Match Report: Under 13 Corinthians v Fleet Town: 4 - 4 Home Draw (League)
Match Date: | Sun 26/04/2015 |
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Played: | Fleet Town (Home) |
Result: | 4 - 4 |
Match Type: | League |
Man of the match: | Adam Thornton and James Moore |
Match Report
It is testament to the run of form that Ashtead are in that they were 1-0 down after 40 seconds, 3-1 down at halftime, 4-1 down with 25 minutes to go and still ended up disappointed not to come away with all 3 points.
The poor start saw Ashtead go a goal behind, lose an in-form Will Douglass to an early injury and were under the cosh from the Fleet attackers but dug in and largely weathered the early pressure. However the Fleet right winger started to impose himself and 1-0 quickly became 3-0 with 2 well worked goals. The game was poised at this point and Ashtead could have crumbled but instead they decided to fight back.!
The defenders began to get to grips with the Fleet attack and this allowed Captain Fraser Swan and George Bartlett, the Ashtead wide players (pitch position not physical build..!), to assert themselves. Fraser was playing slightly out of position but was playing with fierce determination and charging down the left wing. George came into the game more on the right and a good pass from Owen Thompson-Smith in the Ashtead midfield set him free to curl a perfect cross for James Moore to bravely finish despite a strong challenge from the Fleet keeper. A second goal was ruled out when Adam Thornton chipped a perfect pass for Guy Francis who headed home but was ruled offside... tight decision! Oscar Power then almost scored the goal of the season when George and James exchanged passes to create space for Guy who crossed for the onrushing Oscar but his header went agonisingly wide. Ashtead had their tails up and continued to press forward and won a penalty on the stroke of halftime when it took a handball to stop another attack from James. Guy stepped up confidently but his shot was brilliantly saved down by the post.
Fleet started the second half as they had the first and made the score 4-1 with their first attack and once again the game could have slipped away from Ashtead but this is a team that seems to enjoy coming back into games. Defenders Alex Sealey and Peter Boardman were busy winning battles all across the pitch that reduced Fleet to long balls that were easily dealt with by Ashtead Sweeper Keeper, Joe Young. Any other danger was cleared up by Jamie Young, again looking comfortable and classy as a more conventional Sweeper and the determination of Max Parris who is surely in his best ever form for the Corinthians. The momentum was all with Ashtead and they duly delivered a second goal when Fraser won the ball and crossed from the left for James to score his second of the game from close range. Minutes later they scored again when James turned provider by finishing a strong run with a pass to Guy who hit a spectacular shot into the top corner (no better sight in football than that..!) and he celebrated in true Cantona style. The Corinthians were rocking and almost equalised when Owen first hit the bar with a fantastic long range effort and then had a goal bound shot blocked. They were not to be denied and after forcing a series of corners, George hit a perfect cross onto Guys head who scored his second of the day to send the Ashtead crown wild. Still, the Corinthians pressed and Oscar almost won the game with 2 half chances that were created by his determination and energy to chase down every ball but the game ended at 4-4.
Some terrific individual performances from Ashtead but their collective determination to turn the game around was fantastic to see and they should head into the last 3 games with super confidence.
A moral victory for Ashtead? Possibly.
Best second half performance of the season? Probably.
Great entertainment? Definitely.
Ashtead Man of the Match
Adam Thornton and James Moore
James – a super game from James with 2 bravely taken goals and a assist. He is learning to not overcomplicate his game (that Ronaldo chop..!) and his link up play with George and Guy was exciting to watch.
Adam – a fine effort from Adam today and he was unlucky not to be creditred with an assist after his clever pass to Guy was ruled offside.
Lionheart Award
Max Parris – great game from Max again this week against a fast, tricky winger that was illustrated with the last kick of the game being his determination to get in a challenge despite starting 5 yards behind his opponent.