Just when we thought the Walsall FC game was the highlight of the tour, the boys from AFA Nerang and GA Tokyo put on one of the best spectacles of football you would hope to see anywhere.
The Japanese team had the better of us early but then it became an end to end battle of attacking creative football.
As the game moved into the second half the Aussies took the ascendency and were wearing the Japanese down. We looked like finishing them off on many occasions, but their dogged defence and very classy keeper managed to repel us. The Japanese then opened us up at the back and even had two late free kicks right on the edge of the box, but we managed to scramble the ball out somehow.
It came down to what would be the last play of the game when Charlie, once again, rose to the occasion and emerged from a crowded box to belt away a header that would clinch us a 1-0 victory.
There is a series of photos at the end of this album showing the jubilation when we score and the comradery of these young men when the final whistle is blown just seconds later. Look at the joy on all of their faces!

Just when we thought the Walsall FC game was the highlight of the tour, the boys from AFA Nerang and GA Tokyo put on one of the best spectacles of football you would hope to see anywhere.
The Japanese team had the better of us early but then it became an end to end battle of attacking creative football.
As the game moved into the second half the Aussies took the ascendency and were wearing the Japanese down. We looked like finishing them off on many occasions, but their dogged defence and very classy keeper managed to repel us. The Japanese then opened us up at the back and even had two late free kicks right on the edge of the box, but we managed to scramble the ball out somehow.
It came down to what would be the last play of the game when Charlie, once again, rose to the occasion and emerged from a crowded box to belt away a header that would clinch us a 1-0 victory.
There is a series of photos at the end of this album showing the jubilation when we score and the comradery of these young men when the final whistle is blown just seconds later. Look at the joy on all of their faces!

First game was against an older and very tough opposition. The boys were extremely nervous early and struggled to deal with the unfamiliar conditions and the big strong opponents. If it wasn't for Riley making some amazing saves, we could have conceded 3 or 4 early goals.
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The boys played much better as the game wore on, with Charlie just missing by inches to finish a well constructed attack, and then Max Sabados rattled one off the crossbar late.

In the end, even though Accrington Stanley dominated, we only went down 4-0.

As you will see in the pictures, we had the privilege of playing on the finely manicured Bolton Wanderers training ground. Not a blade of grass is out of place nor a weed to be seen!

Thank-you to Accrington Stanley for a great game; to Bolton Wanderers for allowing us to use their fine pitch; and to Danny Clarke for training the boys and being there for them all of the time.