Banbury United U18 1 Sutton Coldfield Town U18 2

Banbury United U18s were facing Sutton Coldfield Town for the second time in quick succession, following the FA Youth Cup defeat to the same side just a few weeks earlier. The game once more proved to be a cracking game of football, and another incredibly tight game that neither side really deserved to lose.

United started the game the brighter, pinning Sutton Coldfield back into their own third. A couple of crosses into the box had to be dealt with by the two towering centre halves, but little to note of real goalmouth opportunities in the opening minutes.

That changed after 10 minutes, when Banbury had a golden chance to take the lead. Zach slid a pass through to Josh in the penalty area. Josh looked certain to score but as he took the touch before shooting, he slipped allowing the defender to get back and block the shot in the nick of time. A real let off for Sutton Coldfield.

On 17 minutes Banbury created another good chance. This one was all of Lewis own making. He picked up the ball in the centre circle and drove forwards towards goal. Beating a couple of defenders along the way, he entered the penalty area and hit a low shot at goal that was well pushed out at full stretch by the goalkeeper.

Banbury's fast start had shocked the visitors but Sutton Coldfield then grew into the game, and started to control the half. they seemed to get a yard quicker and sharper, were first to all the lose balls. With Banbury creating their own problems by clearing the ball straight back to Sutton Coldfield when they won back possession.

A couple of wayward shots into the cow field, were warnings to the home team, but the breakthrough game on 27 minutes. Some good wing play by the left forward delivering an excellent cross into the box. The right winger getting the wrong side of Arthur and heading into the net for 0-1.

on 32 minutes a key moment in the game. Jacob played Pablo through on goal, he touched it around the keeper, and was hacked down some 10 or 15 yards outside the penalty area. The referee showing the keeper a yellow card, claiming that a red card was not necessary as there was enough defenders back covering the empty net left unguarded by the keeper recklessly rushing off his line. The free kick led to nothing and Sutton Coldfield escaped.

The visitors finished the half the strongest, and Nathan had to make two excellent saves to keep the score down to 1. Firstly an underhit backpass was short, but Nathan was off his line quickly to make a great save. Then the save of the half as the dangerous number 10 struck with his left foot from distance and Nathan at full stretch tipped the ball around the post.

At the start of the second half Banbury started really well, and created a number of good chances. Pablo at the centre of most attacks at this stage was played in on goal by Lucas. He took his shot early from wide in the penalty area but the keeper made a good save at his near post, when a shot across goal was probably the better option.

Pablo then had another big chance. This time Lewis with some good feet in the box passing the ball sideways to Pablo, who let the ball roll across himself to beat the defender but guided his right footed shot inches wide of the post. There was a sense that a goal was coming such was the dominance at this stage.

On 52 minutes the equaliser did arrive, and it was a cracking goal. Pablo laid the ball off to Zach on the left of the penalty area and he stroked a superb effort into the far corner of the net for 1-1 a cracking goal and fully deserved.

Banbury United came so close to taking the lead 5 minutes later. The ball was half cleared by the Sutton Coldfield defence, only to Pablo on the edge of the area he perfectly connected with a half volley that came thundering back off the post and cleared to safety.

Sutton Coldfield's number 9 was lightening quick, but Charlie who was outstanding throughout was in the right place to make some important sliding challenges before he could get shots off at goal. Nathan made another good save from a free kick as he dived to his left to push away a good effort before diving on the loose ball.

Mick was then in the right place at the right time from a near post cross to scramble the ball away when under pressure, leading to Banbury breaking quickly, but Pablo firing high and into the cow field.

The game was opening up and was now end to end like a basketball game. Charlie hit a long free kick from just forward of the half way line that the keeper spilled, and the defender cleared off the line. Sutton Coldfield then hit a dangerous cross shot that went right across the 6 yard box and out for a goal kick.

The winning goal arrived around 10 minutes from time. The Sutton number 10 hitting a fantastic curling, dipping left foot shot from distance that was right in the top corner. A great goal that Nath could do nothing about. The forward running to the corner flag saluting to rather embarrassingly celebrate in front of no one, but it was a great strike.

Sutton Coldfield then used every trick in the book to run the clock down. this included taking time over restarts, complaining about the football being used and multiple fouls resulting in their number 9 getting a yellow for totting up double figures of fouls!

The United boys huffed and puffed, but they couldn't find an equalising goal their performance deserved.
The defeat means that we now have 3 wins and 3 losses from 6 games. The team are competing brilliantly well, and having played all of the teams in the league, are showing that our young side is a match for anyone in the league.
The only disappointment is that we feel that the performances that we are putting in are now yielding the points that the performances are deserving of.

There's a week off because of half term now, before returning at home to Rugby Borough on the 28th October

Full Time
Banbury Utd U18s 1 Sutton Coldfield Town U18s 2
Goal - Zach
Assist - Pablo
MOTM - Charlie