Match Report 12.11.17

Aylsham FC U12 v Sprowston FC U12 Hawks, Open Academy

Bright but chilly, blustery conditions at Open Academy where Aylsham FC U12 travelled to take on Sprowston FC U12 Hawks in the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League Premiership this morning (Sunday 12th November).

After a respectfully observed minute’s silence Jack kicked off for Aylsham wearing their change kit of all black against a stiff breeze. Aylsham looked to play the ball on the ground to feet and made inroads into the Sprowston half. Two minutes in, after moving the ball down the left, Aylsham won a corner. Freddy swung in a great delivery and although a Sprowston defender got his head to it, the ball went up in the air. Alfie reacted quickest to nod the ball powerfully back across goal where the keeper could only help the ball into the net for 1-0 Aylsham.

There were two constrasting styles of play in the early exchanges with Aylsham trying to move the ball quickly on the ground where possible and Sprowston looking to clear their lines and utilise the wind to get the ball forward on the break. Denver won a header to find Jude in  space and he played a nice ball for Mitchy to run onto in the 7th minute. From the right side Mitchy whipped in a great first time delivery that the keeper just snatched off Jack’s toes as Aylsham looked to further their advantage.

A couple of minutes later Sprowston had their first sight of goal as the striker looked to lift the ball back over Loz but saw his effort drop wide. A long throw from Adam found Alfie in space and only a last ditch clearance prevented his cross reaching Jack and Freddy in the box.

Sprowston had four at the back and defended deeply, staying compact, giving the Aylsham forward line very little time on the ball as chances were few and far between. Long balls over the top kept coming and Ollie marshalled well at centre back, winning headers and timing his challenges perfectly. As Sprowston put together a promising attack Ollie and Jude combined well to clear the danger.

In the 12th minute Adam was first to another Sprowston clearance, driving forward and beating two men skilfully before poking the ball through to Alfie but a brave block prevented him from finishing off the fine move. Adam was in the thick of things again moments later, arrowing a great ball into space for Mitchy to run onto, but another great block from the cross conceded a corner. Mitchy and Freddy took a quick short corner leading to a half chance for Denver that flew over the bar.

The wind picked up and the temperature seemed to suddenly drop and another long ball created an opening for Sprowston but the striker’s left footed shot went wide. However in the 20th minute the hosts were level after a through ball was poked goalwards past Loz and found its way into the net via a deflection.

With 5 minutes to go before half time, Sprowston almost scored a second with a firm header from a corner but Aylsham were grateful for Adam’s intervention clearing the ball off the line and away.

The game was very much end to end as the half neared it’s conclusion and Alfie saw his shot from distance fly just wide. Moments later Alfie burst through to round the keeper but just couldn’t quite find Jack at the back post.

Charlie replaced Denver and immediately linked up well with Jack down the right. Jack played the ball accurately through for Alfie to run onto and only a brilliant sliding challenge stopped his progress to give Aylsham a corner. While Freddy’s centre was well claimed by the goalkeeper, Aylsham pushed forward again to win another corner on the very next attack with 3 minutes to go before half-time.

Mitchy’s cross from the right was palmed away by the keeper but Adam reacted quickest to fire in a vicious shot that was bravely blocked. The rebound fell perfectly to Freddy who drove the ball low down past the keeper into the net to give Aylsham the lead at the break.

Jack came off at half-time to be replaced by Tyler. The opening few minutes of the second half were very even as the conditions worsened with both sides going in search of the crucial next goal. Space was at a premium for the Aylsham players as Sprowston closed down quickly playing against the wind.

Jude played a great cross-field ball finding Mitchy in space but his shot was well blocked. Sprowston were defending deeply, keeping men behind the ball, resulting in few chances being created as the half wore on with Aylsham dominating possession.

A long throw by Charlie was directed to Adam who played it forward where Jude sold his defender a brilliant dummy. Alfie read this well to receive the ball with his back to goal before shaking off his defender and firing a shot that was acrobatically turned round the post by the diving home keeper.

Mitchy’s first corner was cleared at the front post. Mitchy took the second corner, this time a deeper one that was expertly controlled by Jude who then placed a firm shot low down past the keeper to extend Aylsham’s lead to 3-1 in the 36th minute.

Aylsham were very much on top with Sprowston rarely entering the visitors half, Charlie, Adam and Ollie marshalling the home attackers well. Mitchy scampered down the left, swinging in a cross that just evaded the onrushing Alfie and Tyler at the back post.

Holes began to appear as the game opened up and Freddy burst forward only to see his cross snatched away from Alfie by the busy Sprowston keeper. Aylsham were able to push up the pitch and Ollie tried his luck from distance but the keeper handled well. Ollie and Mitchy combined nicely down the left before the ball was moved to Alfie on the edge of the area. A Sprowston defender cleared the first ball but Tyler won it back to find Alfie again, in turn laying it off to Freddy who saw his stinging shot beaten away by the keeper in the 49th minute.

Aylsham continued on the offensive with Jude having a shot after being played in by Alfie, the keeper pulling off another great save, diving low down to his left. A hurried clearance fell to Freddy who fired his shot inches wide. On a rare foray forward after a long ball the Sprowston striker’s shot hit the target but was meat and drink for Loz as he gathered it comfortably before setting the visitors away again.

Denver returned to action and set Mitchy up well but his bending shot with the outside of his left foot fell just wide. Jack came back on soon after with Alfie making way and was soon involved finding Tyler out of the right. Freddy made a great run playing a neat pass back into Tyler who’s shot was blocked with Denver putting the rebound just over from the edge of the area.

Sprowston threatened with 7 minutes to go, Charlie putting in a well timed sliding tackle with Ollie bravely blocking the follow-up shot. Tyler then made inroads into the home side’s half setting Freddy away down the right. Freddy’s cross  from the right was helped on by Jack to Mitchy on the left and again the keeper was called into action, parrying Mitchy’s blockbusting strike.

Aylsham were virtually camped in their opponents half and another dangerous corner from Mitchy fell to Adam at the back post and only a great block on the line prevented an Aylsham fourth goal. Jack closed down a back pass to force a hurried clearance from the keeper with Freddy and Denver combing to find Mitchy in space but his cross-shot just evaded the back post as the rain began to fall.

The whistle blew to signal the end of a game of two contrasting styles in challenging conditions. Overall Aylsham controlled the game for long periods, but had to be on their guard and alert to the danger posed by Sprowston who defended resolutely and looked to counterattack quickly. Aylsham’s victory was their 8th straight win, setting them up nicely for the Kappa Cup fixture next Sunday in their quest for a league and cup double

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