Home Match Reports Archive Constitution Policies Contact Directions Sponsors

Wymondley Wanderers U14 v Hitchin Town Youth Colts U14

Saturday, November 17 2007

This promised to be a hard fought local derby but the first half saw the Colts with their backs to the wall. Wanderers used height, weight and an advantageous wind to pin their rivals in their own half.

In the first 20 minutes the Colts offered little and it was shortly after they began to show attacking ambitions that they suffered their first setback. A long diagonal pass from the Wanderers' defence found a recipient on the opposite wing, deep in Hitchin territory. A well taken lob put the hosts one ahead.

Five minutes later and a 25 yard blast made it two. The Colts looked on their uppers as half time approached.
They came out with attacking intent but were limited initially to speculative long distance shots. The breakthrough came from the right wing where the Colts were beginning to exercise some strength. A cross into the box was deftly nodded home and the Colts had something to play for.

Their front men had begun to learn their way around the Wanderers’ back four and the equaliser came from a dummy pass that fooled the defence, two touches and a shot from inside the box.

The final seconds of normal time brought drama as Wanderers went for the kill. Rounding the keeper, an accurate shot on goal was knocked away from the line through smart defending and the match went to extra time.

Far from slowing, the pace picked up further with some of the most exciting play of the afternoon. It was the home team that got the boost with a third goal before the teams changed ends. And they might have made it more had it not been for two one-on-one saves by the Colts keeper.

But Hitchin struck back again, continuing a spell of good play down the right. The Wanderers’ keeper got a finger to a low, accurate drive from the wing only to see the ball knocked home by a Colts poacher.

More fine goal keeping in the tradition of the Colts team was on display as the match went to penalties. Two saves saw them through to the third round.

Wymondley Wanderers 3 : Hitchin Town Youth Colts 3 (AET)

Colts win 7-6 on penalties.

Match report by Toby Shelley