Casey, The Gaffer, & the players must still be scratching their heads wondering how they didn’t get something out of yesterdays game – but a mixture of profligacy, some ‘interesting’ offside judgments by the liner (none at all first half, flagged like someone bringing a plane into land second half) & a missed penalty in the last 5 minutes all resulted in a 3-2 defeat for the Young Azzurri. However it should be noted that the lads gave it everything & played some of the best football I’ve seen them play this season.
Strictly Sherbs did the early dancing & set up Harry Brown on 8 minutes & Frickleys number 8 finished the move with a lovely calm finish to make it 1 nil.
The visitors got back on terms after 15 minutes which prompted Frickley back onto the front foot & we had a rasping drive slide inches wide shortly afterwards. This in turn prompted the visitors who broke away & made it 2-1 after 23 minutes. This in turn prompted……I think you get a feeling for the kind of game we were watching – ebb & flow, thrust & parry.
Normally he is Mr Reliable & Sherbs had 2 great chances to equalise – 1 went over & another was saved well by the keeper. Then Mahine Malik had a good chance but his shot was also saved by the keeper (feet again).
2-1 at half time but that quickly became 3-1 – I didn’t see the goal as I was, er, washing my hands whilst singing Happy Birthday & the National Anthem.
After almost an hour we got the goal of the game when Kyle Simpson went on a lovely mazey run & cut into the box & stroked the ball into the onion bag (not you Jerry), 3-2.
More end to end stuff, then with 5 minutes left Frickley were awarded a penalty – but once again the keeper was equal to the effort that was at a nice height for him.
3-2 it ended & it was a great game to watch – the Young Blues definitely merited a minimum of a point.
Standout players for the Young Azzurri – Hancock & Hush were their usual reliable selves in the back line, Mahine was full of trickery & Sherbs showed wonderful footwork (as you’d expect) but for once he didn’t have his shooting boots on. The 2 that caught my eye the most were Harry Brown, who played well & took his goal like a seasoned pro, & Josh McLaughlin. There’s not much of young McLaughlin but the lad can play & he shows calmness & skill on the ball.
Next up the U21s are at home to Yorkshire Amateurs U23s on Wednesday 11th March, kick off 7:45pm. See you there
