Nathan Hemmingham
02-16-2009, 10:59 AM
Score: Owls 1, Abbey Lane 1
Scorer: Josh Oxley-Adams (pen)
Man of the match: Bradley Wright; runner-up: Sam Ledger
Owls of despair as Abbey snatch late point
Abbey Lane picked up a well deserved point away at the division's form team Sheffield Wednesday Young Owls.
The Owls, who had won nine of their last 12 games, had the better of the first half and but for some outstanding saves from man of the match goalkeeper Bradley Wright, the score would have been more than 1-0 to the hosts at half-time.
With the advantage of the slope in their favour, Abbey set out to work their way back into the game.
Sam Ledger was excellent after the break in a floating attacking role, while Gokturk Demir and Josh Oxley-Adams were their usual powerful handful. It looked like being one of those days when Demir's lob went wide; Oxley-Adams denied by the keeper's legs and a deflected effort looped up and over the bar with the keeper well beaten. Ledger broke clear into the area but the defender recovered just as he was about to pull the trigger and for all their efforts in the second half, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon until, with one minute remaining, Abbey were awarded a penalty.
The outstanding Michael Fazakerley, who had been a colossus at the back, lofted a half cleared corner back into the danger zone and Oxley-Adams beat the offside trap, raced clear and lobbed the keeper. However, an Owls defender got back and cleared the ball off the line with his hand. The referee duly awarded a penalty and showed a red card. Oxley-Adams was the player charged with the responsibility of taking the spot-kick and he kept his cool to send the keeper the wrong way and cap off a great performance.
Ryan Pugh and Thomas Elliott both did sterling defensive jobs, while Jack Woodhouse was in commanding mood. The man of the match went to goalkeeper Bradley Wright, who is enjoying a fantastic second half to the season. Ledger picked up the runners-up award.
Scorer: Josh Oxley-Adams (pen)
Man of the match: Bradley Wright; runner-up: Sam Ledger
Owls of despair as Abbey snatch late point
Abbey Lane picked up a well deserved point away at the division's form team Sheffield Wednesday Young Owls.
The Owls, who had won nine of their last 12 games, had the better of the first half and but for some outstanding saves from man of the match goalkeeper Bradley Wright, the score would have been more than 1-0 to the hosts at half-time.
With the advantage of the slope in their favour, Abbey set out to work their way back into the game.
Sam Ledger was excellent after the break in a floating attacking role, while Gokturk Demir and Josh Oxley-Adams were their usual powerful handful. It looked like being one of those days when Demir's lob went wide; Oxley-Adams denied by the keeper's legs and a deflected effort looped up and over the bar with the keeper well beaten. Ledger broke clear into the area but the defender recovered just as he was about to pull the trigger and for all their efforts in the second half, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon until, with one minute remaining, Abbey were awarded a penalty.
The outstanding Michael Fazakerley, who had been a colossus at the back, lofted a half cleared corner back into the danger zone and Oxley-Adams beat the offside trap, raced clear and lobbed the keeper. However, an Owls defender got back and cleared the ball off the line with his hand. The referee duly awarded a penalty and showed a red card. Oxley-Adams was the player charged with the responsibility of taking the spot-kick and he kept his cool to send the keeper the wrong way and cap off a great performance.
Ryan Pugh and Thomas Elliott both did sterling defensive jobs, while Jack Woodhouse was in commanding mood. The man of the match went to goalkeeper Bradley Wright, who is enjoying a fantastic second half to the season. Ledger picked up the runners-up award.