Aylsham U13s Come Away With A Well Earned Draw Against EJA Opponents
Match Report 10.03.19
Aylsham FC U13 v Newmarket Town U13 EJA, Bloorie.com Stadium
Without a scheduled fixture locally, Aylsham FC U13 travelled further afield to take on Newmarket Town U13 of the Eastern Junior Alliance at their home, Bloorie.com Stadium, in a friendly this afternoon (Sunday 10th March).
On a fantastic 3G surface with the clouds breaking and the sun emerging Newmarket kicked off proceedings and immediately looked to move the ball quickly. A nice ball from the right to the central midfielder gave the hosts a sight of goal but Bailey dealt with the shot easily. Three minutes in and a long ball from Newmarket saw their striker advance to the edge of the box but again Bailey was equal to it pulling off a diving save. The home side put in a dangerous corner that Ronnie did well to block with a combination of Freddy and Jaiden completing the clearance as Aylsham found themselves under pressure.
The visitors, resplendent in their new burgundy training kit, began to settle into the game and started to pass the ball around crisply and confidently. Freddy lifted a ball over to Alfie but, under pressure from a defender, he sent his shot wide. The game was much more even after Newmarket had the majority of the chances early on but Aylsham kept possession well and looked to play through the thirds. A shot from a home player from distance was well watched and dealt with comfortably by Bailey. Jack came on for Brad in the 19th minute taking his place on the right.
In the 21st minute Bailey judged a shot from distance well to save confidently. Two minutes later, after keeping their opponents at bay, Aylsham took the lead with a slick team move. Bailey played the ball out to Denver on the left who beat his man before finding Ronnie who squared it to Jude. With no outlet available Jude kept possession by passing it back to Bailey. The keeper’s clearance, this time to the right was laid back to Ollie by Adam, the centre-back playing a neat one-two with Jack to give him space to drive forward, before picking out Mitchy in the centre of midfield. Mitchy laid it back to Jaiden who looked up to play a searching ball forward that Freddy headed on towards Alfie. Alfie showed great strength to hold off his marker before playing a ball inside the Newmarket right back and Ronnie was onto it to hold off a challenge before showing great composure, side-footing home to finish off a devastating move that involved all 11 Aylsham players.
The visitors grew in confidence after scoring the opening in goal and were playing some exceptional football. They played out from the back with Ollie and Adam combining well before passing it into Jude who found Jack in a good position. A quick ball inside to Freddy created enough time and space to arrow a lovely through-ball, and only an excellent piece of defending prevented Alfie going through on goal. After winning a 50-50 Jack was brought down as he looked to evade his marker and Adam sent in a dangerous free-kick but a good defensive header just deflected the ball away as Ronnie looked to meet it on the volley. In the 27th minute Ronnie made way for Tyler.
Newmarket got in behind the Aylsham defence after a strong run and through-ball sent the striker down the left channel but Ollie took up a great position to clear the cross with Jack and Freddy combining to set the visitors forward with a break of their own as the game opened up. Moments later Jude and Adam worked their way out of a tight situation to find Alfie, who had made himself an option, and his ball through sent Tyler scampering forward but the home keeper just managed to get to the ball first as Tyler outpaced his marker.
With four minutes left of the first half a long ball from Newmarket’s defender set their striker away who advanced and struck a powerful rising shot that Bailey did well to beat down and claimed the rebound before the striker. Soon after Bailey was called into action again, kicking out a dangerous low cross with Jaiden on hand to complete the clearance. The home side were finishing the half strongly with a long ball forward sending their striker sprinting clear and he lifted the bail over Bailey on the run but the visitors breathed a sigh of relief as the effort rebounded back off the post and into the grateful hands of the Aylsham stopper. This being the last action of an entertaining half with the visitors taking a slender 1-0 lead into the break.
Aylsham kicked off the second period and moved the ball quickly and incisively from the restart. Newmarket put a nice move together and only a vital touch from Jack in the visitor’s box prevented the home winger getting in on goal. The opening exchanges were very even with both sides playing nice football. In the 42nd minute Aylsham doubled their lead after a good tackle by Denver on the halfway line forced a home player to play the ball back. Mitchy read the intentions of the defender and intercepted his pass and accelerated clear of his marker and drew the keeper before clipping the ball into the corner of the net from the edge of the area. A minute later Mitchy went so close to adding a third from a great headed clearance by Ollie with Alfie controlling the bouncing ball well before lifting it into Mitchy’s path. Mitchy turned his marker and took a shot on the half volley that beat the keeper but unluckily rebounded back off the bar with Freddy being adjudged to be in an offside position as he looked to tuck away the rebound.
In the 44th minute Newmarket reduced the arrears with a close-range finish into the corner of the net. Two minutes later Aylsham restored their two goal cushion after Freddy controlled and turned in one movement before lifting a ball into Alfie’s path and he let it bounce once before hitting a dipping first-time volley into the net from outside the box. In the 49th minute the hosts scored their second from a direct free-kick to make it 3-2 to Aylsham. Ronnie came back into the action, giving Mitchy a breather. It was end to end stuff and Newmarket thought they’d scored an equaliser in the 52nd minute but the linesman has flagged for offside. A neat move by Aylsham started with a throw by Adam who had the ball returned to him by Denver. Adam passed it into Jude who chipped it into Jack on the right and his first-time ball inside sat up invitingly for Alfie who struck it perfectly but the keeper was equal to it, holding on well. Moments later Newmarket had a sight of goal but the ball rebounded back off the foot of the post from a low drive.
Aylsham made another change with 10 minutes to go with Brad replacing Alfie up front. Newmarket continued to prove dangerous from set-pieces and went close from a free-kick but their tall centre-back headed just wide. The home side fashioned an equaliser in the 66th minute after a cross from the right was met on the volley from close-range to make it 3-3. With three minutes left Mitchy came back on at left back for Tyler and moments later Alfie returned for Brad up front.
A long defensive clearance was headed forward by Adam where Jack flicked it inside to Freddy guiding it to Jude in space. Jude spotted Alfie’s fun and picked him out with a slide rule pass but a great block halted his progress. Jack anticipated the clearance and kept the move alive, squaring it to Alfie who moved it left to Ronnie but only a crucial last ditch sliding challenge prevented Ronnie from applying the finish. Freddy put in a deep corner that Adam bravely headed back across goal to where Denver was well positioned in the six yard box to nod the ball home to make it 4-3 to Aylsham with a minute of normal time remaining. Not to be outdone Newmarket equalised again in injury time after a neat one-two on the edge of the visitor’s box and a fine finish. The final whistle blew to signal the end of a pulsating game with both sides giving it their all, playing some exceptional football, and were an absolute credit to themselves and their respective clubs. Nothing separating the sides in the end after an entertaining 4-4 draw.
