AFC Wimbledon Youth 2 Woking Cougars 1
West Surrey Premier Elite - Sunday 13 November 2005
AFC Youth defeated the league leaders narrowly in a hard fought and thoroughly competitive game at Deckers. The team was at full strength apart from the serious loss of top scorer Timi da Silva, who was absent trialing for the Surrey County Rugby team. AFC started the first half camped in Cougars territory, and the visitors came under pressure as they were all out to combat the swift passing moves up the hill. In particular, Luke Ewing and Troy Murray were posing a serious threat down the left, but despite creating a number of chances the quality of the shooting was disappointing. The Cougars managed to mount several counterattacks, but these were comfortably broken down by Charlie Dennis, James Snishko or Jack Malin. On 10 minutes the deadlock was broken when the Troy Murray-Luke Ewing combination resulted in the Cougars keeper diving to beat out Luke Ewing's strong shot. Scott Fullerton then reacted very quickly to slide in and bury the loose ball from close range. Four minutes later the visitors equalised when their unmarked winger received the ball on the left of the penalty area, and then cut inside to hit the bar with a terrific shot. An unmarked Cougars player was on hand to dive headlong forward to head the rebound into an empty net. This goal seemed to stir the Cougars into life, and they were soon threatening down the left again, and this time when the ball came over, it was driven powerfully into the side netting, when another goal looked certain. Sam King was then sent on at right back, and this change turned the tide and the game became evenly contested. On 25 minutes Troy Murray's legs were taken away in the penalty area, but the Referee was in a good position and waved play on. The remainder of the half saw both teams unable to create any clear-cut chances as defences dominated. Tee-Jay Ryan was having a very good game in the fierce midfield battle, and at the back Jack Malin was tackling superbly and surging forward into the midfield and finding good range with his passing to the forwards.
The opening fifteen minutes of the second half were very sterile with neither side able to break the deadlock. This signalled a change from AFC with Jack Malin going up front to add some much-needed physical presence, and Sam King reverting to centre back. It was not long before Jack Malin tested the Cougars keeper with a sharp low shot from the edge of the box. After a period of AFC pressure with Troy Murray a constant thorn in the Cougars' side, the visitors broke up field and a fierce shot whistled past Nick Greaves' near post. The game appeared to be heading for a draw when in the 65th minute Troy Murray was upended in the penalty area. A Cougars' defender was cautioned for dissent, and then Troy Murray took the penalty to put AFC Youth into the lead. The Cougars then forced a number of unproductive corners, before down the other end Jack Malin laid the ball back for Sonny Russell to fire a shot over the bar. Sonny Russell was then taken out by a reckless challenge that earned the Cougars player a yellow card. From the free-kick Tee-Jay Ryan saw his powerful shot turned onto the angle by the keeper, and he then recovered brilliantly to keep out Jack Malin's angled shot. Five minutes from time a Cougars forward broke past James Snishko and into the penalty area, but with only the keeper to beat, he unaccountably delayed his shot enabling James Snishko to make a brilliant recovery tackle. The rest of the match passed without incident apart from another Cougars player being cautioned for dissent.
Three hard-earned points for AFC Youth against the best team they have played all season. The narrow pitch and the absence of Timi da Silva did not help AFC Youth, but it was a good performance against a strong, physical and skilful side. Jack Malin was awarded man of the match for a great display at centre-back, and then for generally putting himself about up front. Troy Murray put in a tireless performance and showed a lot of good footwork and passing, and there were very strong performances from James Snishko, Charlie Dennis, Tee-Jay Ryan and Sam King.
Reporter's man of the match: Jack Malin & Troy Murray
Team: Nick Greaves; Matthew O'Brien, James Snishko, Jack Malin, Charlie Dennis; Scott Fullerton, Sonny Russell, Tee-Jay Ryan, Luke Ewing; William Taylor, Troy Murray. Sub: Sahil Patel, Sam King.