THE Abergavenny Thursdays Under 16 squad travelled to Germany last weekend to help celebrate 40 years of twinning between Oestringen and the 'Gateway to Wales'.

The players, resplendent in their club tracksuits sponsored by Keith Price Garages, and sporting their new team kit sponsored by AGS Fleet Hire of Abergavenny, played two matches against their counterparts in our German twin.

Oestringen - 1

Abergavenny Thursdays - 4

THE first of these games was to contest the Abergavenny Chronicle Cup and took place at the newly constructed sports stadium in Oestringen.

The match was between the younger members of both clubs and provided a flowing affair.

The superb carpet like surface of the pitch helped the Aber boys with their passing game and they continually opened up the German defence with good wide ranging passes from Jimmy Davies in midfield and fine wing play from Ellis Jones.

This potent combination paid dividends when Jones, running onto a pass from Davies, cooly placed the ball beyond the German keeper, to give the Thursdays the lead.

Aber continued to press but were denied purely due to the tenacity and skill of the aforesaid keeper.

However, it was not all one way traffic and the German threat was only thwarted through the solid defensive work of Elliot Heffernan, Matthew Tagg and Hugh Williams.

Jake Groves in goal made several good saves to keep the Thursdays' noses in front, but after Aber failed to capitalise on their own chances, the inevitable German equaliser came just before half-time to make it all square going into the interval.

In the second half it pretty much became the Josh Stephens show. As Davies and Luke Powell began to regain control of midfield, some excellent work work by Iuen Evans and Jordan Banfield on the flank, led to Stephens restoring the visitor's lead from close range.

Shortly after he bagged his brace with a well struck shot from the edge of the box following a fine pass from Connor Dando. Much to his team mates' delight, Stephens completed his hat-trick when he knocked in a rebound from his own freekick in the last minute to keep the Chronicle Cup in Abergavenny.

This score flattered the Thursdays though, for the hosts played excellent throughout and were denied twice by the crossbar and some excellent goal keeping from Groves.

FC Oestringen - 2

Abergavenny Thursdays U16 - 1

THE second of the games took place at the more familiar Waldstadion home of FC Oestringen which also boasted a pitch in excellent condition.

This game was played against the hosts U17 team and comprised players drawn from the wider area, who play in the Third Division of the German National Football pyramid.

The players poised a considerable challenge to the Aber lads who attacked the game full on with a skill and purpose that left both locals and tourists alike applauding from the stands.

Aber's excellent defence of Zach Scadden, Ryan Groves, Mitch Heffernan and Charlie Prosser cancelled out the Oestringen attack and neither team scored any goals in the first-half.

The second 45 minutes mirrored the first, until a couple of injuries picked up by some Aber lads disrupted the cohesion of the team and they conceded two quick goals which seemed to put the game to bed.

But the never say die attitude of the Thursdays, led in midfield by Joe Palmer, saw them regain the initiative and dominate the last 20 minutes.

It was the hero of the previous match, Josh Stephens, who put hope back into the hearts of Aber when he scored a fine goal after being put through by Liam Wildy.

Aber showed a lot of fighting spirit to press for an equaliser but unfortunately one was not forthcoming as the game ended with a defeat.

However, no matter who won and who lost, both matches reflected the tradition of sportsmanship and fair play that has been the rock on which these fixtures have been built over the years.