Fleet Spurs made the long journey down to the south west of the country for a friendly against a youthful Plymouth Argyle team.
In all honesty the majority of the Plymouth players were around 17, so it was interesting for the Plymouth coaching team to see them up against a mens team.
On a big pitch which was conducive for playing football, the Spurs started much the stronger and quickly got into their stride with some excellent passing movements.
They took the lead after about 10 minutes when Sam Knowles finished off a good move, parity was restored shortly after when the Argyle striker got a free run on goal to equalise.
Fleet then turned it on for the last 30 minutes of the first half, playing some excellent stuff, and going in four one at the break with goals from Jack Chambers and Ben Edwards getting two.
In the second half , the Plymouth team changed completely and Fleet quickly re established superiority, and extended the lead to six one, with a goal a piece from Luke Walsh and Sam Knowles.
With Fleet only taking a bare 11 down to Plymouth they began to tire and Plymouth came back into the game, and Mark Appleby was forced into a number of good saves, although he could do nothing about the last Plymouth goal.
With Jack Chambers hurting his ankle and Fleet down to 10, Plymouth took control, and the Fleet lads were probably happy to hear the full time whistle, which meant they could carry on their day with a much deserved night out in Plymouth.

Fleet suffered their second pre season defeat tonight against a strong Sandhurst Town team who ply their trade in the Combined Counties Premier a step up from the Wessex one.
With both managers being good friends , this game was always going to be competitive, which is something you want out of a pre season game, as there would no doubt be bragging rights on their many nights out.
The venue over at Frogmore Leisure centre whilst flat, was quite difficult, as it was a very small pitch, and with a wind swirling around it did not make it easy for either side.
The first half Sandhurst dominated the game, although never really making Mark Appleby work in the Spurs goal, although Fleet had a few chances themselves, but again without really testing Dan Tilson in the Sandhurst goal.
With Fleet still missing the width of both Tom Chillery and Stuart Tanfield, plus also Jon Tanfield and Luke Walsh, they were not at their strongest.
Fleet were dwelling on the ball in the first half and getting shut down quickly, and when they did have the ball at their feet instead of trying to play like they were encouraged, the long ball was put into effect which usually ended with it running out of play.
Sandhurst took a deserved lead albeit through a penalty, when a ball was put into the box, and with it going to run out of play it was accidentially handled by Kieron Arscott, and Dan Simmonds duly despatched the spot kick.

Fleet Spurs opened up their pre season campaign yesterday with a defeat against a much faniced Binfield team.
On a really hot day Binfield were to take the lead after about 20 minutes, when a ball into the box from Jack Tallentire caused confusion in the box, and with Neil Baker leaving the ball, it trickled in off the post.
The lead did not last long, with an excellent ball over the top from Luke Thorn, saw Ben Edwards run on to it and put the ball through Chris Adams legs.
Both teams were trying to get the ball down on a hard surface, and each team had a couple of half chances.
Binfield were to take the lead just before half time, when a challenge was put in on Ben Edwards, the referee put his whistle to his mouth, and with all the Fleet players expecting him to blow for a free kick they stopped, but it left Binfield breaking with a 3 v 2 situation, and the ball was finally despatched by hot shot Ian Davies.
Fleet went in at half time two one down, and manager Neil Baker made a number of changes, as expected in a pre season game.
We came out second half and had restored parity within 5 minutes, when again Ben Edwards got on the end of a Chris Payne pass to score from a tight angle.
With players beginning to tire the game looked as though it would not see any more goals, but with a few more substutions made, Binfield were to score a 3rd goal when Gary Sargeant ‘s persistance paid off.
The final act of the game was for Mark Appleby to pick the ball out of the Spurs goal, as Binfield scored their 4th goal, when Tim Walsh hit a speculative shot which took a wicked deflection of Danny Harrison.
All in all it was a good exercise against a side who will be expected to have a very good season in the Hellenic Premier.

Neil Baker takes his Fleet Spurs side over to Cantley Park Wokingham tomorrow (Saturday 10th July) for their first pre season game of the 2010/11 season, against a strong Binfield side from the Hellenic Premier League.
Binfield had an excellent first season in the Hellenic Premier, and must be one of the fancied sides this season, and with ex Whitchurch striker Ian Davies in their ranks, they will surely be a team that can score lots of goals.
With a number of players knowing each other on each side this should have a competitive edge to it, which will be beneficial to both Spurs and Binfield, although the predicted heat may have some bearing on the game.
Fleet travel without the servies of Tom Chillery, Sam Knowles, Phil Boddy and Stuart Tanfield who are all unavailable due to a mixture of holidays work and weddings, but will travel with 3 or 4 new players looking to make a mark in the Spurs shirt.
A scaled down match report will appear here after the game.

The draw for the Hampshire Cup has been made this week up at the Hampshire FA, and i can confirm that we have been drawn away to Newport IOW in the first round , game to be played week commencing 6th September.
This will be a tough game, as not only do we have to take into account the travelling, but we are also playing against a team who have only in the last few years been relegated to the Wessex Premier, having plyed their trade at Southern league level for a number of years.
If we can overcome Newport IOW we will then take on the winners of New Milton and AFC Portchester at home in the second round.

Manger Neil Baker welcomed back the squads for pre season training on Thursday the 1st of July where the lads were put through their paces, a number of new faces will be appearing in friendlies and training sessions over the coming weeks.

With the first few fixtures published yesterday, the first team will be looking to build on their excellent end to last season, by starting like a train away at Andover New Street on Thursday the 12th of August.

Anyone who is interested in joining the club which runs 4 successful mens teams should contact Neil Baker on 07717772979.

(Wessex League Division 1)

This was a typical fiercely contested local derby, and for the second time in three days Spurs needed some luck to emerge with all three points.

In the first half Fleet were the better side, though North End made it difficult for the visitors closing them down well and snapping into tackles.  Sam Knowles might have given Spurs the lead within the first two minutes from an Adam Crittenden cross, but keeper Mark Tottle was able to block his close-range attempt.  Both sides had a number of half-chances but were unable to convert them until just before the break Knowles headed a superb Luke Walsh cross against Tottle and fired the rebound into the top of the net to leave Spurs with a well-deserved interval lead.

(Wessex League Division 1)

A greatly depleted East Cowes side made the long journey to North-East Hampshire on a chilly Tuesday evening for a re-arranged fixture.  Not surprisingly, Fleet attacked from the start and only six minutes had gone when Luke Walsh forced the ball home after visiting keeper Cameron Farley had blocked a firmly hit free kick from skipper Ben Edwards.  Five minutes later, the referee spotted a push in Vics’ box, but the normally reliable Adam Crittenden struck the ball too softly and Farley saved.  Spurs then forsook their normal passing game with far too many aimless long balls, until just before the half-hour mark Stuart Tanfield hit an accurate cross which Walsh headed home.  Ben Edwards soon notched the third after a goalmouth scramble and almost forty minutes had passed before Vics had their first shot on goal, which was comfortably saved by Mark Appleby.  Two minutes later, they had a real chance after a fine run by John Mckie down the left, but the ball somehow stayed out, leaving the half-time score 3-0 to Fleet.

(Wessex League Division 1)

Fleet took control of the game from the start and it was no surprise when they scored after eight minutes – the only surprise was that the goal came from a rare Tom Chillery header following a pinpoint corner from skipper Ben Edwards.  Spurs soon doubled their lead when striker Adam Crittenden brilliantly lobbed the keeper after a brave header by fellow striker Luke Walsh.  Portchester came back into the game after the half-hour mark, but never seriously threatened the home goal, and Fleet turned round with a well-merited two-goal lead.

(Wessex League Division 1)

After their heroics at Fawley in midweek, Spurs came down to earth with a bang against Shaftesbury.  Their performance lacked sparkle, but was sufficient to claim victory against a side that fought hard all game.

Fleet started the better side, although Shaftesbury breaking dangerously on occasion.  However, after Spurs had in their customary fashion squandered a number of good chances, the visitors took the lead somewhat against the run of play.  Fleet’s defence failed to mark Luke Crane properly, the striker headed the ball across goal and 17-year-old Jason Beale hammered the ball into the top of the net giving keeper Mark Appleby no chance.  Shaftesbury were now more than holding their own, and Spurs’ play became ragged for a while, until defender Dan Sleet headed in an inswinging free kick by Tom Chillery for the equaliser.  1-1 at half-time was on balance a fair score.