Airbus U9s – Wigan Athletic (A)
This weekend our u9s enjoyed the experience travelling to Wigan Athletic.
The lads arrived at stadium Way early Saturday morning in prep for 2x 6v6 format.

Our young Wingmakers struggled for the first 10 minutes with the format & indoor 3G pitch but once adapted to the conditions started to play the Airbus way and took control in & out of possession taking majority of scoring opportunities leading to a successful trip.

With so many amazing individual and team performances it was impossible to pick any player of match awards as it was a great team performance throughout.

Airbus U12s – Bala Town FC (H)
The U12s played their second league game against Bala. The lads played the first 20 minutes against Bala brilliantly!

The football all round was excellent! Bala couldn’t get hold of the ball as the lads were knocking it around with great consistency.

The 3 in midfield playing it around Bala’s midfield amazingly. The lads took the lead 10 minutes into the game from a great finish from Olly which then scored his second before halftime from a corner.

After HT Bala pressed much harder and the lads had to adapt their game. Which they did excellently. The lads went on to score 4 more goals. Final result 6-0

Airbus 14s – Woolton Gilmour (H)
On Wednesday the under 14’s welcomed Woolton Gilmour to Airbus for a mid week fixture that would allow us to look at areas we addressed within our analysis session following the fixture from the weekend.

Before the game we spoke about how to replicate the good phases we had during that game but how we could be more effective in the match by doing it quicker right the way across the pitch.

The players had a really positive start and showed how they are able to build out from the back using overloads to beat the press from our opposition with less touches in tight areas to escape the pressure.

A deflected free kick on the edge of our box gave the visitors the lead. The players showed a good reaction and won the ball back in the final third for Noah Al-Dulayymi to fire in a long range effort that the keeper couldn’t keep out, to bring the score line level heading into half time.

Going into the second half and it was much of the same with Airbus showing some really good patterns of play through the thirds but not quite finding the success we were hoping for in and around our oppositions goal. With the game closing in a loose ball in our box and the visitors reacted to poke the ball home with the final score 2-1 to to Woolton Gilmour.

Airbus U14s – Bala Town (H)
This week the 14’s welcomed Bala to the Hollingsworth stadium, and the players looked for a repeat of their good performance from last weekend but against a more physical side.

We spoke pre-game about how to beat the Bala press that we knew we would be up against, our opponents going man for man, and how we could negate that. So to score a goal direct from our goalkeeper to play through it, was very pleasing. The ball eventually finding Junior Kelly who superbly disguised his first touch to lose his man and fire across goal. A superb team goal that really got the lads going and gave them confidence to trust their football and style of play for the remainder.

That lead was doubled just before the half through Lucas Braisdell who from right back continues to be a threat going forward.

High spirits at half time but the players knew they had to stay humble and go out to do it all again to complete the performance.

The dominance continued and shortly after the restart some excellent combination play in the right channel put Alfie Edwards in behind to strike top corner and put the Wingmakers 3-0 up.

The players then begun to enjoy having the ball and worked together to open gaps up in the final third, Piotr Wlodarczyk eventually stepping into a gap to strike a long range effort into the corner of the net. Our defensive unit was comfortable when called upon and the team can be proud of their approach and work ethic today.

Airbus U15s – Sandbach United FC (H)
The U15’S played Sandbach United at The Hollingsworth Group Stadium. The lads started off slow and got deservedly punished in the first 5 minutes where we needlessly lost possession and didn’t transition into our defensive shape quickly enough.

This was the story of the first half with Sandbach having 3 good chances & Bailey Davies making 2 excellent saves as we struggled with their pace in our defensive areas. We scored an excellent equaliser as Nataniel Rakowiecki won the ball high up the pitch and finished with a sublime chip over the opposition keeper.
He then went close with a 2nd but was thwarted by the keeper at the near post.
Against the run of play we went ahead after the lively Nati scored a fine header into the top corner from a Caiden Baker-Williams set piece. A mix up of communication at the back from a set piece saw Sandbach equalise just before the break as we went in 2-2.

Detail was given to the lads and a positive 2nd half reaction was required. We were better in possession in the 2nd half and looked more like ourselves out of possession. We scored a good goal as Fish finished first time into the top corner from a delightful cross from Max Murray.
Harri Edwards then finished off well after good central play between Jake Pendlebury & Caiden Baker-Williams. 4-2 and finally we had some control in the game.

Sam Ibbitson picked the ball up in the right back position and embarked on a 50 yard run through the heart of the Sandbach midfield. He then played an inch perfect pass through to the inside run of Caiden Baker-Williams who slotted the ball home.

Our 6th goal excellent as Rhys Ineson recycled the ball well into GK Jack Booth who played a couple of bounce passes with our defenders and back in to Rhys, who then broke a line with his pass into midfield as did Fin Hayes into Harri Edwards who dropped into the pocket. Harri then played an inch perfect through ball into Jake Pendlebury who rounded the keeper to score. 4 touch & 3 passes from back to front resulted in a fine goal.

Our 7th and final goal came down the left as Jake Pendlebury squared the ball across the goal for Caiden Baker-Williams to grab his 2nd after good work from Max Murray.

The FAW Academy Cup starts next week and the lads know that the standards shown in the 2nd half are what we aspire to. The first half was very unlike us and we can’t allow our levels to drop. Well done everyone throughout pre-season.

Airbus U16s – Bala Town (A)
The U16s took a lunchtime trip to Bala to open their academy cup affair. Airbus started quite well, dictating the tempo of the game playing their way into the game quite nicely.

Before we know its 15 minutes into the game and were 2-0 down after giving away too very sloppy goals. Bala frustrated us as we went into half time 2-0 down. Airbus reset at half time and were reminded there’s plenty of football to play. The second half was played out in similar fashion with Airbus trying to break Bala down but managing Bala threat on the break.

Airbus were pushing and pushing creating some half chances throughout. A real good piece of play gave Airbus the chance to get back into it with a penalty but this was missed. A minute later Stanley Edwards beat his man and put it across for Harri Edwards to get Airbus back into it.

A big save from Jacob kept Airbus into the hunt and finally in extra time Dylan Custato scored the equaliser from outside the box.

After giving our selves a big up hill battle, really proud of the boys for keeping their principles and getting something out of the game.

Player of the match – Levi Lloyd
A solid performance at centre back. Defended well in his 1v1 and on the front foot. Picked out some very good passes forward throughout the game

Airbus U19s – Bala Town FC (A)
Sunday saw Airbus 19’s travel to Bala for their first game of the 24/25 season
The 19’s started the game very well controlling the ball from kick off. Very quickly we found ourselves in the opposition half and Liam Jones chased a ball in to the corner beating his man and delivered in the front space for Dan Semple to score a tap in on 5’

The game continued very much the same way with Airbus in control creating plenty of chances we just didn’t take advantage of, first half ended 1-0 Airbus
Second half started the same way with Airbus controlling the majority of possession and creating chances early on
Eventually we broke through again with Franek Sadczuk assisting Dan Semple for his second of the game on 60’
In complete control and hungry Airbus continued to do everything that was expected of them and on 66’ Dan Semple again slots home assisted by captain Tom Dougherty for his hat trick

In complete control we continued to do everything expected wanting to finish the game strong, Airbus win a pen on 74’ and Dan Semple slotted home for his fourth of the game

Very happy with the way the 19’s conducted themselves today, taking care of business
Final score 4-0 Airbus

Player of the week goes to Dan Semple. Not just because he scored four goals in the game but Dan has had a very strong pre season and is a bubbly character around the training ground is infectious
Well done Dan, keep it up