A tricky first game against Horsell, who we have a long history with. With new debutants, Harry, Hayden and Woody in the starting line-up, the first game of the season would set a marker for the rest of the season.

⚽ First Half Drama

The match kicked off at a furious pace with Keiron adding huge energy in midfield and the usual pace and guile of George and Aaron roaming on the front line. But it was Horsell FC who were awarded a penalty after an accidental handball in the box. Their number 10 stepped up and calmly slotted it home. Goal to Horsell against the run of play to be fair.

But the Albury Hawks didn’t take long to respond. Arthur unleashed a rasping shot into the lower corner—unstoppable! The equaliser sent the crowd into a frenzy and gave the Hawks their wings.

Good work in midfield by Woody, Harry and Kieron made sure the team was competitive. This area was key to wrestling back control. With endeavour and grit, the players slowly turned the tide. Max, on the wing, was causing all sorts of problem and they were struggling with his pace.

Minutes later, Hugo made a fantastic block near the goal-line which was picked up by Hayden. The referee saw this as a back-pass which seemed a harsh call. After an intense goal line scramble and clearance from Lucian, the half-time whistle came and the game was nicely poised.

? Third Quarter: Aaron’s Rocket
In the third-quarter Max and Arthur pushed on and both had great shots saved well by the keeper. With Will, Hugo and Lucian solid in defense and Keiron bossing the midfield, it would need a piece of magic to break the deadlock.

Stand up Aaron. His first shot—a thunderous left-footed drive—was parried by the keeper. But Aaron wasn’t finished. He followed up with his right foot, smashing it into the top right corner. A beauty of a goal that had the crowd gasping and grinning!

? Defensive Brilliance
Horsell FC tried to rally, but Albury’s defence was rock solid. Hugo made some great tackles and Will made some marauding runs through midfield. This was all with the knowledge that Hayden was mopping up anything coming his way - including an outrageous save from an acute angle. Lucian had a challenging day against a tricky winger, but stood up to the test.

This solid base allowed George, Max, Aaron and Arthur to apply the pressure up front.

? Final Whistle Heroics
And just when the game looked wrapped up—who should pop up but Will! After a clever corner from Arthur, Will was in the right place at the right time, smashing it into the net to put the game to bed. It was the perfect goal contribution to a fantastic overall defensive performance. Cool, calm, and clinical!

And that's how it ended. Fantastic first games from Harry and Woody, and great cameo performances from Hugo, Max and Hayden. A great team performance and first match to the 25/26 campaign.

Thanks to coach Abs and Percy as well, though not forgetting Kevin who assisted as Linesman.

? Player of the Match
Will– for his stunning coup de grace goal, leadership and tireless play throughout the match! He took his goal well to add the icing on the cake.

Other Mentions:
Furious introduction for Woody and Harry to make their debuts. On loan signing Hugo was impressive at the back though his loan has now now come to an end.

From a rocky start to a roaring finish, the Hawks showed heart, hustle, and heaps of teamwork. Every player gave it their all, and the match ended with proud smiles, muddy boots, and cheers echoing across the school grounds.