Matlock Town U19 2 v Harworth Colliery Institute U19 1 - NMU19L Div 2

Tuesday 13th November 2012
at Causeway Lane, Matlock
North Midland Under 19's League, Division 2
MATLOCK TOWN U19  (1) 2
Declan Jenkins 35, Matt Wilkinson 55
HARWORTH COLLIERY INSTITUTE U19  (0) 1
Connor Gresham 59
Admission £2 inc. programme

Harworth Colliery Institute:
Tom Hogg. Jordan Hardman, Luke Bailey, Gareth Bonner, Jordan Nortcliffe, Lewis Elwood, Mitchell Lax, Daine McGrain, Enzo Guarini, Danny Siddall
Subs - Reece Kemp. Tom Sowden, Connor Gresham
Matlock Town:
Harry Westnedge, Jack Johnson, Sam Lavelle, David Boden, Adam Clarke, Matt Wilkinson, Tom Evans, James Travis, Matt Andrew, Declan Jenkins, Jordan Holland
Subs - Ben Harrison, Josh Shears, Bruce Kitchen

Match report by an aspiring and very talented guest writer, Hasan Insane, AKA the Harworth Colliery Under 19's Assistant Manager (sponsored for the 2012-13 season by THE66POW) 

Harworth failed to go clear at the top of the league after a 2-1 defeat by a young but extremely talented Matlock Town side.
With Callum Tiffany making himself unavailable on Tuesday morning, our goal hero from last week Lewis Elwood, was drafted in to play in central midfield.
Other than that enforced change we were unchanged.
Matlock Town, this season have progressed through to the FA Youth Cup first round , winning 3 preliminary games on the way so we knew that they would be a handful.
Knowing this we started the game well and the lively trio of Danny, Daine and Enzo all missed good chances early doors to give us a well deserved lead. Midway through the first half Daine had a penalty appeal turned down by a poor referee and Jordan Hardman had an excellent 30 yard strike saved brilliantly by the Matlock Town keeper.

However, in the first half that was as good as it got for the Colliery side who faded as the half went on. This was mainly down to some superb interplay by Matlock Town.
They passed and moved the ball like a team that belied their current league position and took the lead after 35 minutes.
Some excellent play down the right hand side created a third man full back run who played a neat ball in behind our back four.
It looked like Chris Higgins would clear the ball but he failed to get a good clearance and Declan Jenkins finished well by tucking the ball under Tom Hogg.
The goal gave Matlock the impetus and for the next ten minutes of the half they gave us a small lesson in pass and move.
Matt Wilkinson in the middle of the park was exceptional; easily one of the best central midfield players we have faced so far.
Tom Hogg was fortunate after he dropped an easy catch on his goal line only for the Matlock player to somehow hit the ball over the bar from two yards.
HT: 1-0

We were glad to get in at half time and told the players to press more as a pack instead of individuals or just sit back and press in the right areas.
Matlock's passing and retaining of possession would make it difficult but we needed to pass the ball better like we knew we could to give us time to build up some pressure of our own.
At half time Danny Siddall went off with a bad gash down the leg so we bought on the lively Connor Gresham, knowing full well that he would give us a lift and some attacking impetus.
The second half began as the first had ended, with Matlock Town on top, keeping the ball but not really creating any clear cut chances. However, at a goal down we needed to start playing or we would end up empty handed.
Our fears worsened when Matlock Town went two up from a corner on 55 minutes, when Matt Wilkinson headed home Ben Harrison's flag kick..
2-0

Straight after the goal we changed our shape, bought on Tom Sowden to sit deep alongside Jordan Nortcliffe and pushed Mitchell Lax up front with Daine.
Daine as usual looked busy but wasn't getting much quality service so providing him with closer support assisted us in changing the momentum of the game.
Suddenly, Mitchell was seeing more of the ball in dangerous areas and his 16 goal partnership with Daine was looking good up front.
It seemed like the second goal was the real wake up call that was needed and for the last 35 minutes of the game Matlock were made to hang on. We made it difficult for them to pass the ball, Tom Sowden and Jordan Nortcliffe snapping into tackles with intent, our full backs pushed higher up the pitch contributing in pushing Matlock Town back into their own half. Our effort and determination was rewarded on 59 minutes when Daine played in a brilliant 10 yard diagonal, defence splitting pass in the path of Connor and he finished empathetically to bring us straight back into the game.

 Football totty! See bottom left of the picture ;-)

   

Shortly after some good play Daine, Mitchell and Connor saw Daine hit a good effort just wide of goal when he should have perhaps hit the target.
On 75 minutes a long goal kick by Tom Hogg wasn't dealt with at all by the overworked Matlock Town back four and Connor hit a volley come lob that whistled over the keeper but just past the post. It was now one way traffic and looking likely that and equaliser would come we took some chances and pushed a centre back up front too.
As we pressed and missed some other decent chances, we were now open for the counter attack. In injury time the ever lively and impressive Matlock Town number 10 broke away down the right hand side, evaded challenges by Tom Sowden and Chris Higgins and played a pass into the path of the on rushing midfielder he hit his tired effort wide when he really should have scored.
FT: 2-1
In conclusion, a game that we probably should have drawn.
However, Matlock Town are a decent team and played very well on the night.
The game itself was very entertaining, played to an outstanding standard.
We worked hard throughout but perhaps just lacked our usual passing accuracy and creative flair that has bought us 26 goals so far.

Harworth Colliery Man of the Match: Jordan Hardman