Full Time – Bitton AFC  2  Chipping Sodbury Town  2

 

The U14’s eagerly awaited return clash with Bitton AFC did not disappoint with both sides still firmly locked together at the top of Bristol Saturday Youth League Division A at the final whistle.

From the moment Robbie Deane launched himself into the first crunching tackle the tone of the game was set and what followed was a performance that would do the club proud. Town dominated much of the early exchanges but found Josh Rendell in the Bitton goal in fine form as he prevented Deane, Harry Meredith and Ethan Combes from giving Town a deserved lead.

Town were composed and organised at the back with a central midfield of Jack Curtis, Jack Rhodes and Meredith controlling the ball on a pitch that offered more than the occasional bobble. With twenty minutes gone Harry Turner was brought down just outside the Bitton box and a curling free-kick from Jack Rhodes saw the ball crash off the underside of the crossbar; another Bitton let off. Just as they did in the October home game Town were failing to capitalise on their chances and Bitton were growing into the game. With five minutes of the half remaining Town would rue their misses as failure to react to a loose ball saw Bitton through on goal. Lewis Rice made a great initial save but the ricochet fell kindly to Marcel Zebala who poked the ball home.

Half Time – Bitton AFC  1 Chipping Sodbury Town  0

The start of the second half saw a determined Riley Hemmings enter the fray having missed the previous game with a broken ankle but the game entered a scrappy phase as both sides struggled to maintain possession. However the defence of Fin Langman, Will Dunato-Davis, Zac Alvis and Monty Hickling were under no threat, dominating their aerial duals and playing out from the back. With tackles flying in the referee produced a yellow card for each side; this was a proper game of football with players fully committed to the cause. Disaster then struck with ten minutes remaining as a rare defensive lapse allowed a Bitton player to steal in before squaring the ball to Jack Hallett who tapped in from close range.

Town were down with time running out but they were by no means out! The management team immediately changed to a back three, bringing Zack Humber on as an extra striker. Town continued to push for a way back into the game and finally got what they deserved as a corner clearance found its way to Meredith, bloodied from an earlier clash, who steadied himself before striking a curling effort over the Bitton keeper and into the top corner…2-1 and ‘game on’ with just six minutes remaining.

Town were now back on top and pushing for the equaliser with Owen Clarke and Humber getting beyond the Bitton fullbacks. A lively Coombes then found himself on the end of a dangerous challenge with the referee reducing Bitton to ten men. Rhodes floated the resulting free-kick into the danger zone which was eventually headed clear by a Bitton defender but only to a waiting Curtis who let fly with a dipping shot that bounced awkwardly in front of the keeper and into the bottom corner, to scenes of jubilation amongst the Town supporters. Town pushed for a late winner before the referee brought to an end an entertaining and hard fought encounter between two excellent sides.

There were superb performances all over the pitch but the ‘never say die’ attitude of defender and Player of the Match, Fin Langman truly epitomised what this team is all about.

#UpTheSods