Team of youngsters and trialists travelled to Bury
Town 3 Bury 5
Saturday 12th April 2014
Youth Alliance League
Town: Alex Ashton, Sam Summerbee, John Duncan, Jack Butts, Nathan Millis, Rhyle Ovenden (Matthew Hewitt 67), Joel Carta, Matthew Allen (Ethan Jones 45), Joseph Kenton, Jordan Wilson, Tom King
Goals: J Carta, J Wilson, E Jones
The game was played at the home of Radcliffe Borough FC and we travelled with a squad of U16 trialists who are attempting to obtain a scholarship for next season and Matty Hewitt an Under 15 midfielder with goalkeeper Alex Ashton as the sole representative from the youth set up.
The boys showed their inexperience at this level throughout the first half, we couldn't keep possession of the ball and struggled to get out of our half. Ashton, the only scholar involved today was kept busy with the quick attacking style of the opponents that caused problems to our full backs from both flanks during a frustrating 45 minutes that saw the team come off at the break 4-0 down.
A tactical change and the introduction of Ethan Jones at half time kick-started a much improved performance throughout a second half where Town had the lion’s share of possession. The boys showed their character in the second half and early pressure saw Wilson score within 3 minutes of the restart. Towns midfield started to get on top of the battle in the middle third and 10 minutes later the vision of Carta combined with the pace of Kenton saw town break through the Bury defence, Kenton's pass was played across the box to Carta who shot to make the score 4-2. Minutes later Kenton, who caused Bury problems with his movement created a chance to bring Town right back into the game only to see his shot brilliantly saved by the Bury keeper.
The lads continued to work hard and a third goal came after 71minutes where new scholar Millis and the consistent Butts isolated the Bury wideman and nicked the ball, Millis played a pass into the left channel to Wilson who crossed the ball for Jones to side-foot the ball home from six yards. The scored remained 4-3 until the 81st minute before Town conceded a late penalty when Kenton was caught on the wrong side of his opponent and his attempts to win the ball ended with the Bury wide man being brought down. The penalty left Ashton with no chance.
Result, 5-3 but overall a worthwhile exercise.
Steve Reece