ARLESEY TOWN YOUTH FC Under 16s 2004-05
MATCH REPORT ARCHIVE

Arlesey Town U16s 3 Bassingbourn 0
6 February 2005

Dave Albon’s Arlesey side took all three points at home against struggling Bassingbourn in a closely contested match. Woodcraft, Horwood and Davidson came off the subs’ bench to start the game for a repeat of the tie which had seen the visitors win 2-0 at home on the last encounter, a few weeks earlier.

Concentrating on playing football, both sides gave good accounts of themselves with Arlesey turning in the type of performance which has kept them in winning ways since Christmas. Indeed, topping up his goal tally, Tudball put the home side one up midway through the first half. Bassingbourn played some good football but were kept at bay by Greenhow and Jenkins in the Arlesey defence. Just before half time, Sommerville further lifted the Blues with an excellent goal for 2-0.

There was just one goal in it in the second half but what a goal. Definitely a candidate for ‘goal of the season’ this was very much a solo goal taken beautifully by Arlesey’s Rimmer. He picked the ball up on the edge of the Bassingbourn 18-yard box, zigzagged his way passed three defenders and carefully slotted the ball into the corner of the net, 3-0.

Special mention goes to Wilson who never stopped running all game, tirelessly covering every blade of grass to win the ball and lay on goal number three for Rimmer. Next week’s opponents Mark Youth FC will be looking to make it three victories out of three when they meet. However, it promises to be a close-run thing, especially after Mark Hall’s 6-1 exit today in the League Cup. Playing like they played today against Bassingbourn, Arlesey must be favourites to win!

Report by Malcolm Horwood and Alan Howard

Arlesey U16s 1 Stevenage Colts U16s 3
Sunday 30 January 2005

Arlesey looked to have taken control of this game within ten minutes of the start. Yet, with the temperature dropping, for some unknown reason an uneasy silence then fell on the home side.
   From that moment, Arlesey’s composure and confidence seemed to dip too. By the 20 minute-mark, it was the visitors who had turned up the heat with a runaway goal. This sparked Arlesey back into life.
   The home supporters cheered the lads on. Michael Rimmer’s scintillating strike came close, only narrowly missing the target. Andy Goddard was a sure fire winner with his strong runs down the right hand flank while the impressive Rhys Tudball led the charge to the visitor’s goal with some pretty determined forward play.
   Against the run of play again, Stevenage then took the game by the scruff of the neck by knocking in a second goal on the stroke of half an hour. The home side lifted their game in the second half.
  By the midway point, Arlesey’s industry paid off after Stephen Sommerville’s superb volley fell perfectly for the advancing Tudball. Under pressure from the Stevenage full backs, he coolly slotted the ball passed the Colts’ keeper and into the bottom left hand corner of the net, game on! However, the Colts weren’t about to hand the advantage to their hosts. In particular, their combative Captain, who led by example, got stuck in at both ends.
   So it was, the visitors wrapped up the three points with a late goal. Overall, both sides had plenty of chances to score.
   Liam Hill worked hard in goal and kept the home side’s hopes alive. Both Tom Quambro and Martin Dell showed their commitment to their team mates throughout. They never gave up the chase. Overall, it wasn’t quite the performance the lads had hoped for but that’s the way it goes sometimes, credit to the Colts who played some good football.
   There’s a great opportunity for Manager Dave Albon and the lads to make up some of the ground next week when the side play struggling Bassingbourn at home. Do come and watch the game if you can and show your support.

Arlesey: Hill; Goddard; Quambro; Greenhow (Captain); Jenkins; Rimmer; Sommerville; Wilson; Monaghan; Dell; Tudball; Horwood; Davidson; Woodcraft.

Match report by Alan Howard

Sunday 23 January 2005
Royston Colts 1 ArleseyTown 2

Dave Albon’s Arlesey side continued their New Year renaissance with an impressive away win against Royston Colts. The home side, who had only lost once in nine games, kicked off with the sunshine in their eyes.
   Arlesey’s free flowing game caught the home side by surprise as they pressured Royston. Against the run of play, the home side managed to grab a goal. Arlesey’s resolve in this game was not about to dissolve.
   So it was then that the side’s star striker Stephen Sommerville would bring the two sides even with a well taken goal. The visitors then took the lead with a powerful free-kick strike from Sommerville. Well into the mould of one Steven Gerrard it was, leaving the Royston goalie with absolutely no chance. 
   Arlesey held onto their lead in the second half although it was very much backs to the wall. Indeed it looked like Royston would draw level after they won a penalty. Unfortunately for the home side, the ball clipped the outside of the post to go wide.
   It was one of those days when everything was going to go well for Dave Albon’s side and their enthusiastic supporters. So it ended 2-1 to Arlesey, with due credit given and praise from Royston’s Manager. Arlesey’s commitment and work rate could not be faulted.
   The lads are to be commended for sticking at it in recent weeks. There are some tough games to come not least next week’s home tie against Stevenage yet with this level of resolve on board, the only way is up!

Match report by Malcolm Horwood and Alan Howard

Sunday 9 January 2004
Letchworth Garden City Eagles Oranges U16s 0 ArleseyTown U16s 8

All credit to Arlesey U16 Manager Dave Albone and his lads for an impressive win away at Letchworth.
   After a disappointing start to the season, Dave has stepped up his side’s training regime in recent weeks. This has clearly begun to pay huge dividends. The Blues’ fought very hard against top-flight opposition in two very closely contested games just before the Christmas break.
   The trip to the Creamery Recreation Ground to take on, bottom of the table, Letchworth for a return fixture, after a 5-2 home win, would give an indication as to how much the side had improved. Played in fairly blustery conditions, Arlesey battled hard to go into their half-time team talk two goals up.
   Playing against the wind in the second half, the boys potted another six goals in what was rightly described as “a superb all-round performance” by supporter Duncan Springall. Two goals from Rhys Tudball, another from Daryl Wilson and a stunning five-goal ‘fest’ from the team’s star strike supremo, Stephen Sommerville saw the Blues grab all three points.
   After the full time whistle, ‘Over the moon’ Manager, Dave Albone lined all his lads up and shook their hands one by one. All the lads, even young Malcee “What a start to the New Year” Horwood, were estatic after their victory. Gentlemen, long may it continue!
 

Sunday 12 September 2004
Arlesey U16 4 Baldock Town Templars 8

Both sets of players will have come away from this highly entertaining game today with much to be both jubilant and disappointed about. The final score line flattered Baldock although their dominance in the middle part of game proved to be the deciding factor.
   The game started at a furious pace with the home side very much in command. Daryl Wilson came close to scoring within the first five minutes. The Blues then picked up a corner. The cross came in hard but was turned away by the Baldock keeper only as far as Tom Quambro who fired the loose ball mercilessly into the back of the Baldock net, 1-0 Arlesey.
   The Blues oozed confidence with every player clearly showing they knew what their role was and, more importantly, where they should be playing. Incursions into the Blues’ half were greeted with a resolute ‘repel all borders’ approach from Arlesey’s defence. Luke Jenkins was particularly impressive winning most of the balls in the air as they reined in from the Baldock half. The visitors struggled to string passes together. Their approach seemed to be simply to just get the ball away, anywhere.
   Arlesey then made a number of substitutions and moved things around a little. Slowly but surely Baldock started to come back into the game with the Templars’ strike force starting to cause problems. By the 25-minute mark, the visitors had managed to haul back an equaliser, 1-1.
   The home side kept running but started to lose their shape, handing the advantage inadvertently to the red shirts of Baldock. Liam Hill in the Arlesey goal was having none of it though and on 27 minutes denied Baldock what seemed to be an obvious goal with a great save. But it was clear the visitors had the measure of the gaping hole developing at the back. They punished Arlesey two minutes later by taking the lead.
   Stephen Sommerville’s ambitious strike on goal from 40-yards out lifted the gloom temporarily but the ball fell just over the Baldock cross bar. Three minutes to half-time and the visitors grabbed another goal.

Pic: U16s pour over their opening 45 mins against Baldock
3-1 became 5-1 within ten minutes of the restart. Baldock continued to press the advantage throwing everything forward. Then on the strike of 60 minutes, Arlesey came back from the brink. Spurred on by a well-taken penalty by Stephen Sommerville for 5-2, Arlesey suddenly found their feet again everywhere except at the back.
   There then followed a silly five minute period in which both sides netted taking the final score to an amazing 8-4 in favour of the visitors, with Sommerville and Wilson on target for Arlesey.

Pic: Stephen Sommerville’s penalty raises Arlesey’s game
Baldock held onto their lead and ‘toughed’ it out in the last fifteen minutes of the game, unable to cope with the high balls being lobbed forward by the Blues’ midfielders into the path of the Arlesey front two.
   This was a bit of a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ performance by Arlesey and Manager Dave Albon will be wondering what brought on his team’s amnesia attack 25 minutes into the game. Up until then, the Blues’ had been by far the better side and worthy of their one goal lead. No doubt the team will have some serious thinking to do at this week’s training session. On a positive note, this strengthened Arlesey side contains some very gifted and talented individuals who clearly want to work and win together. Given some hard graft and time, things can only get better for the Blues!
   Arlesey Under 16s: Hill, Haines, Quambro, Greenhow, Jenkins, Rimmer, Cullum, Sommerville, Wilson, Monaghan, Dell. Subs: Davidson, Smith, Horwood, Woodcraft.

Report and photos for atyfc.net by Alan Howard.
 

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