Aylsham U12s At The Double
Match Report 20.05.18
Aylsham FC U12 v Tasburgh United FC U12, The FDC Field of Dreams
The final game of their 2017-18 season saw Aylsham U12 looking to defend their Kappa Cup title against Tasburgh United U12 at The FDC Field of Dreams this afternoon (Sunday 20th May). Both teams were greeted by an expectant crowd as they emerged from the tunnel to bright sunshine.
Tasburgh kicked off and looked to get the ball forward quickly giving Loz an early touch. Aylsham spent much of the early part of the match in the Tasburgh half but found it difficult to put passes together with Tasburgh pressing and closing down quickly. Aylsham won a corner that Mitchy swung in left-footed, Adam meeting it well at the back post but directing his header just wide. In the 5th minute a long throw from Mitchy set Alfie away down the left channel and, while his cross was cleared, Mitchy took a lovely first touch moving the ball from right to left before crashing a shot over the bar from distance.
Aylsham were dominating possession and, after Josh won a header, Adam found Freddy in space who tried his luck from outside the box but fired narrowly past the upright. Moments later Aylsham went close again after Josh played a ball into the corner for Jaiden to chase. A neat lay off to Ollie created space for the return ball to Josh who ghosted past his marker but he saw his shot tipped round the post by the Tasburgh goalkeeper. From the corner, Aylsham went closer still after a well worked routine with Freddy playing a low ball in that Jude dummied before Alfie struck a beautiful first-time shot that rattled the crossbar via the tiniest of deflections off the fingertips of the keeper.
Despite Aylsham having the better of the early exchanges Tasburgh drew first blood with a well worked goal to open the scoring in the 8th minute. Aylsham couldn’t quite clear their lines and a Tasburgh midfielder was straight on to the loose ball finding a teammate in space who, in turn, played a neat pass into the left channel where a clinical left-footed finish into the corner of the net gave them the lead.
Ollie was replaced by Denver on 13 minutes as Tasburgh were awarded a free-kick just outside the box, full of confidence after taking the lead. A right-footed effort from the dead ball was on target, but Loz dived to his left to brilliantly tip the ball away from danger. The game was being played at a high tempo with both teams looking to play directly with long balls leading to possession changing hands frequently as the match opened up.
In the 21st minute Aylsham almost fashioned an equaliser after another corner routine where Freddy dummied the ball which fell perfectly to Jaiden, striking a first-time effort over the keeper but he was unlucky to see the ball rebound off the bar for the second time. Tasburgh were defending well and looked to catch Aylsham on the break but it was Aylsham who went close again in the 24th minute after Jaiden won a header from a goal-kick. Alfie laid it into Freddy’s path bursting through but the keeper came off his line to block his shot. The ball rebounded to Alfie who held off his man strongly before bringing another smart stop from the Tasburgh keeper.
Tasburgh broke forward and only a great recovery from Denver prevented the ball getting into the box, conceding a corner. The deep centre was lifted back into the Aylsham area but a strong header from Denver cleared the danger, the ball falling nicely for Freddy to play a wonderful pass into space for Alfie to chase. While he beat his defender for pace Alfie unfortunately screwed his shot just wide of the far post on the run. Just as it looked like Tasburgh were going to go into half-time ahead, a devastating break by Aylsham made it all square. Adam began the move, getting to the ball first against his opponent to find Jaiden on the left. A lovely ball with the outside of his right foot sent Alfie away down the left channel and he outpaced his marker before sending in a dangerous low cross that was straight into Mitchy’s path who made no mistake to sweep home the equaliser. This was to be the last action of the half with both teams level after a fairly even opening 30 minutes.
Aylsham kicked off the second half with Charlie coming on for Jaiden and Ollie returning to replace Josh and lovely opening move almost lead to a second Aylsham goal. Freddy drove forward before playing a neat ball out to Alfie on the left, putting in a good cross that Charlie volleyed just over from inside the box. Soon after, a throw by Alfie was headed clear to Adam who struck a volley from distance that dropped just wide.
In the 35th minute Jack entered the fray to replace Denver at right back and it wasn’t long before Aylsham went close again after Freddy volleyed forward and an attempted clearance let Alfie in, but the woodwork came to Tasburgh’s rescue for the third time as his shot cannoned off the bar and away. Tasburgh looked to try and break but a strong tackle from Jack who closed down his man quickly kept Aylsham on the offensive. Aylsham were playing some lovely football and Tasburgh were finding it difficult to get hold of the ball, another nice move ended with Jude striking a left-foot volley from distance that the keeper held confidently.
A flowing four-man Aylsham move carved Tasburgh open with the ball being moved from right to left quickly and incisively with Adam having another effort, this time tipped over the bar well by the goalkeeper, as it looked like it might just drop in. Aylsham were very much on top with wave after wave of attacks, a lovely ball over the defence fell nicely for Mitchy and his cross-shot was well kept out by the diving Tasburgh keeper who was being kept very busy. The stopper was called into action again shortly after, holding onto a volley from Charlie.
In the 49th minute Aylsham’s persistence paid off after another neat passage of play. Jude passed back to Jack who beat his man skilfully, cutting back inside to find Jude again, and while his pass was half cleared, Adam nodded it forward where Freddy let it run across him before playing a lovely ball through to Charlie who beat the offside trap to finish clinically into the bottom corner. Aylsham were controlling the game and another slick move started from a Jude header followed by a one-touch one-two between Mitchy and Freddy gave Mitchy a sight of goal, but his shot went just wide.
With 10 minutes left Tyler came on for Alfie and was straight into the action, picking up a throw from Loz after the keeper had come out to confidently claim a cross. Tyler drove forward playing a quick one-two with Freddy before being tripped by his marker as he looked to get past him. Freddy put in a dangerous centre that was well defended and cleared long where Jack, under pressure, confidently played it back to Loz before putting Aylsham on the front foot again.
In the 54th minute Aylsham extended their lead, scoring their third goal which came from a long throw-in by Mitchy. The throw bounced in the box and Jude did well to lift the bouncing ball over the keeper to the back post where Tyler was on hand to apply the finishing touch from close-range, getting to the ball just in front of a Tasburgh defender, giving his side a two goal cushion.
Josh and Jaiden returned for Freddy and Mitchy as the game entered the last 5 minutes, Aylsham still having to be on their guard as Tasburgh looked to set up a frantic finish, Ollie covering well to snuff out a promising attack. Josh and Tyler combined well down the right to keep the ball deep in the Tasburgh half, winning a corner for their efforts.
There was still time for another opportunity for Aylsham as Ollie played a nice ball forward to Jaiden who flicked it towards Charlie and, while the defender did well to clear it, the ball fell back to Jaiden who brought another wonderful save from the Tasburgh keeper, diving full length to tip the shot over.
The final whistle blew and the celebrations could begin. Aylsham had shown great intensity, belief and teamwork, particularly in the second half where they had played some exquisite football, finishing up deserved winners of the Kappa Cup by 3 goals to 1 against a determined opposition who competed well throughout and never gave up. The victory topping off Aylsham’s first year of competitive football, winning the league and cup double, with every single member of the squad playing their part in a successful 2017-18 season.
