Similar Team, Same Shirt, Different League, Same Result!

AFC Sudbury U18 vs Witham Town Youth U18 in Thurlow Nunn Youth League.

Starting XI:-
McCarthy
Bennett Hunt Wooldridge Critchley
O’Malley (C)
S.Girling Osborn
Mayhew

Renwick King

Substitutes:- Tysoe
- Crane
- Horlock
- Hughes
- Langridge

AFC Sudbury U18 3 - 0 Witham Town U18

Similar Team, Same Shirt, Different League, Same Result!

The first year group of AFC Sudbury Academy found themselves facing a different test, on the 8th game of the Thurlow Nunn Youth League, in the form of an U18 side. The team had been playing in the Essex & Suffolk Border League prior to this match up and were going to have to be prepared for a different league, and therefore different type of opponent.

The AFC team set out in a familiar 4-diamond-2 formation, with familiar personnel (minus the very welcome addition of Bennett in the starting eleven). At kick off it was evident the way both teams aimed to play. The home side would look to maintain possession and build from the back, and their opponents would sit off in a very disciplined and resolute defence and play for counter attacks. The opening exchanges were tight as both teams started well and were sticking to their game plans. However, it would be AFC that would take the lead.

Jack Renwick the scorer as he turned something out of nothing. A half chance created by his strike partner Freddie King, as he hustled the defence and put them under enough pressure to put Renwick through as he tucked the ball beneath the keeper. 1-0 to Sudbury and a very important goal as it had the potential to change the game for the better, from a spectators perspective!

Despite this potential, Witham Town remained disciplined and stuck to a deep block in order to prevent their opposition from transforming the scoreline any further. This worked for the away side as they stayed in the game and began to earn themselves some possession. Their possession wouldn’t pay off and although they formed some half chances, the Sudbury defence refused to concede and kept a nought on the scoreboard. A lot of the play was concentrated in a very congested midfield. The extent of the congestion should have lead to Sudbury playing with more patience. This wouldn’t be the case as they began to force the ball unnecessarily, as they were leading the game. Witham would have been pleased with the way the game was flowing as Sudbury began to play into their hands. However, they wouldn’t have been pleased with the way they conceded on the brink of the half time break.

A slight mix up in a previously solid defensive line, allowed Jack Renwick to grab his brace. A relatively similar finish to the first as he took a touch before slotting the ball past the keeper for the second time. The interval would soon follow with the score at 2-0 to AFC!

The messages at the break, in the home dressing room would entail being patient in possession, as expected. The key to winning the game would be to frustrate their opponents and tire them out in doing so. Two substitutions were completed at half time in order to keep things fresh. Josh Tysoe replaced Joe Osborn and Ross Crane would come on for Harry Critchley at full back.

The majority of the second half involved Sudbury keeping the ball in their own half without calving many clear cut opportunities. The patience that was discussed at the half way stage of the game would be enforced on the field, but just in the wrong areas. Perhaps, this was credit to their organised opposition as they kept them at bay. This organisation wouldn’t sway the proceedings, as Sudbury stuck to their game plan.

Additional substitutions would soon take place a Horlock replaced Mayhew, to go upfront alongside goalscorer Renwick as King dropped into midfield. The rules regarding substitutions vary in the Thurlow Nunn U18 league to the ESBL, as the ‘roll on, roll off’ regulation applies. This allowed Sudbury to get all fit substitutes on the pitch and meant Josh Hughes was able to come on for Matt Wooldridge. This lead to a change of formation as the home side shifted into a 4-3-3, with Horlock spearheading a new look attack with Crane and Tysoe either side of him. The skipper O’Malley would fill in at centre back alongside Hunt and Hughes would find himself at left back.

As the game came to a close, Sudbury would get their third to seal the game. A wide free kick would work its way round to S.Girling, as he would hit a strike from 25 yards out and find the top corner. This would round the evening off and whilst the side didn’t reach the high standards set in previous matches, they secured the 3 points and maintained the very impressive record AFC Sudbury U18 sides hold in this league. A different league for this similar first year team but they managed to keep their winning run as a group intact.

Similar team, Same Shirt, Different League, Same Result! 3-0 to AFC Sudbury U18.

By Sam Girling.