The starz game to play proper football as we expected and some great stuff was played by both sides. Airbus got on top early with Oakley Roberts and Leighton Walker getting amongst the goals. Henry Creer was top quality wherever on the pitch he was asked to play. Leo Haywood and trialist Nathan worked hard and were constant threat.

It was a game full of intensity from our U7s against a very strong Future Starz side, who showed plenty of quality throughout.

From our team, there was real class on display, along with some excellent finishes. Teddy produced a wonderful first-time finish, highlighting the level we were performing at, after a perfectly weighted cross from Charlie. Our tidy passages of play made us look unstoppable at times against very good opposition.Defensively, Mason and Gorgie were outstanding, staying solid and not allowing anything to break us down.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the performance. It was a great battle from start to finish.

Players of the Match

Benni Pennington

Benni was solid all over the pitch and was pulling all the strings bringing the ball out from the gap.
This new group are starting to play with real cohesion and will only get better and better.

Teddy Dean

Teddy’s work rate never dropped and he showed real quality in front of goal.
Well done to all involved

Under 8’s

A frustrating day at times for the boys, but also one with plenty of learning opportunities.

There were some really positive moments, particularly with our pressing from the front. When we were brave and aggressive in our press, we caused problems and showed what we’re capable of. That intensity and teamwork is something we want to see more consistently.

At times though, we were a little too passive and allowed teams too much time on the ball. We also didn’t respond well enough when going behind in games — that resilience and belief is an important part of their development, especially in academy football.

That said, these experiences are exactly why festivals like this are so valuable. The lads will learn from it, reflect, and come back stronger. It’s all part of the journey.

Onwards and upwards

Player of the match

Alfie Halley

Alfie takes the award this week for some excellent finishing

Under 9’s

Airbus Academy Under 9’s – FAW Festival Winners

The boys travelled to Flint for the latest FAW Festival and delivered an outstanding performance, winning all five games to top the table.

They kicked things off against FAW Girls, quickly finding their rhythm with some excellent passing and combinations to secure a 4–0 win.

In the second game against Newtown, the boys started at a high tempo, playing superb attacking football and scoring freely in a 6–1 victory.

Game three versus Flint required a bit more patience, but the team stayed composed and earned a solid 3–1 win.

The fourth match against Caernarfon saw the boys really hit their stride, combining brilliantly with great movement to run out 6–1 winners.

The final game against Flint 2 was a much tighter contest, with end-to-end action throughout. The boys showed great determination and discipline to edge a 2–1 win and complete a perfect tournament.

A fantastic team effort—well done, boys!

Players of the Day

Reagan Jones – 11 goals
Austin Wardle – outstanding defending

Under 10’s

Under 10’s FAW Festival Winners!

The Under 10’s travelled to Flint for the 5th FAW festival of the season.

Theys started great with 2 fantastic wins over Flint and FAW Girls. The lads played some great football and dominated the games.

Next up another Flint team who scored an early goal before defending very well until new signing Ralph scored a looping header in the last minute to rescue a draw.

Game 4 was a good 1-0 win over Caernarfon before a top of the table clash against Newtown in the final game which we won 3-1 to win the festival.

Lads fully deserved it and enjoyed the day. Well done all.

Player of the match

Dax Pearce
Ralph Lee

Under 11’s

Our Under 11 wingmakers played in their fifth FAW festival this weekend hosted by flint.

They got off to a flying start with wins against Newtown and FAW girls by dominating possession and being disciplined in defence lead to two clean sheets.

We then moved onto flint where our 11s battles and fought hard but unfortunately suffered a 2-0 loss followed by another defeat against champions Caernarfon.

We finished the festival off with a 0-0 draw against Connah's Quay in game where both teams were excellent defensively.

Player of the match

Jack Davies

Jack contributed significantly to the 3 clean sheets from left back and was also brilliant at escaping pressure allowing us to progress up the pitch, well done Jack

Under 12’s

The Airbus Academy Under 12s fixture this week was a Friday night trip over to Liverpool to play Merseyside PDI.

The game started with the hosts playing a very intensive pressing game which caught the Young Wingmakers out in the early stages, as they lacked their usual composure on the ball and caused a few turnovers which the good Merseyside team took advantage of and scored some early goals. As the half went on, Airbus started to get a bit of their confidence back, and we started to see some good phases of play, with good build up from the back, which eventually allowed us to progress the ball up to the attacking threat of Mason Rimmer centrally and Max Williams and Kai Adams on the wings. The midfield of Archie Davies and Will Houghton were now competing and starting to make things a bit more difficult for the good Merseyside team.

A good move found Mason Rimmer breaking through the defence, but was pulled back and the ref awarded a penalty which Kai struck home.

It was now a more even game but the hosts managed to score a couple more to have the scoreline 5-1 at halftime.

In the break, the boys were given a couple of tactical changes to try and break through the press of the opposition,which the players applied with success, which enabled us to progress up the pitch more effectively and create chances. The whole team were now working harder out of possession, with Tyler Jones and Will covering the space in front of the defence, with Bobby Potter and Mason Rimmer helping out in wide areas.

The defence of Mason Davey, Lucas Lovell, Arlo Gilbert- Kawai were proving hard to break through, and if they did manage to penetrate, Airbus GK Shay Davies was on hand to save.

Chances for both teams were now limited, but Merseyside PDI did manage to score when a shot from outside the area managed to find its way through a number of players into the net.

In summary, a slow first half from Airbus but a very pleasing second half in a very enjoyable and competitive game.

Player of the match

Mason Davey

Mason was excellent in his defensive duties, very strong in 1v1 situations and positive passing decisions when on the ball.

Under 13’s

A busy weekend for our Under 13s after a trip to Liverpool Friday evening we also hosted Llay at Airbus this Sunday morning with an early 9-30am ko 11v11 format.

From the whistle Airbus had majority of possession but struggle to break through the Llay defensive and we should have gone behind apart from two great saves from Elliot.
Eventually in the 31st min a great strike from Harri Morris edge of area found the far corner 1-0.

Airbus pressed and pressed and just on the stroke of half time a quick combination play with a low cross found Parker following in to hit home his first goal for Airbus.
H-T 2-0.

In the second period airbus had the wind behind and took control of possession creating chances taken by Freddie Rawson & Oscar leading to a convincing 5-0 win.

Player of the match

Zac Dean

Over the two games his intensity levels, positional play breaking lines when possible assisting many of our chances created.
Well done Zac

Under 14

Saturday midday we hosted Tranmere

We reverted back to 4 2 3 1

We spoke about being more patient on the ball.

We had a lot of possession of the ball from the start. It worked well playing out from the back even though we had plenty of the ball early on, it was in our defensive third. We struggled to get into their final third. We just didn't find the correct pass. Tranmere pressed high and their goal came on the 20th minute, a long ball over the top and a lack of awareness defending the box properly we went down 1-0.

At halftime we spoke about balls in behind because Tranmere played with a high line, and our first ball over the top, a great run from the halfway by Ted and then the composure to go around the keeper made it 1-1.

Tranmere continued to press us high and we started to struggle playing out from the back. This aggressive press worked for them when Airbus conceded a throw in by their own corner flag. Tranmere worked it well from their right hand side, as they squared it across the pitch and a well taken goal ftom outside the area made it 1-2. The game started to get stretched and with Tranmere continuing to play a high line they were caught out again this time we gained a free kick. Henry Carter took the free kick but unfortunately couldn't get it on target.

A few minutes later the same again, this time further out.
Henry Jones placed the ball on the right hand side on the edge of the final third, and he produced a great cross to find Arthur with a well timed jump beating their keeper to head home for 2-2

The boys were more patient on the ball today but still need to do better in the final third.

Player of the Match
Arthur for his defensive display and a well taken header. Well done Arthur!

Under 15’s

Airbus travelled to Latham park for an early start Sunday morning

The first half was a bit slow to start for both teams, neither team really taking control of the game. Airbus didn’t really create any chances but Newtown carved one out and scored. HT 1-0 Newtown

Second Half Newtown started much brighter and added to their lead quite quickly. Airbus seemed to loose their momentum and suffered a bit of disconnection from the game as Newtown scored 3 more goals in quick succession. Unable to pick themselves up Airbus limped to the final whistle suffering an uncomfortable loss 6-0. Certainly some tough lessons for the young group.

Player of the match

Junior Kelly

Junior tried to keep his head up and worked hard in his moments of the game.

Under 16’s

The lads made the trip to Latham Park for the 12pm KO.

The first half was a cagey affair with neither team having many chances, the best opportunity falling to Callum Reynolds - however the game was 0-0 @ the break.

2nd half was more of the same until the Newtown striker struck the ball from 20 yards out in off the bar - a great strike from the lad.

A formation change was needed to bring intensity into the Airbus performance. Thus, Callum Reynolds equalised from 20 yards out when he received a perfect pass from Jake Pendlebury and fired a bullet into the bottom left hand corner - a fine strike.

With their tails up a Caiden Baker Williams diagonal pass into the opposition area was smashed home by Jake Pendlebury into the roof of the net to make it 2-1 to the Young Wingmakers.

We were especially happy with this goal as we had practised this moment in our Thursday training session...to execute this in the matchday environment successfully - learning/identifying the right moment to play the pass - shows these lads are developing well and taking on the details given.

The game finished 2-1 in Airbus' favour which is a decent result away at Newtown.

It was also nice to see the lads show their emotional control to keep 11 men on the field away at Latham Park...that in itself is a big achievement.

Player of the week

Jake Pendlebury

Cometh the hour - this lad shows his quality time and time again. He provided an eloquent assist for the first goal and scored with an excellent finish to win the game...just when we needed him most.
Well done Jake - you certainly deserved the plaudits on the day

Under 19’s

The Under 19’s travelled to Latham Park for the 2:30pm KO.

The lads started well and looked to take the game to our hosts and got an ideal start on 5 minutes when James Allen slid the ball neatly past the opposition keeper.

It was soon 2-0 on 10 minutes when Franek Sadczuk struck the ball firmly after a decent phase of play that recognised a number of our principles.

We had complete control and should have extended our lead as we had a couple of excellent chances, but a lapse in concentration saw the home team claw one back just before the break...2-1 @ half time.

We started brightly in the 2nd half & extended our lead on 58 minutes when Leighton Brewer struck home from 10 yards out after good work from Alex Jones on the left hand side.

The game was slightly scrappy for the remainder of the half and again we conceded a sloppy goal to give Newtown hope and make it a nervy last 20 minutes...however we saw the game out and the match ended 3-2 to Airbus.

Player of the week

Louis Bebbington-Rogers

A great lad to have in the matchday squad. He always gives 100% and today was no different. Put his body on the line in a key moment in the 2nd half when defending and looked to be positive in transition when attacking. Overall a very mature, solid and accomplished performance from Bebb...well done mate.

Reserves

Airbus v Llandudno

Friday night Airbus entertain Llandudno reserves under the lights at Hollingsworth Group stadium

The game started pretty evenly with both teams playing their way in to the fixture but neither really dominating. Slowly Airbus started to see more of the ball and looked to be taking some control.

A little against the run of play the visitors took the lead with a great goal however, it could have been dealt with earlier during transition. Right on the stroke of halfway Airbus scramble to clear a loose ball but sadly not well enough giving the visitors their second goal at the break. HT 2-0 Llandudno

Second half Airbus started so much better creating chance after chance but unable to find the net. It felt like wave after wave of attacks however we could not find our break through. It wasn’t without its scary moments as Llandudno had a few counter attacks and probably should have had a penalty. Airbus switched off on a free kick and Llandudno were wise to our shortfall and quickly took it, scoring in the last moment of the game to cap off a 3-0 Win

Player of the week

Franek Sadczuk

Franek had a solid game in midfield. He has had a tough few weeks but gave a great account of himself in the fixture.
Well done Franek