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April 25 Callies in Scotland Callies sent 3 players to Livingstone FC and Kilmarnock FC for trials during April. Senior players Chris Kooy and Andre Duberry and youth player Charlie Beaulieu attended 2 weeks of trials to test themselves against pro players to see if they can get a contract to play. I accompanied the players for the first week and I have to say that all 3 of them represented very well and were not out of place at all. Chris + Andre were at Livi with the first team and I feel that the standard is not out of reach for either of them. If they perform well in a friendly game on april 25th they could well be signed and invited back. Charlie is at Kilmarnock with the U18's and has shown well in games. He looked neervous during the first week but has apparently put in a good second week. We need to keep our fingers crossed for all the players. They will be a loss to the club but will be another indication that we can produce good players in Calgary!! October 09 FINALSorry!! Forgot to post y/day in all the excitement!! Crushing is what we gave them!! 5-0 is about a fair reflection of the play. We had to play against a very strong wind in the first half and did have a bit of trouble passing at times. They are a big strong team who play off former national player Garrett Kusch up front. Our back 4 was once again superb and I haven't seen a better one in years!! We went ahead after 30 minutes when Felix laid one back for Sladey to crack into the bottom corner!! 1-0 at half. They made a big mistake, in my opinion, going to 3-5-2 in the second as we totally exploited their poor back four with our movement and pace. Sladey got 2 more, Cenek and Nic also scored. Slade also had another called back for a phantom "mercy" call by the ref!!
A tremendous victory and well deserved. Big thx to the travelling fans, Slades, deSilvas, Kooys, Andre's mum, Johnny C's dad and the various family + friends they brought with them.
It was a great week in Callie history and we won't forget it!!
Thx for all your support.
Dave R October 07 Rest DayToday was our rest day. Some went to visit Peggys Cove ( see pics ) and some rested. Light w/out this morning to stop stiffness. Sore bumps + bruises, but nothing as serious as 2006 when we had broken toes amongst others. Looking forward to the challenge of playing BC tomorrow. Should we play to our strengths we have a very good chance.
Thx for your support,
Dave R
October 06 game v PEICallies 2 v Velvet Underground, PEI
Scores: Chris Kooy, Milan Timotijevic
Callies totally dominated a very defensive minded PEI team today to advance to the Challenge Cup final on Monday.
As soon as the whistle blew to start the game PEI showed their intention by dropping 10 men back behind the ball to defend, leaving a solitary striker up front to occassionaly try to hold it up and wait for support, which, unfortunately for him, never arrived. I think this is the first game for a long time that Callies GK, WIll Langford, didn't have a shot to save. To make things even worse for PEI they had a man sent off after 30 minutes for a second yellow after a couple of bad tackles. However half time saw their game plan working as it was tied at 0-0.
Second half we upped the pace and pressure ( we more or less went 2-4-4 ) and were rewarded with a PK after 5 minutes. PEI GK made a superb save on Nic Reyes's attempt and they were lifted again. Callies kept their shape, kept up the pressure and should have had another PK when Brett Colvin was kicked down on the box. This one was denied by the ref, but they couldn't keep hacking away and not getting punished for it, and the ref, to his credit, called a second PK for a foul on Nic in the box. This time Chris Kooy sent the GK the wrong way, 1-0 and game almost over.
Milan T had come on after 15 minutes and then scored a superb lobbed goal as their GK rushed a clearance and Milan smacked it back over him for 2-0 and game over!!
KO time for the final is 12.30 local ( 9.30 am AB). At this time opponents are unknown as either Ont/Man or BC could make it. All depends on game scores today and Sunday.
Thx for your support,
Dave Randall
October 05 game v QuebecCallies 2 v 0 Panellinios, Quebec
Callies completely dominated the play today but unfortunately could not muster more than 2 goals. A 34th minute penalty after a foul on Felix Napuri and a 60 min goal from Chris Kooy at a corner were enough to put the team on top of the division.
We passed the ball very well again and Quebec became more frustrated as the game went on, eventually ending up with their striker and assistant coach being ejected from the stadium, never mind the field, for foul and abusive language!! Most of it in English!!
Although top a spot in the final is not assured as we have to beat PEI on Sat at 10.00am local and potentially could be tied on points with New Brunswick if they manage to beat Nfld and Quebec.
The weather was +24 degrees today, hope you're all keeping warm in Calgary!!
Thx for the support
Dave Randall October 04 Game v Fredericton RedsCallies 0 v 0 Fredericton Reds, NB
Despite putting the NB goalkeeper under constant pressure the Callies could not produce a good final touch in the box to defeat the Reds.
NB employed a 4-5-1 system that had them backpedalling as soon as we got the ball, and they played it very well. They are a big strong, tough team who play to their strengths, which is defend in depth and then wait for a fast break. Callies back 4, Duberry, Jovica, deSilva and Auvigne, handled everything very well, and it wasn't until the 82nd minute that GK Will Langford had a shot to save.
In the first half we played too slowly out of the back which allowed NB to re-group, subsequently we didn't create very many chances. But the 2nd half was a different story as both fullbacks joined the attack more, we upped the tempo, and we got round the back often. Brett Colvin, making his nationals debut, was extremely effective in the second half, so much so that he created 4/5 excellent chances that went begging. This lack of finishing coupled with some superb goalkeeping and plain bad luck, we hit the post twice and crossbar once, kept the Callies off the scoreboard.
Friday will see the boys play at 10.00am local time against a very upset Quebec, who received news to day that a Newfoundland protest about the ref in todays game was upheld and that they will have to replay the entire game on Saturday. This will mean that St. Lawrence will have to play 2 games in a day. Should be fun!!
Thx for your support,
Dave Randall October 03 game v St. LawrenceCallies 4 v 1 St. Lawrence, NFLD
Callies scorers - Felix Napuri, Nic Reyes, OG, Mark Slade
St Lawrence - Richard Kelly
Callies started off the quest for a National championship in fine form today by beating the St Lawrence team with an excellent display of passing and finishing. We knew St. Lawrence would come out hard and strong but we took the big Nfld crowd out of the game by scoring in the 12 minute after sustained pressure. A superb cross by Cenek Patik, and after a panicky clearance from a corner, found Felix Napuri alone at the back post for a good header into the back of the net. 1-0.
With Steffen Holdt back after a 6 week abscence we had control of the midfield for most of the game as he and Chris Kooy passed the ball around very well. The second goal after 17 mins by Nic Reyes was after a superb passing move culminating in a driven near post cross by Andre Duberry for Nic to stoop and finish. A mix-up in the centre of defence 10 mins later allowed St. Lawrence back into the game at 2-1 but otherwise the boys handled their quick, big strong forwards very well. Former Callie Mike Howlett was subbed in the second half and did not really trouble his old mates.
Callies dominated from the start in the second half and passed the ball around very well again. One attack resulted in a St Lawrence defender smashing it into his own net, for 3-1, after he was turned so often he didn't know which way he was going!!
A superb 4 way 1-touch passing movement saw Mark Slade finish the scoring to make it 4-1 after an hour and it was game over, and time for the Youssef and the "kids" Fran, Milan and Johnny to get some well deserved playing time and experience.
Thursday will see the team play another rested team as New Brunswick had their rest day today.
Thx for your support,
Dave R October 02 Day 1Arrived safely y/day after a long day of flying which included a 2 hour stop in Toronto. Flight was a bit bumpy for us all, but especially for the Shark Felix, who managed to lose his luggage!! Well, he says Westjet lost it. Lucky for him he listened for once and packed his boots in his carry on, but has to borrow gear to live in!!
Good practice for an hour today, boys are looking sharp. Ready for the challenge of playing Mike Howlett tomorrow!!
Dave R
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