Avon Youth League Under 16s, Division 2, 26/03/17
Oldland Abbots 5 KTJFC 1 (HT 3-0)
Keynsham scorer: Charlie.
TOP OF THE TABLE ABBOTS OUT-MUSCLE KEYNSHAM IN CRUCIAL LEAGUE CLASH.
A beautiful blue sky hung over the Coronation Park Playing Fields as top of the table Oldland Abbots hosted Keynsham Town for the first eagerly awaited meeting of the season.
Keynsham, fielding a strong team, started the game with a high tempo and applied sustained pressure on Abbots goal for the first 20 minutes, winning a succession of corner kicks that caused panic in the Oldland defence.
Oldland Abbots were however always dangerous on the break and were awarded a number of free kicks around the Keynsham penalty area for silly Keynsham fouls that disrupted the flow of the game.
On 21 minutes, Keynsham were undone when a nicely delivered cross from the right hand side was driven home low at the far post for a 1-0 lead to Oldland Abbots.
Then minutes later, Oldand scored twice in quick succession – a mistake at the back not helped by the strong wind and a powerful shot from just outside the box that gave Reegan little chance.
A strong physical Oldland Abbots showed excellent pressing and work off the ball and this gave Keynsham no time to settlle into their flowing passing game.
The half ended 3-0 to Oldland Abbots.
Keynsham began the 2nd half committing more players forward in 3-5-2 formation but were unfortunate to concede another breakaway goal within the first few minutes of the restart.
There was good battling from Luke on the wings and a hurculean performance in midfield from Ben who was the recipient of a number of strong tackles.
On 65 minutes, a free kick from Max outside of the box was bravely headed in by Charlie for a deserved Keynsham goal.
In the half there were also chances for Toby, Ozzie, Max & Luke but Oldland were defending in numbers and sitting back to protect their match winning lead.
Unfortunately there was a freak own goal for Keynsham at the end of the match following a failed clearance and the final score ended 5-1.
If Keynsham’s good start to the game would have produced goals the outcome of match may have been different. Remarkably if Keynsham win all of their four remaining games they can still end the season top of the league!
Mike Cooke.
