Banbury United 14s took to the road for the second week running, this time a trip to the darkest depths of Walsall to face Lane Head Royals.
The starting lineup was rotated with Myron, Ollie C, Luke, Jake, Lennon and Will all coming into the first 11 as we looked to freshen things up from the cup exit last weekend.

Despite a wonky goal frame, the pitch was massively improved compared to the ploughed field we played on last week. Its was also big, and wide, something we could certainly use to our benefit throughout the match.

The game started slowly with both teams feeling each other out. It became clear very early that we were in for another physical battle. Lane Head Royals were aggressive in the tackle (and on quite a number of occasions they were playing the man, and not the ball). We started to get in the ascendency after the first 5 minutes, Jake getting into a number of threatening positions after beating his full back easily for pace.

The first real chance came in the tenth minute. Lennon played a ball out to the left wing for Finlay. He beat his man and crossed by the touchline. Will arriving just a stride to late to tap into the empty net.

A crucial moment in the game came 2 minutes later. Aidan uncharacteristically played a back pass too short for Myron. The forward beating him to the ball and lifting it over his head. It seemed that the Lane Head forward was destined to just tap the ball into the empty net, but Ollie Corney came flying back and putting in an incredible last gasp clearance to keep the game goalless. A tackle that was as good as a goal!

We made 5 wholesale changes after 20 minutes with Tyra, Jack, Toby, Lex and Jacob all entering the pitch. Tyra's first involvement led to him chasing down a defender, and running though on goal, the angle was tight as the keeper saved low down by his near post.

We had a spell of 4 or 5 corners in quick successions. George and Toby delivering excellently. Ollie Edmunds headed one just wide of the top corner, and the next one the ball ricocheted in the box where Jack flashed an effort over the bar.
On the last of the flurry of corners, we finally made one count! A relief considering we had been working on attacking and defending corners at training, just a week earlier. Toby crossed an inswinger into the box, Tyra made a nuisance of himself in front of the keeper, and Lex was on had to prod into the goal 0-1.

The Lane Head coaches, were not happy with the goal standing, believing Tyra impeded the keeper. He was however just standing infront of him, and the goal rightly stood. This started a niggly period - the Lane Head coaches were becoming quite aggressive, and were certainly trying to intimidate the referee into giving them favorable decisions. Myron done well to rise highest and claw away a free kick delivered into our box.

Lane Head were not really troubling us from open play, they were playing long balls over the top for the lively number 15 to run on too, but Aidan and Ollie C were handling the threat well. Luke filling it at full back was having an excellent game too, breaking up play and releasing the ball to the wide players to create havoc.

Lane Head almost got an equaliser 8 minutes form half time. This time a corner was met by an attacking player, a combination of Myron and the post stopped the ball from finding its way into the net.

In truth we probably should of gone into half time a couple in front. Jack who was operating in the gap between midfield and attack, found space and released Finlay out wide. His shot was well saved by the keeper. Jack himself then had a shot well saved by the keeper high to the right of the goal. Will also connected on the half volley to force another smart save by the keeper.

At half time the score was 0-1. We wanted to avoid the same type of second half collapse that we suffered against Droitwich last week. stressing the importance of competing on a physical level, but making sure we continue to play good football, as this was the way were going to win the game.

The second half began in a similar vain to the end of the first. Toby was giving the left back a torrid time. They couldn't stop his mazy runs, not in a legal way anyway! a couple of times he got to the byline but the cross wasn't quite right or was defended just in time.
After a cynical foul on the edge of the box Tyra hit the free kick well, but the keeper again made a good save to keep his team in the game.

A defensive clearance from Luke, and a misjudgement from a Lane Head centre half allowed Will to race through on goal, he elected to hit the shot early, but just as he went to strike the ball, the ball bobbled and the shot was sliced over.

Jack wriggled away from a couple of challenges on the edge of the box and fired just over, before the second goal finally came!!
Midfield played the ball wide, Jack beat the offside trap and a man before squaring the ball. Tyra was at full stretch but managed to prod the ball into the back of the net 0-2.

Lane head were innefective in the second half, Myron easily fielded a couple of tame shots, and long balls forward were well dealt with by all the defence, who were solid throughout.

The third, final and decisive goal came 9 minutes from the end. Ollie Edmunds who had been everywhere on the pitch, split the defence with a side footed pass through to Will. This time Will chose to take the ball closer to the keeper, composed himself and slotted the ball nicely into the net. 0-3.

The boys remained solid for the rest of the game, determined to hang onto the clean sheet. An excellent result, and a very good overall team performance. Every player played their part today, and not one of them had a bad game.

Its a credit to the boys, we do have an excellent group of lads, who all fought for each other today to get the win.

Next week we have a tough fixture against West Worcester Youth, but it will be nice to play at the first team stadium!

Lane Head Royals 0 Banbury United 3