The Druids and New York Rovers met in a
friendly at Hollywood Park on Thursday evening. After
an even first half, the Druids shaded it with a first
half strike from Chris Imiolek. After half-time, the
Druids played some neat football and increased their
lead through Ryan Jones (3), George Troup and Sam
Jafarian. Just before full-time, NYR missed a penalty.
All in all a useful friendly with both teams enjoying
the match and evening sunshine.
Good luck NYR in the 3rd Division next
season.
10 May 2008
John Armitage wins Golden Boot
With his goal
against Mountfield Rovers, John
Armitage secured the Golden Boot award for the 2007/08
season. His total tally is 14 goals this season
including a faultless 5 goals from the
penalty spot. John joined the Druids at
the start of this season
from Ryleys Nomads and has made an immediate impact as
a left-sided midfielder. In total 16 different players
scored this season with 3 players getting into double
figures. Well done John, all bodes well for next
season. Awards for Players Player of the Year,
Manager's Player of the Year and most promising player
will be announced after the league presentation on 1st
June.
5 May 2008
Druids are
Division 2 champs after faultless display against Mountfield
Rovers 3-0
The Druids gained
their 3rd promotion in 4 years to reach the 1st
Division for the first time in their short history.
Today's opponents were Mountfield Rovers who had given
the Druids a run for their money in the away tie. The
Druids pressed from the start and had a number of
half-chances. Chris Imiolek missed a header when it
seemed easier to score and Ryan Jones failed to hit
the target after a good run on the left. Finally after
about 25 minutes of play, Rick Solomons headed in from
a corner for 1-0. This took the pressure off and the
Druids almost immediately scored a second from a
hopeful shot from the wing by Dan Imiolek. To
everybody's delight, the ball sailed into the top
corner. 2-0 for the Druids and the defense played
solidly throughout giving away almost nothing.
Half-time came at 2-0 to the Druids. The same pattern
emerged after the break. The Druids pushed for more
goals, but the Mountfield keeper was in fine form to
deny Andrew Frain and Rick Solomons from adding to the
score-line. The third goal came from a great run from
John Armitage from left midfield finished off with an
unstoppable left-foot shot in the corner. 3-0 to the
Druids and some changes were made to give everybody
the chance to be part of the promotion celebrations
which followed the final whistle. A near faultless
display saw the Druids through today and their last
match of the season will be against Woodley Albion on
Wednesday afternoon. Congratulations Druids, a well
deserved win and promotion.
Man of the Match was
again Andrew Frain for his brilliant wing play on the
right.
Fltr Back: Sam Jafarian, Andrew Metzelaar,
John Armitage, Matt Dobson, Aaron Jennings, Rick
Solomons, Steve Murray. Fltr Front: Dan Cobb,
Ryan Ford, Max Petch, Dan Imiolek, Andrew Frain,
George Troup, Chris Imiolek, Ryan Jones. Missing
from photograph are Oliver Jones, Max Penney, Louis
Belson and Alex Jackson.
Druids put promotion on ice as they lose 2-1 to Hazel
Grove United
The Druids went into this game knowing that two points
would suffice for promotion. May be this is why they
(again) let in an early goal. In the 3rd minute a ball
was whipped in from the right, the Druids defense
hesitated and the Hazel Grove forward had no problem
converting this clear chance. 1-0 to Hazel Grove
United. The Druids then got into the game and they had
a number of good chances to equalise. First, Ryan
Jones tried to lob the keeper but his shot was not
powerful enough and then the same player got to the
ball before the Hazel Grove keeper, but the ball
bounced against the post and out. Just when it looked
like the Druids' pressure would finally tell, the ball
fell awkwardly in the Druids' box and after a tangle
of legs the referee awarded a penalty to the home
side. Andrew Metzelaar got close to it but could not
stop the ball from going into the net. 2-0 to Hazel
Grove and a lot to make up at this stage for the
Druids. Andrew Frain went on a dazzling run on the
right and crossed for Ryan Jones to convert. Half-time
2-1 to Hazel Grove. With the wind in the back, the
odds looked good, but the sustained pressure from the
Druids did not result in the all important equaliser.
Ryan Jones chipped the Hazel Grove keeper, but the
ball rebounded from the underside of the bar. A few
minutes later, Chris Imiolek beat the keeper but not
the post as his shot went agonisingly wide. The Druids
now threw everybody forward and the Hazel Grove
defense cleared with increasing desperation. However,
they held out and at the final whistle the Druids had
only lost their second match this season. Two more
points are now required for promotion
with two home games to play. Come on Druids, lets go
all the way!
Man of the Match was
again Aaron Jennings for his solid display at
centre-back.
27 April 2008
Druids outplay Reddish Vulcans
3-1 in classy second-half performance
Due to the poor
condition of the Chorley Hall Lane pitch, this venue
was switched to the Vulcans ground at the last minute.
With a bare eleven players, Louis Belson made his
debut at right back and without the regular forwards,
Sam Jafarian and Ryan Jones deputised with great grit
upfront. Apart from the first 10 minutes, the Druids
totally dominated this match. They fell behind after
only 3 minutes when a cross from the left fell for one
of the unmarked Vulcans forwards who beat Andrew
Metzelaar from close range. The Druids had a further
let-off when a cross from the right was met with a
header which just went wide. Slowly the Druids
asserted themselves and they created a number of
half-chances which came to nothing. Midway through the
first half, Ryan Jones make some space for himself and
hit the bar. Then a few minutes later Rick Solomons
followed up from a corner and hit the upright. The
Druids had further chances to equalise, but the
Vulcans keeper did well to deny their efforts.
Half-time 1-0 to the Vulcans. After the break, the
Druids kept putting the pressure on the Vulcans and
finally from a corner, Rick Solomons drove in the
deserved equaliser. Another corner a few minutes later
was met by John Armitage head and the ball flew into
the far corner. The Druids now attacked at will and
the score -line should have been more comfortable at
this stage. Chances were spurned by Ryan Jones and Sam
Jafarian, before Ryan Jones scored from a one-to-one
some 10 minutes from time. Ryan Jones had the ball in
the net again a few minutes later, but he was judged
off-site. The defense and midfield were solid in the
second half and allowed the Vulcans no shots on
target. At the final whistle the Druids had run out
deserved winners and a three more points from the
remaining three matches are now required for
promotion.
Man of the Match was
again John Armitage for his never-say-die attitude and
his superb second half goal.
007/08
season. His total tally is 14 goals this season
including a faultless 5 goals from the
penalty spot. John joined the Druids at
the start of this season
from Ryleys Nomads and has made an immediate impact as
a left-sided midfielder. In total 16 different players
scored this season with 3 players getting into double
figures. Well done John, all bodes well for next
season. Awards for Players Player of the Year,
Manager's Player of the Year and most promising player
will be announced after the league presentation on 1st
June.
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