Under 11 Celts Back to winning ways with an emphatic performance away to Wanborough in the first Trophy event of the season. The Wanborough team contained four JPL players from the Reading FC Wiltshire Development Centre, so a tough game was in prospect. However, within ten minutes goals from Jonty Parkinson, Josh Watkins and a fantastic solo effort from James all but sealed the game.

Any efforts made by Wanborough to get back into the game were thwarted by excellent anticipation and determination by the defensive trio of Jack Heycock, Joe Warrington and the effusive Gabe Birch.

Further goals from Jonty Parkinson and Joe Warrington with a fine left foot finish from outside the box added further shine to the team performance, before Wanborough pulled one back just before half-time.

The second half saw the introduction of Jack Andrews for his first game of the season and acquitted himself very well in the top division. It was also an opportunity to move players around and try different positions. Skipper Wil Lloyd moved from goalkeeper to centre midfield, whilst James Hewlett took the gloves from his old mucker. Max Welch dropped into the left wing back berth, with Gabe Birch switching to the right. Dan Howard moved into the hole, with Josh Watkins taking up the pivot position.

However, the second half became the Jonty Parkinson show. At times the diminutive ‘Jinky’ was unplayable, with his pace, ball mastery and dribbling a sight to behold and the Wanborough defenders chasing his shadow. Jinky notched a further two goals and made another after another surging run past two defenders before crossing for Dan Howard to head into the onion bag.

‘This was a real team effort from every single player and as complete a performance as I have seen from any Fairford team’ said lead coach Tony Warrington. ‘ The boys should be extremely proud of the way they performed against a team that has some very good players. What impressed me most was the speed of thinking and movement when both in and out of possession. Its something we have been working at in our coaching sessions and we can now see this coming out on the pitch’.

Next up- the Celts are at home this coming Sunday v Newbury.