Many thanks to Tony Suckling (whose son plays for Sandown and Lake U13s) for this match report from Sunday’s game between Sandown and Lake YFC U13s and Lake YFC U13s. Ed
A much eagerly awaited match for Sandown as in the last two previous attempts to beat Oakfield on their home turf proved unsuccessful.
The pitch was a little sticky from the overnight rain, but this did not deter Sandown as they put the pressure on Oakfield from the kick off. Sandown were very much the stronger team and after four minutes Harrison Jenkins kicked high above the Oakfield goalkeeper to find the top of the net for his first goal of the season.
Sandown kept the pressure on Oakfield with some strong play in midfield by Harry Woolford who helped keep Oakfield from penetrating Sandown’s half.
Fifth goal of season for Coode
On 21 minutes Aedan Coode managed to get the ball into Oakfield’s penalty area and calmly slotted the ball round the keeper for his fifth goal of the season.
Sandown than sat back a bit and allowed Oakfield to get into their half but the defence were a fine match and Oakfield were pegged back.
The first half: Oakfield 0 Sandown and Lake 2.
Pitch problems in second half
In the second half the middle of the pitch was almost unplayable, but the half started in the same vain as the first half with Sandown taking the majority of possession, which paid off in the 42nd minute when Matty Champion picked up a ball from Kettells’ cross and slotted it past the goalkeeper for his much deserved first goal of the season.
On 47 minutes Sandown were awarded a free kick after Coode made a fine run down the left wing to be taken down by Oakfield’s defence.
Kettell duly took the free kick for it to be headed towards the goal by Oakfield for another Oakfield player to stop the ball with his hands, to no avail as it went into the net for an Own Goal. The referee spoke to the player to say if the ball had not gone into the net he could have been sent off for the handball.
Four minutes later Champion passed a ball down the left wing to Youngson and he crossed the ball for it to be headed by Gulseven in the path of Kettell, who made no mistake in slotting in the net his eighth goal of the season.
There were quite a lot of tactical substitutions made by Sandown to give some of the boys a much needed rest. This may have unsettled Sandown a little as Oakfield started to come back into the game and on 65 minutes they were rewarded with a great goal from the edge of the box which went high over Liam Suckling’s head to hit the back of net.
Injury to the stomach
Oakfield scored another goal two minutes later to be disallowed by the referee, as the Oakfield player was adjudged to foul Suckling in goal, which resulted in Suckling gaining an injury to the stomach.
It was not over yet as in the last few seconds of the match Gulseven made a fine run at the Oakfield defence to be taken down marginally outside their penalty area. The subsequent free kick was beautifully struck by Oscar Fitzgerald and was tipped over the bar with a super save from the Oakfield Goalkeeper.
Final Score
Oakfield YFC 1 – 5 Sandown and Lake YFC
Sandown’s ‘Man of the Match’ went to Harry Woolford for playing in an unfamiliar role in midfield and holding his own to stop Oakfield punishing the Sandown defence
Sandown are now unbeaten and top the league. Full details on the The Isle of Wight Sunday Youth League Website.
Attendance 48.
