Red Devils ready for Moreland

29 Apr, 2011 11:43 PM

FEW teams have started the Football Federation Victoria state league two season in better form than the Ballarat Red Devils. Today’s opponent Moreland City is one of them.

Top of the table Moreland City is yet to lose a match and has scored 14 goals in its opening three matches. Those games included big wins over Geelong (7-2) and Banyule (5-1) in the past fortnight. Welsh import Darren Griffiths bagged seven of those goals, including two hat-tricks.

In addition, Moreland won its Mirabella Cup clash against state league one side Fawkner Blues last Saturday 3-2, highlighting its strong form.

After a 14-day lay-off from the league, the Haymes Red Devils will be equally hopeful of continuing the form they have shown, at Moreland. In the past fortnight the Red Devils have played two Mirabella Cup matches for two wins, and have only lost once this season.

“Moreland was very impressive on Saturday against one of the top state one sides and have only lost one game since the 4-0 defeat to us in round 12 last year and that was the final game of the season to champions Port Melbourne,” Ballarat coach Joe Fedele said.

“They are determined to win promotion to state one this season so it’ll be our biggest test of the year without doubt.”

The pitch at Moreland is not in as good condition as Trekardo Park, with Fedele likely to tinker the game plan with a view to playing the ball longer to front men Paul McClounan and Kyran Taylor.

“I think we’ve been poor in front of goal of late but we’ve been fortunate to not really be punished for it,” Fedele said. “Against Moreland, we need to be clinical in the final part of the pitch and take advantage of the chances we create. This has been our focus at training all week”

The Reds will go into the match with the same line-up that started against Clifton Hill, apart from Adam Newbold who has a hamstring injury. Newbold is a chance to return in time for Ballarat’s next home match, against Brunswick at Trekardo Park.

On what is likely to be a bumpy surface there will be plenty of tackling and physical work to be done and Ballarat will rely heavily on Josh Romein and Brian Shelley.

At the back, Michael Leslie, Tristan Romein, David King and Charlie King are likely to have their busiest match to date this season, as will Red Devils number one Darryl Newby.

“The depth of the squad will be tested this week as this will be our seventh match this month, but I’m certain the players will lift for the top team in the league,” Fedele said.

Red Devils: Newbold to return to England

BY GAV MCGRATH
04 May, 2012 11:59 PM

ENGLISH import Adam Newbold will leave the Ballarat Red Devils before the end of the month.

The 22-year-old striker will return to England to accept an offer of full-time employment, and will sever ties with the Football Federation Victoria state league two club on May 16.

The former Nottingham Forest player will play two more games for the Haymes Red Devils, including today’s FFV state league two match against Brunswick City at Trekardo Park, before heading back to Nottingham to start his new career.

“Everything is fantastic out here but with a full-time job in England I’d be foolish to turn it down,” Newbold said.

“I’d have loved to see the season out. There is an exciting young squad so it would have been great to see how far we could go, but football is not going to be my career forever and it’s time to look at other things in my life.

“I just want to say I appreciate what (coach) Brian Shelley and (technical director) Paul Smalley have done for me in my time at the club.”

Newbold said he had no plans to play at any high level in England.

Red Devils playing coach Brian Shelley admitted the power forward’s departure would create a hole but, as an overseas import himself, he understands Newbold’s decision.

“It is nothing to do with the footballing point of view which is frustrating for us. We are sad to lose a player of his quality but we understand there are things that are important in life other than football,” Shelley said.

“He has been offered a full-time job back home. He would have had to go back at the end of the season, and the job might not have been there.

“Adam has been playing since he was 15 or 16 when he signed on at Nottingham Forest as an apprentice. He’s come to a point, even though he is young, where there are other things in his life.

“I understand it. I’ve been playing for a long time, and I’m looking at a career in management and coaching, and staying in football that way.

“Adam leaves on May 16, so we have him for two more games.

“He will be part of the squad until the day he goes.”

http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/sport/athletics/red-devils-newbold-to-return-to-england/2545441.aspx