Avon Youth League : League Cup

Henbury Colts Flyers 3 Thornbury Town U16 1


THORNBURY travel to play Henbury in a midweek  under 16’s cup match and we left reflecting on missed opportunities that would cost them the match.

Thornbury started the game very strongly and were on the front foot from the first whistle and were soon cutting open the home defence with their slick passing with midfield pairing of Tom Cornock and Felix Brittan bossing the midfield the first chance chance fell to striker Anthony Cooper after a delightful flowing move but his shot was well saved by the home keeper.

The next chance came with right winger Michael Tanner making great ground down the right he found Charlie Exel who cut inside only to seem his chance saved.

The home team were struggling to get any time on the ball and another chance came the visitors way when Cornock had his effort saved from the edge of the box.

Thornbury deservingly took the lead when a great through ball split the home defence and Cooper used his speed to get on the ball and slot the ball calmly passed the on rushing home keeper.

Thornbury then nearly doubled their lead when a long ball from the back from Louis Ogilvie was chased down again  by Cooper and he beat the keeper to the ball rounded him and his shot was cleared off the line by the retreating defender.

The visitors were then awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and up stepped Cooper who’s shot cleared the wall but was well saved by the home keeper.

Thornbury’s fast start then started to take its toll and this allowed Henbury to get back into the game and the match then became a physical battle as the home team started to put the visitors under pressure.

It was now Henbury who were first to every ball but the Thornbury defence were holding firm and were preventing the home team any clear chances on goal.

However the home team drew level just before the break when a long punt upfield which looked as though it wouldn’t cause any problems for the visitors was misjudged by the centre back this allowed the home striker time to gather the ball and a clear run at goal and slot the ball past Thornbury's keeper.

Thornbury responded immediately and almost took the lead from the restart after a great ball through to Cooper found him in space but again his shot was saved by the keeper. 

Thornbury made four half time changes and again the visitors took control of the game early in the second half. Felix Brittan who had now moved out to the right wing was having great success and a couple of good runs and crossed were scrambled away by the home defence.

The game then descended into a battle with the home team making some unsavoury tackles the visitors did well to remain calm. Thornbury then hit the cross bar with a Cooper header and another goalmouth scramble somehow saw the home keeper save the ball at the third attempt after halftime substitute Henry Ogilvie could not force the ball over the line.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes and the looked like it was going to go to a penalty shoot out the home team took the lead against the run of play when and attempted clearance by the visiting defence was miss kicked to the home striker who had time and space to hit a sweet  shot from the edge of the box into the net passed the stranded keeper.

Thornbury then made a tactical change by switching to a three man defence and three man attack and it nearly worked when Louis Ogilvie had a chance to draw Thornbury level but his attempt cleared the crossbar.

The home team then wrapped up the match after another long ball over the top of the back three saw a foot race between their left winger and Ashworth in defence and as the ball looked to be going out for a goal kick Ashworth fell the Henbury player and the referee awarded a penalty kick which was strongly converted.

Thornbury certainly had enough chances to win the match but silly mistakes and failing to take their opportunities cost them this match.