Youth team out of the Alliance Cup after heavy defeat
Youth Alliance Cup Quarter Final
Carlisle Utd 5 Shrewsbury Town 0
Saturday 9th February 20120
Town: Burton, Carpenter, Smith, Holmes (Smith 45), Richards, Jones (Anderson 45), Gwilliams (Fletcher 45), Musslewhite, Easthope, Stephenson, Ryan.
An Early start, a long trip and a test of characters but we fell embarrassingly short as the score line shows. Again four or five positives isn’t enough as too many times the same players are not doing what they are told and having poor touches, making poor decisions, getting punished so they have to improve quickly to go to the next level which at the moment is a long way off for some.
First half Carlisle hit the post from a swerving shot on 8 minutes quickly followed by another shot on 13 minutes which Burton couldn’t hold and Carlisle followed to slot home and give them a 1-0 lead. Our chances were fairly limited with our best chance falling to Gwilliams after a neat one two with Easthope but he had his shot saved by the Carlisle keeper. Not really fazed by our opportunity Carlisle looked a constant threat down both wings and with well timed runs from midfield we just couldn’t cope, so on 25 minutes when a cross from the left wing was easily met with a free header from 8yds out to make it 2-0 and for us to finish the half like this was a partial relief.
Second half started a little brighter as 15 year Alex Fletcher was more assured with his passing in midfield and linking play from back to front to give us a little more purpose.
Unfortunately the same players kept making costly basic errors to quickly undo the good work of others. 3-0 came on 69 minutes when again a cross wasn’t stopped so therefore met unopposed at the back post, 4-0 on 84 minutes this from midfield runners not being tracked or passed on and finally on 90 minutes we concede a penalty which was positively finished and make the score line 5-0.
Overall players can look for excuses and others to blame but part of growing up in football or any other profession is to take responsibility, accept constructive criticism and work harder to become better not mope around mumbling to one another about everyone else and get your own house in order!!
Pete Wilding