RIASA Leeds 3
Frickley U23s 4

The weather yesterday was hot & then got a bit chilly later on – & that somewhat mirrored the Young Azzurri performance last night, away at RIASA Leeds.

We were on fire early on & we went 2-1 ahead – then we let the temperature drop a little, which allowed our opponents to get their noses in front with a 3-2 lead (including one of the worst penner awards you will ever see – there was definitely contact with the RIASA player & it was a foul – but even with a spectacular Greg Louganis-esque dive & forward roll, he was still 3 yards short of the penalty area when the ref pointed to the spot) – but then we turned the heat back up & once it got to 3-3 (at which point the hootin’ & hollerin’ & high 5ing every time our opponents got a throw in ceased!) there was only going to be one winner, & that was us!

Frickley’s Young Guns were on their travels last night & were forced into 6 changes to the travelling squad, which included 4 in the starting 11.

Experienced Owen Moule & the super talented Jordan Barnett were drafted in along with Josh Haigh & Ashton Johnson who were both making their 1st start of the season.

We got off to a flying start when in the opening minutes Harry McCudden burst through the middle to fire a shot goalwards, his shot was saved but skillfully Lucas Brown was following in to fire home

Great start and it only looked like a matter of time before they increased their lead but an misplaced clearance left Alfie Denton stranded and the visiting striker confidently fired the ball home from 30 yards plus into the empty net, 1-1.

Debutant Jordan Barnett was having an enormous influence on the game in the first half & he combined with Ashton Johnson to cut inside from his left hand side position with great confidence to superbly fire home into the far bottom corner with his right foot, 2-1 to Frickley.

Bailey Cowsell then had a great chance just before half time for the boys to go into the break with a 2 goal lead but somehow he headed wide from close range after a long throw from Harry McCudden.

Half time 1-2.

Just as you thought one more goal for the Young Azzurri would see us go onto gain all 3 points, Leo Cosgrove had a header well saved from an early corner then we endured a crazy 10 mins where we conceded 2 poor goals to fall behind 3-2.

It was now a test of character for our young charges, who were led superbly by captain Tom Cotson in midfield. Josh Haigh & Bailey Cowsell combined on the left to feed Jordan Barnett whose cross was deflected onto the bar by a home defender, the rebound was smashed home into the roof of the net by the hard working Ashton Johnson 3-3, game on now!!

10 minutes to go could either side find a little bit of magic to secure all 3 points in a very entertaining game?

Alfie Denton made several good saves from long range efforts to RIASA out.

Harry McCudden showed great skill when he broke free after a superb pass over the top from Tom Cotson but his attempted lob hit the roof of the net, & then Jordan Barnett had a 30 yard pile driver superbly tipped around the post by the home goal keeper as we pushed for a winner.

If a winner was going to be found by either side you had a feeling it was going to take something special as we entered the dying minutes – substitute Taine Clement burst past his defender to play in Bailey Cowsell who cut in from the left & just as you thought he was about slot the ball home a defender recovered to make a great tackle, but the ball broke to the talented Jordan Barnett who powerfully fired home with stunning left foot strike to seal all the 3 points for the jubilant visitors.

The Paul Mann Of The Match went to Jordan Barnett who was outstanding through out, scoring 2 great goals & assisting with another 👏 – not a bad evenings work!!

We are home next week when we entertain i2i Utd who currently sit one place behind us in the league – it would great to get some good numbers up the Wez to get behind the boys