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Austen Arrowheads v Hitchin Youth Colts

Sunday, January 28 2007

The Colts put themselves through to the next round of the Royston Crow League Cup competition with a convincing win over the Arrowheads.

The Arrowheads began well and the Colts were lacking in confidence for the first 10 minutes of the match. But as the Hitchin side gradually worked the ball into the opposition half their assurance grew.

When Leigh tipped the ball over the Arrowheads' keeper to score his first of the match, the Colts upped the tempo and within a few minutes the second goal came. Again it was Leigh who was well positioned to take advantage of a through ball that eluded the Arrowheads defenders. He ran on to the pass and slotted home from just inside the box.

A handball inside the area gave the Colts the chance to go into the break three goals up and Matthew W took it with a cool penalty shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Second-half pressure from Hitchin was constant. A series of corners kept the Arrowheads on the back foot. A header from Matthew W was well diverted by a defender. George's shot was just wide after a nifty cross from Jordan. The pressure soon paid off as Lewis K chipped a shot over the keeper from 15 yards. Leigh almost managed to lob the keeper a minute or two later but the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Jack E and Jordan created havoc down their respective wings, winning crucial tackles and making audacious runs. Indeed, Jack E was unlucky not score as he picked up a pass from the centre of the midfield, ran on and shot narrowly wide.

One of the cheekiest goals of the season was notched up by Lewis K. A cross from near the corner from Jordan looked to be safely with keeper as Lewis ran in. But the keeper fumbled and Lewis was able to collect the ball and nip into the few inches between player and line, squeeze round the back of the hapless keeper and slot home.

An own goal added to the Arrowheads' grief. Joe S put the ball into the box and under pressure a defender headed into his own net. The final nail in the coffin came as Leigh completed his hat trick with a carefully measured shot from 15 yards.

Although the Colts were clearly dominant, the Arrowheads were by no means an easy team to beat. They passed well, were strong in midfield and kept fighting. In fact, it was in the last two minutes of the match that they forced the Colts' keeper into two excellent saves, the first when a lone striker eluded the Hitchin defence and Louis was forced to come out to smother the shot, the second as he dived at full stretch to tip a fine shot round his post.

Result: Austen Arrowheads 0 - Hitchin Youth Colts 7

Toby Shelley