11th October 2009 Ashton Town 1 - 4 U11's
An excellent game of football with both teams contributing to a fast pace game you would expect from a local derby. Athletic had to make a reshuffle before the game after their left back was taken ill, with Callum becoming the emergency left back. It was Town that was to start the game with confidence and attacked Athletic defence from the whistle. Athletic tried to subdue the Town attack but it was from an uncharacteristic mistake from Kieran that allowed Town to take the early lead. Town came at Athletic again from the restart and were unlucky not to get another. Jimmy took command of his back line and with some good encouragement saw Athletic start building some pressure from the back. The ball was worked down field against a strong wind, Athletic keeping the ball on the floor worked it wind to the right for Kieran to swing in a beautiful right footed shot that beat the keeper and also beat Faisal from claiming it. I thought Faisal had scored but he told me after the game it was already over the line before he had touched it. Town though played some enterprising football and kept moving it wide the left where the Town number 9 who had pace to burn kept getting behind the Athletic back line but Athletic scrambled back well and always seemed to have it covered with Jamie picking up the loose ball. Joe came on for the injured Faisal and Callum pushed up to left wing, again Athletic kept building pressure and with some good passing from Regan and Lewis moved the ball out to the right and Athletic won a corner. Callum swung it in for Lewis to greet it with a superb header to take his tally for the season to 11. Regan dominated the middle of the park and Jake was causing havoc on the right with Jason being his usual industrious self up front creating the space for his team mates, 2-1 ht. Athletic changed things again for the second half Matty “Hu” came on for Jake and Jamie moved to the right. This did not stop Athletic from spreading the ball around and creating some more chances and it was from a shot on the left from the newly introduced Matty that saw the ball take a deflection off a Town defender to send the keeper the wrong way 3-1 up and Athletic made some more changes, Matty “Hi” came on for Callum and Faisal came on for Jason. Town mounted their own attacks and after a superb run down the left from the Town number 9 saw a last ditch tackle from Jamie to prevent him from scoring what would have been a super goal. Athletic reacted to this and worked the ball up from the back with Joe and Faisal with the ball going in field for Regan to carry on the run and he knocked it inside for Matt “Hu” to strike it past the keeper 4-1. Town never gave up and seemed to be full of energy and made the Athletic back line work hard all game. Jake came on for Lewis and Athletic created attack after attack but could not improve on their lead. Lewis was quickly re-introduced for Jamie and carried on working hard in his new position in the middle and played a pass for Regan that would have split any Premier league defence but the Keeper snuffed it out and the chance was lost.
Line up
Jimmy, Kieran, Jamie, Callum, Faisal, Regan, Jake, Lewis, Jason
Subs
Joe, Matty "Hi", Matty "Hu"
Goals
Kieran, Lewis, Town og, Matty "Hu"