The Druids have entered the SML U-17s
registration for the 2009/10 season. Home venue will
again be Mary Dendy in Great Warford. Kick-off of home
matches is at 10.45.
Early season training will commence in
August. From September '09 training will be at WHS on
Wednesday's from 8-9 pm.
Phil Jones is the new Welfare Officer
for the Druids.
Druids beat Poynton 3-1 and take
revenge for semi-final cup defeat
The Druids had a full squad for this
mid-week game, their last game of the season. With a
strong wind in the back, the Druids had the ball in
the back of the Poyntion net after only a few minutes,
but the goal was harshly ruled off-site. The Druids
kept pressing and first John Armitage and then Ryan
Jones had great opportunities to open the scoring.
Poynton threatened occasionally without a cutting edge
and the Druids' defense coped adequately. Then after
20 minutes, a long ball fell in the path of Chris
Imiolek who ran through the Poynton defense and scored
with a left-foot shot in the corner. 1-0 to the Druids
and 5 minutes later it was 2-0 when from a long
goal-kick Chris Imiolek stopped the ball dead in the
air, turned and scored with the Poynton keeper
stranded. The rest of the first half petered out with
Poynton having some speculative shots at the Druids'
goal, but missing the target by some distance.
Half-time 2-0 to the Druids. At half-time the Druids
made three changes and the first-half rhythm was
lacking. The Druids withstood some pressure with
Poynton now having the wind in their backs. This
pressure finally resulted in a good goal from the
right with goalkeeper Andrew Metzelaar getting a hand
to the ball, but he could not prevent the ball
nestling in the corner of the net. 2-1 and the start
of a bit of a ding-dong battle. Both teams were warned
for dissent and the Druids made two further changes.
Dan Imiolek hit the post when it seemed easier to
score and then Ryan Jones skimmed the post with a shot
from distance. On the other side, Poynton hit the bar
and went close with two headers. Some 3 minutes from
time, John Armitage waltzed through the Poynton
defense and scored with a low left-foot shot in the
corner. 3-1 to the Druids and no way back for Poynton.
The ref blew the final whistle a few minutes later and
the Druids had taken revenge for their semi-final cup
defeat a month ago. Final score 3-1 to the Druids. A
fitting and winning end to the Druids' debut season in
the1st Division.
Man of the Match was George Troup.
6 May 2009
Druids dig deep for 3-3 draw away
against Signol
The Druids started quickly on a very
bouncy pitch. The ball was very difficult to control
and this created unexpected opportunities for both
teams. The first chance fell to the Druids with a
fee-kick just outside the box. Jordan Gray blasted the
ball over the bar from 15 yards. Signol pressed
forward without creating any clear-cut chances and the
Druids did the same at the other end. Nav just failed
to get a touch with an open goal begging, but it was
Ryan Jones who provided a touch of class when he
chipped the Signol goalkeeper from 25 yards. 1-0 to
the Druids and apart from a feeble penalty appeal,
Signol did not manage to get a clear strike on target.
Half-time 1-0 to the Druids. Signol started the second
half strongly and dominated for much of the half. From
a corner, John Armitage was alleged to have pulled a
Signol shirt and the referee pointed to the spot in
amazement of all. The Signol forward gave Andrew
Metzelaar in goal no chance. 1-1 and both teams went
for the win. The Druids got a corner at the Signol
end, but when the ball was cleared, the Druids'
midfield lost the ball for a Signol breakaway. The
ball was coolly slotted in from an acute angle and
Signol were leading 2-1. Not for long, as the Druids
broke away quickly themselves, and just as it seemed
that Ryan Jones had overrun the ball on the right, he
unleashed an unstoppable shot in the corner of the
Signol net. 2-2 and all to play for. Again, from a
breakaway, the ball fell free on the right for Signol
to score 3-2. Just when there were 10 minutes left on
the clock and a further comeback from the Druids
seemed unlikely, a high through-ball bounce awkwardly
in the Signol box and somehow Andrew Frain managed to
poke the ball home from a few yards for 3-3. A mix-up in the Druids defense then saw the
Druids' goalkeeper clatter into Jordan Gray, putting
him out of the match. With no remaining substitutes,
the Druids hung on with 10 men in the dying minutes.
At the final whistle both teams had given their all
and a draw seemed a just result.
Man of the Match was Ryan Jones for his
to excellent goals.
26 April 2009
Druids outplay Hollingsworth for an
easy 6-0 win
The Druids played Hollingsworth
Juniors away on a very bumpy and sloping pitch.
However, the Druids started well and raced into a 2-0
lead through two excellent goals by Andrew Frain after only 10 minutes of play. The first came
from a clever through-ball by Chris Imiolek and the
second from a flick from Ryan Jones. Halfway through
the half, Dan Imiolek made the score 3-0 when he
headed in from a corner. Hollingworth sporadically
threatened, but keeper Andrew Metzelaar was alert to
any danger. The whole team played well and passed the
ball accurately on an uneven pitch.
Most danger, however, came from long
through balls which the Hollingworth defense just could not handle. Half-time
3-0 to the Druids. The second half was more of the
same with Chris Imiolek scoring twice, one from a
volley from outside the box and Nav Jafarian wrapped
up the half dozen with a great individual goal.
Hollingworth tried to force at least a consolation
goal, but could not threaten enough to do so.
Full-time 6-0 to the Druids.
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