Aylsham U13s Clinch Premiership Title
Match Report 20.01.19
Aylsham FC U13 v Dereham Town Blacks U13, Youngs Park
Aylsham FC U13 hosted Dereham Town Blacks U13 at Youngs Park in the Norfolk Combined Youth Football League U13 Premiership this morning (Sunday 20th January) with the hosts knowing a victory would make it back-to-back Premiership titles.
Aylsham kicked off proceedings and within 10 seconds found themselves behind after a block and powerful shot from a Dereham player found the back of the net. From the restart the following few minutes were very even with both sides struggling to maintain possession in blustery and cold conditions. In the 10th minute neat interplay between Freddy and Jack gave Alfie a chance to burst down the right, his cross just taken off Brad’s toes by the Dereham keeper who had come smartly off his line. After taking a while to get going Aylsham were putting some nice moves together and playing through the lines with Jack, Freddy, Josh and Adam working well to move the ball quickly to give Alfie a sight of goal but his shot flew narrowly wide.
In the 24th minute Brad worked hard and stayed strong to win possession on the edge of the Dereham area, laying it off to Jude, but his shot went just over the bar. The visitors were dangerous when breaking forward and the Aylsham defence had to stay well organised and resolute to limit the opportunities. In the 30th minute Josh took a knock, bringing Jaiden into the action in the centre of midfield. Moments later Denver sent a long ball forward that looked to set Alfie clear, but while he showed great determination to take the ball forward, a fantastic piece of defending cleared the danger just as Alfie was about to shoot. From Freddy’s corner, Denver got to it first but directed his header just wide.
In the 33rd minute Aylsham got themselves an equaliser as the first half drew to a close. Jack showed his man down the line where Adam intercepted, sending the ball forward. Alfie pressed high to force a misplaced pass and slid the loose ball home from just outside the area. The last action before the break was from a Dereham free-kick but Bailey can our to claim it comfortably, the teams going into half-time level at 1-1.
Dereham kicked off the second half with Aylsham making two changes: Jack making way for Ronnie and Denver being replaced by Tyler. The home side won a free-kick down their right which was swung in by Mitchy, initially headed away, but Brad chased the ball down to cross back into the danger area. The centre was only cleared as far as Adam who controlled it on his chest before sending a dipping volley goalwards that the visiting keeper saved confidently. Four minutes after the restart Dereham won a corner but a visiting defender headed just wide.
In the 40th minute, Aylsham took the lead with a well worked goal. Ronnie and Jude exchanged passes in the centre of midfield with the ball being moved to Freddy in a great position on the right. Freddy took a touch to steady himself before sending in a pinpoint cross onto the head of Alfie at the back post who powered it home. Four minutes later Ronnie burst through, beating his marker, but lifted his shot just too high. In the 48th minute Dereham had a good chance from a deep cross but the striker couldn’t quite convert on the volley with Bailey gathering comfortably. From Bailey’s long drop-kick Aylsham won a corner after a back pass bobbled just in front of the visiting keeper and went inches wide of the post. Freddy sent in a great centre where Jude had escaped his marker to head the ball powerfully into the net to give the home side a two goal cushion.
In the 54th minute Aylsham scored their fourth goal after Jude was first to a clearance to help it forward. Alfie held off his marker to play the ball in to space for Ronnie to chase and he played a low cross in from the right that was only cleared as far as Alfie who volleyed it into the corner of the net to complete his hat-trick. Josh came back on to give Brad a breather as Aylsham looked to see the game out. Within a minute Alfie had another chance after accelerating down the left but a fine diving save kept his shot out.
The home side were having the best of things at this stage but Dereham got themselves back into the game scoring their second goal in the 58th minute after Aylsham failed to clear a corner, the ball dropping to a visiting player on the edge of the area who moved it from his right foot to his left before drilling a shot into the bottom corner of the net. It wasn’t long before the hosts were on the offensive again, Jude trying his luck from distance that the keeper gathered well.
With three minutes left Jaiden, Jude and Alfie combined well to give Ronnie a chance to shoot, but his effort flew just wide. Aylsham kept the ball in the Dereham half as the game drew to a close, the whistle blowing to start the celebrations as Aylsham took the three points after a 4-2 victory that retained the Premiership title, a well deserved and fantastic achievement for the team with two fixtures remaining
