Oxford City U18 2 AFC R&D U18 3

Oxford City 2-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Northants Senior Youth League

AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18s gave their best performance of the season to come from two goals down to defeat Oxford City, and open up a 5 point gap at the top of the NSYL Western Division table.

The hosts, sitting just one place and two points behind the Diamonds, got off to a strong start, twice shooting off target inside the opening 7 minutes, before forcing Alex Vitue into the first save of the game on 9 minutes. The AFC ‘keeper doing well to tip a fierce 25 yard strike around the post.

It was 13 minutes in before the Diamonds started to show the first sign of what was to come, putting together a great move which resulted in Jake Reynolds shooting just wide from 12 yards on his weaker left foot. The hosts were still looking dangerous going forward, particularly with the pace of their striker, and he went close a minute later, firing into the side netting from the edge of the box.

Both Rushden full backs were getting forwards, with Liam Bond firing just wide after a good one-two with Blake Helsdown. On the opposite side, Zach Farden picked out Conor Bell with a terrific through ball, but the midfielder shot tamely at the ‘keeper. Bell then turned provider with a far post cross to Reynolds, but the ball was slightly too high for the striker and he was unable to keep his header down.

The visitors, who were now dominating the play, should have gone ahead on 19 minutes when a Reynolds shot was parried to Omar Ghavami and his cross found Bell unmarked at the far post with a simple volley, but he failed to get a decent contact on the ball, allowing the home defence to clear it off the line.

Helsdown was tormenting the City defence with his running down the right flank, and two great crosses in the space of three minutes presented headed chances for both Bell and Reynolds, but neither could direct the ball on target. Between those chances, a Ghavami corner fell to Alex McDonald who stabbed the ball towards goal only to see his effort cleared off the line.

On 28 minutes the hosts reminded the Diamonds that they were still a threat when their pacey striker ran onto a long goal kick which eluded the AFC defence, but Vitue was out quickly to thwart him. They took the lead just a minute later however, as their striker turned Adam Ziolkowski before laying the ball off to an onrushing midfielder who powered home a shot from just inside the penalty area.

Rushden didn’t let their heads drop and tried to respond immediately, with Farden embarking on a terrific run down the left flank before picking out Reynolds with a superb through ball, but the home ‘keeper was off his line quickly and made a terrific save at the feet of the AFC striker. A minute later Ghavami picked out Bell on the edge of the penalty area, but his well struck shot was too close to the ‘keeper.

With the Diamonds still wondering how they were not winning the game they fell further behind on 38 minutes. After an Oxford corner was cleared up to the half way line, a great ball to the left flank found their winger in space, and he played in a superb low cross which saw a defender break free of his marker to tap home from 6 yards, although Vitue was desperately unlucky not to keep out the close range effort.

Still the Diamonds kept their heads up and continued to bombard the City goal. Helsdown set off on another great run, this time cutting inside through the middle of the defence, only to be denied by a brave save from the home ‘keeper. An even better save was to follow as Helsdown again stormed forward, this time hitting a shot from 20 yards which the ‘keeper did brilliantly to push onto the post and behind for a corner.

From that corner, Rushden were gifted a chance to pull a goal back as Bond was pushed by a defender while going for the ball with the referee pointing straight at the spot. With the half time interval quickly approaching, McDonald kept his cool to fire the penalty into the bottom corner to set up an exciting second period.

HT: Oxford City 2-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

The Diamonds immediately picked up where they had left off in the first half, and should have equalised within 40 seconds of the restart. Helsdown cut in from the right flank and pulled the ball back for Reynolds, but from 10 yards he fired high over the bar.

The hosts still looked dangerous on occasions, and a well struck 20 yard drive was well held by Vitue, as the heavens opened to make the playing conditions rather challenging for the players. On 52 minutes they went close again as their right winger cut inside and fired a terrific shot inches wide of the far post.

Still the Diamonds pressed forward and they had a big penalty shout on 56 minutes when Farden jinked his way past two defenders before appearing to be tripped just inside the penalty area, but the referee waved away the visitors appeals.

As the game entered its final third, McDonald went close to a second goal with a free kick which curled just wide of the post. A couple of minutes later, Farden picked out Reynolds with a great ball from the left flank, but after controlling the ball superbly, he could only fire wide from the edge of the box.

Finally, on 73 minutes, the visitors got their equaliser. The Oxford defence failed to deal with a right wing cross from substitute Ben Roche, and Reynolds was on hand to sweep home the ball from 10 yards.

All thoughts were now turned towards whether the Diamonds would be able to grab a late winner, but the hosts nearly regained the lead on 77 minutes, when their striker went on a great run past two AFC defenders before forcing a fine save from Vitue with a powerful 20 yard shot.

Rushden were quickly back on top again following this scare, and should have taken the lead on 83 minutes. Reynolds squared the ball to Helsdown who shaped to shoot, but instead chipped the ball to the far post for substitute Matt Smith who somehow headed wide from 6 yards.

Two minutes later McDonald fired over the bar from all of 30 yards, and the same player then had a great chance to win it as the game entered injury time. Helsdown’s right wing corner found the head of the unmarked McDonald, but his effort just cleared the bar.

The visitors thought that their last chance had gone, but four minutes into injury time they won a free kick in the middle of the Oxford half. Zak Moon delivered the ball to the far post where the home ‘keeper fumbled it under pressure from two Rushden players, with the ball rebounding off the post and being tapped in from all of two yards by Bell.

There was still time for one more chance as Smith raced forward and struck a 25 yard shot just over the bar.

FT: Oxford City 2-3 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

Attendance: Approx. 50

Man of the Match: Conor Bell

Teams:

Highlights can be viewed here

Images courtesy of Mal Swinden ©2012 Malcolm Swinden Photography

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