the time the final whistle blew, Craig
Buckley, Simon Alexander, James Mortlock (pen), Andy Mills, and Gavin Taylor
had all notched themselves a goal. Thanks to the Whittlesey lads for a highly
entertaining game, I'm informed that Casso now officially owes Bucks a pint or
two ;-)
"...Many thanks to PISA, and to
Darren Ferguson..."
The PUSFC 2008 Awards were presented on Thursday 1st May, as
part of the annual PISA Awards night at Ebs. James Mortlock won the coveted
Players Player of the Season award, Steph Johnston walked off with the Managers
Player of the Season nod, Lee Sardeson picked up the New Player of the Season
award, Craig Buckley won the Goal of the Season prize for his home strike
against Rochdale, and finally Dave Fitzjohn won the Donkey Performance of the
Season title for his display against Stockport away. Many thanks to PISA, and
to Darren Ferguson himself for presenting the awards to the players. Well done
to all of you.
"...Gav popped up late on to steal the
points and break the Grimsby hearts...."
We left it late, but grabbed all three points in the end.
Two marvellous strikes from Wade Lester, one from Craig Buckley on his return
to the team, and one from Gavin Taylor were enough to snatch all three points
from a plucky Grimsby team. To be fair, Grimsby had the best of the opening
exchanges, racing away into the lead and looking dangerous each time they went
forward. We slowly took a grip of the game in midfield though, and pulling it
back to eventually hit the break all square at 3-3 was a significant boost. A
tight second half, and both sides had chances to win it before Gav popped up
late on to steal the points and break the Grimsby hearts.
"...In truth we could, and probably
should, have scored a few more...."
Many thanks to James and his lads for hosting us on
Saturday, for what was a decent game of football despite the wickedly swirling
wind and 'nobbly-bobbly' pitch trying hard to spoil things. In truth we could,
and probably should, have scored a few more than the one we did (Leigh Porter
tapping home from close range), but some wasteful finishing and decent
goalkeeping kept the scoreline down. On the flipside, the Orient lads can count
themselves unlucky not to have snatched a goal in both the first and the last
minutes of the game.
"...Bury could easily have had this
game in the bag well before half-time...."
In truth, but for some superb goalkeeping Bury could
easily have had this game in the bag well before half-time. Thanks to James
though, we held on in there and Gavin Taylor actually ran through to snatch the
lead totally against the run of play. The second half was an altogether tighter
affair and when Andy Mills headed home our second to go 2-1 up I actually dared
to imagine we might take something from the game. Not to be though, and two
cracking finishes (either side of a scrambled bobbler) did for us in the
end.
"...scoreline could have been higher
but for some excellent goalkeeping...."
Much like the main event in the afternoon, we were handed
something of a football lesson by the West Brom lads. A very strong,
well-organised side were just too much for us, and the scoreline could have
been higher but for some excellent goalkeeping by James. We did have one goal
disallowed for a rather dubious offside, but that would have been little more
than a consolation. Cheers to Richard for bringing his lads over, and hopefully
next time we meet we'll run them a little closer.
"...almost grabbed an unlikely
equaliser...."
Hangovers all round once again in this one, for those that
weren't still inebriated anyway, and a fine Shrewsbury side eventually left
'boro with all three points in the bag. A good footballing outfit, the
Shrewsbury lads certainly started the stronger and we found ourselves four
behind before we eventually started the fightback deep into the second half.
Once we did find our feet, we quickly rattled off three goals without reply,
courtesy of Andy Mills, Gavin Taylor, and Jack Cassidy, and almost grabbed an
unlikely equaliser as Sean Gavaghan saw a firm header fly agonisingly over the
bar. Not to be though, and Shrewsbury scored their fith and final goal with the
last kick of the game - a cruel own goal as Callum Wales tried to cut out a
near-post cross. Cheers to Ant and his lads, and at least Posh took all the
points in the afternoon matchup.
"...took the lead via a cracking
strike from Craig Matthews..."
Still a little worse for wear from the night before, we
nevertheless started brightly in this one, and took the lead via a cracking
strike from Craig Matthews. A goal of the season contender for sure, and for
once I think he actually meant it. It was short-lived though, and Bury made a
period of pressure pay to equalise and then pull ahead. James tried his best to
keep the score down, and it could certainly have been more but for some fine
saves including a penalty stop in the second half, but Bury eventually added
more goals in the last ten minutes to perhaps give the final scoreline a
slightly more one-sided feel than we deserved. We can't wait for the return
game, if for no other reason than it won't be played on a pitch that could
double-up as a mud-wrestling arena.
"...once they had taken the lead we
never looked like getting ourselves back into the game."
PUSFC travelled up to Stockport for the very first time,
and played on the now fashionable 3G turf at the Manchester City Academy
ground. In truth this was a game in which we never really threatened the
Stockport goal, and once they had taken the lead we never looked like getting
ourselves back into the game. We certainly battled hard in midfield, with Gav
Taylor being the pick of the side, but it just wasn't our day and Stockport
soon picked up a second to put the game beyond doubt. A bad day at the office
for all, but one we'll be keen to put right in the return fixture.
"...the Grimsby stopper pulling off
several fine saves to keep his team in the game..."
Grimsby - why do we always seem to snatch draws from the
jaws of victory against these fishy fellows? In truth, this was a game that we
could easily have won, but could also just have easily thrown away late on if
it wasn't for some excellent goalkeeping. PUSFC took the lead via the penalty
spot - Craig Buckley slotting home after having been brought down himself
inside the Grimsby box. We then proceeded to miss some good chances, rattle the
bar, and run into a goalkeeper in very fine form - the Grimsby stopper pulling
off several fine saves to keep his team in the game. The almost inevitable
equaliser came realatively late on, and even then only once James had saved
twice from the breakaway striker. A decent game as always though, and we look
forward to the return match later on in the season.
"...the prolific hitman went on to
grab himself a well-earned hat trick..."
A heavily depleted squad made the cold early start up
north to Darlington, but came back down again with all three points. Manager
for the day Craig Matthews decided to throw Craig Buckley the captains armband,
and this certainly appeared to have the desited effect as the prolific hitman
went on to grab himself a well-earned hat trick. PUSFC enjoyed a lot of the
early possession, but fell behind to a goal scored against the run of play.
Craig Buckley came back with an immediate response for Posh, but only minutes
later some sloppy defending from a corner led to Darlington taking a 2-1 lead.
Five minutes to go in the first half and Buckley popped up again making it 2-2,
then almost immediately scored again with a 'superb run and chip' completing
his first half treble. In the second half Doug McClemmins put PUSFC 4-2 up, but
a late Darlo goal made for a nervy finish with the battling PUSFC side holding
on for a great win. Well done to everyone, bring on the fishermen!
"...perhaps we need to learn to close
out a game like this a little better..."
Our first defeat of the new season came on the 3G turf up
in Rotherham. A topsy-turvy match this one, as we twice grabbed the lead via
Craig Buckley strikes, only to be pegged back each time and eventually beaten
with a winner sturck home ten minutes from time. All credit to Rotherham for
sticking at it in the game, and perhaps we need to learn to close out a game
like this a little better. Man of the Match was a tough one to call - Craig
Buckley & James Mortlock both deserve mention for their performances in
this one - but Callum just nicks it for his dominant aerial performance. Next
stop is now Darlington, as Mansfield cannot host us on the re-arranged Sunday
of the main fixture.
"...Craig Buckley popped up with a
thumping left-footed strike..."
PUSFC opened the new season with a hard-fought draw
against a strong Rochdale side. To be fair to the Rochdale lads they certainly
enjoyed the majority of the possession in the game but, despite the sweltering
heat, we kept going and actually took the lead early in the second half. This
was cancelled out by a quickly taken free kick, and then Rochdale got their
noses in front via the penalty spot as James hauled down a Rochdale striker. It
looked to be pretty much all over, but Craig Buckley popped up with a thumping
left-footed strike in the dying minutes to snatch us a draw. A decent result
against a decent side, can we repeat that next week against Rotherham?
"...some great games, some great
teams, some great friends made..."
What a weekend that was! PUSFC took part in their first
ever Sports Interactive Cup, and now we know why every other team raves about
it. An absolute blast from start to finish - some great games, some great
teams, some great friends made. In terms of results, we managed to qualify
second in our group (behind Partick who beat us before we'd even woken up first
thing in the morning) before being cruelly knocked out on penalities by Welling
- their second equalising goal coming mere seconds before the final whistle. A
huge thanks to everyone involved, and we'll be back to try again in 2008. The
hare (and even the hair!) is on the move.
"...a great day and money
raised for a very worthy cause in the process..."
Woo! After heartache in the final last year, PUSFC go one
better this year with a 1-0 win in the final of the 2007 Bill Harvey Memorial
Tournament. Two draws in the group stages (counted as wins thanks to our
impressive corner count no less), were followed by a 2-0 semi-final win over
The Posh Trust. A repeat of the final last year then, as PUSFC faced off
against Peterborough Un-United. And what a goal to win it - worthy of any game
in fact. Stapes...to Matthews...to Bucks...to GOOOOAAALLL!! Well played all, a
great day and money raised for a very worthy cause in the process.
"...Many thanks to both Posh
and Darren Ferguson..."
The PUSFC 2007 Awards were presented on Thursday 3rd May,
as part of the annual PISA Awards night at Ebs. Andy Mills won the coveted
Players Player of the Season award, Craig Buckley & James Mortlock picked
up the New Player of the Season awards, and Simon Alexander won the Goal of the
Season prize for his home strike against Grimsby. Many thanks to both Posh and
Darren Ferguson himself for presenting the awards to the players. Well done to
all of you.
"...Cobblers..."
Cobblers.
"...The fine, sunny weather obviously
brought out the best in Posh..."
Two in a row, is this officially a 'run of results' now?
The fine, sunny weather obviously brought out the best in Posh, as we cracked
three past a useful Mansfield side. We started brightly before falling behind
to a shock Manfield goal. The visitor's lead didn't last long though as Gavin
Taylor opened the Posh scoring, finishing off a fine Craig Matthews cross/shot
(delete as applic) and sending the teams in level at the break. Dan Stapleton
tapped home from close range almost immediately after the re-start and, despite
a brief scare when Mansfield belted one against the post, it was no surprise
when Simon Alexander eventually chipped in the third. Thanks for Steve for
bringing his lads over, and it's next stop Cobblers for Posh....
At last, another win! After initially falling behind to a
lucky/unlucky, depending on how you want to look at it, own goal, we pulled
ourselves back into the game with a cracking strike from Jamie Reynolds. The
rest of the half was pretty even, with neither side really carving out any
clear cut chances, and the strong wind playing a large part. The second half
was a different story however, and Posh eventually took the lead via a
tremendous strike from Doug. 2-1 up and we started to play a bit, Gav tapping
home the third to seal the victory. No match report in this one is complete,
however, without mention of the 'bobble'. It must have been a big one, as I've
not seen a shot go that wrong for quite a while ;-)
"Is that the pitch? No, it can't be - it has a lake in the
middle." But it was, and we were down to 11 players after three late dropouts
the night before. Joy. Still, we gave it a go and took a shock early lead
courtesy of a strike George Boyd himself would have been proud of. But it was
shortlived, and Bury piled on the pressure before scoring 1, 2, 3, 4. First
half done, 4-1 Bury. The second half didn't get better for us, we scored again
(a great finish from Gavin Taylor) - but Bury scored another five of their own.
Spoilsports. In truth, although we were soundly beaten, we did play some good
football at times, and considering the state of the pitch it was a great credit
to both sides that not one single bad tackle was made. We went down, but we
went down with a huge smile on our faces and that, and the end of the day, is
what it was all about. Cheers lads.
Is this a record? A PUSFC game attracting a 'crowd' of 9
supporters? Could be! Anyway, Rovers took the lead via a belting 25 yard own
goal, before posh came back when an excellent corner from Craig Matthews was
met by the head of powerhouse midfielder Andy Mills. Posh then had quite a few
chances but just could not take advantage of them, and Rovers scored the goal
of tha game - a volley from 25 yards out nestling into the bottom corner of the
net. Once again though Posh came back and made it 2-2 with a good goal from
Craig Buckley, but legs begain to tire in the 2nd half and a lack of subs gave
Bristol the edge as they made it 3-2. Stephan ended his bad day with a foul on
the Rovers front man for a penalty to make it 4-2 - it was all over, and the
fifth soon followed to compund the misery. Highlight of the 2nd half was Sam
Baines' excellent goal line clearance near the end. Thanks to the Bristol lads
for a good game, and hopefully see you next season.
Bah! Denied a draw by a last minute winner! This was a
hard fought game, played out in some pretty windy conditions - though to be
fair to both sides, some decent football was still on show. Rovers went ahead
early on, before Dan Stapleton stepped up to knock home a long-range freekick.
Both sides pushed on and had numerous chances throughout the game, but it
looked like a draw was going to be the fairest result until a bit of luck saw
the ball fall at the feet of the Stockport player in the last minute. No
mistake this time, as he promptly lashed home and started the Stockport party
which carried through to the afternoon match as well. Many thanks to Des and
his lads for coming over, hope we can return the favour soon.
CFU Tournament (24/08/08)
WorldNET 2008 (19/07//08)
PUSFC 5-2 Real Whittlesey
(03/05//08)
2008 Awards
Evening (01/05//08) 
Grimsby 3-4
PUSFC (26/04//08)
Leyton Orient 0-1 PUSFC (08/03//08)
PUSFC 2-4 Bury
(01/03//08)
PUSFC 0-3 WBA (26/01//08)
PUSFC 3-5 Shrewsbury (01/01//08)
Stockport 2-0 PUSFC (03/11//07)
Darlington 3-4 PUSFC (29/09//07)
Rotherham 3-2 PUSFC (19/08//07)
PUSFC 2-2 Rochdale (11/08//07)
Sports Interactive Cup (14/07//07)
Bill Harvey Memorial (06/05//07)
Northampton 4-1 PUSFC (21/04/07)
PUSFC 3-1 Mansfield (09/04/07)
Bristol Rovers 5-2 PUSFC (03/02/07)
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