Crewe United Youth had a successful weekend with the U17′s and U16′s defeating their respective opponents Barn United U16/U17′s. The U18′s were unfortunate as they lost to Ballymena United in the IFA Youth League.
Crewe United U18s Vs Ballymena United III
The game began on even par as the two teams both sat mid table before kick off. Ballymena won an early free kick inside the Crewe half and a split second loss of concentration allowed the Ballymena centre forward to casually stroke home the opener. Crewe dominated possession with some shooting opportunities on target not coming going narrowly wide. Ballymena broke away against the run of play and another great finish putting Ballymena two goals up. Crewe dominated once again after the second goal but the possession came to nothing and Ballymena scored again just before half time.
Half Time: Crewe United U18s 0- 3 Ballymena III
The referee’s whistle blew and the second half began and straight away Ballymena were on the attack gaining a corner, another split second loss of concentration at the back and an unmarked player headed home with ease. Crewe picked up the tempo with tireless running by Niall Finn and steady defensive play from Lee Taggart, Crewe dominated possession for the next while with great play in the middle by Sam Walsh and Mark McCullough and in defence by Craig Bailey and Alan Wilson.
A great ball by Sam Walsh up top to Ben Armstrong who lobbed the keeper skilfully with the outside of his boot, Crewe pulled a goal back and the heads were up, this sparked Crewe’s play and the ball was moved about excellently between the defence and midfield, midfield maestro Mark McCullough played the ball wide to Jay Nicholson who picked out Ben Armstrong again who drove the ball low with his left foot into the bottom corner. Crewe were back in the game and driving hard for a third, Ballymena broke away again with a long ball over the top against the run of play and finished the one on one with Crewe keeper Stephen McDowell who had an excellent performance overall. Ballymena had restored there three goal lead and that had proved to be the final act of the game as the final whistle blew.
Full Time: Crewe United U18s 2-5 Ballymena III
Man of the Match: Craig Bailey
Crewe United U16 9 Barn United U16 2
As the match kicked off the young Crewe side dominated play winning every opportunity in the midfield, after a great ball from Andrew Mellon on the right side, Danny O’ Sullivan was able to drive home an opener and his first for the season in the fifth minute. As Barn take kick off again the ball breaks left for Centre Forward Niall Finn to drive in a low cross to the backpost in search of Andrew Mellon but the ball takes a deflection off the centre back into the roof of the net to put Crewe two up before the ten minute mark.
Crewe took the foot off the pedal for a short while allowing Barn to creep back into the game with a few opportunities ending in nothing. The ball was delivered up the pitch again with a great ball from Louis Jefferson allowing Niall Finn to head the ball into the feet of Danny O’Sullivan, who delivered once again slotting home into the bottom corner for his second of the game. From the kick off again the Crewe attackers were able to chase down a throw in, Lee Taggart threw the ball into Dale Jackson who found Jordan Sloan with ease, Sloan took one touch and rocketed a half volley into the top corner from 35 yards.
After a slip up in the Crewe defence, the Barn players capitalized on the mistake bringing a goal back against the run of play in the twenty sixth minute. Crewe got straight back into it after another throw in by Lee Taggart, Niall Finn took the ball into his stride down the left side, picking out Danny O’Sullivan with a low cross, who nutmegged the keeper to complete his hat-trick.
Half Time: Crewe United u16s 5-1 Barn United u16s
The second half got underway as Crewe’s defence kept possession excellently, right back Louis Jefferson launched the ball upfield to Niall Finn who headed the ball into the eighteen yard box where Andy Mellon reacted instantly side stepping a defender before firing back across goal with his left foot seven minutes after the restart. The ball had barely got back to the half way line when Barn United took another kick off and played the ball into their defence who misjudged the pass allowing Niall Finn to break through the defence and place a one on one into the back of the net.
After great build up play with seventeen passes in total, the ball broke in the middle to Jordan Sloan who thundered home another rocket from twenty five yards bringing back great memories of Steven Gerrard’s strike in the 2006 FA Cup Final in the fiftieth minute. Barn United take another kick off breaking down the right side and after a mistimed challenge, Barn United won a penalty. The Barn captain stepped up to take the spot kick but placed the ball hurrendously wide of the post after sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. After a goal kick from Chris Fong the ball broke down in midfield allowing the Barn right midfielder a shot on goal from a tight angle which bulleted straight into the opposite side netting allowing Barn to bring a goal back ten minutes from time.
The play then was all for Crewe United with total possession with the match coming to a close, the ball came up Crewe’s right side with Andrew Mellon winning a throw in, from the throw he found Louis Jefferson who kept the ball up in the corner and weaseled his way into space, with a delecate chipped pass into Jordan Sloan who controlled the ball well on his chest and volleyed the ball once again across goal from twenty yards to complete a sheerly breathtaking hat-trick.
With that the final whistle blew and Crewe United were victorious, a great performance all round.
Full Time: Crewe United u16s 9-2 Barn United u16s
Man Of The Match: Andrew Mellon
