Coleshill Town are todays visitors at the Recreation ground as Cadburys return to   league action after some seven weeks without a league match.It only took 8 minutes for Cadburys to revive their familiar habit if gifting early goals to the opposition when a high looping ball caused some confusion between Adam and Freddie, which resulted in Freddie heading the ball over Adam for a comical own goal.

Cadburys should have been on level terms after 15 minutes when Andy won the ball in midfield and sent two players the wrong way with a delightful turn then went past two more players and played a lovely ball through to Matt B who unfortunately put his shot past the post, however Matt redeemed himself 5 minutes later when he received the ball from Christian and this time he made no mistake when he beat the keeper with a low drive to level the score.

Andy went close a minute later when he sent an angled drive just past the post and the following minute Craig set up a chance for Matt B when he sent in a good shot on the turn, which was well saved by the keeper. Cadburys took the lead on 23 minutes when a free kick by Freddie was deflected on to the bar and cleared out to Craig who hit a shot back in that deflected of a defender past the keeper. Coleshill had a free kick on the half hour, which brought out a good save from Adam when he tipped the ball over the bar. The rest of the first half was fairly even until Coleshill had a shot that deflected off Chris and looped over Adam and dropped in the goal to bring the half time score to two all.

Cadburys got off to a great start in the second half when Matt B had the ball in the net after just 3 minutes when he went past 2 defenders and drove the ball home to restore Cadburys lead. Christian went close on 56 minutes when he burst through the middle of the park and hit a good shot that was well saved by the keeper, he went close again 10 minutes later but this time he sent his shot over the bar. While Cadburys were probably the more dominant side Coleshill were always looking dangerous on the break and while there was only one goal between them it made for an exciting second half. Cadburys finally made the game safe in the 80th minute when Andy played the ball through to Matt B only for him to hit his shot against the bar but he was quickly on to the rebound and slotted the ball home for his hat trick, this must have totally deflated Coleshill as Matt scored again a minute later when he pounced on to a loose ball and rounded the keeper to give Cadburys a 5-2 win.  

Cadburys travel to CCC’s for the 3rd round of the Open Cup, with CCC’s flying high in division one this was going to be a tough challenge for the first game back after a six week period with out a game.
The first period was fairly evenly matched as both teams battled to impose themselves on the game, Cadburys had a couple of attempts on goal when James saw a header go wide and Christian had a shot go over the bar, a well worked short corner saw Nobby sent the ball in to Chris who had his header cleared off the line. CCC’s had the ball in the net in the 26th minute but it was disallowed for offside. Craig sent in a great corner a minute later that was scrambled off the line by the keeper. CCC’s worked the ball down the left in the 35th minute only for their player to shoot over the bar.
Cadburys made the break through just before half time when Christian picked the ball up in defence and burst through the middle of the park and played a good ball out to Matt L who crossed the ball in to Danny who got in front of his marker and drove the ball past the keeper to put Cadburys one up.

Cadburys increased the lead after 12 minutes of the second half when Craig played the ball down the left hand side to Danny who passed the ball in to Matt B who turned inside his marker and beat the keeper with a great strike just inside the post. CCC’s tested Adam with a high looping shot in the 57th minute but he was able to deal with it comfortably.
Probably the best bit of football came on the hour when Andy won the ball in midfield and played the ball out to Danny and he carried the ball down the left and passed it in to James who played it through to Matt B but unfortunately he hit his shot straight at the keeper. Cadburys increased the lead further on 67 minutes when James chased down a long ball down the right and burst in to the area and drove the ball across the keeper for a great finish. CCC’s had a free kick in the 76th minute, the ball was played in to the area and put in to the net but the player was in an offside position. Cadburys completed the scoring on 77 minutes when a throw in went to Matt B and he sent a tremendous curling shot in to the top corner of the net

Cadburys travel to Shenley for the return league fixture that they could do with winning so they could stay in touch with the early season pacemakers. It didn’t take Cadburys long to get in to their stride as they continue to give away early goals to the opposition, This one came after just two minutes as Shenley took a speculative long throw in to the area and some shocking defending allowed the ball to run to an unmarked player to fire the ball home.
It took Cadburys ten minutes to recover when Craig played the ball down the left to Matt B and he worked the ball to James who drove the ball across the goal for Andy coming in at the back post to pick his spot between the goalkeeper and defender to level the score.
Cadburys worked the ball down the right a few minutes later when Andy sent the ball in to Christian who saw his shot go just over the bar, Shenley responded with a break down their left which was thwarted by a great save from Adam. A few minutes later Craig burst down the left side and sent in a good cross to the back post that was sent wide of goal by Andy. Shenley had a free kick on 21 minutes, which was headed on to the roof of the net.
 Cadburys managed to get their noses in front after 25 minutes when Christian picked out Matt B who worked the ball in to the area and beat the keeper with a low drive just inside the near post.
The lead only lasted for 5 minutes as Shenley were gifted another free kick which was sent in to the area and as Cadburys failed to clear the ball it was turned in over Adam to bring the score level at two all.
Cadburys were denied a clear penalty in the closing stages of the first half when a shot by Matt B was handled in the area unfortunately it was missed by the referee.

The early stages of the second half saw Shenley go close on a couple of occasions when a free kick was saved by Adam and a break down the left saw a shot go in to the side netting but the closest they came was on the hour when a shot hit the post and went wide. Cadburys response a few minutes later saw a free kick by Nobby go just over the bar and Danny was through one on one with the keeper in the 73rd minute but he was unable to get the ball past the advancing keeper.
Shenley took the lead in the 75th minute when they worked the ball down the left hand side and got in behind the Cadbury defence and finished with low angled drive at the near post.

At last Cadburys seemed to show the desire to get something out of the game and pegged Shenley back in their own half as they went close with a couple of free kicks and a corner that was headed just over by Chris and as the game was in the dying minutes Christian picked up the ball just inside the Shenley half and charged his way through several tackles and as he burst in to the penalty area he was brought down by two defenders and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for the penalty, this was to calmly dispatched by Andy to give Cadburys a well deserved share of the points. 

Cadburys welcome Arden Forest to the recreation ground to participate in the second round of the League cup on a bitterly cold morning that was to deteriate as driving rain turned to sleet, making playing conditions extremely difficult for both sides. Not only was it difficult for the lads, it was also virtually impossible to keep any notes on the game so I will have to rely on memory (which isn’t very good) to give a brief account of the match.

Cadburys had an early opportunity when Danny laid the ball back to Andy who shot just wide of goal, Arden responded with a shot that also went wide. Although Cadburys were enjoying a lot of possession it was Arden who made the breakthrough when they worked the ball down Cadburys left side and sent in a cross that was headed home.
Cadburys went close with a free kick by Andy that was spilled by the Arden keeper and Matt B could only turn the loose ball over the bar. A short while later Matt was unlucky to see his shot come back of the post and go straight in to the arms of the Arden keeper. Cadburys kept pressing but were unable to breach the Arden defence so they went in at half time trailing 1-0.

Cadburys got of to a great start in the second half as when Matt B sent a shot just past the post in the opening minute then a couple of minutes later Cadburys won a free kick just outside the box and Nobby stepped up to send in a fierce drive that the keeper could only parry into the roof of the net to bring the scores level. Cadburys continued to push forward for most of the second half with Arden playing a lone striker looking to catch Cadburys on the break, which ended up with both sides canceling each other out in terms of chances being created but the commitment of both sides was never in doubt as they battled for every ball.  As the game was reaching the closing stages both teams had one final opportunity to win the game, Cadburys had another free kick outside the area which was well taken by Nobby but the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced down on to the line and was scrambled away by a grateful defence, Arden’s chance came from a long ball through to their striker who managed to get away from Cadburys defence and was through one on one with Lewis but it was Lewis who won the battle with a tremendous save, bravely diving at feet of the striker to snuff out his shot.

The weather was really starting to deteriate now and the last thing either side wanted was for the game to go into extra time (especially the parents) but as usual when these two teams meet each other it is hard to separate them so it was probably inevitable when the final whistle went with no further addition to the score. Extra time saw more of the same as both sides refused to concede any ground to each other so it was no surprise when the game went to the dreaded penalty shoot out.

Although Cadburys won the shoot out both teams deserve to share in the glory of putting on an exhibition of cup football at its best in extremely difficult conditions. Cadburys Penalty shoot out scorers Matt B, Nobby and Chris, also Lewis made a telling save for the first penalty.

Cadburys take a trip to Santiago Colts for the 2nd round of the open cup with most of the injured players declaring themselves fit for duty, which would give Mark a few more options than he has had in previous weeks.
The lads arrived to be confronted with a pitch that was barely minimum size and goals that were even smaller, so given the problems we have had finding normal sized goals in recent weeks it could have been a cause for concern.
The match got under way and Danny found himself through on goal in the first minute but unfortunately his shot hit the post and went out for a goal kick. Rybo sent in a good cross in the 5th minute, which was headed just over by Matt B
Danny was through on goal again after 7 minutes as he tried to chip the goalkeeper but the ball went just wide of the goal.
Andy and Nobby combined well in the 10th minute when Nobby sent a shot just wide and then Matt B got on the end of a long ball from Adam in the 13th minute only to see his shot saved.

Cadburys took the lead from a corner in the 14th minute when Nobby sent in curling ball that the keeper could not hold and he spilled the ball in to the net. Cadburys increased the lead in the following minute when Chris met another corner by Nobby with a thumping header. A couple of minutes later Andy sent a good ball out to Alor who got to the bye-line and drove the ball in to Matt B but he put his shot wide of the goal. Another corner by Nobby in the 22nd minute was headed just over by Chris but a minute later the lead was increased when Andy sent the ball through to Matt B who put the ball in the net from a tight angle to put Cadburys three up. Cadburys had another corner in the 26th minute this time Nobby picked out Freddie who headed just over the bar. Santiago reduced the deficit in the 31st minute with a well-struck free kick from just outside the area. Rybo got on to a long clearance in the 36th minute and he drove to the bye-line and sent in a great low cross that was turned in by Danny.

This was the last meaningful action of the first half so Cadburys went in to the break leading 4-1.
Santiago had free kick in the first minute of the second half that was tipped over the bar by Lewis
A minute later Alor sent a good ball to Matt S and he cut the ball back to Andy who sent in a shot that that was saved at the foot of the post by the goalkeeper. Craig sent a good pass through to Rybo in the 45th minute who was unlucky to see his shot hit the post. Santiago had a shot saved by Lewis in the 50th minute Andy received the ball from a throw in the 52nd minute he sent the ball through to Rybo who was waiting at the back post to drive the ball home, to give Cadburys a 5-1 advantage. Santiago had a good shot tipped over by Lewis on the hour Nobby played a nice ball through to Matt L in the 77th minute and he played the ball in to Craig who had his shot was saved by the keeper Alor played a nice ball out to Matt L in the final minute and he played the ball across the box to Craig who saw his shot deflected past the goalkeeper to bring the final score to Cadbury Athletic 6 - Santiago Colts 1.

Cadburys travel to Coleshill with an injury ravaged squad and with Chris and Nobby having to leave by half time it would be pushing things to the limit. Cadburys had a good chance in the opening minute when James got though on goal only to see his shot saved by the goalkeeper, then just as luck would have it Coleshill scored with their first attack, not the best off starts. Andy had a good run through the middle of the park in the 5th minute but he put his shot wide of the goal. More bad news followed in the 10th minute when Cadburys went two down when the ball was not cleared and the Coleshill forward took his chance to drive the ball home.
Alor went close in the 15 minute when his header was saved by the keeper, and James had a shot go wide in the 25th minute. Coleshill had a chance in the 30th minute but their player shot wide of the target.
Matt B sent a good ball across the front of goal in the 32 minute but no one could apply the finishing touch.
The last chance of the first half was provided by Rybo, when he sent in a good cross that was headed over by Nobby, so Cadburys went in to the break trailing 2-0.

Cadburys had somewhat better start to the second half when Matt B pulled a goal back in the 45th minute when he worked the ball across the edge of the area and beat the keeper with powerful drive. Just what was needed now could they get another. James was through on goal again in the 50th minute only to see his shot hit the post and when Matt B saw his shot hit the bar 5 minutes later, it looked like it wasn’t going to be our day. As Cadburys committed more players going forward looking for the equalizer they were always going to be susceptible to the counter attack by Coleshill, and this was the case in the 65th minute as a Coleshill player was clear through on goal Adam stood up big and strong to keep Cadburys in the game. Cadburys went close with a free kick in the 70th minute but once again the ball hit the crossbar and went out of play for a goal kick. Cadburys had 3 corners in quick succession in the dying minutes of the game but were unable to find the finishing touch as Coleshill held on to their lead.

This was a game that the lads deserved to get something from especially with their performance in the second half when they had Coleshill camped in their own half for long periods. Although you could argue that we need to stop gifting goals to the opposition it is also a fact that goals change games, and we had more than enough chances to win this game today. So the boys should draw on the positives stick together, and hope their luck changes.

Thanks to Sara for last weeks match report I thought she did a great job – if anyone else out there is a budding match reporter don’t be shy in stepping forward.

Today’s visitors are Chelmsley Town who are one the premierships new boys, who gained promotion last season when they finished runners up in the first division. Cadburys were down to the bare bones today with Craig and Matt Little out injured and Josh playing for Walsall, which would leave Mark with limited options from the bench. Chelmsley showed their intentions in the first five minutes with two tackles arriving so late they could have been part of the recent postal strike and just like the Government the Referee missed the opportunity to stamp out the tackles that were to feature throughout the game.

Christian put Cadburys ahead in the 8th minute with a tremendous shot from outside the box that flew in to the top corner of the net. Just the start Cadburys needed. Chris put a good ball through to Matt B in the 20th minute and he brought out a good save from the Chelmsley keeper. Cadburys increased the lead in the 22nd minute when the ball came out to Brogan who must have been 30yds from goal when he sent the ball in over the keeper and just under the crossbar to give him his second goal of the season, It would seem that just like buses you wait ages for your first goal and then two come along together, there will be no holding him now.

One of the Chelmsley players went on a great run in the 25minute going past several Cadbury players but he was brought to a halt by a great tackle in the penalty area by Christian, the resultant corner didn’t come to anything. Alor, Nobby and Christian combined well down the right hand side on the half hour only to see Christian put his shot wide of the target.
Christian put through Danny on goal in the 35minute only to see his shot saved by the keeper. A dubious free kick was awarded right on half time as a 50-50 tussle for the ball ended with the Chelmsley player losing the battle for the ball only for the ref to give a free kick in their favour, unfortunately for Cadburys the free kick was well struck in to top corner of the goal.

Half time Cadburys 2 - Chelmsley 1

The first 25 minutes of the second half saw the return of the late challenges and with no protection coming from the referee the lads began to retaliate so the game disintegrated in to a free kick laden fiasco. It was during this period that Chelmsley scored the equalizer as Cadburys got suckered in to giving away the free kick that mattered, The ball was sent in to the area from the right hand side towards the far post and managed to find a Chelmsley player to turn the ball in to the net. Cadburys managed to regain some composure for the last part of the game, and went close when Christian had a shot saved from outside the box, this was followed by a good run down the left by Rybo who sent the ball in to James who hit a fierce shot against the post which came out so quickly to Danny as he tried to get the ball under control he was flattened by the goalkeeper which was deemed to be fair play by the referee.

Cadburys did manage to get the ball in the net in the 78th minute when Chris took a long throw-in by the left hand corner flag this was headed away to Matt S who sent the ball back in to the far post for James to put the ball in the net only to be ruled offside. Cadburys had one last chance right on full time with a free kick just outside the box but it went straight in to the arms of a grateful goalkeeper.

Paul asked if someone else would write the report this week so everyone thought it would be a laugh to have the report written from a “mere” womans point of view. So here goes:

It was a mild morning and Cadbury faced an old adversary in the shape of a very changed Ulverley Hawks.  After just 4 minutes Ulverley had already had two shots on target but luckily for Cadbury both were directed straight at Adam. Ten minutes in and Ulverley were awarded a corner.  A good ball in met with poor defending allowing Ulverley to take an early lead.  0-1.

Nobby had a shot on target but the Ulverley Keeper made a fingertip save pushing the ball over the crossbar.  With just 25 minutes gone Rybo felt ill so Matty B came on and Danny was moved to the left.  Ulverley started to put more pressure on the Cadbury defence resulting in them getting 4 corners within the space of 3 minutes.  With 5 minutes to go the last corner, again due to poor defending more than anything else, went straight in. 0-2. The question now was did Cadbury want to win this match.  Looking at it so far they obviously didn’t.  However, instead of dropping their heads the lads seemed to wake up.  A good ball through from Nobby found Danny who was oddly flagged off side!  On the 38th minute Cadbury were awarded a free kick.  Up stepped Nobby.  The ball rebounded off an Ulverley defender into the path of James who coolly slotted the ball home.  1-2. Cadbury went into the break one down. Could they pull it back? 

Broghan, Matty L and Matty S were replaced by Alor, Craig, and Andy for the second half.  Just 4 minutes after the restart Adam’s goal kick was headed forward by Christian into the path of Matty B who found the net.  2-2 game on, it certainly was.  Two minutes later, James, who could have had a shot himself, selflessly passed to Matty B who again found the back of the net. 3-2. Could Cadbury hold on to the lead?  The Cadbury defence were tested a few times in the 2nd half but put in a much improved performance.  The Ulverley linesman was now waving his flag around a bit unnecessarily but when the Ulverley keeper fumbled a shot from Matty B (which was crossed in by Alor) he did confirm to the referee that the ball had indeed crossed the line giving Matty B the hat trick he had promised Mark at half time and he rightly deserved.  4-2.

Surely with just 11 minutes left Cadbury had done enough.  Ulverley brought on a new Striker who was pacey but our defence managed to keep him at bay.  The Ulverley keeper made a great save denying James a second.  Cadbury got a corner in the last 5 minutes which was superbly taken by Nobby and quoting John “Chris rose like a salmon” heading the ball beyond the keepers reach.  5-2. Ulverley had a free kick in the last minute but this didn’t amount to anything.

This was a good result for Cadbury and showed you do sometimes get what you deserve.  

Cadburys travel to Studley Juniors in the first round of the open cup for a game that could be a potential banana skin.
Cadburys kicked up the slight slope in the first half and carved out the first chance after 7 minutes as Brogan played a ball down the line to Rybo and he picked out Matt B who had his shot saved by the goalkeeper, Studley responded with a long range shot that was just tipped over by Adam. Cadburys next opening was created when Nobby played a lovely diagonal ball down the left for Rybo who sent in a good cross that was met by Matt B who’s shot was pushed away for a corner and it was the resultant corner that caused some panic in the Studley defence as one of their players drove the ball in to their goal as he attempted to clear the ball.

Cadburys continued to keep Studley pegged back in their own half and as they dropped deeper and deeper it became quite congested which was limiting Cadburys to long range attempts at goal most of which were not hitting the target. Cadburys forced another corner on the half hour which was driven in by Rybo and once again a Studley player turned the ball in to his own net as he attempted to head the ball clear. Cadburys had a few more long range efforts leading up to half time but none of them really bothered the Studley goalkeeper so the half time score stayed at Studley 0 – Cadburys 2.

With Cadburys kicking down the slope in the second half and Studley defending in numbers it was inviting Cadburys to shoot from long range and they duly obliged in the 42nd minute when Andy took a speculative shot from 25 yards which the keeper seemed to have covered but he somehow let it sneak in at the foot of the post to increase Cadburys lead. A couple of minutes later Andy set up Craig for a shot that was scrambled away for a corner, Matt S sent in a good ball in from the corner which came out to Brogan on the edge of the area and he sent in a good shot that was well saved by the keeper.
Although Cadburys were dominating the game Studley still had the occasional break but they failed to hit the target with their shots.
The lead was increased further on the hour when Brogan sent in a shot from 25 yards that deceived the keeper as it dipped in under the bar.
Matt B completed the scoring when he hit a powerful drive from just outside the area to bring the score to Studley 0 Cadburys 5.

18-02-2007 09-09-2007 Phoenix Rangers 3 – Cadbury Athletic 8

Cadburys start the new season with a trip to Phoenix Rangers for a tough opening fixture which is a repeat of last seasons opening game when both teams fought out a three all draw.

The close season has seen significant changes to the squad with Nick, Sean, Mo & Josh Leat, all leaving for different reasons, which prompted a recruitment drive through-out the summer and allows us to welcome Rybo, Matt L, Danny, Lewis and welcome back Nobby, which means we are now up to three Matt’s but back to one Josh so the match reports may make interesting reading if the three Matt’s ever link up in the same move.

Cadburys got off to a flying start taking the lead after 2 minutes when James won the ball off a Phoenix defender and played the ball to Nobby who beat the keeper with a cool finish passing the ball in to the net. This seemed to inspire Phoenix as they pushed forward with long balls for their two big forwards and had a couple of half chances which went just wide of the target. Phoenix nearly equalized in the 15th minute when their forward was first to a ball over the top of the defence and he took the ball around Lewis only to see his shot cleared off the line by Freddie, the resultant corner allowed Andy to maintain his record of scoring in every game that we have played against Phoenix, unfortunately this time it was in the wrong goal as tried to head the ball clear it crept inside the post to bring the scores level.

However this was just a temporary set back as four minutes later Danny restored the lead when he took the ball around a Phoenix defender and beat the keeper with a fine diagonal shot across the goal. This was quickly followed by another goal when Josh won the ball in midfield and sent in a great cross to the back post which was met perfectly by Rybo when he headed the ball home to give Cadburys a 3 –1 lead. The game evened itself out for a while but right on half time Cadburys came up with a superb move when Nobby played a great ball down the left for Rybo who crossed the ball to the front post for James to beat the keeper with a fine glancing header to put Cadburys 4 – 1 up at half time.

Cadburys kept up the pressure at the start of the second half and they increased the lead further in the 45th minute when Chris carried the ball out of defence and sent in a long diagonal cross the was met by Josh with a thumping header that flew past the keeper to give Cadburys a 5 –1 advantage. Phoenix pulled a goal back in the 50th minute with a good ball down the left to their pacey forward who got around the back of the Cadbury defence and scored with a fine shot.
Cadburys had a couple off half chances when Chris headed just over and Rybo & Danny had shots that went wide of the goal, But Phoenix pulled another goal back in the 65th minute with a long ball over the top of the central defence and their forward was first to the ball again and drove the ball home to reduce the deficit to 3 – 5.

Cadburys won a free kick on the edge of the area in the 68th minute and Nobby stepped up to convert with a great shot that went over the wall and dipped in under the bar and give Cadburys a 6 – 3 lead. Cadburys were now in the ascendancy and in the 70th minute Andy played a great ball to Danny who sent in Matt L who’s shot went just wide, five minutes later Andy sent a good ball to Matt L who in turn played in Danny who fired the ball home for his second goal of the game and increase Cadburys lead to 7 – 3. A minute later Cadburys scored again when Matt B played a great one two with Matt L and beat the keeper with a powerful drive to bring the final score to Phoenix Rangers 3 – Cadbury Athletic 8.