Falkland Islands Football League |
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2009 ISLAND GAMES - ALAND (Finland)
28th June 2009 – 2nd July 2009 |
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 FI team before the Opening Ceremony Back: Wayne Clement, Claudio Ross, Carlos Fajardo, Kyle Biggs, Tom Wallace, Bill Chater, Steven Aldridge, Kevin Ross, Andrew Morrison, Martyn Clarke, Ian Betts, Jamie Peck, Zaza Elbakidze, Jimmy Curtis Front: Luke Clarke, Mark Lennon, Jeremy Henry, Andreas Balladaras, Dan Biggs, Chris Gilbert, Doug Clark, Rene van Rijswijk The Falkland Islands Football League sent a squad of 20 players, under the management of Jimmy Curtis, to the Baltic island of Aland where the Games had previously taken place in 1991. Dutch coach Rene van Rijswijk, who spent 2 weeks coaching in the Falklands in January 2009, assisted in Aland in a similar position. Fully qualified physiotherapist Anna Luxton once again provided considerable support and expertise to injured players. Exceptionally high temperatures were experienced throughout the week of competition. The Falklands players, coming from a southern winter, were required to acclimatize very quickly. The Falklands were drawn to play in Group D against former gold medallists the Isle of Man, double bronze medal winners the Western Isles and the Swedish island of Gotland. The group winners only to advance to the semi-finals.
Sunday 28 June 2009 Played on the compact Solvallen field on which a small grandstand had been recently erected. It was a `home' match for the Falklands as their guest-house accommodation was no more than 10' drive from the field. Having previously lost 9-0 on two occasions to the Isle of Man this narrow defeat was a moral `victory' for the Falklands. Some excellent defensive work from Doug Clark and Bill Chater and strong midfield tackling in particular from Mark Lennon and Daniel Biggs kept the Falklands in the game during a torrid first 35 minutes. Zaza Elbakidze was booked in the 8th minute for a foul tackle.  Luke Clarke, Doug Clark, Bill Chater, Spurs Henry and Zaza Elbakidze The anticipated goal came in the 22' when an Isle of Man player broke clear on the right and crossed the ball where captain Chris Bass volleyed in from close range. Chris Gilbert brought off several good saves to keep the Falklands in the game, but as the half progressed the Falklands began to create several chances. A double substitution on 55' saw the Chilean Andreas Balladaras replace Elbakidze and Tom Wallace come on for Spurs Henry. Balladaras immediately made an impact with some neat footwork and ball control. He was then subjected to some heavy tackles and was continually fouled. The Isle of Man went further ahead on the 62' with a goal by Stephen Glover which appeared to take a deflection on the way. However the Falklands players high fitness level became apparent and they began to trouble the Isle of Man and the pressure told in the 74' when Balladaras took a free kick from just outside the penalty area. Martyn Clarke headed the ball back across goal and in the scramble that followed the ball crossed the line for a goal. Captain Douglas Clark took the acclaim but the goal was officially recorded as an `own goal' by Nick Hurt.  Captain Doug Clark Balladaras flashed a shot just over the bar as the Falklands continued to press until the final whistle and were unlucky not to obtain at least a draw from a spirited fight back. Unofficial Man of the Match - Daniel Biggs. Team: C. Gilbert, I. Betts, D. Clark (capt.) B. Chater, L. Clarke, J. Henry, D. Biggs, M. Lennon, C. Ross, Z, Elbakidze, M. Clarke. Substitutions: A. Balladaras for Z. Elbakidze 55', T. Wallace for J. Henry 55', K. Ross for I. Betts 82' Yellow cards: Z Elbakidze 8', B Chater 51', M Lennon 58' .  End of the match, heads held high after an excellent game |
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Monday 29 June 2009  Standing for the National Anthems before the match Wayne Clement who suffered a triple ankle fracture and dislocation just 5 months previously was brought into the team to replace Spurs Henry, while Andreas Balladaras started the game in place of the injured Ian Betts. Elbakidze moved to left back with Luke Clarke moving across to the right. The Falklands attacked continually and had several opportunities to take the lead but these were scorned with some wayward finishing. Martyn Clarke hit the side netting when he looked certain to test the `keeper and former Carlisle United player Mark Lennon shot over the bar from close range. Claudio Ross was unlucky to be shown a yellow card in the 43' for an innocuous looking tackle, but worse was to come when, with just seconds remaining of the first half, a defensive slip saw the ball bobble off Doug Clarke's shins. As he tried to retrieve the situation he brought down an opposing player and received a straight red card. The free kick, just inches outside the penalty area, was saved. Down to 10 men, Jimmy Curtis brought on central defender Andy Morrison to replace Clark, but had to sacrifice Wayne Clement, who had been perky and troublesome in the first half. Three minutes into the second half and the Falklands were down to 9 men as Claudio Ross received a second yellow followed by a red for a foul tackle. Bill Chater who took over the captaincy made several heroic tackles and interventions and played himself into the ground. On 55' Gotland took the lead when a defensive mix-up saw Andreas Kraft leave Morrison in his wake and shoot past a helpless Gilbert. The Falklands continued to press and created further chances but could not get the deserved equalizer. Substitute Spurs Henry made a rash tackle in the penalty area and Gotland's Bjorn Nyman stroked home the penalty to make it 2-0 in the 80'. Four minutes later Daniel Biggs, mistimed a tackle and was shown a straight red. Danny had to be consoled as he left the field. The Falklands finished the game with 8 players but were still pressing at the final whistle. It must be noted that unlike several other players from other islands who were dismissed from the field, the Falklands players shown remarkable restraint towards the officials and were commended for their disciplined attitude. Unofficial Man of the Match - Bill Chater. Team: C. Gilbert, L. Clarke, D. Clark (capt.) B. Chater, Z. Elbakidze, D. Biggs, M. Lennon, C. Ross, W. Clement, M. Clarke, A. Balladaras. Substitutes: Andy Morrison for W.Clement 46', J. Henry for L. Clarke 65', James Peck for M. Clarke 85'. Red Cards: Doug Clark 45', Claudio Ross 48' (2nd yellow), Daniel Biggs 84. Yellow Cards: C. Ross 43, Andreas Balladaras 79'.  Manager Jimmy Curtis & Coach Rene van Rijswijk |
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Tuesday 30 June 2009 Solvallen - Eckero. Kick-off 1900. WESTERN ISLES 7 - FALKLAND ISLANDS 1 (N.Gibson 9, H.McPhee 35' D.Macphail 58' & 88', J.Morrison 73' pen, M.McLean 74', A.Murray 90') (Mark Lennon 49') Doug Clark, Danny Biggs and Claudio Ross, all suspended, were replaced by Andy Morrison, Tom Wallace and Stephen Aldridge. Kyle Biggs was given his first game in place of Martyn Clarke, while Ian Betts took over from Luke Clarke at right back and Spurs Henry came in for the injured Wayne Clement. It was soon apparent that the defence would struggle to cope with the quick inter-passing and superior speed of the Scottish team. Niall Gibson put the Western Isles ahead on the 9th minute and Hector McPhee added a second on the 35th minute. Only some last-ditch tackling by Bill Chater kept the score at 2-0 by half-time and the Falklands created few opportunities with newcomers Kyle Biggs and Stevie Aldridge finding it difficult to break free of their markers.  Stevie Aldridge A ray of light appeared just 4 minutes into the second half when Mark Lennon superbly headed in a corner taken by Balladaras and for the next 20' the Falklands were slightly on top but once again poor finishing let them down. Western Isles substitute Donald McPhee scored in the 58' and Falklands `keeper Chris Gilbert was lucky to be shown just a yellow card after he brought down an opposing player in the penalty area. Gilbert had, not the first time, been left stranded by some dire defending. John Morrison scored from the spot. Just a minute later poor defending by Andy Morrison, when he hesitated and headed the ball over the on-coming Gilbert, allowed Martin McLean to add a fifth for the Western Isles. Only a succession of outstanding saves by Gilbert prevented the score reaching double figures. Western Isles supporters maintained that the Falklands goalkeeper was: "Better than anyone we have in Scotland'.  Chris Gilbert More sloppy defending allowed goals in the 88' and 90' minutes by Macphail and the outstanding Andrew Murray who oozed class in everything he did. After two excellent performances this was a major disappointment for the Falklands squad, but not totally unexpected as `strength in depth' has always been a major problem when suspensions and injuries have hit the team. Unofficial Man of the Match - Chris Gilbert. Team: C. Gilbert, I. Betts, A. Morrison, B. Chater (capt.), Z Elbakidze, M. Lennon, T. Wallace, A. Balladaras, S. Aldridge, K. Biggs, J. Henry. Substitutes: Luke Clarke for Stevie Aldridge, Martyn Clarke for Kyle Biggs & James Peck for Andy Morrison - all on 74'. Yellow Cards: A. Balladaras 17', Chris Gilbert 73' & James Peck 90'. |
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Thursday 2 July 2009 Vikingvallen - Jomala. Kick-off 1900. FALKLAND ISLANDS 1 - FROYA 3 (Wayne Clement 5') (R. Meland 39', M. Gasso 52', J. Adolfsen 68') Played on the artificial grass at 9-00 o'clock in the morning in temperatures of 32-34 degrees. The conditions were totally alien to the Falklands players and it was not surprising that Kevin Ross had to be substituted after suffering from severe dehydration which left him unable to run. The match was played to decide who would finish 15/16th overall, as both Islands had finished bottom of their respective groups. The Falklands had hoped to be playing Greenland for 13/14th but the final goal of 7, conceded against the Western Isles, had lowered their goal difference to minus 9 which was one goal worse than Saaremaa who got to play for the higher placing. There was the added incentive of the `Small Islands Cup' to play for. Donated by the Chairman of the Falkland Islands Overseas Games Association, this trophy had the approval of the Island Games Association. The Falklands and Froya (a small Norwegian island of 4,000 pop.) were by far the two smallest populated Islands in the competition and it was inevitable that they would meet at some stage of the tournament. Manager Jimmy Curtis had the difficult decision of whether to play his best selection or give some previously little used players an opportunity. He decided on the latter, and Kevin Ross came in for Ian Betts while the Chilean chef Carlos Fajardo was given his first taste of International competition. His compatriot Andreas Balladaras, who unluckily received his second yellow card of the competition against the Western Isles, was forced to miss the game. After a bright start the Falklands were gradually forced onto the defensive and it was no surprise when the dangerous `defender turned striker' Richard Meland scored Froya's first goal of the competition in the 39th minute. Hesitancy allowed him a free run on goal. Doug Clark, visibly in trouble and slowing down, sustained a muscle injury and had to be substituted at half-time. Bill Chater booked in the 1st half, received a second yellow after 50 minutes for a foul tackle and with both first choice central defenders off the field the Falklands were under pressure. Just 2' later, with the defence still sorting itself out, Martin Gasso took advantage of the confusion and put Froya ahead. The introduction of the excellent Mark Lennon brought some formative attacking movements and he regularly carried the ball to the edge of the opposing penalty area, setting up chances for the strikers but Stevie Aldridge, Martyn Clarke and Spurs Henry all missed golden opportunities to score. Froya confirmed their victory in the 68 th minute when Joran Adolfsen was given all the time he needed to place the ball past Gilbert to make it 3-1. The Froya players celebrated as if they had won the World Cup and no-one could deny them their success. After competing at many Island Games they had only ever won one previous game, against Saaremaa, in 2007. Unofficial Man of the Match - Mark Lennon. Team: C. Gilbert, K. Ross, D. Clark (capt.), B. Chater, Z Elbakidze, S. Aldridge, D. Biggs, C. Ross, C. Fajardo, W. Clement, M. Clarke. |
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