Steve Brotherwood reports on the success of the two UITC teams yesterday.
The U15 and U16 Youth Academy teams capped a fine first season back in
the JPL by carrying off the shield competitions for their respective age
groups.
The U16s took on Salisbury FC at 10.30am at The Corinium Stadium, home
of Cirencester Town FC. Dean Clarke and his men have been on the march
since the turn of the year and winning the shield competition has
completed a fine turn around in 2015.
In a tight and tense affair, the first chance fell to the men in white
when Sam Oxley raced through only to be denied by a fine save from the
Salisbury Keeper. Matt MacDonald found space on the edge of the area but
couldn't fire a shot away as Hereford controlled
early proceedings. Captain Jay Richmond expertly marshalled a back line
that kept Salisbury's direct style of play at bay with Goalkeeper James
Aurelius rarely called into action. Salisbury did have a spell of
sustained pressure as the first half came to a
close, but the Young Bulls stood firm and the first half closed with
the score still 0-0.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first, neither
team willing to give an inch. Hereford broke the deadlock when a fine
team moved was calmly finished off by the lively Oxley as he rounded the
Salisbury Keeper to send the travelling band
of supporters into raptures. The goal was no more than the whites
deserved having taken the early initiative at the start of the second
period.
The goal sparked Salisbury into life and they would equalise before the
game was out to take the game into extra time. Lewis Clarke was replaced
with a calf injury before the unfortunate Ben Scotford also limped off
with a calf problem as extra Time began.
The two ten minutes extra time periods were nervy with chances at a premium.
Matt MacDonald was doing his best from an advanced midfield role but his
shot was blocked as it headed towards goal. Into penalties we headed
with neither goalkeeper troubled. Penalties is always a lottery, it's
great when you win, horrible when you lose. Someone's
a hero, someone's a villain.
Lewis Corrick calmly slotted in the opener, 1-0. Salisbury Equalised 1-1
Jay Richmond made it 2-1 to the Bulls before goalkeeper James Aurelius
made a fine save from the next Salisbury penalty to give the whites the
advantage.
Matt MacDonald sent the keeper the wrong way 3-1, Salisbury pulled one back 3-2.
Sam Oxley smashed home his penalty to give us a 4-2 lead before Salisbury kept the pressure on to make it 4-3.
Sean Powell had a chance to win it. Only to be denied by a fine diving
save from the Salisbury keeper who then equalised to send the game into
sudden the death. 4-4.
Ethan Clarke and Kieron Young both slotted home for the Bulls before
James Aurelius produced a full length save to win the game for us and
spark wild celebrations amongst players and supporters. The win was no
more than the boys deserved and they showed an
abundance of character and determination to overcome a stubborn
Salisbury side, in the 12 games since the turn of the year they have
suffered just one defeat and have produced some dazzling displays of
football to overcome most before them. Credit to Clarkey
and his men who have been superb in 2015.
After the drama of the early kick off, the U15s had the difficult task
of trying follow the U16s in carrying off their respective shield
competition. Cheered on by their own band of supporters and many of the
successful U16s squad, the boys produced their finest
display of the season to complete a double.
Facing an in form Rushden & Diamonds side who had won all of their
11 games in 2015, we entered the game as clear underdogs due to our
indifferent form this season. Some excellent performances have been
overshadowed by some below par displays that have left
both players and staff frustrated and consistency has been an issue for
what is a talented bunch of players.
Ethan McInery unlucky missed out on the match day squad having suffered a
double arm break a couple of weeks back and it was great to have Ethan
their with us yesterday to share the success.
On to the game itself, now a 1.00pm KO due to the extended U16 fixture
and we were under pressure from the first whistle with R&D on the
front foot from the off. Liam Griffiths had to race his line to snub out
one attack before Tom Nunn was harshly adjudged
to have bought down the lively number 9 for R&D and the referee
pointed to the spot. Fortunately for us, the R&D attacker struck
wide from 12 yards and we never looked back to produce our finest
display of the season.
Captain Cameron Godsall gave an inspired performance at centre half
alongside the solid Josh Peace while Tom Nunn and Jake Ashford
controlled the centre of the pitch and it wasn't long before we got the
goal our had work deserved. We were right In the face
of the opposition and we won a lot of second balls high up the pitch
which gave us a great platform to work from. Nunn sent Greg Preece away
and he calmly lobbed over the on rushing Rushden keeper to give us a 1-0
lead.
Joe Mellars replaced Charlie Meek in a bid to freshen things up and he
created two good chances for himself only to be denied by fine saves.
Mellars has worked incredibly hard this year for the U14 age group and
has been a breath of fresh air since making the
step up to the U15s. We were unlucky not to add to the score line but
happy to go in a goal to the good.
The half time team talk was easy, keep doing what we're doing and we
will get the rewards, take our foot off the gas and we will get
punished. One thing we have been guilty of this season is producing for
40mins instead of the fully 80mins.
The boys produced a display of a steely determination that they weren't
gonna let the game slip and that was the most pleasing thing of all. We
added to our lead when Greg Preece was dragged down when through on goal
and he got up to tuck away the spot kick.
On 60minutes, Laurie Morgan Clare scored a brilliant header from a Tom
Nunn corner and make the game safe at 3-0. We saw the game out and again
were unlucky not to have scored more.
Credit to all the players on yesterday's performance, the challenge for
them is to produce these types of performance on a more regular basis
next season. Left back Dan Pugh was voted MOM by the league members
watching, in truth it could have gone to anyone
of the 16 players in yesterday's match day squad and that is a great
position to be in.