Colchester United FCACP Elite, Match Reports
ACP Elite (Thurstable) Vs College of West Anglia
January 20th 2010
BCS Mens Cup Round 2
It was always going to be a tough game, and both teams started strong with fast end to end football, with a real battle in the middle of the pitch tackles flying in with emotions also flying high. With the first 20 minutes looking as though neither team being able to break through lead the game to speed up even more, Thurstable looked to be the stronger team but pressure began to build on the back line, but with the step in off the reliant Ryan Scilitoe at left back he stood up well against the right winger making any attempts to attack the goal, with Thurstables ever strengthen back four they struggled to find a shot on goal in the early stages of the half. Ryan Henshaw came prepared to the game ready to battle fierce and this showed when he courageously slid and stole the ball from the opposing centre midfielder which gave the Thurstable team something to aspire to.
However after some great defending from the midfield a counter attack was commenced and a throw in was one on the right hand side of the pitch. Luigi Webster was required to take the ‘corner like’ throw in that has left many teams panicking in the past. The throw lead to some great attacking pressure from Josh Levet when he tumbled the ball across the line in ways that only he knows allowed Thurstable to take the lead at 1-0 before the half was up. With both teams pressuring hard before the half was up the 1-0 lead did not mean victory for the home side.
The second half began with West Anglia side taking early possession from their centre kick they found the gap between the Thurstable Midfield and defence which they used t their advantage with a ball rolled wide, the intention to score was clear and they slotted the ball past Ben Elmer in the bottom corner. This was a wakeup call to the home team and they regained confidence and immediately went at West Anglia after the centre kick Billy Wales became a threat to the opposition up front after he began to pick up the knocks Luigi Webster fed threw to him this allowed the exposure of the away teams back line to become more apparent but due to some good defending from West Anglia any shots the home team had were not turned into a goal.
The game heated up and both teams meant business when going forward the Thurstable team held out well and tackled hard to regain possession with George Coles becoming the next closest to score but a fine save got in his way. Thurstables right back Lee Monk began to bomb forward and offered a threat with strength. Thurstable didn’t know what to do to break down this West Anglia team. The home team continued to defend as a team with tackling right the way threw from the front line to the back this showed undoubted spirit. With West Anglia looking unlikely to score the home team started to pressure again and after some hard work from the midfield and forwards Thurstable broke through and won a corner. Ryan Henshaw step aside to take the corner and the big boys made sure they were noticed and the ball was fumbled by the keeper but sadly centre back Danny Johnson was unable to hit the back of the net after striking the post for the second consecutive game. A few moments later another corner was won and this time the corner whipped in once more by Ryan Henshaw lead to headed goal by Luigi Webster which put the Thurstable team ahead deservedly. Ryan Stacey was brought for the work horse Ben Houlding who put all his energy into the game. This was a change that could have lead to a goal for the substitute however the goal keeper saved a header from inside the 6 yard box.
West Anglia were not about to give up hope and began to pile on the pressure but when tackles came flying in after some pressure on the Thurstables back four it was clear that the home team would have to stay strong. This was never really a game that lacked enthusiasm and this was clear when bodies were put into many tackles from both teams, but the home team were not about to concede and after some last ditch tackles from the centre back Tom Clark and centre midfielder Ryan Henshaw the game was on edge. Both teams were working really hard and Thurstable were still trying to score that final goal that would bury the game but it was seen as hard to play the football in which they are so used to. The final stages of the game lead to the final substitutes made by the manager and George Nixson came on to give a fresh pair of legs in the ding minutes.
The final moments of the game lead to some desperate defending as West Anglia gained a corner the away team piled into Thurstables box and soon enough the corner was nearly converted into a goal but a great save from Ben Elmer denied the goal ward ball. Thurstable continued to hold out and when the Referee blew for full time both teams met to shake hands after an end to end game that proved to be a deserved win from the Thurstable team. Manager Sean Hillier praised the performance. Thurstable expect to keep the good performances going and will carry the determination into the next game.
Final score: Thurstable 2 – West Anglia 1
Tom Clark.
