Youths v Newmarket

[davealbon]

The Youth team are through to the first round of the FA Youth Cup, and a home tie against Carshalton, after a 4-1 win over Newmarket Town tonight.

The scoreline perhaps flattered us slightly, as Newmarket provided a much sterner test than our previous opponents. They started much more brightly than us and a couple of half chances were blazed high and/or wide when they perhaps should have tested Dan Wallace between the sticks, who was playing tonight due to injuries to James Broadbent and Kyle Swailes (whose wrist Osano broke). After 10-15 minutes we managed to get on top with Lewis Wilson in particular causing them problems with his pace, but we struggled to create any clear chances. Newmarket were perhaps just starting to get back on top when we opened the scoring. The ref awarded us what looked like quite a soft free kick right on the edge of the box, and although Jake Gillingwater's powerful strike was saved by the 'keeper, Jerry Nash (as sponsored by Dave Albon! ;) ) pounced on the rebound to tap the ball in from close range. Soon after, Gillingwater went very close to adding a second when he headed against the underside of the bar from Elliot Dent's excellent free kick. Newmarket continued to cause us problems and went close on a couple more occasions but still failed to really test Wallace. Wilson then made it 2-0 with a good run through the middle and although he looked to have overrun the ball his pace gave him the opportunity to recover, and he superbly lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

The second half was slightly more one sided in our favour, and several half chances came and went as we were foiled by some excellent last ditch defending, and a couple of smart saves. Eventually the third goal did arrive and it was Wilson again who scored it, tapping home from close range after a good move down the left wing had ended with Jordan Pendered's shot being deflected agains the post. At 3-0 it looked like game over, but Newmarket gave themselves a lifeline when a low cross from the right wing found their substitute striker unmarked, and he scuffed his shot into bottom corner with almost his first touch. Any thoughts of a comeback were immediately dashed though, when Dom Brennan latched onto a ball through the middle, outpaced the defence, and smashed the ball into the top corner giving the 'keeper no chance. Newmarket nearly scored a second late on with a powerful close range effort, but Wallace produced an excellent reflex save to deny them.

Full lineup:
1. Dan Wallace
2. Zack Reynolds
3. Joe Hopewell
4. Jerry Nash
5. Jake Gillingwater
6. Morgan Phillips (c)
7. Lewis Wilson
8. Elliot Dent (Charlie Desmond)
9. Liam Read (Dom Brennan)
10. Aaron King
11. Jake Woolley (Jordan Pendered)

[Dazzler]

Celebrating one of the first goals.

[davealbon]

The very first in fact. ;) Jerry Nash (4) was the scorer.