AFC Wimbledon Youth 4 Barnes Eagles 0
West Surrey Premier Elite - Tuesday 18 April 2006
AFC Youth produced an excellent display of possession football to run out convincing winners and go top of the league. Timi da Silva (injury) and Sam King (holiday) were absent, but the game saw the return of Jack Malin, Scott Fullerton and Paul Nicholls, who all missed last week's friendly against AFC Wimbledon Colts.
It was AFC Youth who started the better with Paul Nicholls and William Taylor prominent down the flanks, and Tee-Jay Ryan and Sonny Russell running the show in midfield. The visitors worked hard and pressured the ball, but saw little possession as the hosts moved the ball around from player to player in simple triangles. However, very few clear-cut chances were created because the final ball to Troy Murray often went astray. Barnes pushed forward when in possession, but posed little threat with James Snishko et al playing to the top of their form. With the hosts so much on top it came as no great surprise when they finally scored on 20 minutes. After a fluent passing move, William Taylor found himself in space some twenty yards out, and he curled a superb shot inside the keeper's left-hand post. AFC Youth continued to dominate possession with Paul Nicholls, Troy Murray and Sonny Russell all playing very well, but the Barnes defence covered well and worked hard to restrict any scoring opportunities to a minimum. Every time Barnes crossed the half-way line, their attacks evaporated quickly in front of the watertight AFC Youth defence. James Snishko was having a superb match at the back, and it was he who headed home Charlie Dennis' corner to make it 2-0 just before half-time.
The second half started with some very good attacking football by the hosts, but invariably it was let down by the final ball. AFC Youth continued to press forward, and eventually a third goal was scored on 55 minutes. After a passing move involving several players, Troy Murray headed the ball down into the path of the oncoming William Taylor, who netted with a superb finish from about ten yards. Barnes threatened mainly on the break, and a forward raced clear over the half-way line, but he was soon caught by James Snishko after an explosive burst of speed. Barnes then won a corner, and a bungled clearance landed in the path of a Barnes player, whose shot was deflected onto the underside of the bar. Another shot was quickly fired in, but it took another deflection, and this time the ball hit the top of the bar before going behind for an unproductive corner. Normal service was soon resumed with AFC Youth attacking down both flanks at will, but the Barnes defence held firm. Another quick breakway, once again saw a Barnes player sprinting goalward from the half-way line, but he was swallowed up very quickly by both Jack Malin and James Snishko, and latter cleared the ball upfield. Five minutes from time Sonny Russell completed the scoring with a brilliant individual goal that saw a defender eliminated with a very clever turn, and the ball then flying into the net after an unstoppable shot from just inside the penalty area.
It was a comfortable victory and a very good display of possession football. Excellent performances from all the players, and the team now head the league, but that could all change tomorrow evening when AFC Wimbledon visit Tooting & Mitcham, whom they have beat twice already this season, 2-0 in the Surrey Cup, and 7-0 in the league.
Reporter's man of the match: James Snishko
Team: Nick Greaves; Matthew O'Brien, Jack Malin, James Snishko, Charlie Dennis; William Taylor, Sonny Russell, Tee-Jay Ryan, Paul Nicholls; Luke Ewing, Troy Murray. Sub: Matthew Braben, Scott Fullerton.