Bristol Telephones F.C. U18’s 2-2 Yate Town F.C. U18’s
Yate travelled to Stockwood Lane for this WCFL league fixture.
Setting up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Antony Batt and Tyler Wood coming in for starts, the Team knew a stiff challenge lay ahead, given the opposition’s League standing and good home form.
On a flat firm pitch with a covering of grass, good football was possible, and Yate set off in that mindset. The first quarter saw the visitors take the initiative, playing out from a solid back three of Kris Olah, Joe Steward and Will Down, which saw wide men Jacob Batt and Luke Money constantly involved in attacking moves. Despite this possession, the Hosts always posed a threat playing off of their front men, looking to get in behind, but keeper Billy Pullin was always on hand to avert danger. With the central pairing of Kevin Contreras and Yigithan Kepil beginning to win the midfield battle, strikers Tyler Wood and Max Davies began to register chances in the opposition box. The home keeper who was reliable all night first blocked Max Davies’s shot, then held a Kevin Contreras effort before watching efforts from Tyler Wood and Jacob Batt just clear the crossbar.
With twenty five minutes on the clock Telephones had their first period of concerted pressure, with Yate’s back line being severely tested. However, looking balanced and accomplished throughout, the back three supported by keeper Billy Pullin held the opposition at bay. The remainder of the half saw Yate click back into gear with some excellent football, culminating in a fine goal on the forty minute mark. Approach play involving Luke Money, Yigithan Kepil and Tyler Wood, saw the talented Antony Batt glide into the box beating the keeper across goal with a superb finish.
The interval saw the boys receive a pat on the back from the coaching staff, but with a drive to maintain their performance, have better balance out of of possession and be disciplined.
The second period started with a clear intent from the visitors to lock on to Jacob Batt, and to play a long ball game into Yate’s defending third. Whilst not under great pressure, it took the Team a little time to adjust and regain a foot hold in the game. Less than ten minutes into the half, an opposition ball was only half cleared and a Telephones forward was allowed a free shot from twenty yards that found the far side of the net. Whilst disappointed, this goal showed a growing maturity and resolve within this young Yate side. The following thirty minutes witnessed some scintillatingly football from back to front with numerous opportunities being created. Jacob Batt was proving unplayable, Max Davies was running the oppositions back line, whilst Yigithan Kepil was finding his full passing range from midfield. Tyler Wood, Max Davies, Luke Money, Jacob and Antony Batt all went close without scoring.
To inject fresh legs, replacements in the form of Froilan Lopez, Rowan Smith and James Fortune were brought into the fray. Then on eighty minutes, spectators witness the move of the match. Joe Steward pressurized in his own third, found the vastly underrated Will Down who hit a delightful ball to Jacob Batt wide left, he left two defenders trailing in his wake, pulling the ball back from the dead ball line for Rowan Smith to finish decisively from six yards. At this stage possession was all Yate’s but the opposition always posed a threat, particularly from set plays and crosses, something the coaching team had spoken about pre-match. As the game entered the final minutes, the Hosts won a throw in, in the final third, whilst Yate’s defence was compact, the thrower was allowed to receive the ball back and deliver into the box unpressured. Telephones seized the opportunity well as there tall substitute rose high to plant the ball into the net for an equalizing goal.
Yate’s last replacement in the form of debutant Harry Hayes took to the field of play, as a last attack was set in motion by Tyler Wood’s fine ball. However, agonisingly for Yate, the final whistle sounded shortly afterwards.
Whilst the boys were obviously downbeat in the changing room post match, having conceded so late in a game where they had played so well, the Coaching Staff were in positive mood having witnessed such a fine display against a full under eighteen’s side. The match showed real growth of the squad and bodes well moving forward. Whilst the back three and Jacob Batt were outstanding in general on the night, Captain Joe Steward was deservingly awarded the M.O.T.M. Award for a commanding performance throughout.
Starting XI: Billy Pullin, Kris Olah, Joe Steward(Capt), Will Down , Luke Money, Kevin Contreras, Yigithan Kepil, Jacob Batt, Antony Batt, Tyler Wood, Max Davies.
Replacements: Froilan Lopez, Rowan Smith, James Fortune, Harry Hayes, Zach Gillies