A new season starts at the Flyover some players stayed and some players left !
A new season starts at the Flyover with a new Burgundy kit ! (Haydn assures me it’s a colour from Junction@s past ! ?)
A new season starts at the Flyover full of hope and optimism !

With Shane failing to return after international duty it was left up to Lee to prepare the lads for the first game of the season in which we welcomed Castell Alun Colts at the Flyover.

A full strength squad was available which meant that we had players sat on the bench who are too good to be there but unfortunately only eleven can play and their time will come sooner or later.

Junction started bright and positive having most of the early possession putting the opposition under pressure and this paid off with a early free kick just outside of the box on the left, Dwyfor Williams put a testing ball in to the mix only for a Colts defender to head the ball in to the back of his own net, ( 1-0 / 5mis).
The game settled down after the goal and both sides played some nice neat football, Junctions back three of Twinny, Robbo and Ant Wilson never looked in danger and just soaked up any pressure before starting off our quick attacks time after time. Paul Cassidy, Jake Cassidy and Hobbo linked up well up front with the Colts defenders unable to control them , time and again the opposition needing to foul them around their area to prevent scoring opportunities. After one of these fouls up stepped Mike Lundstrum with the ball dead centre 23yds out he curled a shot in the bottom right corner the keeper scrambled to get across but could only just get a weak hand to it,
( 2-0 / 28mins).
The rest of the half followed the same pattern Jake Cassidy hitting the inside of the post after a good through ball, Paul Cassidy making the keeper save well after a typically strong run and Mike just missing with another free kick.

Half time came and we were all very happy with the way the game was going tight at the back solid in midfield and devastating up top just more of the same was needed.

Second half kicked off and it happened, the first mistake by Junction all game led to a goal for the Colts, a mix up at the back post from a corner led to them poking home a goal unchallenged from a few yards out, (2-1 / 50mins). Junction never settled into the same rhythm as the first half and at times it was painful to watch as all the things we’d done right earlier deserted us after the switch. Changes came with Matt Cassidy coming on to inject a bit more pace into the middle and Joel Hewitt on the right and these worked mixing up the play it gave the Colts more to think about but the inevitable happened, the ever impressive Liam Ewing came to collect a ball and was clattered by the Castell Alun striker the ball fell loose only to be put away into an unguarded net( 2-2 / 70mins), I’ve seen free kicks given for less but the Ref decided it was fair so no more can be done about that.
Simon Kay dropped in to defence from midfield to help tighten things up and Darrell Jones came on to partner John Blundell in the middle with the sole purpose to not let the game go to extra time. Castell Alun did their best to make the game go into extra time with time wasting tactics and it worked Junction huffed and puffed but just could not find a way through Darrell missing two good chances, which on another day he would have buried.

Full Time 2-2.

Extra time got under way and followed the same pattern as the last 15mins of normal time Junction pushing for the win and the Colts looking like they would be happy to take penalties. Chances came and chances went for us and you just got that feeling it wasn’t going to be our day. Another foul just outside the box and with literally just seconds remaining Dwyfs curled the free kick straight in the top corner with the keeper getting no where near it ( 3-2 / 120mins ). The Ref blew the final whistle straight after the kick off, Welcome back Dwyfs. . A win is a win and if a side can win when not at its complete best then they are indeed a good side,

A.E.T. – Junction 3 – 2 Castell Alun Colts

Its nice to get a campaign under way with a win, sets us up nicely for the busy start of season fixture schedule. See you all on Tuesday against Halkyn .