This report from Liam Brewer of UITC
U14s Progress to the Quarter Finals of National League Competition
Newport County U14s 2 – 3 Hereford FC U14s (AET)
The U14s join the U15s in the Quarter Finals of
the JPL National Cup after beating Newport County yesterday in their
last 16 match!
Hereford U14s travelled to Newport to take on
Newport County on Saturday in the Last 16 of the Junior Premier League
National Cup. The game to be played on a 3G surface at Llanwern School.
They had met twice before this season in league games with Hereford
winning 3-0 at home but Newport County winning 3-2 in the return fixture
just two weeks ago. Newport had qualified for this stage automatically
due to the early season league based qualification process whereas
Hereford had come through a play-off against Bristol Inner City Fc on a
two leg 7-3 aggregate win.
Hereford were missing their 22 goal striker
Declan Beddoes through suspension so had prepared to use a new shape
using lone striker Sam Williams up front with the midfield and wide
players expected to support him when we attacked. The first half started
brightly for Hereford with the players having taken on board the new
shape and utilising the wide players of Luke Bufton and Toby King to
great effect. After 15 minutes the ball bounced around in Newport
County’s box for what seemed like and eternity until up popped Owain
Woodcock to nudge the ball over the line with his head. This stung
Newport County into life and they gradually came back into the game
pressing Hereford back into their own half. On 25 Minutes Newport
County equalised with a shot from the angle of the box and five minutes
later they took the lead when Hereford failed to clear the ball and
were punished by the Newport County player.
Half time came at the right
time for Hereford and the pack was shuffled to try to regain the
initiative. Max Farmer in the Hereford goal then kept them in the game a
number of times with a fine display of goalkeeping and at the other
end the County goalkeeper did the same as Rob Whitlock drove Hereford
forward with Shaun Yalland probing and dictating play. With around 7
minutes to go and Hereford still 2-1 down the Hereford coaches threw the
last roll of the dice and put centre half Charlie Austin-Williams up
front to offer a different option. They gained a couple of corners and
from the second one it was Charlie Austin-Williams himself who after the
first cross had been cleared sent the ball into the box for Sam
Williams to hook the ball goalwards and past the despairing hand of the
Newport Goalkeeper. The Hereford players had got what their superb
performance had deserved and taken the game to extra time. In the first
period of extra time Jack Sage swept forward from full back and sent
over a looping cross which Luke Bufton attacked with purpose at the far
post with the goalkeeper and the ball fell to the on rushing Sam
Williams who gleefully side footed the loose ball home. Herefords game
management then came into play and every player chased and harried and
kept their shape to keep Newport at bay. Finally in the last minute of
extra time from a free kick Newport thought they had taken the game to
penalties when the centre half headed home but the referee had already
correctly blown for offside. At the end of a pulsating game in which
every member of the Hereford squad had played their part it was a happy
set of players that were greeted by their parents.
A trip to Reading (SW) now awaits the victorious Hereford team in the last 8 on a date to be confirmed.
Hereford U14 squad – Max Farmer, William Byng,
Finn Jones, Joshua Bridges, Luke Bufton, Toby King, Henry Hancocks, Jack
Sage, Sam Williams, Owain Woodcock, Lollan Guinane, Shaun Yalland, Will
Thomas, Charlie Austin-Williams, Rob Whitlock ( Captain )
Scorers – Sam Williams (2), Owain Woodcock
Manager - Daniel Emery Assistant manager – Simon Phillips
A
huge well done to players and coaches from the U14s and U15s over the
past 2 weeks who will both compete in the Quarter Finals of the National
Competition and I am sure have all set their targets of going all the
way to the final!!
Dartford FC U16s 1 - 0 Hereford U16s
One
final mention must go to our excellent U16s team, who were
unfortunately knocked out the National competition yesterday by Dartford
FC, 1-0... The Hereford Boys made the 390 mile round trip to face an
excellent Dartford team but were dissapointed to come away not
victorious. The U16s dominated the game for long periods and feel they
should of won the game. They all did the football club proud and will
now concentrate on remaining league fixtures.