Phoenix Academy – Algarve Tour 2018
Summer u17s Challenge Trophy 2018
14th June – 19:30hrs
JS Campinense 1-7 Phoenix Academy
Algarve Stadium Faro
15th June – 16:00hrs
Imortal DC 3-7 Phoenix Academy
Estadio Municipal de Albufeira
16th June – 18:00hrs
Guia FC v Phoenix Academy
Estadio Municipal de Albufeira
14th June
The tour started with a game against local side JS Campinense at the spectacular Algarve Stadium. The Phoenix boys were not affected at all by playing on the same day as their flight over and ran out comfortable 7-1 winners. The match was divided into 3 periods of 30 minutes and after the first third Phoenix had a 3-0 lead. John Walpole grabbed two after Liam King had got the ball rolling with a fine opener. A Callum Keeble Free Kick made it 4 before Toby Branwhite smashed home number 5. The hosts pulled one back before the next break but normal service was resumed when Craig M added to the tally with another corker. Ben Middleton finalised the scored with a late penalty and this game was over. It was a great run out for the lads and the full squad got plenty of pitch time.
15th June
With temperatures in the mid-30s it was always going to be a tough afternoon in the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira. Fortunately although Imortal DC have a great team name they were no match for the rampant Phoenix lads who once more dominated the game and gained a victory.
This one was a standard game of 45 minute halves and the first was less than 10 minutes old when Ben Middleton found Liam King unmarked in the box and the striker buried his chance into the corner to give our travelling side the lead. On the quarter hour Alfie Aldridge made it 2-0 before having another ruled out for offside shortly after. The keeper then saved well from a decent Jimmy Martin shot but the man between the sticks could not prevent a composed Trey Richards scoring on 38 minutes and giving the side in green a 3 goal advantage. All that was left to do before the whistle for half time went was to get one more and that is what Alfie did again. Goal number 300 odd for the year from the prolific front man.
With the conditions so tough it was wholesale changes during the break but it was business as usual as Phoenix dictated the pace of the game. On the hour mark Callum Keeble got the 5th before a minute later the home side pulled one back. 5-1.
Shortly after, a free-kick was given in the box for a collected back-pass and when the ball was laid off to John Walpole he made no mistake from close range. With 15 minutes left on the clock Alfie Aldridge got his traditional hat-trick to make it 7 before he missed a good chance to get another soon after.
With the Phoenix lads tiring in the last 10 minutes Imortal found the net twice to reduce the defecit but the hard work was done and when the referee blew the whistle our Academy had won the game 7-3.
[b]16th June[/b]
On to the Final game and with a trophy on the line the boys were hoping to end the Tour on a high. Guia FC were the opponents and the third change of kit in three days did not affect the lads as they won the game.
Phoenix flew out of the traps and were 1-0 up inside 5 minutes when Jimmy Martin rose highest to meet Alfie’s corner and guide the ball into the bottom corner. A great start.
For the following half an hour the boys did everything but score. Five decent chances went begging and there was a worry it could be one of those days.
Any concerns were soon put to bed though as Liam King was composed on a loose ball to round both the last man and the goalie and tap in to the empty net. 2-0.
From the kick-off Guia had their first shot of the game and nearly scored a beauty. Luckily the keeper made the save just before it crossed the line. Or so he says.
Just before the break Phoenix were awarded a Free-Kick 30 yards out from which Jimmy Martin unleashed a beauty of a shot from it which went over the keeper and in.
Half-Time 3-0.
Once again squad rotation was utilised and plenty of changes were made and the introduction of John Walpole up front brought immediate success. From his long run down the wing he cut in, had his shot saved but put away the rebound. 4-0.
The 5th came soon after and in a similar way. Walpole’s run down the wing led to a cut back to Alfie Aldridge, who placed the ball into the corner. 5-0.
On the hour mark this game followed the pattern of the previous two, where a 5-0 lead became 5-1. Guia earned a penalty which was dispatched calmly for a consolation goal.
One consolation became two but it was still not enough and the Phoenix Academy had won the game 5-2.
Congratulations to the boys on winning all three games and the Trophy and ending a hugely successful Season on a high!
For details on how to be a part of this amazing Academy contact and make sure you visit the all new and improved Academy page on the Phoenix Sports Website here