Thank you to everyone’s hard work this weekend at the Sun cup - players, parents and coaches.

                                                                               Colin McGough and Sean Adu-Gyamfi

Everyone seemed to have a blast for the most part and enjoyed a great weekend of soccer. Most games were pretty even apart from just a few where we dominated and also a few where we were out matched. The weekend provided all our players with a good experiences.

Thank you to the U9 girls for helping out on the U8 ADP girls teams - without you it would have been too difficult! All the teams we played vs. Were all U9 players so our U8 ADP girls fought hard and competed well against older opposition.

The coaches did a fantastic job and represented the club very well. All the players are on the right track and this weekend, once again, showed that we are doing lots of good things with the kids and teaching them well. Well done to all the coaches - your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed.

Special mention to Coaches Kwaku, Chris and Julio who coached 21 games between them this weekend - great effort.

Out of the 12 teams, many of whom were in the same bracket, we had 6 finalists and 3 champions.

                                                              Coach Julio and Chris with finalists Spain and Champions Holland

U8 ADP boys Holland and U8 ADP boys Spain dominated their group, tying 3-3 in the very first game on Saturday morning. They both ended up in the final against each other and after an intense, end to end game, ended 3-3 again! Penalty kicks decided this one and Holland came through 5-4! Every player contributed to a great game! Well done boys!

U8 ADP boys Italy came out on top in their bracket with all four teams on equal points after 2 games. Italy played well in the final game over coming the hosts FC Richmond 3 - 2!

U8 ADP boys Germany and France both won games and had some very good moments. France, with many under age kids, applied themselves very well and will come back next year!

U8 ADP boys England won 2 games in the group qualifying for the final. The guys tried their best but ran out of gas and were out matched by a strong FC Richmond squad. Good effort boys!

U8 ADP Ireland tied their first game 6-6 against a tough team. After that, they got out muscled and out matched but gave it their all.

U8 ADP girls Liberty overcame U8 ADP girls power in a semi final penalty shootout! In the final, Liberty played an FC team they somehow tied 6-6 despite dominating and hitting the woodwork on 4 occasions! In the final, the game went back and forth with both teams leading at some point. In the end, strikers got muscled out of it despite playing the better soccer.

U8 ADP Power, Freedom and Fire all played well at times but couldn’t find any consistency in front of goal missing a host of chances!

Special mention to our U9 boys who were invited into the tournament to fill out a bracket

The boys, led by Kwaku, played 7 v 7 for the first time since February. On a huge field, the boys acquitted themselves well winning their first 3 games knocking the ball around nicely. In the final, playing against an FC team they had beaten 4-1 earlier that same day, found themselves in a physical game. Strikers got on top early but FC responded and were up 3-2 with 5 minutes to go. Strikers tied it up to make it 3-3 and then in the last few seconds two moments defined the game: Micheal Mancuso went on a run and struck the ball with purpose into the top corner and at the other end, Sean Adu Gyamfi having created 3 goals in the match, made a last ditch sliding tackle to prevent a goal and winning the match 4-3 for the Strikers!

U8 ADP boys Holland - Champions
U8 ADP boys Spain - Finalists
U8 ADP boys Italy - Champions
U8 ADP boys England - Finalists
U8 ADP girls Liberty - Finalists
U9 Boys - Champions

Thanks to everyone again for a great year!

Don’t forget to sign up online for Striker camps over the summer.

See you all soon

Matt