AVDFC U16's 2-3 Risborough Rangers

AVDFC U16’s 2-3 Risborough Rangers

Team: Jonathan; Hasan, Bobby, Corey, Conor, Dylan; Yusef, Hudhayfah, Owen, Kai, Adam, Jake, Zola; Ben

After the disappointing league match last week against Risborough Rangers, Dynamos played them again in the League Cup, hoping for a better result.
New signing, Ben, was straight into the deep in, starting up front. Corey was alongside Conor at the back and Owen partnered Hudhayfah in the middle.
The first real action saw Owen play a through ball to Ben, but it was just over hit. Moments later Adam controlled a pass from Hasan and sent a ball through to Ben, but the keeper came out and cleared.
11 minutes in and Risborough had a decent sight of goal, but ballooned the shot over Jonathan’s bar.
Hasan was having a good start and he won the ball and squared it to Owen. He played a ball through to Ben…but the pass was just too long again.
Adam then tried his luck with a long range effort which went wide of the mark as both teams were starting to string some passes together.
20 minutes and Owen was fouled 30 yards out on the right. Kai took the free kick which was headed goalbound by Hudhayfah, but straight at the keeper.
Risborough then broke forward but Corey was on hand to dive in and block the cross, but got injured at the same time. Dylan came on as Bobby shuffled into the middle.
Less than a minute later, Dylan found Hudhayfah in the middle and he played a ball to Ben and his shot went wide.
26 minutes and a turning point in the game. A strong challenge from Yusef in the middle saw the Risborough player react with a push…then both players were pushing…then swinging…then other players broke it up and both players received a red card. It was now 10 v 10.
Over half an hour played and a ball out from Bobby was headed on by Owen and Adam crossed the ball but no Dynamos player could get on the end of it.
At the other end a Risborough cross was heading into the box and Owen was again there to head clear. He might be small…but he wins some headers…!
37 minutes in and another flash point…Adam’s quick feet saw him fouled, but the referee didn’t blow meaning another confrontation…but nothing else. Adam grabbed the ball for the free kick only to learn it was given to Risborough…!? Strange decision.
Risborough then had the best chance of the half, on the stroke of half time. Breaking through the back line Jonathan made a great first save and then got up to make another save as a shot came in.
Half time: 0-0
In the first minute of the second half, Risborough won a corner and they curled it in, over the players in the box and over Jonathan into the net. 0-1 Risborough.
44 minutes and another Risborough cross was this time met by Conor who headed clear. The ball fell to Zola who played a ball down the line to Kai, but the defender got a vital touch out for a throw.
Zola was starting to influence the game in the middle and a great run from him saw him play the ball wide to Adam. He beat his man and hit a cross where, who else….Owen….was there to win the header but the keeper grabbed the ball as it looped up.
The next couple of minutes saw Risborough on the attack and their first effort went over the bar, but moments later they broke through the middle and slotted the ball past Jonathan. 0-2 Risborough.
50 minutes and finally Dynamos were on the scoresheet and back in the game. Another decent run from Zola and a good shot was blocked by the keeper. The ball fell to Kai who steadied himself and sent it back, over the keeper, and into the back of the net. Great finish. 1-2 Risborough.
With an hour gone Hasan played the ball wide to Jake who battled well and squeezed the ball to Adam. He hit a cross which was well defended by Risborough.
62 minutes and the killer blow. Risborough ran down the Dynamos right and crossed the ball which eluded Dynamos defence and they scored a third goal. 1-3 Risborough.
With 5 minutes remaining, a Risborough cross was headed clear by Conor and the ball fell to Zola. He went on a mazy run past 3 Risborough players and his pass deflected off a Risborough player, into the path of Ben. He ran through and beat the keeper with ease to score on his debut. Great goal and Dynamos had a lifeline. 2-3 Risborough.
A minute before the end and Risborough were attacking, a gut-busting run back from Ben saw him get a vital block in.
Injury time saw no chances for either team and Risborough progress to the 4th round of the cup.

Mike demanded more fight from the players…Yusef obliged….! All joking aside, it was not a good performance, and we need to play as a team and support each other.
However, Zola looked lively in the middle and had a good match. Hasan was solid again and battled hard all game. Kai was back on the scoresheet, and we saw that smile come back. Owen was all over the place and, despite a few knocks, was battling well all match. Final mention to Ben who made his debut and got a great goal in the process.
We go again next week in ANOTHER cup match, away at Chalfont Wasps.