ACE Magazine

Football Fever
by Nick Millward, ACE Academic Coordinator

A friendly match with BAAC
Final Score: BAAC: 11 – ACE / IDP: 10
Man of the Match: Aaron Kelly
Goal scorers: Aaron Kelly “15, “23, “67, Somnoup Yous “51 “84, Nick Tate”02, “50, Sothea Korng “19, “44, Panha En”90

In a free flowing, high scoring thriller ACE / IDP were unfortunate to be beaten by their opponents, the British Alumni Association of Cambodia (BAAC), who were led by the current Deputy Director of Economy and Trade, HE Sovann Dy.
The match got off to a great start with ACE / IDP frontman Nick Tate wriggling past a series of challenges before slotting the ball home in a neat finish. Not to be beaten, Sothea Korng, whose direct running and midfield invention were to be a feature of the game, smashed home a lovely finish from just inside the penalty area.
The pressure was on BAAC but they responded well and for most of the first half, the game was in the balance. Aaron Kelly, the game’s outstanding performer, headed in his first from a well delivered corner, before hitting a screamer into the top corner a few minutes later. Kelly had the opportunity to turn it into a hat-trick when he was bought down in the BAAC box but was unable to convert the resulting penalty.
The tide shifted and the pressure was building on the ACE / IDP defence, Hangkruy Lim in particular put his body on the line for the team, Jeremy Lindeck a rock at the back, and Chhordarren Nhem causing problems with his pace and willingness to run forward.
However, the team began to tire in the second half, despite goals from Panha En and Somnoup Yous, and Kelly sealing his hat-trick, the ACE / IDP team were unable to do quite enough to earn the win.

A big thank you to the British Alumni Association of Cambodia (BAAC) team and President Dr Dy Sovann for helping organise the match. We look forward to the next round!

Close Match with Reigning Tournament Champions Bayon Wanderers
Final Score: Bayon Wanderers: 7 ACE / IDP: 4
Goal Scorers: Kelly 24”, Tate 26”, Tate 31”, Tate 71”
Man of the Match: Nick Tate

In the blazing afternoon sun, players from ACE / IDP lined up to take on Bayon Wanderers, a team with over 20 years history and experience of playing in Phnom Penh, who had played against Cambodian National League teams and even the Cambodian National Team itself.
The ACE / IDP team were playing together for the first time on a large, 9-a-side pitch but with experienced players such as Director of Studies Jeremy Lindeck in the side, the team began well, playing some good football as they sought to unravel a well-organised Bayon defence, Clinton McManus forcing an excellent save from the goalkeeper early on. The tide changed on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, when goalkeeper, Jason Stockslager was unable to keep out a 20-yard swerving strike from the Bayon centre-forward, which left the friends and colleagues from ACE who had turned up to the 3G stadium, silent on the touchline.
Not to be subdued, ACE / IDP bounced back when a well-taken corner from McManus was headed in at the front-post by Aaron Kelly. Almost immediately after the equaliser, Nick Tate, picking the ball up from near the half-way line, dribbled past several defenders before slamming the ball into the top corner of the net. Despite a Bayon fight back, ACE / IDP went into the halftime break on level terms with the score 3-3.
There was a moment of controversy in the 68th minute when McManus, once again at the centre of action, latched on to a ball in the Bayon penalty area only to be brought down in the box. The Bayon players froze, certain of the penalty, but the referee waved play on to the amazement of the ACE / IDP players.
In spite of a tactical master class from team manager, Adam Drinkwater, the heat began to impact on the players as the second half progressed when not even excellent performances from Somnoup Yous, and the influential Vutthan Loem could prevent the team going down to a 7-4 defeat.

A big thank you to Bayon Wanderers for the match and to all the ACE / IDP players and fans who came out in support!

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