CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH LEAGUE U/16 - Sunday 23 Sept 2007

Last weekend’s highest scoring match in Division 1 was a cracker with eight goals being shared between Whitecroft & Barton and VT Youth. The match started with some swift pass and move football by W&B, the speed of their right winger Ian Frazer unsettled the VT back line during the early exchanges. Slowly VT Youth got back into the game and started to create chances. Mid way through the evenly balanced first half VT took the lead from a corner as W&B failed to clear the ball. A second goal came soon after as the home side struggled to get their passing game going. As the half progressed W&B started to put the visitors under pressure and soon recovered the two goal deficit through Daryl Malpas and Ian Frazer. Some inconsistent refereeing decisions led to frustration and a number of VT players received bookings for dissent. W&B struck soon after the break with a great individual goal by Callum Taylor and the home side then took a 4-2 lead midway through the second half, through a well finished goal from six yards by sub Charlie Nolan. The home side continued to dominate but VT got themselves back in the game and with the score at 4-3 the game was set up for a good finish. Despite one of their players earning a red card, 10-man VT managed to level the match at 4-4 a few minutes from the end to gain a well earned point. In a tightly contested match, visitors Winchester City emerged 4-0 victors against Broadway. For almost half an hour play was very even but Winchester made a couple of substitutions which allowed them to be a little more creative in possession. Ben Unsworth scored the opener chipping over the oncoming keeper within a few minutes of coming on and just before half-time Danny King's free kick was diverted into the Broadway net off a defender. Winchester made another couple of changes after the break. Dan Rogan towered above the defence to nod in the third goal at the far post from a corner and Josh Carey finished off the scoring in the last five minutes after some decisive attacking play from Matt Betts.

In Division 2, an under-strength Alresford team did well to secure a 2-2 away draw at Hedge End Rangers A. The first twenty five minutes yielded few chances for either team then Alresford took the lead as Alex Dobson curled over an excellent free kick and Matt Jones headed into the corner giving the Hedge End goalkeeper no chance.
Hedge End Rangers were awarded a penalty after a push in the area but Alresford goalkeeper Matt Harris made an excellent save diving low to his right. Harris then set up Alresford's second goal when his long goal kick found Kyle Bradford making a powerful run through the centre and he finished with a well paced shot over the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area. Hedge End started the second half well putting Alresford under a lot of pressure. They got back into the match with a goal from the penalty spot after a shirt-pulling incident. This lifted Alresford and they went close to restoring their two goal lead with the Hedge End goalkeeper doing well to save from Kyle Bradford, Matt Jones and a powerful Jack Mills free kick. At the other end Matt Harris made several good saves and Jack Otway and Liam Jones in Alresford's defence made a number of excellent tackles and interceptions. As the match entered injury time Hedge End hit a free kick into the box and, after a goalmouth scramble, the ball was turned in for an equaliser with almost the last kick of the match. Final score was 2-2 - a fair result after an entertaining match. AFC Stoneham visited Colden Common and came away with a decisive 4-1 victory. Stoneham opened the scoring after ten minutes when Jordan Withey cut in from the left and rounded the keeper. The second goal came on the half hour mark and again the creator was the impressive Jordan Withey. He made a run down the left, got to the by-line and his cross was deflected into the goal by a unfortunate defender who was under pressure from Josh Bench. The third Stoneham goal came five minutes later from a great individual effort by Callum Sargent who picked up a lose ball outside the penalty area and rode a couple of tackles before coolly rounding the goalkeeper to slot home. The second half began in much the same way with the under-pressure Colden Common team restricted to breakaway attacks. It was with one of these that they managed to reduce the arrears. A ball over the Stoneham defence was met by the Colden striker who duly lifted the ball over the advancing Chris Young in the Stoneham goal. Stoneham rounded off the scoring with an effort from Jordan Withey which sneaked in at the far post. The final score of 4-1 to visitors Stoneham reflected the dominance of Stoneham’s attacking play but the Colden Common defence defended with great grit and determination and their goalkeeper played an absolute blinder.

In Division 3 Calmore Youth went under by 6-1 at home to Winchester Youth. Two Winchester players, Stuart Tognarelli and Harry Hunt, both recorded hat-tricks.

Division 4’s Burridge plundered the points at Bitterne with a 4-1 away win. The teams were evenly matched for most of the first half but Burridge capitalised on a couple of defensive errors and scored two goals in the last few minutes. The second half started much the same as the first as Bitterne tried to get back in the game early and created a few chances but they were unable to convert them into goals. Burridge pushed for a third which came midway through the half. Bitterne gave themselves a lifeline with a great strike from Sam Eley but then Burridge responded immediately and bagged their fourth. Burridge goals came from Tom Oliphant (2), Ryan Kelly and Chevy Banks.