Under 9's

Airbus Academy Under 9s vs Flint (Away)

The boys took a little time to settle into the 6v6 format, which saw both opening fixtures end in draws. Once they found their rhythm, they began to play some excellent passing football.

On one pitch, the team created chances and finished confidently, scoring some well-worked goals. On the other, they were unlucky to come up against an outstanding goalkeeper who kept them at bay despite their strong attacking play.

Overall, it was a very positive performance, with great teamwork, well-taken goals, and a solid defensive display throughout.

Players of the Match
Benji Evans & Jude Hett

Well played, boys

Under 11's

Under 11’s travelled to Flint for a 9v9 fixture on Saturday.

The 11’s started slower of the two teams and found themselves a couple of goals down. As the 1st half went on the lads grow into the game and had a couple of chances before Flint got a few more before the half ended.

2nd half we changed the shape and this seemed to have a great effect on the lads as they controlled most of the half and missed a load of chances before Lennon scored a nice finish from around the edge of the box.

On another day the score would have been a lot closer, however Flint were just more clinical and quicker in transition, good learning curve for the lads and a game played in good spirits.

Player of the match
Jude Jones

Under 12's

Airbus Under 12 1 – 3 Cambrian Under 12

Airbus Under 12 welcomed Cambrian Under 12 to Hollingsworth Stadium for their second fixture in Phase 2 of the FAW National Academy League, fully aware of the tough challenge ahead against a strong opposition. With only 10 players available and several carrying injuries, the circumstances were far from ideal—but the commitment and character shown by the squad was outstanding.

First Half
Airbus started brightly and were the better side early on, controlling possession and dictating the tempo. The team thought they had taken the lead when the ball clearly crossed the line, only for the goal to be disallowed. Despite this setback, heads didn’t drop.

The breakthrough soon came with a fantastic team move—Blake provided an excellent assist to Mason Rimmer, who finished well to give Airbus a deserved 1–0 lead. Airbus continued to threaten, particularly from set pieces, with Max coming close twice—once striking the crossbar and another effort brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper.

The final 10 minutes of the half saw a slight dip in intensity, but the team showed resilience to maintain their lead going into the break.

Second Half
Both teams started the second half positively, and Airbus had two big opportunities to extend their lead but were unable to convert. The game’s turning point came with a strong challenge on Mason Rimmer during a promising attack. Despite expectations of a red card, only a yellow was shown, and unfortunately Mason had to leave the pitch with a significant injury.

Reduced to 9 players and with Will bravely continuing despite injury, the physical toll began to show. Cambrian capitalised on the situation, scoring three goals—some of which could have been avoided under normal circumstances. The match ended 3–1 in favour of the visitors.

Overall
A very proud performance from the boys under extremely difficult conditions. The effort, attitude, and resilience cannot be questioned. On another day, with a full squad and a bit more luck, the result could have been very different. Football can be harsh at times, but the team will take plenty of positives moving forward.

Attention now turns to the next challenge away in Cardiff, where the team will look to bounce back and show their true quality.

Player of the Match
Archie Davies

A fantastic performance. Dominant in duels, strong defensively, and composed in possession. Read the game brilliantly and showed real leadership throughout.

Under 13's

Airbus Under 13s - 2-7 Cambrian Under 13s

Airbus Under 13s hosted Cambrian from the southern academy section for the second academy phase match.

After a positive away win last week Airbus discussed having a fast start to the game but it was our opposition who were on top from the outset as we struggled to keep possession with poor detail to add.

On 20 mins Freddie Rawson was through on goal & finished lower corner only for the ref to award a dubious off side. Instantly on a Cambrian attack we didn’t clear lines and a deflected shot found its way past Sonny. The remaining first half we fought to stay in the match and went in half time 0-1.

In the second period we equalised from a free kick won some 30 yards out. Mynor placed free kick into the area at pace and ended up going through all 1-1.

Cambrian increased the intensity again and went 3-1 up with two goals from midfield runs not picked up. We chased the game went 2 at the back and a though pass saw us 1-4 down. Max got on the scoresheet with a quality strike with 10 mins remaining but the quality of Cambrian and an off day for our 13s saw the match end 2-7.

Overall not a performance we are used too but on the day opposition deserved the win.

Player of the match

Lucas Worrall

Lucas gave all up front on his own majority of game chasing/pressing with intensity at all times.

Under 14's

Airbus 2 - Cambrian United 3

Sunday afternoon we welcomed Cambrian United.

We spoke before the game about all of us believing we can beat what's in front of us, because it didn't seem that way last weekend.

The game kicked off and within the first couple of minutes we didn’t seem settled at the back, a heavy touch and we gave away possession, a simple through ball between our centre half and fullback caught us out 1-0.

That was a wake up call, the boys started to move the ball better and Leo up top was making some good runs. Holding the ball up well against two difficult centre halves.

20 minutes in we were awarded a free kick just inside our half, Arthur hit a long ball which was headed away on the edge of the 18 yard box. It bounced in front of Leo, he controlled it with his knee and hit it on the half volley about 25 yards out great finish 1-1.

Leo had a couple of chances and Cambrian threatened as well.

Just before halftime. Arthur played a ball back into Alfie, from back to front a great passage of play. Alfie played to Arthur who played inside to Dafydd who set Shae, Shae played a long ball into Leo who was strong holding the ball up he turned the defender, he switched the play to Ted far right side, Ted squared the pass to Dafydd who had made a brilliant run the length of the pitch to get on the end of the cross, unfortunately it hit the bar.

Second half, we came out more aggressive and only a couple of minutes in Leo pressed a lose ball their defender tried to clear their lines, Henry Carter pinched it near the halfway line and played into Dafydd. Daf made a great run and slid Adam in on the edge of the box, Adam cut in from the right and had a strike with his left foot just outside the area 2-1.

Cambrian had a few half chances nothing threatening, we continued to move the ball well which was good to see.

Unfortunately they were awarded a corner with 15 to go and a misjudged cross went through Joey's hands for a tap in. 2-2.

The goal gave Cambrian some confidence and energy. We continued to attack and the game was stretched. Cambrian started to go long and a long ball ended up near our corner flag. We wasn't set up properly for the throw and we didn't win the first or second contact, with a half clearance in our box it fell to a Cambrian player just out side the box he hit the ball first time we didn’t anticipate the danger and conceded a poor goal. 3-2.

We didn’t deserve the result. We played the better football.

Player of the Match

Leo Killick

Leo worked tirelessly all game, making some great runs into the channels, holding the ball up well, getting his head up and finding the right pass. He was a handful for the defence all game. Great performance.
Well done Leo!

Under 16's

Cambrian United 4 - 4 Airbus Under 16s

On Sunday we traveled down south to Tonypandy to take on Cambrian United in our first away match of the second phase of the national academy league. This was due to be a tough test with the home side only losing 1 game all season, and picking up a good win away at TNS the previous week.

After an eventful journey down for the lads on the minibus, the match started in a similar fashion, with Airbus opening the scoring 5 minutes in through a Ben Roberts goal, in his first start since returning from over 1 year out with injury.

Airbus then doubled the lead just after 10 minutes through a great Alex Mossman strike from the edge of the 18 yard box. After the fast start, both teams continued to look for the next goal, with Under 15s Goalkeeper Shay Moroney producing a couple of good stops to deny Cambrian.

The direct Cambrian side finally got a foothold in the match, and managed to make their pressure count scoring just before half time, but the lads immediately replied straight from the kick off, with Joseph ‘Fish’ Pridding restoring our two goal lead, to take us 3-1 up at half time.

We always knew the second half was going to be tough, with Cambrian going even more direct that the first half, and they managed to pull one back 10 minutes into the second half to make the score 3-2.

Both teams continued to battle away, with Airbus at one point, having all 5 under 15s who travelled down on the pitch at once, with every one of them putting in a huge shift.

Cambrian continued to lump balls forwards into the penalty area, and finally equalised in the 73rd minute. The pressure continued and Shay Moroney was forced into save of the match, tipping a goal bound shot over the bar to keep the score level, but from the resulting corner, Cambrian took the lead for the first time.

With 5 minutes left, the lads gave it their absolute all in search of an equaliser, which came in added time after a good ball in from the right was bundled home by Under 15 Aiden Font at the back post. Nothing more than Airbus deserved.

Everyone who travelled down were a credit to themselves and the club, representing what it’s about to play for Airbus.

Player of the Week

Shay Moroney

This could have gone to any one of the lads who made the effort to travel down, but Shay only had the call to come down late on Saturday, and in his first game for under 16s made numerous good saves to deny Cambrian. Well done Shay!

Under 19's

Airbus v Nomads

Sunday saw the final time out Under 19’s faced Nomads in the 25/26 campaign away at the Quay 3G

Nomads settled in to the game early stopping Airbus gain any early momentum and were rewarded for their strong start early on through an early goal from some sloppy Airbus defending. Sadly this did not serve as a wake up call for the group as they still seemed to struggle to get in to the game. Eventually however we did and started to cause a few problems of our own until some poor decision making lead to another Nomads gift of a goal. Shortly after from not defending all phases of a corner they strike again. HT 3-0

After some tough love at half time Airbus came out and were a much better team. Running hard and playing more identity type football causing Nomads no end of problems. Coming close a few times in the opposition box but sadly unable to hit the back of the net. All but for a short spell where Nomads won a penalty, Airbus made huge improvements in the second half. Final score 4-0 Nomads

Player of the week

Jacob Clement

A young goal keeper with potential to have a bright future. Jacob has come on leaps and bounds this season. Passionate about improving personally and as a group Jacob always gives 100%. That in line with some important moments in the game today Jacob is fully deserving of the award. Well done Jacob

Reserves

The Reserves travelled to the very impressive Central Park in Denbigh on an extremely windy night. The welcome was friendly & the new facilities at Denbigh are excellent - certainly the benchmark going forwards.

With the strong wind in our favour in the first half the lads took the game to the opposition and kept them in their own half.

Before the match we spoke about the importance, intensity and discipline of our out of possession setup.

This is exactly where our first goal came from as Jake Pendlebury pinched the ball high in the midfield area, got beyond the last defender and slotted home convincingly to make it 1-0.

We then were on top and had a couple of moments to double our lead with Callum Reynolds & Will Hewitt both going close from Caiden Baker-Williams crosses.

Alex Jones looked to give us width on the left and side and a great move with Jake Pendlebury saw him get to the byline only for the ball to cleared at the back post by the onrushing defender.

Airbus doubled their lead through a fine team goal that came from excellent defending by skipper Louis Bebbington-Rogers, where by we won the first header, picked up the 2nd ball in midfield for Will Hewitt to play Jake Pendlebury through and he finished well in off the post - an excellent team goal with plenty of quality.

2-0 up @ half time...the most dangerous scoreline in football they say - 2nd half against a 50 mph wind to come...stand by...

At half time the lads discussed that we had to play out and keep the ball as much as possible. We knew what we were going to be up against.

Throughout the 2nd half we had good possession at times and managed the game extremely well. GK Jacob Clement was confident, Fin Hayes, Harri Henderson, Caiden Baker-Williams & Joseph Pridding ensured we played out consistently well making the correct decisions and Paris Gray was disciplined and strong in the centre of the park with the confident Will Green & Thomas Holmes behind him.

We knew that we would have to soak up the pressure and look to play where we could. This is exactly what we did.

The workrate both in and out of possession was excellent from every player on the pitch tonight - the game changers came on the pitch in the 2nd half and the intensity didn't drop at all with Kacper Bury & Charlie Roberts causing Denbigh problems in wide areas and Harvey Greig leading the line with quality...nearly making it 3-0.

The overall attitude was exceptional and what impressed us was how the senior players communicated with the 6 x U16 lads that played on the night. This cannot be underestimated and the lads were a credit to Airbus Football Club & Airbus Academy.

We saw the game out 2-0 and deserved the result. Well done to all involved.

Player of the week

Jake Pendlebury

This could have gone to numerous players - but Jake Pendlebury was excellent at key moments during the game and his coolness under pressure enabled the rest of the team to play their game knowing we had goals in the bank. His work rate out of possession didn't go unnoticed either with numerous recovery runs in key areas to ensure we were tight and compact.

Well done Jake.