The boys progressed through a tough Group A, picking up outstanding wins against:
• Manchester United (2–1)
• The New Saints (2–0)
• Connah’s Quay Nomads (3–0)

They also pushed a strong The Stretford End team all the way in a narrow 2–1 defeat.

In the Dragons Cup Semi-Final, we faced another Manchester United side and were edged out 1–0 in a tight, competitive game.

That set up a 3rd Place Play-Off, where the boys showed incredible resilience. After a 2–2 draw against The Red Devils, they held their nerve to win on penalties ?
? Key Highlights
• Finished 3rd overall in the top cup competition
• Only Welsh academy to reach the latter stages alongside multiple Manchester United teams
• Demonstrated outstanding work rate, bravery, and quality on the ball
• Showed real growth in decision making and defensive resilience

The boys were exceptional throughout. To compete and succeed against elite academy opposition shows how far they’ve come. Their attitude, togetherness, and willingness to learn stood out all day.

A proud day for Airbus and a fantastic experience for the players

FAW Regional Festival

A challenging but valuable day for our Airbus Under 8s at the Football Association of Wales Regional Festival.

The conditions played a huge part, with strong winds making it extremely difficult to play our usual style of football. At times, it became more about managing the game than controlling it, with the wind unfortunately contributing to a number of goals conceded.

Despite this, the boys showed great character to stick in and keep going when things weren’t quite clicking.

⚽ Results & Positives
• Victories against Newtown AFC
• Strong performance and win against the FAW Girls side
• Never gave up, even when performances weren’t at our usual level

It wasn’t a day where we fully got going or played with the fluency we know the boys are capable of. The conditions tested their decision making, adaptability, and resilience.

However, this is exactly where the learning happens.

The boys showed:
• Resilience when things weren’t going our way
• Commitment to keep trying to play
• Character to grind out results
A tough day overall, but one that will benefit the group massively in the long run. Plenty of positives alongside clear areas to improve – exactly what development football is about ?✈️

Players of the weekend
Lyle Tonge
Oakley Joinson

Under 9's

A fantastic effort from Airbus Academy Under 9s, who showed great character throughout the tournament.

After a slow start, narrowly losing their opening game by a single goal, the boys responded brilliantly. They went on to dominate their remaining fixtures, winning the next four games comfortably to secure an excellent second-place finish in the group.

Player of the Day
Austin Wardle

Austin delivered an outstanding performance, working tirelessly across several positions. His contribution included two excellent goals along with multiple assists, showcasing both his skill and teamwork.

Well done to all the boys on a great performance ?

Under 10's

Our Under 10 wingmakers headed to connah's quay for the most recent FAW festival.
Our young wingmakers got off to a tough start with the weather doing them no favours in the opening games.

Our lads struggled to react and overcome adversity and never really got going and didn’t look our usual selves making incorrect decisions and didn’t show our usual desire off the ball which is essential to our Under 10s usual success.

Player of the match
Oliver Shimmin

Oliver who throughout the whole tournament wasn’t fazed by any of the uncontrollables and showed great attitude, work rate and decision making.

Under 11's

Our Under 11 wingmakers headed to connah's quay for the most recent FAW festival.
With the weather finally calming down our Under 11s got off to an unfortunate start which is difficult to recover from during the short festival format.

However as the tournament progress our 11s showed a lot of progression and played more direct and effective football creating a lot more chances and getting the ball to our front 3 more often where we were able to combine and express in the final third.

Player of the match
Toby Kitchen

With results not quite going our 11s way there were a few good performers but MOTM went to Toby. Having coached Toby a few times now sometimes his passion gets the better of him and effects his performances, however Toby showed great resilience throughout the tournament and was able to dominate his 1v1 in the centre of the pitch progressing the ball nicely up the pitch with fast footwork and great decision making, well done Toby

Under 12's

Airbus 2-1 Merthyr Town

The Under 12’s hosted Merthyr Town on Sunday morning, in cold and windy conditions.

The lads started really well, dominating all areas of the pitch and were unlucky not to be 1-0 up early on. We kept going until Mason Rimmer ran down the line and crossed a great ball into the box where Grayson was there to finish it off. After the goal, the intensity slowed down and we allowed Merthyr back int the game, after breaking the press and getting the ball out wide we lost the ball and we were punished. We went into half time at 1-1.

We encouraged the lads to work more as a team off the ball and react more actively when making mistakes and win the ball back quicker.

The second half started and the lads listened to our half time team talk and executed it brilliantly. They were solid, working hard for one another and also looked after the ball more, making it difficult for the opposition. It was a tight affair but after a great ball over the top by Kai and Mason Rimmer running onto the it, the keeper tried to push out but Mason lobbed the ball over him which was a superb finish. The lads then defended as a unit and the game management was excellent.

It was good to finally get 3 points on the board after good performances previously and not getting the rewards from it, the lads were buzzing at full time and that is what it’s all about.

Player of the match
Arlo Gilbert-Kawai

Arlo was excellent today, his pressing off the ball and his composure on it to get us out of tight situations was brilliant. Well done Arlo.

Under 13's

Airbus 0-4 Merthyr Town

Airbus hosted Merthyr with the 1pm ko this Sunday on a chilli windy day as always.

Deciding to defend against the strong winds in the first period Merthyr dominated possession and were shooting from all areas forcing us under pressure from the start. We struggled in possession and passing detail was below par constantly giving the ball away leading to there 2 goals before the break. Elliot (GK) was in great form with a number of quality saves keeping us in the match. H-T 0-2

In the second period we forced the game and attacked Merthyr creating many chances but unable to take any. We came so close from all corners and free kicks given but had no luck with us today. After making further changes and pressing for we were caught twice eventually losing the game 0-4.

Overall pleased with the 2nd half performance if we took a few chances would have been a different outcome.

Player of the match
Elliot Brown (GK)

Excellent goalkeeping throughout with a number of quality saves keeping us in the match.
Well done Elliot

Under 14's

Airbus 1 - 3 Merthyr

Airbus welcomed Merthyr Sunday afternoon on the back end of a couple of good performances but without a point from the first three games. The same for Merthyr no points on the board.

Looking at their recent results I thought this would be our easiest game yet. How wrong was I.

The boys were poor in the warm up and that spilled into the start of the game. No energy, no enthusiasm, off the ball they were poor in the press.

Merthyr plan was to go long and we struggled to deal with the ball over the top all game.

The break through came early in the first half a free kick near the home dug out. The Merthyr player put a ball into the box, we never dealt with the first or second contact, it fell to their player just inside the box, he slashed at the ball and no urgency from us. 1-0 down.

Minutes later Henry Carter played a ball over the top to Leo, Leo shot went out for a corner. Shae took the corner it fell to Macsen just inside the box, as he struck the ball he was fouled from behind, penalty! Macsen stepped up but the keeper pulled off a save.

The boys did show a bit of fight and was awarded a free kick the far touchline. Henry Jones delivered a great ball into the box for Macsen to run onto 1-1

25 minutes in Merthyr hit a long ball over the top, our defence was high, the boys were facing their own goal and the ball bounced awkwardly it landed at the feet of a Merthyr forward who finished well. 2-1 at the break.

Halftime we wasn't happy with the boys performance and asked they pressed every ball and shown some fight.

Second half was better the boys pressed every ball resulting in Merthyr going long all half. We had plenty of chances Ted Leo Mauro Daf Arthur all had chances we just couldn't find an equaliser. We dominated the ball and pushed for a goal. In the last minute Merthyrs keeper went long, a Merthyr player won the header on the halfway line, played through to their forward again our defence didn't deal with it, we won the ball back but a mix up to clear our lines or play back into the keeper instead the hesitation cost us, Merthyr pinched the ball back and hit the ball across goal. 3-1 the game ended.

Player of the match
Leo Killick

Leo worked hard off the ball and created a few good chances.

Under 15's

Our Under 15s took their first trip down to south wales this weekend as they faced Merthyr.
Although Merthyr was a great facility with the weather and tight pitch Airbus struggled to adapt to the fast conditions resulting in a lot of Airbus’ possession breaking down in the final third leaving us vulnerable to counter attacks.

In the second half our 15s started well and looked positive and on the front foot however struggled to find consistency and control in the game resulting in Airbus being on the back foot for the majority of the second half as we struggled to create clear cut chances.

The main reason for our 15s defeat was due to non negotiables not being completed by a lot of the players which was disappointing to see.

Player of the match
Harry Delap

Harry played in various positions and adapted exceptionally with great attitude. Harry provided us with an outlet up front and made a clear difference in whichever area his was operating him, Harry has been in good form recently and has earnt his MOTM, always trains and plays to the best of his ability and does the non negotiables without fault, well done Harry

Under 16's

Merthyr Town 1 - 2 Airbus

On Sunday we traveled down to Penydarren Park where our hosts Merthyr Town faced for our second south away day of the second phase of the national academy league. Having drawn the 3 previous matches, we were hoping to extend our unbeaten run and improve by bringing 3 points back up the valleys.

Airbus started well creating a couple of early opportunities to open the scoring and looking the better team. Merthyr then grew into the match but the first half became a stop-start affair with Sam Ibbitson and a Merthyr Town player both sustaining lengthy injuries delays. We wish both players well in their recoveries.

After the delays a substantial amount of injury time was added to the first half with Airbus making the most of this, after a switch of play found Will Hewitt in a great pocket of space who found Jack Davies who produced a trademarked finish striking from outside the area into the opposite top corner to give Airbus a 1 goal lead at half time.

The half time message was clear to the lads to continue to find the switch of play and defend the balls in behind. Merthyr come out the traps quickly in the second half, showing why they had won 8 of their last 10 matches, and equalised early in the second half with a after a ball in behind produced a volleyed finish.

Airbus then managed to find their second half rhythm and started to threaten and on the stroke of the 60th minute, with his last touch before coming off Ben Roberts added to his goalscoring return since injury, after a sublime bit of work from Will Hewitt on the left to get his second assist of the match.

It was then backs to the wall as Merthyr threw everything at Airbus during the last stages of the match, with Bailey Davies producing 3 excellent stops to deny Merthyr.

The Airbus defensive efforts in the end were enough to secure the victory and extend our unbeaten run to 7 in all competitions. Again, everyone who travelled down were a credit to the club and did themselves proud.

Player of the Week
Will Hewitt

A number of good performances but Will was back to his best, find excellent pockets of space, getting two assists and putting in a huge defensive shift. Well Done, Will!

Reserves

Airbus 3-1 Gresford Reserves

Friday night saw Airbus host Gresford under the lights at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium

Airbus started very well dominating possession well and controlled the majority of the ball

Settling in to the game quickly Airbus took the lead on 5’ through Franek Sadczuk assisted by Callum Reynolds. Then again on 10’ Alex Jones scores assisted by Jake Pendlebury.

Creating chance after chance during the first half, the score line could have easily been out of sight if it wasn’t for an excellent first half performance from the opposition gk. HT 2-0 Airbus

Second half started very similar with Airbus in control. Still pushing to put the match out of reach, Airbus really put on a good show of control and patience in some phases of the game. The dubious penalty committee went in favour of the visitors briefly allowing them to put the young Airbus team under pressure, only to be cancelled by young striker Callum Reynolds tapping home from Alex Jones hard work creating the assist the young hot shot

Managing the game, Airbus kept the ball frustrating the visitors and seeing the game out to take 3 points. Final score 3-1 Airbus

Player of the week
Callum Reynolds

The award could have gone to a number of players which is always a lovely position for any coach to find themselves, however this week Callum Reynolds from our Under 16’s takes the accolade. Cal is new to the club this year. Has a larger than life character and in addition to his goal and assists today also worked really hard out of possession like a well rounded young pro. Really excited to work with Cal in the future and delighted to award player of the week to the young lad.