Let’s see if I can remember how to do this match reporting thing, so here goes nothing….
The Young Azzurri put in a mature and hardworking performance to overcome Jono Greening’s charges, Tadcaster Albion (Crimson), on the plastic at York St John’s last night.
The former Manchester United and Fulham man’s side were ahead after just 7 minutes when a corner came back to the taker and his shot took a wicked deflection to beat James Brookes and creep in at the far post. It looked like it might be a tricky evening.
But The Baby Blues weathered the early storm to fight back with an equaliser after 18 minutes. Young Macca slotted a slide rule pass through to Paul Sherburn on the edge of the box where Sherbs showed a bit of his twinkle-toed magic to shimmy past the keeper and roll the ball into an almost empty net.
Taddy hit the post shortly afterwards when it would have been easier to score. The Young Boys in Blue made the most of the let off by taking the lead in the 37th minute. Khalid Sulieman sent over a free kick from out wide on the left and the bustling Moussa Diouf poked it past the Taddy keeper.
Taddy came out with renewed vigour in the second half but the Young Azzurri absorbed the pressure, restricting the opposition almost exclusively to long range potshots throughout the half.
Just after the hour mark, the Young Guns made it safe with a third goal that was almost a carbon copy of the first as Sherbs turned provider, feeding the onrushing Harry Brown who placed the ball into the bottom corner.
The action didn’t stop there though as Young Macca and Kyle Simpson both had two or three excellent attempts on goal but a combination of good defending and great goalkeeping kept them off the scoresheet. Brooksy had to make a couple of smart stops at the other end too but largely the Young Blues saw out the remaining minutes in relative comfort, managing the game superbly.
Casey O’Reilly’s young team had played a behind-closed-doors friendly against Halifax U23s last week, going down 3-0 but reportedly showing plenty of encouraging signs as they got rid of the ring rust and put some miles in the legs. The benefits of that first game were all in evidence in this performance at Taddy where the key was the hard work done off the ball, and, in this, the effect of having a full strength squad with 5 subs can’t be underestimated.
The Young Azzurri were dogged in defence, getting men behind the ball quickly and in numbers when Taddy were in possession. Ellis Hancock and Ike Molokwu marshalled the Taddy forwards with great authority. Tom Dixon, Will Sutton, Matty Clegg and Lucas Slingsby all had a spell at fullback where they tirelessly harried, blocked and intercepted. And Brooksy in goal was, at times, unorthodox yet wholly effective.
In midfield, Ardian Gashi, Kyle Simpson and Edrissa, assisted by Cleggy, provided the width, stretching Taddy’s defences and ably covering their own fullbacks. In the middle, Young Macca, Harry Brown and Khalid did the dirty work in the engine room when required and seamlessly transitioned to pulling the strings when going forward.
Further up the pitch, JP Sharpe got between the lines to deftly link midfield with attack, with Sherbs and Moussa complimenting each other well up front, and neither were averse to dropping deep – to good effect – when the situation needed it. Strictly Sherbs showed his fancy footwork and made clever runs leaving defenders chasing shadows, whilst Moussa (pictured) dragged tired defenders all over the park with his busy, all-action style.
I hope I’ve mentioned everyone because, simply, everyone deserved a mention!
After the game, U21s supremo Casey O’ Reilly told us “It was fantastic to be back at it last night and I thought the lads made a fantastic account of themselves. Fitness levels were good and the togetherness in the group after a long lay off was pleasing.”
