Under 11s Match Reports

U11?s League

Sunday 15th January 2006

Rovers returned to their winning ways with a victory at home against Windsor Drive. In fact it was Windsor Drive that made the early running and had two good chances to take the lead. On both occasions the forwards were unlucky not to score after beating the Abbeymead offside trap. Credit to the Abbeymead goalkeeper, Jacob Ellmore, who managed to save the second chance with his outstretched legs.

Those early chances acted as a wake up call as Rovers began to put pressure on the Windsor defence. With Tom Rich working hard down the right and Danny Baxter raiding down the left Abbeymead began to create chances of their own. The Windsor Drive goalkeeper made good saves from shots by Matt Ball, Kieran Smith and Gareth Davies. It took an individual goal from Hadley Gilbert to break the deadlock. Hadley picked up the ball and beat three defenders on a penetrating run into the penalty area before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

With the Abbeymead defence of Brian Goodman, Nate Crosby, Barnaby George and Adam Thrall, now working hard, Windsor Drive had very few chances in the rest of the half. A good save by the Windsor goalkeeper denied Danny Baxter extending Rovers lead after some excellent ball skill from Danny.


HT ABBEYMEAD ROVERS 1 v 0 WINDSOR DRIVE

Joshua Harris and Adam Crabbe were introduced as second half substitutes. Joshua was brought on to add to the rovers attack while Adam played as wing half before reverting to a more orthodox right back. A fine pass by Kieran Smith put through Danny Baxter, who beat the goalkeeper with a tremendous low shot to extend Abbeymeads lead. Substitute Liam Phelps entered the fray during the second half and worked well on the right .It seemed that Rovers would go on to win the game comfortably. However Windsor fought back in midfield to start putting pressure on Abbeymead. It took some good defending and some fine tackles by Adam Thrall to keep Windsor at bay. A goal was disallowed after Windsor scored directly from an indirect free kick, lucky that goalkeeper Jacob Ellmore did not touch the ball.

Windsor Drive eventually got a goal back with just a few minutes remaining. Abbeymead failed to clear the ball and the Windsor forwards broke through to score. It made for a tense last couple of minutes but Abbeymead were able to hold out and run out winners.


FT ABBEYMEAD ROVERS 2 v 1 WINDSOR DRIVE


Abbeymead Rovers: Jacob Ellmore, Brian Goodman, Nate Crosby, Adam Thrall, Barnaby George, Hadley Gilbert, Tom Rich, Matt Ball, Danny Baxter, Gareth Davies, Kieran Smith: Subs: Adam Crabbe, Liam Phelps, Joshua Harris

GYAFL U11 League

Sunday 8th January 2006

Trips out to the Forest of Dean have not been very lucky for Rovers and the trend continued for this first game of the New Year. On a cold and grey drizzly January Sunday, Abbeymead Rovers suffered an unfortunate defeat away to Mitcheldean S.C. Events did not start too well with a number of the Abbeymead players arrival delayed due to the effects of a road traffic accident .Mitcheldean kindly agreed to a delay in the kick off.

As the report writer was also caught up in the delay and did not arrive until late, the first half details will be brief. The midfield of Gareth Davies, Hadley Gilbert, Matt Ball and Tiff Eden were battling hard in a tightly contested midfield. Up front Kieran Smith and Joshua Harris had to work hard against a good Mitcheldean defence. The Abbeymead fullbacks Liam Phelps and Adam Crabbe had to be alert facing some sprightly opposition on the wings. There had to be good solid defensive work in the middle by Nate Crosby and Barnaby George. Jacob Ellmore in goal made a couple of fine saves to keep a clean sheet at half time. Nate Crosby came to the rescue on one occasion clearing off the line.

The introduction of Danny Baxter on the right wing as a substitute gave Abbeymead an added threat up front. A good run and then cross led to a fine shot by Kieran Smith which was only just wide.



HT MITCHELDEAN S.C. 0 v 0 ABBEYMEAD ROVERS

Adam Thrall and Tom Rich came on for Abbeymead. The second half was a closely contested battle. Both Mitcheldean and Abbeymead?s most dangerous play happened when the ball was worked wide. The Mitcheldean keeper made a couple of fine saves from Tiff Eden and Danny Baxter.

Mitcheldean took the lead after Abbeymead failed to fully clear the ball following a corner. From a crowded area the Mitcheldean forward was able to place the ball wide of the goalkeeper. A tactical change saw Abbeymead push forward looking for an equaliser but they seemed destined not to score. A goal bound shot by Kieran Smith was unfortunately blocked by his own player.

From a break away Mitcheldean were able to score a second to secure all three points and bring to end an afternoon of disappointment for Abbeymead.



HT MITCHELDEAN S.C. 2 v 0 ABBEYMEAD ROVERS


Abbeymead Rovers: Jacob Ellmore, Adam Crabbe, Nate Crosby, Liam Phelps, Barnaby George, Hadley Gilbert, Tiff Eden, Matt Ball, Gareth Davies, Joshua Harris, Kieran Smith: Subs: Tom Rich, Adam Thrall, Danny Baxter.