Under 16s
Yeovil and District Youth League
Yeovil and District Youth League
Match report 15th November
Youth Shield
Ash Rovers U15’s 0 - 10 Castle Cary Youth U16s
“ It felt like starting the season all over again we hadn’t played any football for so long as we took on Ash U15’s in the quarter final stage of the Youth Shield.
Fortunate for us the break had obviously done the boys good as they all came out full of enthusiasm and looking to put behind them the disappointment of the last game, and with no disrespect to the Ash lads who didn’t stop trying all game, the end result was not really in doubt.
Davis was the first to get on the scoresheet, as early as the 4th minute as good control and turn by Francis out on the right enabled him to cross and Davis was at the back post to prod the ball home. 1-0. Just a minute later Francis battled against two defenders chasing a Singer through ball and he won the race and slotted the ball home to make it two. 2-0 A surging run from Moon on 15 mins saw him upended in the box and as he picked himself up he bagged the ball and coolly slotted home from the penalty spot. 3-0.
A “Delap like throw” from Pazo into the heart of the box enabled Owen to direct a lovely header into the top far corner to make it 4-0 on 30 mins and this was followed just 5 mins later with Moon grabbing his brace as he raced on to a Francis through ball and guided the rebound off the keeper into the net. 5-0 was the score at the break and although during the half Sams in goal had very little to do,he did make a smart save low to his right from a rare Ash attack.
Despite several substitutions and changing of positions the goals continued in the second period and reminiscent of the first it was Davis who got 1st goal 4 mins into this period as a corner ball saw Moon and Bayley head it goalwards but then Davis made no mistake with a thumping shot from close range. 6-0
Francis got his second and then third for his hatrick on 60 and 67mins respectively, whilst Bayley slotted a goal in between these, a header from another corner. 8-0
With just 5 mins remaining we now opted for a 3 man attack, with our normal defensive personnel of Cowley Barber and Pazo taking up their uncustomary roles and it was who could overcome the nose bleed quickest to make the most of the situation. It ws Cowley who seized the moment finishing very “Drogba like” as he completed the scoring to make it 10 on the day.
Compliments to Ash for never giving up and a pat on the back for each of you today for a very professional display”
4th October
Somerset County Youth Cup
Castle Cary Youth 1 - 3 Chilcompton Sports
“ We began our first venture into this cup competition with a very tough draw against the Midsomer Norton Champions Chilcompton, but despite their reputation and our lads to date performing under par, it was the Cary boys that settled the better. With Moon and Singer bossing the midfield, Linley and Bayley working the flanks well and Owen and Francis always looking dangerous, we were at last witnessing, much to the appreciation of a good sized crowd, the kind of football we had been accustomed to seeing from the boys. There were early chances for Francis, Owen and Moon before Francis deservedly made the breakthrough in the 25th minute with a super goal. Singer lifted a ball towards Francis who battled well to retain possession and then swept the ball wide to Linley, who beat his opponent and then crossed perfectly for Francis to unleash a tremendous shot that gave the keeper no chance. 1-0
The lads continued their good work but Chilcompton looked dangerous and as the half drew to a close they put our defensive quartet of Pike, Barber, Cowley and Pazo under some pressure, but they held firm until very deep into what the crowd called “fergie time”( time added on), when a wicked deflection from a Bayley clearance set the ball perfectly for their attacker who made no mistake from 6yds.The restart was immediately met with the half time whistle and as the lads trudged off you could tell what they were thinking- if only that had come 30 seconds earlier!
Half time 1-1
The late equalising goal certainly gave our visitors confidence as they put us on the back foot right from the start and a period of sustained pressure, which showed why they were league champions, saw us fortunate not to go behind. But as the lads rallied once more, Owen, a fine run from Davis, Moon and Francis all came close, but unfortunately for us their striker managed to do what he had failed to earlier and that was slip his shot past Sams in goal, as he outwitted and outpaced our defence. 1-2
The lads tried in vain to get level but just before the game came to an end a penalty put the result beyond doubt and ended our run in this competition.
Unlucky today lads, you came up against a very good side, but so too are you and if you continue playing like that you will get the rewards you are all seeking this season.”
27th September
League Cup 1st round 1st leg
Castle Cary Youth 2 - 0 Merriott
“ For the second week running we faced Merriott, this time in the Cup competition, but the result was the same and the general play of the game was pretty much the same as last week with us dominating but unable to capatalize on the numerous chances created. The best chances in the first period fell to Francis, but although testing the keeper on a couple of occasions was unable to break the deadlock.
The second half, despite a couple of changes in personnel, brought about the same pattern of play, however as the half progressed we were getting closer to scoring, with Davis and Singer denied what looked to be certain goals. Surely it was only a matter of time before one of our chances would go in and to the relief of all our supporters who had once again turned out in good numbers, Francis finally on 66 mins made it 1-0. with a neat turn and finish. With the defence easily sweeping up any rare encounters Merriott made into our half, the lads pushed for further goals and both Cross and Singer went close, a last ditch challenge preventing the former from scoring and a misdirected shot following a lovely run was the downfall for Singer. However he made amends on 70 mins as he broke through the defence and as he headed the ball into his own path he drove a shot into the top far corner. 2-0
A slender lead to take into the second leg boys, but hopefully by the time that next comes around, the rustiness (that’s what I am putting it down to) to your new season shooting will have disappeared. I am not sure we will be afforded as many chances next week when we face Chilcompton in the County Cup, so need to make the most of what comes our way boys!
A special mention to Pazo and Linley who volunteered to deputize between the posts for the absent Sams.”
20th September
Merriott 0 - 2 Castle Cary Youth
“ We travelled to Merriott today for our second game in this seasons league campaign and following an unconvincing first game when we were fortunate to claim a draw against a strong Street side, it was important to put in a good performance today. I think it is fair to say that although not on full song a much better display and the two goals registered really didn’t tell the story of the game which could and probably should have been at least five or six.
Pikey was the scorer of our only goal in the first period a fine header from a Linley corner, but had Francis been a little more fortunate with his efforts when he shot just wide, headed just over and a thumping shot came back off the underside of the crossbar, or Davis’ shot had gone the right side rather than the wrong side of the post, or Linley’s half volley gone under rather than over the bar, plus the saves their keeper made, then we would have gone in at the break with a scoreline more realistic with the general play of the game in which Sams in goal barely touched the ball, rather than the slender one goal advantage.
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first with our lads having more of the play, but unable to extend the lead, until just over two thirds of the game had passed when Fensham on his debut grabbed the teams second goal, when he capitalised on a rare mistake by Merriott's keeper who had produced some fine saves. He was unable to keep hold of the ball and as it broke loose Fensham squeezed it over the line before the keeper could recover.
So 3 points from a victory that ultimately was a lot narrower than it should have been and with Merriott our visitors next week in the first leg of the KO Cup competition, let’s try and improve our finishing please boys, not sure the fingernails can take a whole season like this one today”
Youth Shield
Ash Rovers U15’s 0 - 10 Castle Cary Youth U16s
“ It felt like starting the season all over again we hadn’t played any football for so long as we took on Ash U15’s in the quarter final stage of the Youth Shield.
Fortunate for us the break had obviously done the boys good as they all came out full of enthusiasm and looking to put behind them the disappointment of the last game, and with no disrespect to the Ash lads who didn’t stop trying all game, the end result was not really in doubt.
Davis was the first to get on the scoresheet, as early as the 4th minute as good control and turn by Francis out on the right enabled him to cross and Davis was at the back post to prod the ball home. 1-0. Just a minute later Francis battled against two defenders chasing a Singer through ball and he won the race and slotted the ball home to make it two. 2-0 A surging run from Moon on 15 mins saw him upended in the box and as he picked himself up he bagged the ball and coolly slotted home from the penalty spot. 3-0.
A “Delap like throw” from Pazo into the heart of the box enabled Owen to direct a lovely header into the top far corner to make it 4-0 on 30 mins and this was followed just 5 mins later with Moon grabbing his brace as he raced on to a Francis through ball and guided the rebound off the keeper into the net. 5-0 was the score at the break and although during the half Sams in goal had very little to do,he did make a smart save low to his right from a rare Ash attack.
Despite several substitutions and changing of positions the goals continued in the second period and reminiscent of the first it was Davis who got 1st goal 4 mins into this period as a corner ball saw Moon and Bayley head it goalwards but then Davis made no mistake with a thumping shot from close range. 6-0
Francis got his second and then third for his hatrick on 60 and 67mins respectively, whilst Bayley slotted a goal in between these, a header from another corner. 8-0
With just 5 mins remaining we now opted for a 3 man attack, with our normal defensive personnel of Cowley Barber and Pazo taking up their uncustomary roles and it was who could overcome the nose bleed quickest to make the most of the situation. It ws Cowley who seized the moment finishing very “Drogba like” as he completed the scoring to make it 10 on the day.
Compliments to Ash for never giving up and a pat on the back for each of you today for a very professional display”
4th October
Somerset County Youth Cup
Castle Cary Youth 1 - 3 Chilcompton Sports
“ We began our first venture into this cup competition with a very tough draw against the Midsomer Norton Champions Chilcompton, but despite their reputation and our lads to date performing under par, it was the Cary boys that settled the better. With Moon and Singer bossing the midfield, Linley and Bayley working the flanks well and Owen and Francis always looking dangerous, we were at last witnessing, much to the appreciation of a good sized crowd, the kind of football we had been accustomed to seeing from the boys. There were early chances for Francis, Owen and Moon before Francis deservedly made the breakthrough in the 25th minute with a super goal. Singer lifted a ball towards Francis who battled well to retain possession and then swept the ball wide to Linley, who beat his opponent and then crossed perfectly for Francis to unleash a tremendous shot that gave the keeper no chance. 1-0
The lads continued their good work but Chilcompton looked dangerous and as the half drew to a close they put our defensive quartet of Pike, Barber, Cowley and Pazo under some pressure, but they held firm until very deep into what the crowd called “fergie time”( time added on), when a wicked deflection from a Bayley clearance set the ball perfectly for their attacker who made no mistake from 6yds.The restart was immediately met with the half time whistle and as the lads trudged off you could tell what they were thinking- if only that had come 30 seconds earlier!
Half time 1-1
The late equalising goal certainly gave our visitors confidence as they put us on the back foot right from the start and a period of sustained pressure, which showed why they were league champions, saw us fortunate not to go behind. But as the lads rallied once more, Owen, a fine run from Davis, Moon and Francis all came close, but unfortunately for us their striker managed to do what he had failed to earlier and that was slip his shot past Sams in goal, as he outwitted and outpaced our defence. 1-2
The lads tried in vain to get level but just before the game came to an end a penalty put the result beyond doubt and ended our run in this competition.
Unlucky today lads, you came up against a very good side, but so too are you and if you continue playing like that you will get the rewards you are all seeking this season.”
27th September
League Cup 1st round 1st leg
Castle Cary Youth 2 - 0 Merriott
“ For the second week running we faced Merriott, this time in the Cup competition, but the result was the same and the general play of the game was pretty much the same as last week with us dominating but unable to capatalize on the numerous chances created. The best chances in the first period fell to Francis, but although testing the keeper on a couple of occasions was unable to break the deadlock.
The second half, despite a couple of changes in personnel, brought about the same pattern of play, however as the half progressed we were getting closer to scoring, with Davis and Singer denied what looked to be certain goals. Surely it was only a matter of time before one of our chances would go in and to the relief of all our supporters who had once again turned out in good numbers, Francis finally on 66 mins made it 1-0. with a neat turn and finish. With the defence easily sweeping up any rare encounters Merriott made into our half, the lads pushed for further goals and both Cross and Singer went close, a last ditch challenge preventing the former from scoring and a misdirected shot following a lovely run was the downfall for Singer. However he made amends on 70 mins as he broke through the defence and as he headed the ball into his own path he drove a shot into the top far corner. 2-0
A slender lead to take into the second leg boys, but hopefully by the time that next comes around, the rustiness (that’s what I am putting it down to) to your new season shooting will have disappeared. I am not sure we will be afforded as many chances next week when we face Chilcompton in the County Cup, so need to make the most of what comes our way boys!
A special mention to Pazo and Linley who volunteered to deputize between the posts for the absent Sams.”
20th September
Merriott 0 - 2 Castle Cary Youth
“ We travelled to Merriott today for our second game in this seasons league campaign and following an unconvincing first game when we were fortunate to claim a draw against a strong Street side, it was important to put in a good performance today. I think it is fair to say that although not on full song a much better display and the two goals registered really didn’t tell the story of the game which could and probably should have been at least five or six.
Pikey was the scorer of our only goal in the first period a fine header from a Linley corner, but had Francis been a little more fortunate with his efforts when he shot just wide, headed just over and a thumping shot came back off the underside of the crossbar, or Davis’ shot had gone the right side rather than the wrong side of the post, or Linley’s half volley gone under rather than over the bar, plus the saves their keeper made, then we would have gone in at the break with a scoreline more realistic with the general play of the game in which Sams in goal barely touched the ball, rather than the slender one goal advantage.
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first with our lads having more of the play, but unable to extend the lead, until just over two thirds of the game had passed when Fensham on his debut grabbed the teams second goal, when he capitalised on a rare mistake by Merriott's keeper who had produced some fine saves. He was unable to keep hold of the ball and as it broke loose Fensham squeezed it over the line before the keeper could recover.
So 3 points from a victory that ultimately was a lot narrower than it should have been and with Merriott our visitors next week in the first leg of the KO Cup competition, let’s try and improve our finishing please boys, not sure the fingernails can take a whole season like this one today”
