Cambridge Tournament - Sunday 31st August (Thanks to Adrian for this detailed account of the day's events)

On a dull and foggy day, the team arrived at the tournament venue and after registering we all made our way to what was nearly the furthest point away from the entrance. The first match was not until 11a.m. so the team had a fair while to get into game mode and warm up. After what seemed like an age, it was show time. On went the team with a new look defence. Short of Angus (on his hols), the team lined up with Dom in goal a new back four of Cameron, Sam H, Sam C and David slotting into the right back position. In midfield, Josh was on the left, Ewan and Greg in centre and Niall on the right - Elijah and Fred up front.

All the players seemed up for the game, some players calling out to each other ready for the kick off. Once under way it seemed that it was going to be one of those days when we needed to wake up quickly as the other team came at us from the start. After gaining the ball in midfield and quick passing to the front, a shot from Elijah went just wide of the goal. From the goal kick the ball soon found its way in front of the defence and with some quick thinking by both Sams the danger soon passed.

Within moments, the other team broke through the defence and their striker looked to be one on one against Dom who came out, making himself big, resulting in a fantastic save which was cleared by Sam H up to Ewan and away out of danger. Yet again they came at the defence and Dom made another save to keep the game all square.

Into the 2nd half the team started to play some good football, passing the ball well and creating a couple of close chances, one by Ewan and another by Fred. There were some fantastic tackles made by the whole back four, and some very creative passing from defence. David, playing in this new position, had some good tackles and covered well down the right side linking well with Niall. Another near miss by Elijah, and a shot just wide by Ewan just before the end of the game made the end result 0-0.

After what seemed an age, it was time for the 2nd match. The game started much better for the team - passing was quick and to feet with both Ewan and Elijah having good efforts on goal. The defence held its line well; Sam H using his head well and Sam C making good tackles. A clearance by Sam H was passed to Ewan, then on to Josh who ran down the wing, beating one player before passing the ball onto Elijah whose shot on goal was cleared for a corner. With Darren calling the positions from the sideline, Sam H went up for the corner while Sam C and David covered the defence, David taking a position just in front of Sam C in the centre circle.

Elijah took the corner and after a couple of snap shots, the ball fell to Fred who wellied it towards goal where it seemed to hit the top of the net and bounce down behind the line. Alas the ref declared no goal. More chances came the team's way with Greg having a shot and Josh shooting just wide. Niall made some clever runs down the right side of attack, but for some tight tackling from the other team, all chances came to nothing.

2nd half... the defence was called apon again and was soon cleared by Cameron passing the ball down the wing to Josh who went on a run passed a couple of players before losing out in a tackle. A few minutes later a free kick was awarded to us. After looking up, Sam H kicked the ball up the field making a good pass to Ewan who then fed the ball onto Fred. He ran round a couple of players before passing to Niall who then ran to the corner before crossing the ball over for Elijah to shoot - oh no! against the post and wide! Greg got stuck in with the tackles and won the ball on nearly all of them. With shots going just wide, it seemed yet again that the ball would not fall just right for us to score. Game ending yet again 0-0

After another long wait, match 3 arrived. Both Sandra and Darren gave the team talk, making the players aware of what they needed to do in the last game. Straight from the start the team passed the ball well, from the defence to midfield and on to the forward players. Elijah went on a run, passing two players before kicking the ball out to Josh who clipped the ball over for Greg to just shoot wide. Another free kick came our way - Darren shouted out for Sam H to look at his options. With that, Sam H kicked the ball up field for Ewan to control and then to pass out to Niall who ran to the corner.After beating off two tackles, he passed the ball on to Fred who flicked it over for Elijah to have a strike at goal.

After a scramble in the defence, a corner came our way. Elijah looked to take a long kick which landed at the feet of Fred who turned a couple of players before passing to Ewan whose shot went just wide. From the goal kick we managed to win back the ball, firstly by Greg and then by Josh who ran to the corner making good ground. He then passes on to Elijah who ran into some tough tackles, the ball ending up being cleared by the defence. Yet again, winning the ball in midfield through Greg and Ewan, we broke down the right side this time, Niall going on a good run but yet again the shot went wide. 2nd half...

Straight from the kick off the team were battling for the ball, tackles being made and won by the midfield and defence. Free kick again this time; Darren shouted for Ewan to take it - he chipped the ball over the defence towards Josh who shot on the volley only for it to go over the bar. After winning the ball from the goal kick and with time running out, the ball went forward, and as a result we ended up with a corner.

Darren sent Sam H up again - this time the ball was kicked to the front of the box and was headed on by Fred. Then the shot came in from Ewan but was saved by the keeper. Cleared by the keeper the ball was worked out to the wing where Josh took control, and with some fast feet ran towards the box, passed on to Elijah who managed to force yet another corner. Darren shouted for both Sams to go! Elijah took the corner and sent the ball towards the back post where it was met by Sam H, who headed it on towards goal. It bounced down on the inside of the goal post and over the line. Goal!!!! ....but no, not given and the opposition cleared their lines.

It was just not to be our day! Three games played - no goals scored, but none conceded either.

Then the waiting started to see where we finished. After some score checking by Darren and some calculating by Sandra it worked out that the last game in the group needed to be a scoreless draw for us to end up having to go into a toss of a coin to see who finished 2nd in the group! After waiting over an hour, the final games were played, and a goal was scored in the last game which meant that we were on our way home.......