AFC TPS 2 Crumlin 1

AFC TPS 2 Crumlin 1
(Ross, Gerard)

Yet another lesson learned by the AFC TPS squad today - how to come back from behind to win! Despite dominating possession in the first half, AFC TPS came in at half time 1 nil down, due to a lapse in concentration in defence. I don't usually like to put things like that in the match reports - but we know it was a mistake and we ALL take responsibility for it and move on.

Come half time, there was nothing we could about the goal, but there was plenty we could do about the score! There was no question that the team were good enough and more importantly confident enough that they could still win. This was the focus of the half time team talk, and the players went back out to prove it.

AFC TPS continued to have most of the possession but were finding an inspired goalkeeper in the Crumlin net. Time after time he kept us out, until finally Ross beat two defenders before firing low and hard in off the post for his first goal for the school.

With the scores level and time running out, it was clear that the next goal would win the match. Thankfully - and deservedly - that goal came from the head of the new permanent captain Gerard after yet another dangerous long throw from our own Rory Delap, otherwise known as Johnny.

After the match Crumlin's coach was kind enough to admit that we were a much better footballing team that his team and he had quickly realised that his tactics would have to focus on stopping us playing. He so nearly succeeded in this - but not quite!

A super performance and yet again it is hard to pick out one player as player of the match. I'm going to go for Gerard though because of the way he encourages everyone around him and leads by example. He has now been appointed captain for 1 off matches, while Michael will continue as captain for tournaments. Who will get the opportunity to lift silverware at the end of the season? Hopefully both of them, but keep reading our blog to find out!

Here's the stats :

11 a side league
P3 W3 D0 L0 F14 A1 pts 9

11 a side friendlies
P2 W1 D0 L1 F6 A6 pts 3

7 a side friendlies
P2 W1 D1 L0 F4 A2 pts 4

5 a side tournaments
P5 W3 D0 L2 F17 A6 Pts 9

overall
P12 W8 D1 L3 F41 A16 pts 25

goal scorers
Daniel 9
Michael 9
Gerard 7
Philip 6
Adam 5
Johnny 2
Luke S 2
Ross 1

player of the match
Gerard 4
Michael 2
Philip 2
Luke B 1
Dean 1
Daniel 1
Adam 1

Onwards and upwards

Mr Alcorn
director of football
AFC TPS

Antrim Area 5 a side tournament

Results

AFC TPS 4 Groggan 0
(Daniel, Philip, Gerard, Michael)

AFC TPS 5 Ballycraigy 0
(Gerard 2, Daniel 2, Michael)

AFC TPS 5 Greystone 0
(Michael 2, Daniel 2, Gerard)

AFC TPS 0 St. Joseph's (Crumlin) 2

These 4 results meant that we qualified for the semi finals as runners up in our group.

Semi Final
AFC TPS 3 St. Comgall's 4
(Gerard 2, Michael)

A close fought semi final with AFC TPS fighting for the equaliser right until the final whistle. Unfortunately we had just given ourselves too much to do by going 2 behind so early on in the match. The goals throughout the day were superb, and there was definite improvement in the passing and moving, meaning there is still plenty to look forward to in the rest of the season.

I can't fault anyone on their performance today, so player of the tournament is going to the whole squad of Dean, Philip, Michael, Gerard, Daniel and Adam.

Here's the season's stats :

11 a side league
P2 W2 D0 L0 F12 A0 pts 6

11 a side friendlies
P2 W1 D0 L1 F6 A6 pts 3

7 a side friendlies
P2 W1 D1 L0 F4 A2 pts 4

5 a side tournaments
P5 W3 D0 L2 F17 A6 Pts 9

overall
P11 W7 D1 L3 F39 A15 pts 22

goal scorers
Daniel 9
Michael 9
Gerard 6
Philip 6
Adam 5
Johnny 2
Luke S 2

player of the match
Gerard 3
Michael 2
Philip 2
Luke B 1
Dean 1
Daniel 1
Adam 1

Onwards and upwards

Mr Alcorn
director of football
AFC TPS

Fairview 4 AFC TPS 1

I suppose I have to get around to this match report eventually!

We lost.

4-1.

To be honest, 4-1 makes it sound worse than it was. I got an email from Fairview about the match; here's part of it :

"Just a wee e-mail to thank you for the match last week. It was a very enjoyable game and the scoreline didn't reflect how tight and how good a match it was for the majority of the game."

We battled away as usual, but we need to pass the ball more! Simple as that. Luke S equalised for us on the stroke of half time and it was end to end stuff until the last 5 minutes when our heads dropped slightly as we let in three late goals. Better to do it in a friendly though! Player of the match, for his usual all action display, but also for his awareness of what is going on all over the pitch was Gerard.

Thank you so much to Mrs Jones and her crew who helped to provide little Christmas treats for all the players and spectators. It was much appreciated by everyone.

Here's the season's stats :

11 a side league
P2 W2 D0 L0 F12 A0 pts 6

11 a side friendlies
P2 W1 D0 L1 F6 A6 pts 3

7 a side friendlies
P2 W1 D1 L0 F4 A2 pts 4

overall P6 W4 D1 L1 F22 A8 pts 13

goal scorers
Adam 5
Philip 5
Michael 4
Daniel 4
Johnny 2
Luke S 2

player of the match
Gerard 2
Luke B 1
Michael 1
Philip 1

Onwards and upwards
Mr Alcorn
director of football
AFC TPS