U16s 2 : Horsley 0

The U16s played host to Horsley FC on Sunday - a well drilled team that are always at the top of the league at the end of the season. They’re also a team that we hadn’t beaten home or away for at least 5 seasons… if ever.

This was our first game after the Christmas break and although we expected a quick start, that wasn’t to be and the match started off quite flat. There was a noticeable lack of voices from both teams and it was all really tame.

Horsley created a few good chances in the first half, mainly through long balls which their attackers looked to run on to – showing good pace and strength up front. Jack Harrington, Josh O’Neil and Mikey Verga had to be alert to stop them getting in on a few occasions and Mikey was forced into a couple of great stops when their attackers were through 1 on 1.

The Abbey Players were working hard with the ball but kept playing it in the air which made it too easy for the Horsley defenders to deal with (all of them being about 6ft tall and quick). On balance it was a fairly even half, although Horsley were edging it by reacting quicker to 1st and 2nd balls. The best chance of the half fell to Abbey though, when Jack Harrington sent a lovely free kick towards the back post and Alfie Bennetts header flew straight into the Horsley keepers hands.

At half time we asked the lads for more urgency and told them that they needed to play the ball to feet. We also reminded them that pressing the Horsley players had to be a team effort and one that started from the front. That message sunk in and the boys came out with renewed vigor for the second half.

As the second half got into full swing the Abbey players moved the ball well and had some really nice passages of play. Dawid, Sammy, Jamie and Ben Hall linked up well and Ben was proving to be a constant pain to the Horsley players; picking up the ball, driving at them and winning a number of fouls in good areas. This definitely spurred the boys on and after 67 minutes Abbey won a free kick around 30 yards out, which Alfie Bennett stepped up to take. Alfie sent the ball in to the Horsley area and an attempted flick-on from Anthony McGovern sent the goal keeper the wrong way and Alfie watched on as his free kick bounced into the bottom corner. 1:0 Abbey.

The remainder of the second half saw both teams create a number of chances and some nice link up play saw the Abbey players get into good positions without capitalising. A good defensive showing from the back four also kept us ‘relatively’ comfortable whilst also remaining progressive in attack when the ball was worked out to our full backs (Nathan and Dylan).

With one minute left, Dawid Stetner nicked the ball from a Horsley defender and was brought down by their goalkeeper just as he squared it to Anthony McGovern who had an open goal in front of him. The ref awarded the pen' and up stepped Dawid to convert comfortably with the last kick of the game.

Final score: 2:0 to Abbey. A very welcome and long overdue result against a good Horsley side.

MOTM: Mikey Verga. Abbey could have been 2 or 3 goals down at half time had it not been for his excellent positioning and calmness in one on one situations. A real match winning performance and typical of the displays he puts in week in and week out.