ALLESTREE JUNIORS MATCH REPORT (AWAY FIXTURE)
Codnor are now the only team from both the under 11`s divisions to have a 100% record of wins from their matches
that have been played so far this season after this home win today and have now extended their lead at the top of
the table to ten points with the halfway stage of the season reached.
This game was always going to be a test of
the boys character as the last time these two teams met Codnor had to fight back from 4-2 down to run out 5-4
winners with the winning goal being scored in the dying minutes of the game. Allestree needed to win this return
fixture if they were to put pressure on Codnor by closing the gap to five points whilst keeping the teams in third
and fourth place below them at the end of today`s game.
From the kick off Codnor looked to penn Allestree in
their own half by pressuring the Allestree defence with their passing style of play but Allestree managed to
withstand Codnor`s early pressure and the game started to settle down, codnor finally got a break through after
ten minutes when they undid the Allestree defence as R.Burke split them open and T.Richardson fired his shot into
the net after the Allestree defender missed timed his clearance leaving a one on one situation from three yards
out putting the boys into a 1-0 lead, within five minutes Codnor increased their lead when F.Kirk`s shot on goal
was parried into the path of J.Miles and he punished their keeper by making no mistake from the rebound, Allestree
kept battling away and could have pulled a goal back minutes later but the shot fortunately flew past the post,
There wasn`t many chances throughout the first half being created as both defences stood up well to the challenge
by making it difficult for both teams strikers infront of goal but Codnor had the better of the half chances and
they went in 2-0 up at the interval.
One change was made for the restart of the start of the second half and after
ten minutes played Codnor stretched their lead to 3-0 when M.Housley won the ball in the middle of the park and he
laid a pass to substitute M.Shelton who took one touch before firing a shot along the floor from 20 yards out which
just beat the dive of the Allestree keeper nestling in the bottom corner of the net for his first goal of the season,
Allestree could of let their heads drop after that goal but they never gave up and kept battling and nearly pulled
a goal back but Codnor`s keeper L.Mckenna pulled off an excellent double save to deny Allestree leading scorer A.Smith.
Codnor finally killed off any hopes Allestree had when J.Miles was pulled back inside the 18 yard area and he stepped
up to take the spot kick which he buried comfortably to the left hand corner making the score line 4-0, Allestree
finally managed to get a consolation goal minutes from the end but defensively it was a bit disappointingly to
have conceaded so late on but it had been a entertaining game and the boys should be proud of their all round
performances as they all contributed in one way or another.
We would all like to wish Allestree well for the remainder
of their season but a win against Bulwell on the 4th of January at home should then be enough to see the boys crowned
as league champions come the end of the season which they all will have deserved for the way they have conducted
themselves week in week out with their attacking style of play for their supporters in their first season together.