East Anglian Counties Championship Match
at Histon FC
Thursday 18th October 2007
The Suffolk U18 team had 5 players missing from their squad from the previous fixture as they took the field at Conference side Histon’s ground. They had the better of the first 20 minutes, with the home team defence doing a good job of protecting their keeper during this period. However, too often the Cambs outlet ball was long and aimed at target man Yambusu – a tactic which did not trouble the Suffolk defence. Douglas used his pace to stretch the Cambs defence and work space on the right for a cross which just eluded Lorimer in front of an open goal. Then, a deft flick by Lorimer played in Richardson, but his progress was halted by good defending on th edge of the box.
Lorimer tried his luck from long range – but straight at Beagle. Bannister then tried a long range effort at the other end – but over the bar. Mid-way through the first half, Douglas went close twice from 25 yard free-kicks – the second was headed out to Bloomfield and his 20 yard screamer was well saved by Beagle. Then a long clearance by Coakley – meant for Yambusu actually found his strike partner Escurcio whose snap shot went just wide. Encouraged by this, Escurcio started a sweeping move down the right involving Ives and Dawson who shot wide from 12 yards. Escurcio was now showing good skill on the ball and proving to be a handful for the Suffolk defenders. Just before the break, only determined defending kept Escurcio from opening the scoring and the teams went in at half-time with the score-sheet still blank.
The home team started the second period well, and when Ross failed to hold a cross, it needed winger Douglas to help clear the danger. Suffolk broke quickly and Richardson beat the offside trap, only to be denied by Beagle diving at his feet to smother the ball. It was Cambs who opened the scoring in the 57th minute, when Dawson collected a driven cross from the right and cracked a low drive past Ross. Cambs continued to have more possession and Suffolk had a let off mid-way through the second period when Ives got behind the Suffolk defence, saw his shot beaten out by Ross – but only to Snelling who failed to hit the target. From that point the Suffolk players began to get more of a foothold in the game and a cross from the right aimed at Richardson was intercepted by a Cambs defender who headed back to his keeper – and nearly over him. With 7 minutes to go, Read had a chance for the visitors, but his header from a cross by Sargeant went wide.
Cambs were still dangerous on the break, and only a well timed tackle in the box stopped Escurcio from doubling the Cambs score. The same player then shot over when clean through. An exciting climax to the game had Suffolk going close to an equaliser when Carter collected a through ball, only to shoot over. However, with what was to prove the last kick of the game, the equaliser arrived. Lorimer ran onto a through ball from Carter, and with tired defenders unable to catch him, he went on to round the keeper round him and slot the ball into the unguarded net. A fine solo effort from a player who had toiled away all night with no reward until that last chance. A good open match, between 2 fine sides, provided excellent entertainment for the supporters, with a draw being a fair result in the end.
Both defences had been excellent, but at times the teams lacked a cutting edge to their games – although the lesson from Lorimer for us all is that you keep believing right to the very end.