Junior Eagles 0 AFC Wimbledon Youth 7
Surrey Youth Cup First Round - Sunday 25 September 2005
AFC progressed to the next round of the Surrey Cup with a comfortable victory over a side from the lower divisions of the West Surrey Youth League. AFC made all the running, but the hosts put up a very spirited resistance by defending well all over the pitch. Consequently, almost twenty minutes passed before the first clear-cut chance fell to Luke Ewing, who then set the pattern for the entire game by blazing over from eight yards. William Taylor was having a lively game down the right flank, and several chances were created by his skilful wing play. However, the finishing remained woeful, as three simple chances were squandered in front of goal. The Eagles keeper made several good saves, and then Sam King hit the bar with a blistering shot from 25 yards. Timi da Silva and Sonny Russell were introduced on 25 minutes, and not long after Timi da Silva was tripped on the edge of the area. Tee-Jay Ryan stepped up to skim the bar with a powerful free-kick. On 30 minutes AFC broke the deadlock when Timi da Silva waltzed around several opponents before playing a measured pass into the path of Sonny Russell, who finished with some aplomb. The AFC defence was never seriously tested, and with Sonny Russell making a big impact in midfield, the opposition came under very strong pressure. However, the dire finishing ensured no further goals before the interval.
Four minutes into the second half, Timi da Silva opened his account by running through the Eagles' defence and firing past the keeper. Two minutes later Luke Ewing put the result beyond all doubt by netting with a strong ground shot from inside the penalty area. AFC were now surging forward again and again, and were threatening to completely overrun an Eagles' defence that survived largely due to poor finishing and some excellent goalkeeping. It wasn't until the 60th minute that Troy Murray scored AFC's fourth after the a strong clearance cannoned off his back and into the net. Three minutes later the impressive Sonny Russell beat the keeper all ends up with a glorious 25-yard shot. William Taylor then hit the woodwork, and Charlie Dennis was denied by a great save from the Eagles' keeper. Timi da Silva then did all the work to set up Troy Murphy with an easy chance, but the striker shot wide. On 67 minutes Sonny Russell moved quickly forward from halfway, and completed his hat-trick with another stunning shot from well outside the box. James Snishko ran the length of the field on a number of occasions, as the game now assumed siege proportions, with the hosts defending desparately in large numbers. Jack Malin was re-introduced at right-back and made a couple of powerful runs forward, and shots rained in on the Eagles' goal from all directions. In the last minute, a brilliant individual goal completed the scoring, when Timi da Silva went on a high-speed slalom through the Eagles' defence before slotting home.
Reporter's man of the match: Sonny Russell
Team: Nick Greaves; Sam King, Jack Malin, James Snishko, Sahil Patel; William Taylor, Tee-Jay Ryan, Matthew O'Brien, Charlie Dennis; Luke Ewing, Troy Murray. Sub: James Snishko, Sonny Russell, Timi da Silva.