Swifts recently made their annual trip to Ledbury’s twin town of Stromstad in Sweden to take part in the Roberts Cup Football tournament and although they did not manage to bring the cup home the large party of 37 players, coaches and supporters had a very enjoyable trip. A long trip started with a midnight coach trip from Ledbury to Stansted for a 7.00am flight to Gothenburg and another 2 hour coach trip to the lovely northern coastal town of Stromstad, adding up to a 12 hour journey. The weary travellers arriving in Stromstad in the early afternoon of Wednesday July 25th now settled in and began to prepare for the rigors ahead.
Ledbury Cup
IFK Stromstad - 4
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Kirby)
This annual Ledbury Cup match played on the Thursday evening before the tournament gave Swifts chance to stretch their legs and try out their goalkeeping options following the late withdraw from the trip of their regular goalkeeper due to circumstances beyond his control. Played on a very good surface the pace was quick from the start and Stromstad were obviously in determined mood to hold onto the Ledbury Cup that they have now held for a number of years. Mark Kirby was the brave player who took over in goal for Swifts but he was soon picking the ball out of the net as Stromstad took an early lead. He was soon called upon to make two good saves in quick succession as Stromstad kept up the pressure, but gradually Swifts came more into the match. Thomas Boyle was unlucky with a shot that hit the post after cutting in from the right and Kieran O’Toole saw his follow up shot saved. Harry Weaver almost flicked a header over the home keeper as Swifts pressed for an equaliser. However just before half-time a strong run by a home forward resulted in another goal to give the home side a 2-0 lead at the break. In the second half Kelvin Charles took over the keepers duties allowing Mark Kirby to come on as an outfield player. However Swifts defence was caught out early in the second half and the contest was over at 3-0. Swifts using the whole squad a run out kept battling well and Sam Topham had a shot well saved before a long free kick sailed in on the wind over Kelvin Charles to make it 4-0. Mark Kirby then also hit a post and had a shot tipped over the bar before the match was summed up by Thomas Boyle missing a twice taken penalty. The final score did go to Swifts to give them some reward for their efforts when Mark Kirby scored just before the end to make the score a slightly flattering 4-1 to the home side.
ROBERTS CUP TOURNAMENT
Roberts Cup Group Stage - Match 1
Fredrikstad FK - 3
Ledbury Swifts - 1 (Watkins)
Swifts kicked off at the early hour of 9.00am for this first group match against the very good Norwegian team of Fredrikstad FK who draw their players from 18 regions around their area. Both started well and Thomas Boyle had an early shot saved before Fredrikstad with a strong wind at their backs pressed forward forcing a number of corners and they took the lead with a good turn and shot from the edge of the box. Swifts were dealt a double blow when just before half time captain Lewis Hodges went down injured and instead of calling for treatment the referee ushered him limping badly to the far side of the pitch. Unsure how bad the injury was and while trying to get a replacement on the pitch Fredrikstad took full advantage of the gap in Swifts defence to take a 2-0 lead at half time. Swifts responded well at the start of the second half with Ross Davis coming on to replace the injured Lewis Hodges and they forced three corners in quick succession with Ross heading narrowly wide from one of these. Things got worse for Swifts when a seemingly harsh penalty was awarded against them for a push gave the Norwegians a 3-0 lead. Harry Weaver then broke through and almost pulled a goal back before Thomas Watkins did have the last say with a well taken goal when the ball was turned back into the box following a Swifts corner.
Roberts Cup Group Stage - Match 2
IFK Gothenburg - 5
Ledbury Swifts - 0
Swifts second match saw them take on the youth team from one a Sweden’s top professional clubs who had surprisingly lost their opening match. They soon showed their class and took an early lead, Swifts then lost captain Lewis Hodges for the Tournament when he could not overcome the injury picked up in the first match. Mark Kirby then just failed to beat an onrushing attacker to a long through ball and conceded a penalty and was promptly sent off. Swifts now had to call on Kelvin Charles to act as goalkeeper but with one man down and Gothenburg in control at 2-0 following the penalty kick they ran out easy winners.
Roberts Cup Group Stage - Match 3
Wargons IF - 1
Ledbury Swifts - 1
Swifts final group match saw them take on an unbeaten Wargons team and after regrouping with Kelvin Charles now in goal after Mark Kirby’s suspension following his unfortunate sending off, (which also saw him pick up an injury ruling him out of the rest of the tournament) Swifts started in determined mood. Joshua Picken and Ross Davis soon combined to set up Harry Weaver whose shot flew across the face of goal. Josh then had a header well saved from a corner but neither side could break the deadlock and a halftime it was goalless. Early in the second half Swifts finally got some reward for all their efforts when Thomas Boyle nipped in to score following a throw in by Ross Davis on the right. Swifts now put Wargons under real pressure and a Sam Topham cross was headed just over the bar by Thomas Boyle. Swifts continued to look solid as time ran down but just when it looked like a first win Wargons broke down the left flank and found an equaliser in the last minute. Kelvin Charles then made a great save in added on time to prevent the injustice of a defeat.
Roberts Cup - 'B' Cup - Semi-Final
IFK Stromstad - 1
Ledbury Swifts - 0
Swifts played the hosts in a 'B' cup semi final and despite another blow after losing Joshua Picken with a wrist injury, which needed hospital treatment; they gave their hosts a hard battle. In fact this turned out to be a real one side affair with Swifts doing all the attacking against a tired looking home side. Chris James and Thomas Boyle combined to send in a dangerous cross from the right, which Harry Weaver just failed to connect with in front of goal. Thomas Boyle then hit the post and Chris James shot just wide as Swifts continued to dominate without scoring. Just before halftime a goal for the home side that summed up Swifts luck in the whole tournament when a long through ball was meet by keeper Kelvin Charles who in kicking clear saw the ball hit the onrushing attacker and rebound into the Swifts net. Swifts continued to show great sprit in the second half and continued to make chances with Thomas Boyle having two early shots and Kieran O’Toole making a good run through midfield. Thomas Boyle appeared to have grabbed a deserved equaliser when he ran onto a long through ball and coolly pick out the corner of the net only to hear the referee’s late whistle give him offside. Time ran out and so had Swifts luck so their Swedish adventure (on the football pitch at least) was over, however they can be proud of their efforts despite all the misfortune, and continental refereeing style they encountered they never gave up the fight.
Swifts Full
Squad:
Jamie
Onions, Lewis Hodges, James Branch, Thomas Boyle, Thomas
Watkins, Kieran O’Toole, Joshua Brookland, Chris
James, Ricki Day, Harry Weaver, Chris Davies, Ross Davis,
Sam Topham, Mark Kirby, Kelvin Charles, Joshua Picken.
Managers: Steve Onions, Mark Branch, Andy Hodges
Coaches:
Peter Boyle, Lewis
Skyers, Ian Merrick
Physio:
Andy Kibble
Tour Tops
Sponsor: Andy Crokey, Insight Labelling
of Ledbury
Special thanks
should also go the Laurence James, Gary Park, Ronnie
Davies, Rita Onions and Jane Kibble for providing a great
catering service for the team.
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| Swifts captain Lewis Hodges v Gothenburg | Ledbury Swifts v Stromstad |
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| Ledbury Swifts v Stromstad
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Thomas Watkins scores v Fredrikstad |
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| Pre-match team talk
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The coaches discuss tactics |