Match Report 04.02.18
Aylsham FC U12 v Dereham Town Whites U12, Aldiss Park
After the disappointment of last week’s result, Aylsham FC U12 resumed their Kappa Cup defence with a trip to face Dereham Town Whites U12 at Aldiss Park this morning (Sunday 4th February) looking to get back to winning ways immediately. It was a bright but blustery morning with this the only game to beat the weather at Aldiss Park.
Dereham kicked off and 22 seconds later Aylsham took the lead. Ollie won the first long ball and combined well first with Mitchy and then with Jaiden. The ball was moved to Adam in the centre of midfield who took a touch before playing the ball through the middle for Alfie to burst clear before arrowing a fine left footed shot past the keeper into the far corner from outside the area. Two minutes later another flowing move started by Loz rolling it out to Jack at left back playing it quickly to Josh who threaded a wonderful cross-field throughball into Ollie’s path down the right channel. Ollie accelerated away and while his first effort was blocked he was quickly onto the rebound and was unlucky to see his second effort strike the base of the post.
A long ball over the top from Dereham threatened to breach the visitor’s back line but Loz came out quickly to clear the danger. Aylsham were soon on the offensive again as Josh made a jinking run down the left flank leaving defenders in his wake but was just crowded out as he looked to cross. Josh tried his luck from distance moments later but fired just over after Ollie’s cross was hacked clear.
Ollie and Alfie combined well down the right but bursting clear Ollie was upended on the edge of the box. Alfie sent the free kick to the back post where Mitchy nodded just wide. Aylsham extended their lead in the 9th minute after a lovely move. Jack picked up the ball at left back and switched it to Ollie on the right. Ollie and Jaiden combined well with the latter playing a ball forward for Alfie to chase. Alfie cut inside a defender and took a shot that the goalkeeper did well to parry. Adam reacted quickest to fire the loose ball back across the keeper into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0 to Aylsham.
Calm play at the back by Freddy allowed himself time and space to pick out Ollie on the right who sent Alfie away with a perfectly weighted ball but saw his powerful shot well saved by the Dereham keeper. From a quick short corner Ollie had an opportunity to test the keeper again but the stopper was equal to it to hang on to Ollie’s effort. A long clearance from Loz set Alfie on a run and he held it up well before linking up nicely with first Ollie who moved it to Mitchy and then onto Adam to work the ball to Josh who connected well but just couldn’t keep his shot down.
Aylsham’s third goal wasn’t far away as the game entered the 14th minute. Ollie was first to a goal kick before Mitchy picked up the loose ball but with his path forward blocked played back to Freddy who saw a gap and drove forward through the middle. A lovely ball sent Alfie through on goal and even though he was clipped going round the keeper, the ball broke to Josh who calmly slotted home from the left side of the area with the referee playing the advantage and awarding the goal.
A quick throw from Jack found Freddy in space and he played a wonderful ball into Ollie’s path and only a perfectly timed tackle prevented a shooting opportunity. Undeterred Ollie got the goal he deserved in the 15th minute with his first of the campaign meaning every Aylsham outfield player had registered this season. Alfie forced a hurried clearance that fell to Josh showing quick feet to turn his defender inside and out before bisecting two defenders with a cross-field ball out to the right. Ollie was onto it in a flash, taking a lovely first touch before blasting the ball under the keeper from the edge of the area for Aylsham’s fourth of the game.
Jack and Jaiden were replaced by Tyler and Charlie in straight swaps at both full-backs. Alfie picked up the ball deep inside the Aylsham half before switching play with a superb ball sending Mitchy sprinting clear down the right. A defender looked to close Mitchy down but he was too tricky for him and beat his man down the outside before bringing a great save from the keeper preventing the ball going into the top corner, tipping the ball over the bar. From the subsequent corner in the 18th minute Aylsham scored again. Josh played the corner short to Ollie who looked up and put in a dangerous centre that found its way to an unmarked Alfie who finished with ease.
In the 22nd minute Dereham put a promising move together to make inroads into the Aylsham box but a strong perfectly timed challenge from Freddy saved the day and Charlie provided support to help clear the danger. Aylsham pushed forward again as the break approached as first Alfie stung the hands of the goalkeeper and then Mitchy fired just over. From an Aylsham corner Ollie sent in a dangerous centre that Alfie controlled before executing an acrobatic overhead kick that dropped narrowly over the bar. The visitors finished the half in Dereham territory but could not add to their goal tally, leading 5-0 after a dominant first half performance.
Aylsham kicked off the second half with Jaiden returning to the fray and Denver and Archie coming on with Adam, Josh and Ollie taking a breather. Early on Jaiden put an incisive throughball that set Alfie away but a perfectly timed challenge prevented him from getting his shot off as Dereham defended deeply and looked to close down the space. On the next attack Freddy strode forward from defence, beating four men on his way into the box before releasing to Alfie who put in a dangerous centre that Denver stretched to meet but poked it inches wide.
Mitchy intercepted a free kick taken by the Dereham goalkeeper and retrieved the ball but saw his dipping shot nicely saved by the keeper who got back well. Mitchy had another sight of goal after a lovely pass by Alfie but his powerful shot rose just over the bar. In the 38th minute Aylsham scored their sixth goal after a well worked move. Freddy picked up a Dereham long throw after Charlie showed great strength, shielding the ball down the line. Freddy came inside to find Mitchy in space who moved it from right to left before threading it between two Dereham defenders to find Denver in the box, striking it neatly first time with his left foot to finish inside the near post.
Jack came on for Alfie going onto the left with Denver moving up front. Jack almost got onto the scoresheet after a lovely move from the restart. Charlie intercepted the long ball forward to find Denver who beat his man skilfully before playing in Mitchy. Mitchy burst forward and his cross-shot just evaded Jack at the back post who had broken free of his marker.
Aylsham continued playing nice football with Archie and Mitchy combining well to create another opening that was well defended. From a long throw by Archie, Denver had a chance to shoot but was crowded out before he could apply the finish. From the resulting corner Mitchy whipped in a low cross that Jack dummied at the front post, confusing the defenders, but the ball just evaded both Denver and Freddy looking to get a telling touch. Aylsham continued to press and a quick throw by Denver created space for Mitchy to play in Jaiden who struck a fine left footed shot but the sprawling Dereham keeper brilliantly kept out the goalbound effort. Jack beautifully controlled the clearance squaring the ball to Mitchy but his thunderbolt was blocked bravely as Aylsham went in search of further goals.
In the 43rd minute Dereham broke forward and the right-sided player did well to get a cross in under pressure from Tyler but was too deep to trouble Loz in the Aylsham goal. From the throw-in Charlie moved it through Freddy to Tyler on the left who in turn found Jack in space. Jack played it inside to Mitchy who played a beautiful cross-field ball into Archie’s path but a last ditch challenge prevented any further progress. Archie and Denver pressed well to force a hurried clearance that was picked up by Jaiden who struck his shot well but saw it curl just wide of the far post.
Josh came back on for Mitchy in the centre of midfield. Jaiden won a free kick after being tripped and Freddy went for goal but saw his well struck effort from distance drop just over the bar. Tyler was first to a clearance to find Jack in the inside left channel looking up to spot Josh’s run into the box but the keeper made a brilliant diving save to keep Josh’s effort out. Aylsham continued to dominate and Josh brought the best out of the keeper again after a flowing move down the right involving Archie and Denver. Ollie returned to action as a straight swap for Freddy at the centre of defence as the game entered the last 10 minutes. Jack showed great feet to beat his marker before sending an accurate through-ball into Denver’s path and he was able to break clear but his shot was handled confidently by the keeper.
Adam came back on for Denver up front as Aylsham rang the changes. A delightful through-ball from Josh sent Jack scampering down the left but his cross was brilliantly turned behind just before the ball could reach the unmarked Adam in the box. Aylsham continued to dominate possession and create opportunities but Dereham remained well organised and defended bravely to see the game out with no further additions to the score. Aylsham safely navigating their way through to the Kappa Cup semi-final after a well deserved victory.
