ABBEY LANE v GREASBROUGH YOUTH - 28/12/08

[Craig Millward]

ABBEY LANE v GREASBROUGH YOUTH - 28/12/08

ABBEY LANE (2) v GREASBROUGH YOUTH (2)
GOALSCORERS - WILL MALLINSON (2)
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD -NICK HAYES


MATCH REPORT

Abbey Lane entertained second placed Greasbrough Youth and came away with a well deserved point, but could have stole all three in the last minutes of the game.

With Abbey Lane only managing to field twelve players, which once again didn't include a recognised keeper, our trusty left winger JORDAN MARPLES-DOUGLAS deputised once again between the sticks.We shuffled positions once again to account for abscent players, and the performance, particularly in the second half was excellent.

The game kicked off at a ferocious pace, but on a big pitch it was surely going to be a battle of the fittest. The chances were limited in the first half with neither team really commanding the play. With 30 minutes on the clock a good move by Greasbrough produced the games first goal, where the Abbey Lane keeper was caught wrong footed. The remainder of the first half was played with no more goals and no major incident.

The second half kicked off and with only 6 minutes on the clock, against the run of play, Greasbrough doubled their lead. This goal seemed to kick start the game for Abbey Lane, as they piled on the pressure. Credit to the team as a whole as with 15 minutes gone Abbey Lane pulled a goal back. Some excellent passing football saw the ball played to MALLINSON in the box, who made no mistake in firing home, and giving his team a major boost. Abbey Lane kept up the pressure and were rewarded for all their hard work on 25 minutes, when they forced the equaliser. This goal was very similar to the first where after some great movement with the ball, and some terrrific pressure going forward up popped MALLINSON to score a great goal. With ten minutes remaining Abbey Lane piled on the pressure and bombarded Greasbrough looking for the winner, a couple of shots were well saved, and a couple more were hit slightly off target. With only a minute remaining CHARLESWORTH had a great chance to nick all three points but was forced wide and hit his shot into the side netting. The game ended with a 2-2 draw.

This was an excellent performance from the twelve lads on a big pitch, and as the game went on Abbey Lane looked stronger and stronger. I would have been happy with a point before the game kicked off, but in the second half i think the lads deserved a little more luck. With three games in hand of Greasbrough this has put us in an excellent position, so now we must maintain our momentum in the league.
Excellent performance lads !!