YFC Team
Click on the picture for a full sized image. 1st Team (left) Reserves (right)
2007/08 Pen pics to follow…
Cuckoos legends
The original Cuckoos legend series was on the old Cuckoos Chatter site and has matches and players listed.
First up…(from March 2005)
“Best Cuckoos Player This Century” is probably a bit of a premature statement, but skipper Ricky Hailstone is certainly the front runner for that accolade at this early stage of the 2000’s!
Any player who deserts St Neots to sign for the Cuckoos is bound to be popular with the home crowd. But, when you add in a passion for the game, an aggressive streak and a goal against our local rivals and his former employers in one of his first matches, the recipe for success is guaranteed.
Ricky has developed from an all action attacking midfielder/forward with a slightly hot-headed approach into an assured footballer and inspirational leader. It is difficult to imagine a Yaxley side without his spectacular goals and biting tackles. When he doesn’t play the gap is there for all to say and when the time comes (in many years time fingers crossed) to replace him in the engine room, Jim Watson will have a massive job on his hands.
He doesn’t get that many tap-ins which is a good thing and you can be certain that every time he pulls on the blue and white shirt he will be trying to dribble past opponents and unleash some rasping drives. He can also find the killer pass when needed and deliver real quality from a dead ball.
He is also a real ‘club man’. Always available to help at the ‘Festival of Football’ (although his work as a runner of fixtures/results for me last season wasn’t as good as one of his penalty’s!!) he was the man who wanted to take the supporters flag to EURO2004 to try and get the club some TV publicity.
He clearly relishes the responsibility placed upon him by the armband and when three points have slipped away he always looks like he feels the defeat as much as anyone. But you can be sure that the next time he emerges down the steps to lead the team out (with Mick Dowling’s “Wind ‘em up Ricky” cheer ringing in his ears) he will be fired up and ready to perform.
And the classic matches…
FA CUP
Date: 30 Aug 2003
Result: Yaxley FC 2, Barking & East Ham United (FA CUP) 1
Review:
So there is still some Romance in the FA Cup then!!Yaxley romped into the second qualifying round of this seasons competition with a giant killing of Ryman League side Barking & East Ham United at Leading Drove.
The away team’s coach full of fans, arrived early and were flying their flags and banging their drums before kick off. They deserved a better first half performance from their side as the Cuckoos from the Eagle Bitter League dominated.
The home side took the lead through left winger Simon Acton who latched onto a bobbling ball from a corner midway through the first half. Michael Frew (twice) and Mark Hanton could have added to the lead but it remained 1-0 at half time.
As Yaxley pushed on in for the crucial second goal in the second half, Barking hit them on the break to level the scores and re-start the away fan’s drums.
Yaxley were stunned and out of their stride. Even a sending off for the visitors couldn’t get them back on track but a late corner provided one last opportunity.
And so it proved as centre half Andy Chapman rose majestically to power a header into the net and send the larger than usual home crowd wild.
The final seconds were surprisingly comfortable as the giant killing was completed and Yaxley went into the hat for the next round.
FA VASE…
Date:
9 Nov 2002
Result:
Potters Bar Town 0, Yaxley FC 1Review:
Smells like team spiritPotters Bar Town 0-1 Yaxley (FA Vase)
Another away trip in an FA competition and another gritty win for this Yaxley side who continue to struggle in the league whilst performing heroically in the knock-out competitions.
After smashing in 8 goals in the previous 2 rounds of the competition, the Cuckoos showed a different side to their game with resolute defending and crisp counter attacking.
The visitors could have taken a very early lead when centre half Andy Chapaman’s header from a corner smashed off the inside of a post.
This was one of the most open matches seen in recent times, and it was no surprise to see a goal for Yaxley.
Peter Miller picked up the ball on the halfway line before outstripping the defender and providing a left wing cross which Gareth Sanderson met with a diving header into the net.
Sanderson could have killed the match before half time but the keeper saved his effort. Simon Acton nearly got to a ricochet before the keeper but the ball was cleared.
Bar had their efforts too and Jody Vincent had to be at his best to tip over a free header.
The second half started with the home side really trying to turn the screw. A long range shot pinged off the post before hitting Vincent and going behind for a corner.
At the other end Sanderson again went through again only to be denied and Ricky Hailstone was refused a cast iron penalty by a bad refereeing decision.
Potters Bar were then reduced to 10 men when a fracas broke out in the corner. Cuckoos defender Mark Hanton was booked in the melee but the Potters Bar player wouldn’t accept the referees caution and was given his second yellow straight away for foul language.
Down to ten men, Potters Bar really turned up the pace. Yaxley bought on Ashley Stevens who pace was a constant threat on the break.
There was still time for Jody Vincent to produce an incredible double save, firstly at the feet of an opposing forward and secondly, when he reached back from the floor to tip the rebound over for a corner.
Both sides then hit the bar before the referee decided to call time.
How they rated.
1. Jody Vincent (9) 2. John Paul Duncliffe (7) 3. Luke Bowker (7) 4. Lee Blewitt (
5. Andy Chapman (9) 6. Mark Hanton (7) 7. Gareth Sanderson (
Sub. Ashley Stevens (for Harrison) (7)
Post Match Analysis
Date:
12 Nov 2002
Title:
Jody earns plaudits for Man of the Match display
Details:
Vincent earns his man of the match plaudits Jody Vincent has not had the easiest of starts to his career as Yaxley FC goalkeeper.His debut was in the local derby against Peterborough United of Nationwide Division 2 and he and his side were on the receiving end of a 10-0 scoreline. With the Cuckoos defence being switched to a system with three centre halves, pre-season didn’t produce many positive results as both Jody and new centre half Andy Chapman settled in.
On the opening day though it all came right as three points and a clean sheet were gained at Desborough. It hasn’t gone particularly well for Yaxley in the league since then but in the cups Jody and his side have been in impressive form.
The trip to Potters Bar Town for the FA Vase tie on 9th November was one of the hardest examinations of the Cuckoos new look side so far and through sheer hard work and team spirit they came through, nicking the tie with a diving header from Gareth Sanderson.
Vincent though more than played his part with an instinctive tip over in the first half after a headed chance at a corner. Keepers need that bit of luck and Jody got his in the opening minute of the second half when his full length dive saw the ball hit the post, ping against his back and wide for a corner.
After that near miss, you felt it would be his day. And so it proved with Potters Bar joining Yaxley in hitting the post and bar at will, but when the ball was on target, Vincent got something behind it and kept the home side out.
His save towards the end drew gasps from the Cuckoos bench and without doubt was the moment that Potters Bar realised Yaxley would hold on and win through to the third round. The forward came rushing into the box whereupon Vincent dived at his feet, a wonderful save.
The ball came back to the forward who tried to lift it over the keeper who appeared stranded on the floor.
Somehow he reached back and got enough of a hand on it to push it around the post for a corner.
In a great team performance full of determination and grit it is unfair to pick a man of the match, but player after player from the Yaxley camp came up to me after the match demanding that Jody got a special mention after his performance and commenting on ‘that’ save. So I will oblige.
