VLeatherhead Youth 0 – 1 Woking
COMPETITION: RYMAN LEAGUE U18 CUP
DATE: THU 28JAN10
Leatherhead were unfortunate to exit the Ryman Cup after a tight but exciting game in which they had the better scoring chances but did not have that moment of intervention from ‘lady Luck’ that is so often required to progress in cup competitions...
Woking came out of the blocks quickly and had the better of the early exchanges forcing a corner after 3 minutes but Leatherhead were matching them man for man and started to move the ball freely in midfield and were unfortunate to concede a free kick just outside their area after 7 minutes. Leatherhead keeper Lee Shipp could not hold on to the well struck kick and the rebound fell kindly to Woking’s no. 10 who slotted the ball home for what would prove to be the only goal of the game...
The home team took the set back in their stride and started to push Woking back having several good moves down the left side but could not find the final ball to create a clear opening. Much of the midfield play was tight but with incisive runs from deep and some good switching of play by Ross Salisbury in the centre Leatherhead were starting to get on top. It was 21 minutes before the visiting keeper had to make his first difficult save from a long range effort but the home team were producing some very good approach play.
The game ebbed and flowed for the next quarter of an hour with both teams pushing forward but neither creating any clear chances. However Leatherhead finished the half much the stronger pressing for an equaliser with Lewis Afflick coming close after 40 minutes and his strike partner Kieran Lunn even closer on 42 minutes when he beat two defenders only to see his shot go agonisingly wide...
The second half started as the 1st had finished with Leatherhead pushing forward at every opportunity and a good free kick from Paul Moran in the 50th minute nearly brought just reward for all their early pressure.
Woking’s 1st shot of the half came after 55 minutes but this was a rare event with Leatherhead’s defence well marshalled by their influential captain Josh Earl limiting them to very few chances on goal. Immediately Leatherhead were back on the attack and substitute Max Bajeux showed great tenacity down the right hand side before pulling the ball back for Lunn whose snap shot went just over the bar with the Woking keeper beaten.
A speculative long range shot from Woking after 72 minutes brought a great save from Shipp diving low to his left but Leatherhead’s defence never really looked like conceding a second and pushing forward at every opportunity it seemed that it would only be a matter of time before they equalised...
The last 15 minutes saw Leatherhead laying siege to the Woking goal, forcing corner after corner and creating many chances resulting in a string of near misses. Salisbury came close after 75 minutes after a solo run own the right but shot just over the bar, right back Zach Jacquart came even closer after another corner 5 minutes later but could not quite scramble the ball over the line. A great Bajeux cross from the right in the 82nd minute flashed across the Woking 6 yard area but no one could apply the finishing touch and the visitors were lucky to scramble the ball clear following long range free kick from Earl shortly after.
Centre back Jeremy Osei-Bonsu came close in the penultimate minute when he pushed forward down the left and broke into the box at pace but his left foot finish went just wide of the far post. Leatherhead still forcing the game were awarded yet another corner in the dying seconds but Andy Higgins kick hit the post and again the rebound fell kindly for Woking.
Leatherhead can be proud of their performance against a very strong Woking team that showed just how much they have developed in their inaugural season. On another day with the elusive goddess of fortune in attendance they could well have run out worthy winners and been into the next round...
There were many good individual performances in what was an outstanding team performance and MOM award had to be shared by Ross Salisbury for his tireless running and creativity in centre midfield and Josh Earl for a commanding performance at centre back in a defence that restricted Woking to so few scoring chances...
Team: Lee Shipp, Zach Jacquart, Andy Higgins, Josh Earl, Jeremy Osei-Bonsu, Paul Moran, Dave Burton, Ross Salisbury, Kieran Lunn, Lewis Afflick (rep 50), Jeff Osei-Bonsu (rep 55)
Subs: Max Bajeux (50), Michael Bekare (55), Robbie Lake, Tom Lindfalk, Kyle Miranda
Next Fixture :
TBA - But Leatherhead can now concentrate on finishing as high as possible in the league...
Report by David Hedges