Match report Accrington youth v Latics youth

[Museum de Latique]

From the official Accrington Stanley website:

 

Match Report

 

FL Youth Alliance (NW) Conference

 

Accrington Stanley FC Youth 1 - 0 Oldham Athletic FC Youth

 

08-October-2011

 

After losing three recent games in the dying minutes, Phil Hackney couldn't hide his pleasure after his youngsters held onto a 1 - 0 lead and secured a first win of the season with a clean sheet against a good Oldham Athletic side. "I'm really pleased for the boys, they have finally got what they deserve. I have to admit it wasn't a good performance and we have lost games playing much better, but the hard work has at last paid off. They will now all need to shave off the scraggy chin fluff they vowed to keep until we won! Marcus Carver made it 6 in 6 with a superb display up front where he terrorised the Oldham defence and claimed his 6th of the campaign with a clever turn before firing home for the only goal of the game on the half hour mark.

 

Despite being out played and out manouvered for the majority of the game, the players showed commitment, desire and resiliance to earn three well deserved points". Oldham 'Gaffer' Tony Philliskirk knew how to stifle Accrington's attacking options by 'shackling' the young Reds midfielder Ryan Hopper, which certainly impacted on the young Reds performance, however he didn't counteract the all action attacking threat of Marcus Carver and the solid defensive display of Joe Greenhalgh, and Accringtons back four led by captain Oliver Holden. The game had a scrappy start with both sides trying to get a foothold.

 

Oldham were getting forward and pressurising Stanley's defence, hitting Adam Smith's far post in the 6th minute and generally 'strangling' any options the young Reds had of putting their passing game together. With Oldham in the ascendancy and Stanley relying on breaks, it was 20 minutes before Dale Connor the visiting keeper was brought into the action with a fingertip save from Marcus Carver who had evaded the Oldham challenge to cut inside and unleash his shot on goal. The resultant corner then whipped through the 6yd box to safety. Oldham broke away following a goalkick in the 23rd minute and the first time cross went narrowly wide of Accringtons far post, but then the tide started to turn. Stanley started to get their passing game together although Oldham had the better of the possession, Stanley provided the biggest threat in front of goal.

 

On the half hour mark, two freekicks, one to the visitors followed almost immediately by one for Stanley was to be decisive and the defining moment of the game; Oldham's came to nothing but the young Reds took advantage with theirs, the ball played in to Carver on the edge of the box who turned and drilled his effort into the bottom corner of the net 1 - 0. The next 15 minutes saw Oldham waste a number of chances and Accrington were still relying on good fortune and breaks as the game continued with Oldham in the ascendancy. In the 40th minute Accrington had a let-off when both centre halves were caught out but fortune favoured the young Reds as the ball was stroked wide of the far post. 2 minutes later Accrington worked their way into the Olham box, the ball deflected away to safety, before Oldham gained a corner and put the Stanley defence under pressure again, an Oldham player being allowed to 'skip' through the penalty box, but fortunately cleared for another corner which was also cleared before the referee blew his whistle for the half-time break. HT 1 - 0

 

The second period started with Accrington on the front foot and with two minutes on the clock inter-play between James Doig and Adam Stockdale down the right flank saw Doig's forward pass slip the Oldham defence for Marcus Carver to chase down. With Oldham's keeper reacting late the Reds striker and goalkeeper clashed as the ball went narrowly wide of the far post for a corner. The goalkeeper required treatment before being replaced, but not before his side had cleared the corner and broke up field at pace and almost catching the Stanley defence flat-footed. After 55 minutes where Stanley were getting a fair share of the proceedings, Oliver Holden picked up the ball and made up the ground as the midfield 'opened' before feeding Jack Willison who's shot was gathered by the substitute keeper. Accrington were definitely more in the game and possession was getting better, a long ball from Joe Wilkinson on the hour saw the ball touched out for a corner but then Oldham were gaining a freekick in a dangerous position which deflected for a corner of their own. The game was now end to end stuff and in the 68th minute a Joe Greenhalgh header played in Jack Willison whos goalbound effort brought a magnificent fingertip save from the Oldham goalkeeper for a corner.

 

With the Stanley pressure mounting Jack Sargent set up Marcus Carver whos 'flicked'header gained another corner. Alex McPolin replaced James Doig on 70 minutes and provided fresh legs through the midfield and as it seemed Stanley were getting the better of the proceedings they were under threat again after 75 minutes when Karl Dailey tripped an Oldham attacker on the edge of the penalty area but the freekick was cleared. With 7 minutes remaining Phil Hackney replaced Jack Sargent with Louis Martini, the substitution allowing Adam Stockdale to move forward and inject extra pace through the middle in order to force Oldham onto the back foot. As 90 minutes approached, and with previous games still vivid in the memory, Phil Hackney was clearly determined to keep his players focussed and concentrating through to the final whistle.

 

As the game moved into time added on Oldham threw everything into attack as they went in search of an equaliser, but today the young Stanley players stood firm and showed their courage, determination and resiliance as they blocked any goalbound effort. An ecstatic Phil Hackney said after the game, "What a last 15 minutes that was! we have showed a different side to our character and spirit today, Oldham cut-off our attacking options and although we were stifled in our approach work we got the ball in the net and held on for a well deserved win. For all their threat, Adam Smith has hardly had a save to make, yet both of their goalkeepers had to make important saves to prevent us extending our lead. With Marcus Carver on top of his game we always have a threat up front and although the midfield couldn't get their passing game together today I thought Joe Greenhalgh impressed in his defensive midfield role which countered their man-to-man marking of our orchestrator Ryan Hopper a former Oldham Centre of Excellence product. The defence held firm despite one or two close encounters but this will be a big lift for the boys going into the next game and they thoroughly deserve the win".

 

Teams:

 

ASFC: Smith; Stockdale; Holden; Dailey; Wilkinson; Hopper; Greenhalgh; Willison; Sargent (Martini 83min); Doig (McPolin 70min); Carver: Subs: Dawson; Saddoo; Proctor:

 

OAFC: Connor; Jones; Cooper; Parkes; Belezika; Burns; Sutherland; Fitzgerald; Riley; Laird; Gosset: Subs: McIntosh; Simpson; Poxon; Edwards; Wandless:

[razza699]

 

 

OAFC: Connor; Jones; Cooper; Parkes; Belezika; Burns; Sutherland; Fitzgerald; Riley; Laird; Gosset: Subs: McIntosh; Simpson; Poxon; Edwards; Wandless:

bet he didnt produce any magic !