Match Report 05.11.17

Aylsham FC U12 v Dereham Town U12 Blacks, Aldiss Park

A bright, sunny but chilly day as Aylsham FC U12 visited Dereham Town U12 Blacks home ground, Aldiss Park, in a clash between the first and third placed teams in the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League Premiership this afternoon (Sunday 5th November).

After a respectfully observed minute’s silence Dereham kicked off with the wind at their backs. In the 1st minute from a long clearance from Loz, Mitchy capitalised on a misplaced header and broke clear down the right. After outpacing his defender he put in a low cross and only a crucial touch from a Dereham defender prevented Freddy getting a clean strike on the ball. Aylsham were dominating in wide areas with Denver and Mitchy down the right and Adam and Freddy down the left looking to create chances as Aylsham took the game to the hosts.

In the 3rd minute Aylsham took a well deserved lead after clearing a Dereham throw. Alfie received the ball and protected it well, creating himself enough time and space to play the pass for Freddy to run onto from inside the Aylsham half. Freddy burst clear taking a great first touch before drawing the goalkeeper and finishing clinically low down into the corner of the net.

Aylsham continued to pull the strings, attacking purposefully with neat interchanges all over the pitch. In contrast, Dereham looked to move the ball directly down the middle with Ollie and his defensive partners having to keep a watchful eye as the home side pressed for an equaliser.

Josh and Jude were in the thick of the action and had to remain strong and controlled in the central midfield area. Josh tried his luck from distance after reacting quickest to a loose ball but saw his shot clear the bar. Moments later Jude switched play from the right finding Freddy in a great position but his left footed shot went just wide.

Alfie was given little time on the ball as he was quickly closed down at every opportunity, but worked hard to bring other players into the game, freeing up space for his teammates to exploit. He made a great run onto a Freddy through ball and after beating his defender curled his shot just the wrong side of the post hitting the side netting. As Aylsham went in search of their second, a goalmouth scramble following a point blank save from Alfie was hastily cleared from inside the six yard box. Adam, Freddy and Josh combined well to create a shooting opportunity for Mitchy but the Dereham defence stood strong.

Aylsham continued to create chances using the full width of the field and pushed wide while attacking but defended centrally to counteract Dereham’s tactics. Freddy and Mitchy swapped flanks and within a minute of this change Aylsham furthered their advantage on 14 minutes. Dereham put a long ball over the top that was cleared confidently by Ollie with Jude bringing the ball under control before playing a great ball into space to his left. Mitchy was onto it and turned his defender inside out before rifling a left footed thunderbolt into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

In the 18th minute an exquisite piece of skill by Josh, flicking the ball over his marker, created a shooting chance for Alfie but the keeper pulled off a fine save diving to his left to push the ball behind. The busy keeper did well again from Mitchy’s in-swinging corner, blocking Denver’s first-time effort at the front post.

Dereham had a good spell of possession as the half progressed and created a few chances that Loz dealt with comfortably. Josh took a knock and was replaced by Jaiden with a few minutes left in the half. Dereham had a further chance that brought a fine diving save from Loz.

A nice ball from Jaiden set Mitchy away and his cross was well controlled by Alfie but the keeper came out quickly to bravely smother the ball before he could get his shot away. The whistle blew to bring the first half to an end with the visitors deservedly leading 2-0, slightly disappointed not to be further ahead on the balance of play.

Aylsham kicked off the second half with Tyler coming on to replace Adam at left back. Dereham looked to get themselves back into the game and created the first opportunity from a left footed drive that flew past the far post. Moments later Denver put in a perfectly timed challenge in the box to block another Dereham attempt. From a Freddy throw, Alfie centred, and the clearance dropped to Jaiden who volleyed a shot on target that the keeper held well.

It was frantic stuff as both sides looked for the next all important goal with the tempo of the game increasing. Dereham almost pulled one back after a low cross was struck goalwards, but a crucial intervention by Tyler diverted the shot wide in the 35th minute. A minute later Aylsham had a chance of their own as Freddy forced an error and burst forward only to see his drive fly over the bar from just outside the area.

Jack came on in the 37th minute, replacing Mitchy on the left side of midfield. Aylsham broke forward again after another good clearance from Ollie and Freddy and Alfie combined to win a corner. Freddy’s centre was perfectly flighted to the back post where Denver rose to power a header into the back of the net to make it 3-0 to Aylsham.

The hosts were undeterred and continued to press forward with Loz having to quickly come off his line smartly to block a shot before Dereham had the ball in the back of the net from a header, but the referee ruled it out after a foul on Denver. Dereham continued fighting to get back into the game with Jaiden putting in two strong tackles on the edge of the area and Ollie clearing the danger.

Aylsham continued to have success down the flanks with Jaiden, Jude and Jack combining well to move the ball quickly to Alfie and only a last ditch clearance prevented the ball being returned to Jack as he burst forward down the left. Loz had to be at his best to keep out another Dereham effort as the game opened up. Freddy had a sight of goal after being sent clear by Alfie but unfortunately placed his shot just wide as the second half reached its midway point.

A nice move involving Jude, Jaiden, Jack and Alfie won Aylsham a corner. After Freddy’s first cross was cleared he put in a second deeper centre that Alfie acrobatically volleyed just over. Dereham tried to counter down their right but Tyler showed great determination to halt a promising move and put Aylsham back on the front foot.

Dereham won two free kicks in quick succession but both were dealt with confidently by Loz. The Aylsham stopper had to be at his best shortly afterwards, pulling off a superb one handed diving save to tip over a volleyed effort that looked a goal all the way.

With 6 minutes left Dereham managed to breakthrough Aylsham’s backline to reduce the arrears after a strong run down the left which led to a low cross that was well finished at the back post. Dereham pushed on and looked to get the ball forward at every opportunity aiming to set up a grandstand finish. Dereham thought they’d scored their second following a tap in but the striker was  adjudged to be in an offside position.

Adam returned to the fold and a good long throw created an opportunity for Alfie to shoot, but his firmly struck effort flew over the bar. Alfie was involved immediately, turning provider again after seizing on the resultant goal-kick. After twisting and turning to keep possession under pressure he moved the ball left to the returning Mitchy who hit a first time right footed shot that beat the keeper low down to restore Aylsham’s three goal cushion.

The whistle blew to signal the end of a good quality game of football, well contested by two determined sides. Aylsham were fully deserving of their seventh straight victory of the season with a thoroughly professional performance, controlling the game for long periods with everyone playing their part in a hard fought win.