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North Cheltenham Churches Football Team
Sponsored by Selim Smith & Co
We are grateful to our Kit
Sponsor – Selim Smith, the local undertakers, who
agreed to sponsor our new kit (cue lots of jokes about burying the
opposition!).
Results and League Table
Our team just before the game on 13 September 2008
For info and team selection details contact
The webmaster wishes to record his grateful thanks to Edward Wyatt for the
photographs and to Michael Wyatt for the reports on the matches.
Game 03: League Match: 27 September 2008:
North Cheltenham Churches 4 - 2 Tewkesbury
On a misty morning the visitors kicked off this match, a game each side was
hoping would give them their first points of the season. The home side attacked
at once, and were awarded a corner. As Lee Bradley cleverly floated a high ball
across the goal it was met by Martin Eccles, who headed it past the keeper and
three defenders, into the back of the net; a dream start for the NCC. Almost
immediately NCC had another corner, which the keeper managed to punch clear. The
home side was playing some of its best football, and were dominating. Despite
this the visitors came into the game more, and managed some attacks of their
own, which were well kept out by the Hoops defence, beginning to operate in
tandem. Then, on the quarter an hour mark, NCC had a free kick. Taken by Lee
Bradley this was successfully met by Ian Jones, who headed past three defenders
and out of reach of the diving keeper, to score in the far corner. Shortly after
this prolific scorer (four goals in three games) went off with a hamstring
injury. Approaching the half hour Tewkesbury had a rare attack in which a
solitary Tiger skilfully dribbled the ball past the home defence before lifting
it over Tim Rudge, to pull a goal back. Either side of this goal Tim Rudge
pulled off two magnificent jumping saves, to deny the Tigers. Both sides
continued to attack, but the resolute NCC defenders held firm. With just over
ten minutes before half time the hosts mounted another attack, up their centre.
Although the Tigers packed their goal area their defence was unable to prevent
Martin Eccles from turning, and firing into the bottom corner of the net, his
second goal of the match, to restore the two-goal lead. For the remainder of the
half excitement mounted as the game moved from end to end. Only determined work
from both keepers kept their opposition out. From a well-taken corner the Tigers
came close to scoring, but a dextrous Tim Rudge was able to punch the ball clear
of the attacking pack. As the half time whistle went the NCC team thoroughly
deserved their lead.
From the start of the second half each team made promising runs in its quest to
score. Approaching the hour mark NCC attacked yet again, and Andy Macauly sent
in a powerful shot, which the keeper put behind, for a corner. As Lee Bradley
sent in another high ball it was met by James Walters, who headed past a pack of
defenders, between the stranded keeper and a solitary defender on the far post,
to score his first-ever goal for the team; well done James. For the rest of the
game NCC sat back, and defended their lead. This allowed the opposition to
attack far more, forcing a greater work load on both keeper and defenders, who
stood the challenge very well. Despite this the home side made some penetrating
attacks. The Tigers were creating chances, without any reward, and were starting
to show their frustration with one another. This was allayed when, with less
than ten minutes left, the Tigers mounted a prolonged attack, winning a series
of throws-on. Then a forward let off a tremendous volley, which rocketed passed
the home defence, and keeper, to finish up in the top corner of the net. A
superbly struck goal, but too late to deny the NCC their first win, as they held
out for the rest of the match, success which gives them confidence to face St
Matthews in their next match, a team they have never beaten.
A delighted Michael Wyatt reporting from the Stade de Prestbury
Game 02: League Match: 20 September 2008:
North Cheltenham Churches 2 - 7 Kendal Road
It was a beautiful sunny autumnal morning at Prestbury as North Cheltenham
kicked off against Kendall Road, a new team in the competition. The away side
started with great confidence, and within the opening minutes won on a free
kick, just outside the penalty area. The kick was driven in low and Tom Parker,
reaching to his right, was unable to gather the ball cleanly, and could only
watch it bounce into the back of the net. From the restart NCC attacked down the
right wing, and a cross found Ian Jones, who fired a low shot into the bottom
corner of the net, just 42 seconds later. Although both sides kept attacking it
was the teenagers of Kendal Road who dominated play, with a succession of
forages in which they demonstrated the use of space and speed, exemplified with
superb ball skills. On seventeen minutes an attacker was able to shoot the ball
into the bottom corner of the net, passed the advancing NCC keeper, to restore
their lead. Soon after NCC, already missing some key players, lost their goal
scorer, who hobbled off with a hamstring injury. Although the Hoops had several
attacks of their own it was the youngsters who were encamped in NCC’s half,
where they had several shots narrowly missing the target. The home defence was
becoming very ragged as their opponents sped up both wings, almost at will. The
NCC could consider themselves very fortunate not to have been further behind at
half-time, but Kendal Road were to make amends later.
From the start of the second half the visiting team went into overdrive, and
attacked relentlessly, catching the home defence static on many occasions. After
five minutes a Kendal attacker was allowed time and space to dribble around Tom
Parker, and so score a third goal, with several of his colleagues backing up.
Then followed a frenetic five minutes; at once Tom had to rush out to clear the
ball from a couple of attackers, who had eluded the home defence yet again.
Shortly after Andy Murton, having eluded their proficient defence, was
unfortunate not to profit from this rare chance of scoring; two minutes later
another chance sped past an empty goalmouth. Kendal attacked again, and Martin
Eccles, endeavouring to clear the ball, could only watch in horror as it lobbed
into the far corner of the net, for an own goal. A shame, for he tried
continuously throughout the game. From the restart the NCC began to play better,
and spent most of the next minutes on the attack. The youngsters, confident of
victory, were now forced to defend, as the NCC tried to find a way back into
this game. In a ten minute spell the visiting keeper made several good saves,
with apparent ease and confidence. Approaching the final quarter, which was to
be packed with more goals, the visitors again attacked up their left wing. They
outpaced the NCC defence before firing a shot between the keeper and two
defenders. In the following minute a shot went over the bar, and in the next
minute the NCC only partially cleared the ball, allowing another attacker,
cleverly following up, to score with a low shot through the NCC’s defence. The
visitors were becoming very self-assured, almost cocky of their superiority, but
they were brought down to earth, momentarily, when they gave away a free-kick on
the edge of the penalty area. Andrew Murton hit the resulting kick low into the
corner of the net, to score. Mark Broekman, playing in his first match, had a
good game, and was unfortunate not to score soon after, as he was unable to
latch onto the ball, when given lots of room. The NCC again spent much of the
next five minutes on the attack, without success. Then, with the end of the
match looming, the younger side made another attack, with a repetition of the
skills with which they had dominated the game. The resulting corner produced
more chaos in the NCC goal area, allowing two attackers to better seven
defenders, producing goal number seven. As the final whistle went the North
Cheltenham team looked jaded and shocked with the result, although I felt James
Radburn had one of his best games. This was the NCC heaviest league defeat since
their first season.
A saddened Michael Wyatt reporting from Prestbury Playing Fields
Game 01: League Match: 13 September 2008 :
North Cheltenham Churches 3 - 5 Ecclesiastical
After a long summer the NCC football team began the new season at home to the
league champions, Ecclesiastical. Due to the incessant rains the Stade de
Prestbury was unavailable, and the venue was switched to Newlands. On a morning
graced with the appearance of the sun, although for much of the game it was
cloudy, the NCC kicked off, played up the slope, and spent much of the early
minutes on the attack. They forced an early corner and made several attacks,
which were denied by the red team, who defended in strength. Ecclesiastical had
several attacks of their own, as play moved from one end of the field to the
other. After ten minutes they scored, following a run down their right wing and
poor NCC defending, when the cross was not cleared, allowing a prone forward to
guide the ball into the corner of the net. From the next fifteen minutes the
away side dominated play, and, although they created many chances they were
denied by good goal-keeping and woeful finishing. Then Ecclesiastical scored
again, following another run down the right wing. Wonderfully, in less than half
a minute, the NCC had pulled a goal back, after a cross from Martin Eccles
enabled Paul Bennett to slide the ball into the far corner of the net, for a
well-taken chance. However, Ecclesiastical continued to dominate play, with a
series of penetrating attacks, including a couple of near misses. Not to be
outdone the NCC mounted attacks, but were denied by a packed defence, which
included most of the team. Just before half time Andrew Murton had a good chance
to equalise, but unfortunately the ball just passed the wrong side of the post.
As the halftime whistle went the home side was disappointed that they were not
level.
As the second half started Ecclesiastical was awarded a free kick, which was
well saved low down by Tim Rudge. They almost scored again but the ball was
saved at the near post. Although the opposition created more, both sides made
chances, and one, from the NCC, was well saved by the opposition keeper who came
out to gather the ball. On the hour Ecclesiastical attacked up their right wing
and fired the ball passed Tim Rudge, to register their third goal. They
continued to attack for a sustained period, but were denied by some well-taken
saves from the goalkeeper, and improved defending. With about fifteen minutes to
go Ecclesiastical scored their fourth goal, when the ball crept past the
outstretched legs of the NCC keeper. However, showing a positive outlook for the
future, NCC then dominated play with a series of attacks. Within two minutes
they had scored, when Ian Jones dribbled the ball passed two defenders, before
shooting into the bottom corner of the net, away from the advancing keeper. Soon
after the Undertakers, continuing to attack, had a great chance, but were denied
by the valiant effort of the keeper, who made a brave save from the feet of
Andrew Murton. Almost immediately Ecclesiastical had a shot, which just went
wide of the upright. Now Ecclesiastical continued to attack, with renewed
vigour, and soon were awarded a penalty, for an alleged foul. The resulting
score, their final goal, with about ten minutes to go, was a devastating blow
against the NCC.
Even though Ecclesiastical still piled on the pressure, and brought some good
saves from Tim Rudge, it was the home side who scored again. With four minutes
to go Ian Jones, positioned just inside the goal area, received a cross, and,
swivelling with great dexterity, placed the ball into the corner of the net, to
register his second goal of the game. During the closing minutes the home side
was able to withstand a final onslaught from Ecclesiastical. Even though the NCC
was well beaten, with a somewhat flattering score line, there was hope for
future games. It was obvious that this was the first game of the season, but
well played, especially Tim Rudge, in goal, and Ian Jones, our new find. We look
forward to the next match!
A disappointed Michael Wyatt reporting from Newlands.
Match reports from 2007-08 season
NCC win Cotswold Churches League 9-a-side
Plate, 14 July 2007
Match reports from 2006-07 season
Match reports from 2005-06 season
Cricket report 15
July 2006 - Prestbury vs St Matt's
Our Football Team (and Cricket Team)
From humble beginnings under the care of Fr Grant and Andy Macauly the
Prestbury football team had its first game in December 2005 and now,
officially registered with the FA as North Cheltenham Churches, plays in the
Cotswolds Churches League.
Results – you can follow the results from across the league and cup
competitions at the FA website (impressive or what!).
Good luck and come on the Undertakers!
New players are always welcome
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