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Post by daveh on Oct 23, 2022 8:19:52 GMT 2
The season began on 22nd October with a new set up at the Club and a good number of new younger players in the squad. It was also noted that the average height of the team was low so there would be a need to keep the ball on the ground.
The first game was at home against Kassiopi. A mini bus was available for fans from the Boathouse to the game and a crowd of around 110 were in attendance on a nice sunny afternoon (though the pitch was in full shade in the 2nd half as the sun had gone behind the hills behind the stand.
KO slightly delayed due to a well respected minutes silence. It all looked even early on when in the 9th minute a hopeful ball into the SFakera penalty area was met with a header by an onrunning forward and it was 1-0 to Kassio. Sfakera tried to rally and a free kick from just outside the box in the 18th went just over the bar. They had a shot on target in the 23rd but it was easily gathered by the goalkeeper. ANother good break on 25 minutes saw Rizzo just fail to get a toe to the ball before the goalkeepers legs cleared; unfortunately there was nobody following up this quick breakaway. The game continued to be very even; typical of a first proper match of season, nerves, passes straight to opposition, passes overhit, tackles flying in......by both sides. A Kassiopi substitution after 40 minutes due to injury. In the 41st SFakera had a corner following a back post clearance. Hit deep it found a Sfakera player near the back post but he just could jump high enough to get over the ball and his header went over the bar. Half Time 0-1.
The 2nd half began in lively manner with the Sfakera winger breaking and cutting inside. Sadly instead of trying a curling shot he decided to pass and it went straight to a defender and the chance to equalise was lost. Another attack out wide in the 51st but the final pass was just to strong and eluded the striker and the goalkeeper gathered. Sfakera make a substitution in the 55th.....his first contribution a mistimed tackle to concede a freekick. A 2nd sub for Sfakera in the 60th. Next came a good attack by Sfakera; Rizzo the centre forward made a very good run; tried to go round centre half and got in a shot which the keeper did well to save with his legs. The ball was quickly crossed back into the box and a Sfakera player at the back headed the ball across the goalmouth; several players couldn't reach it but Rizzo was there at the otherside and his shot flew over the bar. A great chance to equalise but to be fair the ball did bounce a bit high so he got too much under it. The 1st Yellow card went to Sfakera in the 66th minute and was a bit harsh in my opinion bearing in mind some earlier challenges and handballs. Shortly after Kassiopi had 2 corners in succession and the Sfakera keeper had to parry away a header. A 3rd Sfakera sub in the 70th (Alex of Drunken Sailor). A free kick to Sfakera out wide in the 72nd ( the Kassio player got a Yellow) was easily cleared. In the 84th A Kassio substitution. Shortly after Kassio put a long free kick into the penalty area over all the Sfakera defenders but the striker couldn't control and the ball ran to the goalkeeper. Sfakera were pushing late on for the equaliser and in the 89th it nearly came; from a throw in in advanced area the ball was headed out and a deflected shot went just over the bar. The resulting corner was well caught by the keeper. In the 91st minute a corner to Sfakera was partially cleared but when the ball was put back into the box Sfakera were ruled offside. The final whistle sounded in the 94th minute and Sfakera had lost 0-1.
One odd thing noticed was the new Sfakera manager.............he never moved from his spot hardly all game; no sign of talking to the players; no hand gestures to encourage movement to players or to make certain passes. In contrast the Kassio manager was always up and down, shouting and encouraging.
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Post by daveh on Oct 26, 2022 8:09:57 GMT 2
Next game is at Nymphes on Sunday 30th October.........Kick Off 12:30 v Atromitos Kerkyra.
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Post by daveh on Oct 31, 2022 7:35:56 GMT 2
Sunday 30th October, Nymphes Stadium. 12:30 Kick off.
Hercules Sfakera-Roda V Atromitos Kerkyra Attendance 80
Lovely sunny day with a light wind rolling down off the surrounding hills.
A few changes in personnel from last week as the squad has 2 players per position now. A much taller goalkeeper; Nikos in midfield added a lot of height to the team as well.
Kick off on time and Sfakera were soon on the attack gaining a corner in the 3rd minute; easily cleared. In the 6th the visitors hit a free kick from half way into the box and it was headed inches wide. The goalkeeper was deemed to have got a touch so a corner resulted. Panos in goal punched clear and Sfakera broke away but were called offside. Another break and again offside but he was only just over the half way line. In the 18th Panos again had to punch clear under pressure following a free kick. Shortly after Sfakera had a shot from 20 metres out that went just over the bar. In the 23rd a Sfakera long ball down the middle and Rizzo was onto it but the defender got a partial block and the goalkeeper saved. However a foul immediately gave Sfakera a free kick that was put into the box; a header was goalbound but the keeper parried the ball for a corner. From the corner Rizzo rose high to head in a great goal at the back of the goal area. !-0 to Sfakera in the 25th. In the 28th the visitors had 3 successive corners; the 3rd was cleared after bobbling about box a bit. Sfakera’s next 2 attacks were both called offside. In the 36th the visitors nearly equalized; a long ball into box went over the defender on the left hand side. The forward got in a shot but Pano saved with his legs to concede a corner that was cleared. In the 37th a free kick from the wing and the visitors headed just over. In the 41st a visitors shot was blocked, the ball fell kindly to Sfakera. A swift pass out to Nikos near half way and he released the right winger with a superb pass. The ball was rolled into the centre leaving Rizzo with a sitter to put Sfakera 2-0 up.
Half Time 2-0 Sfakera.
Sfakera were soon into their stride and a nice move, midfield to right wing, cross and Nikos fire well over. In the 49th a defender just outpaced an attacker to roll ball back to goalkeeper who cleared for a throw. From that a cross came over but was easily caught by Pano. It was noticeable that Sfakera were trying to keep the ball on the ground and move it around and out to wings more; so much improved play on the first game last week. In the 54th the Sfakera winger ran into the box after a long pass and the defender made contact; the Sfakera player crashed to the floor but the referee declined to give a penalty. In the 57th a hard challenge by Sfakera out on wing resulted in a bit of “hand-bags”. A Sfakera player was shown Yellow and the free kick was played short but the cross was miss hit out of play. In the 62nd a long goal kink by Panos reached the edge of the box but the Sfakera forward didn’t realize the defender had missed the ball and the goalkeeper gathered. Sfakera then made 2 substitutions; one was Adonis from Alexandros. In the 64th the visitos again had 3 quick corners; the 3rd was punched by Panos to edge box and headed out further by a defender and Sfakera broke quickly. Rizzo was one on one but his shot was weak and the goalkeeper blocked it; Rizzo got onto the rebound but was now wider on right and his shot was too high. In the 70th a free kick to the visitors 25 metres out on the right side of centre. Hit well but part cleared; the ball played back into the box and a forward turned sharply and was brought down by a trailing leg. The penalty was converted to with Pano diving the wrong way. 2-1. In the 74th the visiting Captain went down by the wing screaming and rolling over when he was hardly touched. He won a free kick; the crowd were giving him some verbal; and he just got up and trotted off as if never touched……most odd. In the 77th a fine Sfakera move from the midfield to the left wing resulted in an inside pass into the box and Rizzo beat the keeper to get his hat-trick. 3-1. It was nearly 4 in the 79th when another good passing move; this time the cross was met by the winger on the far side but his header looped onto the top of the net. In the 80th the visitors had a corner; taken short but the cross was easily caught by Pano. Shortly after they had a free kick 40 metres out. The free kick hit a defender and broke for Sfakera who attacked quickly. A fine ball found Rizzo free and he chipped the goalkeeper for his 4th to make the game safe at 4-1. Almost immediately Sfakera made 2 more substitutions; including Rizzo who went off to great applause. In the 83rd the visitors attacked and the ball rolled into the box where a striker got a toe to it; the ball beat a diving Pano but hit the base of the far post; rolled almost along the goal line and was cleared on the other side of the goal. In the 85th Sfakera again quickly got the ball out to the right wing and the cro ss was deep but picked up inside the box by substitute Labros who couldn’t get a shot but cooly turned the defender and from the bye line rolled the ball back to Nikos who shot over the keeper into the far corner to make it 5. The referee had seen enough and blew for full time instead of restarting the game.
Full Time. A fine 5-1 win for Sfakera.
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Post by daveh on Nov 8, 2022 8:24:52 GMT 2
#~Last weekends game was called off due to the weather.
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Post by daveh on Nov 14, 2022 8:48:24 GMT 2
On a cloudy, rainy day, in Nymphes, with gusting winds Sfakera were to play at home against GEP (Paleokastristsa) in a midday kick off. The pitch had small puddles in both goalmouths and a lot of surface water on the side of the pitch by the main stand. It was still raining as the game kicked off. Sfakera were not playing their 4 goal hero of the last home game. The attendance was 59, The early play was with the visitors pushing forward. In the first 5 minutes a free kick was hit straight at the goalkeeper; a corner was caught by the goalkeeper as was another freekick. The rain then got heavier and puddles began to appear all over the pitch but not seem to affect the roll of the ball to any great extent. Sfakera had a corner in the 8th that was part cleared; returned into the box but over the strikers head and gathered by the goalkeeper. In the 10th the visitors had a shot from a central position that clipped the top of the bar on its way over. Sfakera put a long free kick into the penalty area on the 13th minute but it just eluded two forwards and went out for a goal kick. Then in the 19th Sfakera had a throw on the left; they worked the ball down the wing where the centre forward took a long shot from only a few metres in from the touch line; it went over the goalkeeper ( who was on the short side for a goalie) and hit the back post before settling into the back of the goal; 1-0 to Sfakera. The visitors were soon looking for an equalizer and a ground shot in the 21st was saved by the goalkeeper. Sfakera nearly doubled their lead on the 27th when a lobbed ball into the box was attacked by two strikers; one tried to play it wide of the goalkeeper to the other but the ball ran out of play and the chance was lost. Almost immediately the visitors had a chance; the shot was deflected but the goalkeeper still got down to make a good save. Sfakera then had a long shot from some 25 metres that went high over followed shortly buy a corner. This was part cleared outside the box where a Sfakera defender fired in a shot but it was blocked. In the 32nd another diving save by the Sfakera goalkeeper and a couple minutes later a long free kick by the visitors into the box was cleared for a throw. On 41 a visitor was shown Yellow after a foul. The free kick was played into the box from the wing; the goalkeeper dropped it and a shot was blocked; the ball bobbled and another shot went just wide. In the 43rd another great chance for Sfakera when a fine attack ended with the ball coming across the goal area where the on rushing full back fired a shot into the side netting with the crowd expecting a goal. The half ended with the Sfakera goalkeeper fumbling a free kick but he safely dived onto the loose ball. Half Time 1-0. It then stopped raining. The pitch was well covered in puddles though. The referee tried to get the game restarted early but had to wait for the visiting keeper, who had changed his kit, to return to the field. The first attack was by Sfakera but they were caught offside. In the 51st a long speculative shot by the visitors hit the top corner of the bar and post before going out for a goal kick. Shortly after another Yellow card to a visiting player. In the 54th Sfakera attacked and long ball released the left winger. His shot beat the goalkeeper, hit the inside of the post but went clear out on the right hand side. The end to end play continued and the Sfakera goalkeeper again had to dive to block a shot which was easily cleared.. On 58 minutes Sfakera made 2 substitutions. A chance for the visitors on 61 but the shot was fired well over. In the 63rd Sfakera were denied a penalty by an out of position referee; the ball was played into the box where the defender clearly shoved the Sfakera player before they cleared. Suddenly there was a bit of sunshine. Sfakera made another substitution; this time due to injury. The visitors also made a change. Then nearly a fluke goal to Sfakera when the ball was rolled back to the visiting keeper who kicked it; it hit the Sfakera forward on his back and went inches wide of the goal. There was a Sfakera injury in the 72nd which the refer ignored until eventually a visiting player put the ball out of play. The visitors made another substitution. Sfakera attacked with their 10 men and the ball bobbled around in the box before being partly cleared. The follow up shot was saved. Then on 76 minutes a visitor was injured; he was substituted as was the injured Sfakera player. Shortly after a Sfakera attack striker clearly offside just a metre into the Sfakera half but the Linesman waved play on! Fortunately the ball ran away from the striker for a goal kick. Sfakera then had a shot from just outside the box that went over the bar. Again the 81st Sfakera attacked, this time down the right wing. The ball was played inside eluded several players before coming out to the left; a shot was fired in but blocked. There was a foul by Sfakera in trying to get the loose ball. Sfakera were in the ascendancy now and shortly had a corner that was cleared. This was followed by another quick break that released the right winger; he chipped the goalkeeper but his shot hit the post and was cleared. In the 85th Sfakera were shown Yellow for a foul; the resultant free kick some 35 metres out was fired high over the goal. Sfakera tried another break in the 88th but were caught offside. Then in the 89th a second Yellow to Sfakera for a poor foul; the free kick was blocked and cleared. As the game moved into added time Sfakera made a nice move following a throw in on half way; the end was the winger cutting in but the goalkeeper blocked his shot for a corner which was cleared. The ball was soon retrieved but the shot went wide. The referee blew for time and Sfakera had won 1-0 in a well fought game in poor conditions. Though both teams hit the woodwork Sfakera clearly deserved their win. The crowd gave great applause and the players took a bow. And on the walk home; as I entered the village of Nymphes so the rains returned!
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Post by daveh on Nov 20, 2022 9:47:44 GMT 2
Yesterday Sfakera had a walkover 3-0 win v Kontokali who withdrew from league at last minute. They now sit 3rd in table on 10 points though most of the games are being played today.
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Post by daveh on Nov 28, 2022 9:17:07 GMT 2
Giving the World Cup a miss early yesterday to watch Sfakera v Finikes as new team to the league this season having previously been a junior club. Sfakera 3rd in league, Finikis 5th. An overcast day but still at kick off 12:15. Attendance around 80. A quiet start. In the 8th the visitors had a free kick out on the left wing that was blocked and went out for a throw. It went back into the box and was headed out for a corner from which a shot went high over the bar. Sfakera’s first real attack in the 10th when a cross was met by the striker but he shot wide. A fine Sfakera move in the 12th but once into box it was cleared. A visiting free kick in the 17th into the box resulted in a shot blocked by the goalkeeper for a corner. It was partially cleared and the shot from outside the box was straight at the goalkeeper. A Sfakera attack broke down in the box in the 21st and a Sfakera player was booked for diving to try win a penalty. In the 25th when well placed a Sfakera shot was miss kicked and wide. The goalkeeper tried a short goalkick and the defender miss control the ball which fell to the Sfakera winger who lobbed the goalkeeper to open the scoring. 1-0 Sfakera. In the 28th the visitors had a great chance to equalize when from a free kick a striker was found unmarked in the box but he headed wide.. A 32nd minute corner to Sfakera found a player in good position but he missed his header and the ball went to the wing where it was well crossed back into the box but cleared. A couple corners for the visitors came to nothing. A visiting long ball into the box was dropped by the Sfakera goalkeeper but he saved the follow up shot.; and shortly after he saved again when the striker miss hit his shot. As the half drew to a close Sfakera had a corner headed out for a throw. This was miss controlled and the ball went out for a goalkick. Half Time 1-0 Rizzo came on as a half time substitution and was soon in the action heading a cross just wide. Play was even with some strong tackles going in as the wind began to pick up; chilling the crowd but not affecting play. 2 substitutions by the visitors. In the 57th a Sfakera free kick into the box was headed away for a corner that came to nothing. Almost immediately the visitors attacked and a striker tried to play the ball into the net with his hand; he received a yellow card. On 60 Sfakera received a yellow for a foul on half way; the free kick was dropped by the Sfakera keeper and went back towards the goal but an alert defender cleared the danger. In the 63rd Sfakera again play quick and long into the box; Sfakera’s centre half still up from a previous attack controlled the ball, turned a fired in a shot to give a 2-0 lead. The visitors brought on another substitute. In the 69th 2 Sfakera substitutes and another a few minutes later following an injury. Safkera then lost their way trying to re-organize and the visitors capitalized and a long shot found its way past the diving keeper into the bottom corner of the goal 2-1 in the 78th. Before Sfakera had time to compose themselves it was 2-2 as a defensive mix up left the visitors with a tap in goal in the 79th. On 82 the visitors, now sensing victory from the jaws of defeat, attacked again and won a corner following a long shot being deflected wide. The corner was headed clear and Sfakera countered winning a corner that was easily cleared. On 86 another visiting corner from which they got a near free header that went just wide. And in the next minute they again attacked but the shot was well wide. Sfakera nearly had a chance to win the game in the 88th when a long ball to the edge of the box had 2 defenders get in each others way and the ball fell to the Sfakera winger but his shot was saved. Another Sfakera attack but they got offside when well placed to score. An injury delay due to one of the visitors meant a few minutes added time during which Sfakera attacked but the goalkeeper punched away and then he saved a header knocked down that another Sfakera player just failed to divert into the net. The final whistle came and it ended 2-2. Sadly it should have been a win. The next 3 Sfakera games are all away from home against teams who at the start of the weekend were placed 4th, 2nd and 1st in the league. It was back home to continue watching the World Cup; today a lift from Garry. Thanks it was a bit miserable with the wind and light spots of rain for a walk home.
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Post by daveh on Dec 6, 2022 8:54:20 GMT 2
Sfakera lost 2-1 away to Peroulades at the weekend.
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Post by daveh on Dec 11, 2022 8:27:50 GMT 2
Yesterdays game away to the league leaders was called off due to the wind and rain.
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Post by daveh on Dec 19, 2022 7:55:19 GMT 2
Sunday 18th December……..Sfakera v A E Kanonios at Nymphes, KO 12:00
A light sunny day though part of pitch was in shade. The visitors a young side. Sfakera wearing a kit that looked more Morocco than the kit we are used too. A few changes to the line up, with a player previously at centre forward playing at right bank and Jonathan Banos getting a rare start at the centre of defence. An early chance to Sfakera when the striker was through on the left but his shot was wide. On 3 minutes Alex walks round pitch putting out the corner flags!! Soon after the visitors have a shot but that too was well wide. Play was mostly in midfield with odd breaks giving little by way of chances due to tackles, miss hit passes or shots. On the 17th the visiting goalkeeper picked up a back pass and it was an indirect free kick to Sfakera just 14 metres from goal; played sideways the 1st two shots were blocked and the third completely miss hit out for a throw. In te 20th Sfakera won a corner; played into the near post area it was headed in by the full back (previously centre forward) to give Sfakera the lead. Shortly after Sfakera had two more chances to increase their lead; first shot was fired wide from 22 metres and the second was from the left wing and was caught by the goalkeeper. In the 28th the visitors had a shot from 25 metres that went wide. Sfakera managed to totally mess up the goal kick; playing it short to a player not expecting it the visitors stole the ball and scored. Play remained fairly even; littered by some odd decisions as the referee was making them from sometimes 30 or 40 metres away from the incidents as he spent most of game just walking about; only very occasionally did he even break into a trot!! In the 34th the Sfakera winger broke into the box following a quick break and was barged off the ball. The referee so far away gave a free kick to the defence and the Sfakera player was shown a Yellow for his verbal comment – in my opinion the referee made the problem by never even trying to get near to the play. Sfakera kept pressing nd a deep ball into the box was just too long for the striker to make contact in the 39th. In the 42nd another deep ball was well controlled but the shot went just wide of the goal. However from the goalkick the visitors did as Sfakera had done earlier and gave away the ball which was quickly played into the centre where it deflected to Antonis who scored to give the lead back to Sfakera. HT 2-1.
Sfakera made a substitution at HT. The visitors had the first attack of the half in the 47th; the cross into the box was miss kicked out for a corner that was cleared at the second attempt. In the 52nd the visitors attacked to the left side and a long cross shot was palmed away by the diving keeper for a corner that Sfakera cleared. Sfakera had their first chance of the half in the 54th when a long cross from the right found the striker but he could only toe poke the ball straight at the goalkeeper. There followed a couple of corners for Sfakera, the first was headed well wide and the second cleared. There then followed a crazy 5 minute spell of the game not helped by the referee being so far behind the play. In the 60th a long ball forward by Sfakera had plenty of spin on it; when it bounced in the box the players all missed it due to spin and as they turned the Sfakera striker was bundled over. A penalty was given much to the annoyance of the visiting defence. The Sfakera strikera had a couple minutes treatment before he was carefully carried off the pitch (he didn’t return and later was seen hopping away with his knee bandaged). The Sfakera full back who had scored earlier was to take the penalty but first he was booked as he had been talking to the goalkeeper; obviously trying some kidology. It didn’t work as the goalkeeper made a fine save diving to his left. The visitors then made 2 substitutions. In the 64th Sfakera played a good through ball and the striker was almost onto it but the goalkeeper dived at the players feet to gather the ball. A quick break and a lone visitor was in on goal; his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper, half cleared by one of 5 defenders and then cleared by another. The referee who was nearer the half way line decided the ball had hit a players arm after being saved by the goalkeeper and gave a penalty to the visitors. The goalkeeper dived to his left and saved it. A Sfakera player was shown Yellow and finally the substitute came on for the player injured in the Sfakera penalty incident. In the 74th a ball into the centre from wide right was met by a Sfakera striker whose shot was saved by the legs of the goalkeeper. 2 more visiting substitutions. In the 78th Jonathan was injured in a challenge out on the touchline and required treatment. The visitors were given a free kick which the goalkeeper punched away. Sfakera made a substation in the 82nd as a gusty light wind arrived and another in the 84th. In the 86th Sfakera won the ball on right and the winger squared the ball into the box but the striker was given offside; the visitors broke away quickly but lost the ball out of play. They did recover it from the throw but their 30 metre shot was well wide. In the 88th Sfakera had a long shot go wide. In added time the visitors had a shot that the goalkeeper blocked. A free kick was then given to Sfakera as there had been a handball from the block. In the 92nd Sfakera attacked and a long free kick found a midfielder in the box who lobbed the goalkeeper only for his shot to go just inches over the bar onto the roof of the net. Full time 2-1 win to Sfakera.
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Post by daveh on Jan 8, 2023 9:11:36 GMT 2
Yesterday Sfakera lost 4-0 away to Kassioppi
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Post by daveh on Jan 15, 2023 9:22:12 GMT 2
Yesterday Sfakera drew 1-1 away to Atromitos Afras. They are 5th in the league (10 teams but only 9 play).
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Post by daveh on Jan 24, 2023 9:18:25 GMT 2
At the weekend Sfakera drew 1-1 at home to Spartyllas. I was unable to make the game.
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Post by janiemou on Jan 24, 2023 11:17:15 GMT 2
I was surprised they played the match considering how wet it was.
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Post by daveh on Jan 30, 2023 9:36:15 GMT 2
This weekend Sfakera had a 3-0 walkover victory v Kontokali who dropped out after fixtures were drawn. They sit 4th in the league.
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