RESERVES / YOUTH
FA Youth Cup Second Round Notts County 2 Shrewsbury Town 0
With the incentive of a third round draw at home to Liverpool we headed to Meadow Lane. Having performed really well against Boston United at home in the first round the players should have been full of confidence against a physically strong Notts County side. County started the brightest and forced us onto the back foot early
on, with the back four having to deal with a number of crosses coming into the box at every opportunity. In fairness despite the difference in physicality we dealt relatively well with the majority of the long balls. Mason Springthorpe in goal, along with the back four were under constant pressure and we were finding it difficult to alleviate the pressure. Our first passing move of the game after 20 minutes gave us our first sight of goal. A quick counter attack down the right found Jack Gwilliams who forced the goalkeeper into his first save of the game. Just when we felt that we might grow in
confidence from the attack we conceded the first goal. A free kick down the left was lofted into the box and the centre back was there to head home and give Notts County the lead. From our viewpoint a poor goal to concede; we knew they would be strong at set pieces due to the size of the side but we were too deep from the initial free kick which afforded them the space to capitalise. In truth Notts should have doubled their lead before half time. Mason Springthorpe made an excellent save and only some last ditch defending allowed us to go in at half time 1-0 down. The disappointment at half time was not the score line but the manner with which we failed to both pass the ball in the way we are capable and have the mental strength to handle the occasion. We did stress the only way we could get ourselves back in the game was to have the belief and desire to get the ball down and play. In fairness that is exactly what we did for the opening of the
second half. Some good football down the left saw Jack Gwilliams go past the full back and pull his cross back to Elliott Turner whose shot flashed across goal. Ben Evans did manage to get contact on the cross but was unable to divert it goalwards. Ben Evans was getting on the ball more and with Jack Gwilliams we looked like we would create something. The best chance fell to Jack Gwilliams after the goalkeeper could only punch a free kick to the edge of the box. Jack tried to chip the ball over the goalkeeper but failed to connect properly and the chance went begging. Some good movement from substitute Cameron Broadway found himself free at the edge of the area but he opted for power and his shot went wide of the target. Notts County were now starting to get back in the game and they made the game safe on 80 minutes; another free kick was lofted into the box and a free header and a free header saw it 2-0. Again a poor starting position from the free kick has cost us dearly. In the end it was not to be, and in all honestly our performance did not deserve any other result which we came away with. Perhaps most disappointing was the manner with which we did not perform. Not wanting to make excuses for the lads but the age of the side may have in part contributed to the outcome but the two youngest players Mason Springthorpe and Jack Gwilliams came away with great credit.
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