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St Andrews 2-2 Calne Eagles
2nd August 2008 - Friendly match
Calne Eagles opened up their pre-season friendlies against second division St Andrews with an extremely spirited and hard fought draw. Their high level of performance was even more encouraging because they were only able to put together a squad of 12 players, due to 6 players missing through holidays and injuries. They also fielded injured outfield player Brett Cullen who volunteered his services as goalkeeper.
Eagles slightly edged the opening exchanges and took the lead after only 10 minutes when centre back Roy Wenham got in front of his marker from a well struck Danny Thompson corner to glance his header into the roof of the net.
St Andrews’ fielded a young side and their athleticism was a constant test for Calne who found themselves being forced deep for the remainder of the half. However, despite their possession St Andrews struggled to create many good chances and when they did
they could
not get past Brett Cullen.
Early in the second half Eagles extended their lead when tireless striker Jamie Davies charged down the goalkeeper’s clearance, which perhaps somewhat fortuitously, rebounded straight back towards the goal.
As the second half progressed St Andrews continued to press forward but
Eagles looked
just as dangerous on the break. Jamie Davies’ pace was causing St Andrews real problems and they could have extended their lead further through both Steve Roberts and new signing Sam Hammond.
However, after 60 minutes St Andrews pulled a goal back when Brett Cullen, having claimed one of many superb catches, scuffed his kick straight to Ged Osbourne who then finished with a cool lob from 30 yards out.
With 15 minutes left St Andrews drew level when Andy Donald clinically finished off a fast flowing move. St Andrews dominated the last 15 minutes but Calne held firm to claim a pleasing result from their first run-out of the season.
Steeple
Ashton 2-2 Calne Eagles
9th August 2008
Calne Eagles recorded their second successive 2-2 draw of the
pre-season in a highly competitive game against first division
Steeple Ashton.
Calne started well and took the lead after 15 minutes when Jamie
Davies finished confidently following a good through-ball from new
signing Kyle Braid. Only minutes later they had the opportunity to
extend their lead when Roy Wenham hit the crossbar following good
work from Brett Cullen.
Steeple Ashton’s quality was evident throughout and they always
looked dangerous, with most of their good play going through their
strong centre-forward Dean Gumm.
However, it was Calne who scored next when Jamie Davies broke free
down the left hand side of the pitch and put in a superb cross
that Brett Cullen skillfully headed home.
In the second half, Steeple Ashton started to look more dangerous
and they pulled a goal back on 60 minutes, when keeper Andy
Windsor could only parry a long distance shot into the path of Sam
Stevens, who tapped in from a tight angle.
Steeple Ashton then completed their comeback when George Mortimer
scored from close range following a good passing move. They might
have snatched a winner only minutes later if it were not for two
goal-line blocks from both Stu Windsor and Gary Wootten.
Calne competed well throughout and at no point did they look out
of place against opponents who finished comfortably mid-table in
the first division last season.
Steeple Ashton Reserves 2-6 Calne Eagles
16th August 2008
Calne Eagles gained their first win of the pre-season against Steeple Ashton Reserves, a team they will be facing in the League during this coming season.
The first half was a tight affair and it took 30 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, when Jamie Davies latched onto an Adam Bewley through-ball to finish coolly.
With their wind at their backs, Eagles took control at the start of the second half and soon doubled their lead, when Gary Wootten ran from deep to beat the offside trap and his first-time cross was headed home by Brett Cullen. Brett then scored his second when his left-wing cross deceived Ashton’s keeper and flew in at the far post. With 60 minutes gone, Eagles appeared to be home and dry when a freak own goal made the score 4-0.
Steeple Ashton then pulled a goal back through a superb Marc Sheppard strike from just outside the box. This gave them a boost and minutes later they were given further hope when Marc
Sheppard clinically punished a mis-hit clearance by Kev Hamersley. They then played some of their best football of the game and created a couple of further good chances, which would have really put pressure on Calne.
But with 10 minutes left, sub Shaun Jefferies hit an unstoppable shot from just outside the box to make it 5-2, and in the closing stages, Jamie Davies scored his second following good work from Darren Axford and Kev Hamersley.
Calne Eagles 2-4 Semington Magpies
23rd August 2008
Despite losing 4-2, Calne Eagles finished their pre-season programme with yet another encouraging performance against higher league opposition.
Calne had 5 players unavailable and this number was increased to 6 when player-manager Roy Wenham had to referee the first 45 minutes of the game. This left the team with only 11 players. However, they acquit themselves well and took the lead after only 10 minutes, when Adam Bewley squeezed Danny Thompson’s through-ball past stand-in keeper Ricky King.
Semington then came back into the game and equalized after 25 minutes when Gary Wootten conceded a penalty, following some hesitant defending by Stu Windsor. Calne’s keeper Kev Windsor did well to push Rich Allum’s penalty onto the bar, but unfortunately the ball rebounded straight back to Allum, who managed to scuff his second attempt into the bottom corner.
In the second half Calne Eagles regrouped, Roy Wenham came on for Jamie Davies and the team played their best football of the match. They deservedly took the lead when Adam Bewley once again broke free and coolly slotted the ball home. Steve Roberts then hit the bar and also saw another rasping shot go just over.
In the last 20 minutes, injuries and fatigue started to take their toll on the Eagles. Both Gary Wooten and Nick Cawley were carrying knocks, but had to soldier on and with 15 minutes left, Nick deflected Andy Harrison’s cross into his own net. In the last 10 minutes, Semington completely dominated and their experienced centre-forward Dan Phillips won the game with two well-taken goals.
The Eagles start their season in 2 weeks time in a home match against new team Westwood FC. They will be entering the new season with a far more settled squad than ever before and hope to improve upon last season’s 8th place.
Calne Eagles 3-1 Westwood
6th September 2008
Calne Eagles came back from a goal down against new team Westwood to gain a well-earned 3-1 win.
Westwood took the lead after 20 minutes, when Graham Anderson got in front of his marker from a corner and powered his header past keeper Andy Windsor. Calne were back on level terms only 2 minutes later, when Nick Cawley ghosted into the box unmarked to fire into the roof of the net from close range. Cawley then also hit the crossbar, before setting up Adam Bewley, who showed great control before firing his shot into the bottom corner.
Adam Bewley’s second goal of the game completed the scoring with 25 minutes left, when he lobbed his header over goalkeeper Martin Cowdrey.
In the closing stages, Westwood piled on the pressure and won countless corners but Calne Eagles held firm to take the 3 points.
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Match Reports 2008-09
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