31 October 2011 : Under 16s enjoy there first win
Under 16's Pin Point Recruitment Division 4
Alnwick Town 3 Longbenton 2
Alnwick Town Under 16's recorded their first league win of the season against a physical Longbenton side at Greensfield on Sunday. The home side, kicking with the wind dominated the play from the beginning and were unfortunate not to take the lead after 5 minutes when a Sam Proudlock corner was powerfully headed against the bar by Keegan Watson. Alnwick continued to press the play and deservably took the lead after 10 minutes when a long throw into the box by Tom Farr was not dealt with by the Longbenton defence and Cameron McEwan was on hand with a composed finish from 6 yards.The home side doubled their lead after 20 minutes when a powerful long range effort from Farr was parried by the Longbenton goalkeeper, with Sam Lawless being the quickest to react and poke the ball home. At this point Alnwick were looking comfortable, Farr and Proudlock continued to work tiredlessly in the centre of midfield breaking up the play and creating opportunities which the black and whites were unable to convert. Just before half time in superb style Lawless grabbed his second goal of the game and Alnwicks third, chipping the Longbenton goalkeeper from 25 yards out in off the cross bar. The Alnwick defence marshalled well by Freddie Hall and Watson kept the Longbenton forwards relatively quiet in the first half, dominating everything in the air and playing some good football from the back. The few chances the away side were able to create in the first half were dealt with well by Cameron Hill in the Alnwick goal.
After the interval Longbenton put Alnwick on the defensive and began to come more into the game. The away team would have got an early second half goal had it not been for a brilliant goal line headed clearance by Connor Smith from a well struck effort from the edge of the penalty area. Throughout the second half Alnwick were unable to add to their first half advantage but came close on several occasions through the introduction of the pacey Aiden Hughes and the impressive Ryan Elliott. Longbenton got what looked like a late consolation goal in the last 5 minutes of the game when a long ball over the top of the Alnwick defence was well finished by the visitor's frontman. However, the visitor's were not finished yet and set up a tense final few minutes for the home team when they grabbed their second goal of the game from close range after some good play down the left wing. Alnwick seen the last few minutes of the game out without any further problems and won the game 3-2 deservably after a very good all round team performance. The game was well refereed by Ray Smith.
Alnwick Man of Match: Cameron McEwan
Alnwick Team: C Smith, K Mallon, F Hall, K Watson, T Farr, S Lawless, S Proudlock, C McEwan, R Elliot, L Mayhew, C Hill, S Hardman, J Danagher, D Turnbull, G Atkinson, A Hughes.
Alnwick U16's are still looking for a kit sponsor, anyone interested please contact Alan Mcfall on 07718987228.