Hayes & Yeading Under 18 7  Northwood Under 18 0 

Monday 12th December 2011

Northwood U18		Ryman Youth League Brook House FC, Hayes
Gary Malone	1	Kick Off
Issac Alawode	2	7.45 p.m.
Jamie McKay	3	H/T
Louis Judge	4	0-5
David Palmer (c)	5	Attendance
Ashley Morrisey	6	28
Shomari Bridgewater	7	Scorers
Temitayo Fambegbe	8	Northwood
Nathan Henry	9	n/a
George Holland	10
Lamin Cole	11
Michael Elderfield (6, 60m)	12
Sam Beecham (5, 39m)	14
	15
	16
	18

Arriving as yet another winter storm took hold at Brook House to play against a team who are unbeaten this season was always going to be a big ask of a relatively new group of players, and that’s exactly the way things turned out.

In front of a surprisingly good gate Hayes & Yeading, who had Conference experience within their side, were strong from the start and Northwood’s midfield struggled to compete.

From looking at the score line you could be excused for thinking that the whole team performed poorly but that was most definitely not the case. Gary Malone was exceptional in goal in pulling off some splendid second half saves, and remember that two of the back four (Jamie McKay and David Palmer) are currently In the Woods’ under sixteens squad that have reached the Middlesex County Cup semi-final.

During the first half Northwood had decent passages of play but the finishing of Hayes & Yeading was excellent and the visitors turned around 5-0 down. The second half was always going to be tough and it didn’t help the cause when they lost their captain to injury and had a player harshly sent off. If nothing else, several of the Northwood players gained invaluable experience from the match.

Of note was that playing for Hayes & Yeading was Elliott Legg. Elliott, who is 16, is Hayes & Yeading’s youngest ever player to play Conference football.

Personally I don’t feel we should be too downbeat as Hayes & Yeading were a very difficult opponent. “Onwards & upwards”.

Report & photos by ALAN PALMER