Davey

We travelled to Calama to play Cobreola. I was just hoping we good put in the same level of performance as we had in our match with Concepcion but this time have a bit more luck!

Again, we started well, it was Reyes again who got on the scoresheet after just 7 mins. Again, we were to conceed before half time sending us in drawing 1-1 at halftime.

The second half was disappointing, we lost our way and found it hard to make any sort of impact in the game. We gave away a goal midway and as the game finished 2-1 to Cobreola I felt slightly relived that it was only 2-1 and nothing more.

Still though I felt we were playing good football and we could play our way out of trouble and hopefully get our first win at home to Temuco.

Davey

We approached the game with Temuco knowing a defeat would leave fighting it out with the other clubs at the bottom of the table and it wouldn't be the start we wanted. On the other hand I knew it was early days, and at this stage just a few points can lift you up the table.

I'd always felt we could play our way out of trouble and this was the match which proved me right, we took the lead through our right winger Santibanez early in the first half after piling the pressure on the Temuco defence. Just four minutes later though our on loan defender Claudio Munoz pulled down a Temuco forward when he was the last man, Munoz was given his marching orders. We didn't let our heads drop though depsite being a man down and contained Temuco to half time.

We needed a second goal to finish Temuco off and in a dominating second half we managed to do so with our AMC Sebastian Calderon scoring a cracker. We finished the game 2-0 and despite having 10 men we didn't face much of a fight and send Temuco back home empty handed.

Our first win, this needs to be a turning point and in front of the TV cameras away to Rangers could be the perfect opportunity to show people that Union San Felipe aren't pushovers.

Davey

Our forth league game, our first in front of the TV cameras resulted in a memorable 4-1 victory away to Rangers.

Despite Rangers taking an early lead, a remarkable solo effort from my on loan winger Fierro puts us level just before half time. We dominate the second half for long periods and when Rangers had their midfielder sent off half way through for 2 bookings, we took advantage taking the lead 2-1. We then nicked another 2 goals in the last ten minutes as Rangers pushed forward.

Getting our second consecutive win gave me great satisfaction, our first team games we outplayed our opposition, now we're outplaying the opposition, scoring goals and winning.

This really puts us in a good position for our next match, a midweek encounter at home against Universidad de Chile.

Despite being one of the leagues biggest clubs and have only won one match out of four. Fortunately their star player Marcelo Salas misses the game through injury.

An historic 3-1 victory over Universidad de Chile saw my Union San Felipe made it three consecutive wins. Our biggest home gate of the season (3,311) saw Universidad take the lead through a debatable penalty in the 25th min.

We grew in confidence in the second half and our patience paid off as we levelled through my subsitute striker Freddy Amijo, the goal lifted us even more as we piled further pressure on Universidad and through another sub striker, young Sebastion Calderon we made it 2-1, then to cap it all off Calderon made it 3-1 to ensure us the points with a fantastic finish placing the ball in the top hand corner from a tight, narrow angle.

This midweek game was the highlight of our season so far and a spokesman from the supporters club believes it is the start of an exciting new era for the club.

Our recent run of form has put us up to 6th in the league and we occupy 2nd place in our sub-group.

A visit this weekend to the capital, Santiago for our next game against title chasing Universidad Catolica will surely prove a stiff test for us. Despite having the same record as ourselves (Won 3 Lost 2) I will be more than happy to take a point from the game.

Davey

Despite being on a run of three consecutive victories things fall apart in Santiago, where we lost 4-0 to Unversidad Catolica.

The pre-seasons big spenders wipe us out when two defensive errors cost us with a goal apiece for Jorge Queinteros and Luis Ignacio Queinteros in the first half whilst two goals from Joel Estay in the second half put the game beyond any doubt.

A bit of a blow to us, a draw would of been great but to lose the way we did was disappointing. We had alot of the ball but continually failed to create, giving it away and got punished. A particularly bad error (which gave them the 2nd goal) from goalkeeper Omar Arcos ensured I had the jitters every time he got the ball. I tried my little trick of bringing on my two forwards and going 4-4-2 at half time but it failed to come off. It worked so well in the Rangers game but 21 year old Sebastion Calderon really looked out of his depth today.

After the game I told the press I felt Jorge Pellicer would lead Universidad Catolica to the league championship. I think we shouldn't be too downhearted because we cannot match the larger clubs in the division but its important now we can bounce back in our next match at home to struggling Melipilla.

Melipilla's visit has added importance as they are also in the same sub-group as us.

Davey

A disciplined performance and the debut of AMC/FC Luiz Nunez who joins up with the squad a pre-season injury see Union San Felipe start with 4-4-2 aiming to bounce back from the midweek 4-0 defeat at the hands of Unverisdad Catolica.

Things go well, very well and within 9 mins we are 2-0 up with a debut goal from Luiz Nunez and an effort from AMC Rafael Celedon. We dictate the game until half time. Where I remind the players to keep working the ball and don't let complacency creep in. We go keep at Melipilla but lack focus in the 70th min when they nick a goal, we continue to work hard and create and as Melipilla are pushing forward the score in the last minute as subsitute DMC Juan Carlos Espinozaheads the ball over the line to send the 2000 fans crazy and securing us the three points.

The added importance of Melipilla being our sub-group is confirmed as Concepcion lose 5-2 to Universidad Catolica which sees climb to Union San Felipe in first place and climb to fifth in the league.

Our next match see's us visit Santiago again as we take on winless Audax Italiano at the Municpal de La Florida. If the early form is anything to go by we should be looking to pick up the full three points...

Davey

If anyone has any positive/negative comments or any questions feel free to post them.

Guess I let my imagination run a bit wild at the beginning!!

Davey

The sight when the players ran out at the Municpal de La Florida was slightly unmotivating for the game ahead of us, just 335 Audax Italiano supporters in their 8,500 capacity stadium. Nevertheless we had to remain proffesional and focused if we were to continue Audax Italiano's winless streak of seven games!

The game kicked off with both sides looking equal with and it took us a little while to settle into the match. Come the 23rd minute though Patrico Reyes grabbed his third of the season with a lovely finish to give us the lead. Audax Italiano fought to get back into things but getting more possesion they wasted chance after chance and looked to lack any sort of quality or compsure in our box as the game finished 1-0 at half time.

The second half provide much of the same, again Audax Italiano got hold of the ball but again their final ball and finishing was poor. I began to wonder how long we could continue to depend on their lack of quality up front but decided to resist making any changes and stick with things.

With the final 20 mins to go we began to look a little heavy legged so brought on 17 year old loanee Juan Pablo Arens to make his third appearance in the Union San Felipe shirt, I also freshened up our forward line with Armijo replacing Reyes ten mins later. Then, in the 81st minute we secured the win with a fantastic 25 yard finish from Celedon. It looked to take a bit of a deflection on the way in the replay but we weren't complaining anyway. There was no way we were going to drop points now, and as the ref blew for full time, I told the players I was delighted with them all for their comitment and focus throughout the 90mins.

I remembered back to our first match against Concepcion when we played so well, only to lose 2-1 and I said back then, there would be occassions when we don't play as well but still win. This was one of those games.

The win lifts us to 4th position in the league, only a point behind Colo Colo who have a game in hand though and just 3 points behind the joint league leaders Universidad Catolica and Everton.

Better still, we are 2 points clear of second place Huachipato in our sub-group and 4 points clear of Concepcion who hold the 3rd place. Considering the top two from each group go through to the next round I really think we have a chance now providing we can maintain our form over the next 11 games.

We've also been speaking to clubs regarding to potential transfers, Fierro the young winger on loan to us from Colo Colo is someone who I really want to make a permanent signing but negotiations are still some way off as we cannot afford Colo Colo's current demands.

I'm also looking at a 20 year old left back called Omar Riquelme, he plays for Union Espanola's under 20's but is someone who I'm sure can do a job for us. We agreed terms with the club for £100,000 and also agreed terms with the player but the concern is that if we bought him we'd only have £60,000 left to spend meaning we'd never be able to sign Fierro, also left back isn't a weak area for us right now. I've no doubts though that Omar Riquelme is a great talent and I don't want to let him get away.

Our fixtures see us playing weekly now, making a nice change from the two games a-week schedule we've been on so far. Our next to matches are both at the Municipal de San Felipe where we play mid-table La Serena and then sixth placed Union Espanola. I'd be happy to come through those two games with 4 points so, we'll have to wait and see.

retired_workingmom77

Have a break, have a KitKat.

You've been writing all day!

P.S Good start.

Davey

haha thanks mate... bought time someone else wrote something in here...

retired_workingmom77

It amazes me that more people don't choose South America as a story setting. Now there's two of us :thup:

Good luck in Chile, its a devil to win outside the likes of Colo Colo and Universidad.