The City Academy Bristol 3 Hamworthy United FC 0
South West Counties Youth League, 6th October 2007
The two remaining unbeaten teams in Division 2 of the SWCYL came head to head with the home side taking all three points and replacing the Hamworthy youngsters at the top of the table. The Hammers were never allowed to settle in possession in the first half on a very tight pitch that suited the City Academy’s direct and aggressive percentage football. However, the Hammers seemed to have weathered the storm until a speculative under hit shot from 30 yards out was misjudged, and allowed to slip into the net, by the normally highly dependable Shaun Lillington to give the Bristol side a one nil lead at the interval. With renewed focus and commitment after the break the Hammers started to impose themselves on the match, including hitting the bar from a header by Dean Macklin, following a precise left footed cross from Jordan Cole. Despite the increased possession in favour of the Hammers it was City Academy who went on to score two late goals that sealed their victory. Firstly, with a penalty following a lunging tackle from Jack Smith, where he took the ball, but it was adjudged as dangerous play, and finally a goal conceded from slack marking at a corner. Perhaps the lessons learnt, by all, will help with the challenges to follow later in the season!
Team: Lillington, Seal, Cole, Byrne (O’Reilly), MacDonald (Capt.), Chappell, Barnett (Crossin), Norris, Reavenall-Nuete, Macklin, Cooper-Blayney (Smith)