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AFC DRONFIELD UNDER 13's
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Sunday March 7th
AFC Dronfield 2 - 4 Charnock Ridgeway
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Sunday February 28th
AFC Dronfield 2 - 4 Aston Juniors
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Sunday February 14th
Handley Wood 3 - 1 AFC Dronfield
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Sunday February 7th
AFC Dronfield 5 - 3 Ecclesall Rangers
Dr Jekyll .. and Mr Hyde ...
The first game for U13’s in what seems a long, long time, was certainly a game of of two halves, AFC facing Ecclesall Rangers, the only team they've already met this season, and the boys remembering the shallow victory Rangers claimed against a lacklustre AFC before Christmas.
Clumsy play by Ecclesall fell in AFC’s favour however in the opening minutes, as a handball delivered a gift of a penalty to Scott Havenhand, who never looked like missing, to leave the home boys ahead after 3 minutes. With Ecclesall on the back foot, AFC ploughed forward with some of the best flowing football seen from them this season. Special praise to an on-form Harry Linaker, who despite pressure held the play in AFC’s favour time and again. A barrage of U13’s shots on target, resulted in a second for AFC from a persistent Harry Huddart, with a well judged volley in the 15th minute. As the first half closed, Ecclesall looked a team under siege, Harry Huddart claiming his second and AFC’s third to go into the break, a seemingly unassailable, 3-nil up.
The beginning of the second half however, was an entirely different story with one spectator questioning - “Have we just got worse .. or have they got a whole lot better?” The conclusion was that U13’s were guilty of the ultimate footballing sin: They had taken their eye off the ball. A re-booted Ecclesall pressed forward and, finding a complacent AFC defence, proceeded to score 3 goals back, leaving the match all square again with just 15 minutes to play. On a wave of AFC management ’advice’ from the sidelines, all credit to the boys they regrouped and found their shape. Midfield ironman Liam Goodall, as ever, showing terrier tenacity on the ball and Messers Brown, Butcher & Walker putting in good coverage to get the ball where it needed to be. The boys work paid off a few minutes later with Scott Havenhand being in the right place at the right time, scoring a 4th for AFC and giving the boys a much needed boost. Credit to Alex Willis for again showing his mettle in defence against an aggressive Ranger’s forward and giving as good as he got, stemming any hope of a wind of change for Ecclesall. The visitors, caught in between AFC’s Jekyll and Hyde persona’s, looked baffled and all that was left was for Marcus Wright to slip virtually beneath their defence, and seal the deal with a 5th for AFC in the closing minutes.
All in all a rollercoaster ride for players, management and supporters alike, that happily came good in the end. No doubt the lesson learned for next time: Don’t let the lads drink anything ‘funny’ at half time!
***
Sunday December 13th
AFC Dronfield U13’s Cup dreams came to a nightmare end away to A
Division Milmoor Juniors on Sunday. Despite Milmoor taking a first
half lead, it looked all to play for with AFC’s Scott Havenhand
delivering an equaliser a few minutes into the second session. However
U13’s buckled under sustained pressure from the top division side to
see them bow out in the 4th Round of the Tesco Cup.
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Sunday December 6th
Game Postponed
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Sunday November 29th
Game Postponed
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Sunday November 22nd
Ecclesall Rangers 2 - 1 AFC Dronfield
What should've been ...
A rather disappointing time was had this Sunday with AFC Dronfield U13’s never really hitting their groove away to Ecclesall Rangers. Snippets of good play mingled with indifference as the boys squandered the chance of an easy 3 points against an entirely beatable Ecclesall, on a windy but, wholly playable day.
A lack lustre first half seemed to have been rescued by a fine battle and shot from Scott Havenhand finding goal for AFC after 28 minutes. However the boys failed to seize the impetus and an opportune Rangers knicked back an equaliser two minutes later, leaving the teams all square at half time.
The second half brought a little more spark about U13’s but the team were definitely not firing on all cylinders, most attacking play ending fruitlessly time and again. Ecclesall claimed the winner 10 minutes into the second half despite regular stand-in keeper, Alex Bartin’s, full-stretch effort. AFC’s play gained some momentum in the closing quarter, with renewed and spirited efforts from a number of the lads, however it all seemed a day late and a dollar short and time simply run out for the boys.
All in all, despite some flashes, a dull and inadequate performance from an U13’s we have come to expect better from, that may indeed leave AFC boys kicking themselves later in the season. Hopefully sooner than later we will see a return to the imaginative play of recent weeks and U13’s mojo, once again, fully operational.
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Sunday November 15th
No Game
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Sunday November 8th
AFC Dronfield 6 - 3 Heeley Boys
Tesco U13's Cup - 3rd Round
AFC through to the last 16 ....
This weekend saw AFC Dronfield’s U13’s 3rd Round match in the Tesco Cup, with the AFC boys quietly confident of pushing on to the next round against Division F leaders, Heeley Boys, however an early opener by the opposition and a series tit for tat goals meant it was an eventful ride to victory.
AFC boys started as they meant to go on, pressing Heeley’s defences, however a successful strike by Heeley after just ten minutes, upped the boys ante. In response Arran Butcher and Marcus Wright battled hard on the wing to secure a feed to Scott Havenhand, who rewarded their effort with an equaliser three minutes later and Scott doubled the difference, nodding home his second after another eight minutes from a precision cross from Harry Huddart. Indeed it looked like it was heading all the homeboys way when a free kick from Scott Havenhand into the box found Heeley in tatters at the back as they battled to clear; Joe Walker making good the opportunity with a clever pot to put AFC two clear. Heeley Boys still had some attacking left and despite good defensive work by AFC, Heeley claimed another, one minute before the break.
Second half brought renewed attacks from Heeley, the visitors briefly succeeding in leveling the score, however ten minutes into the second half the match sustained a brief halt in play due to an altercation and a visiting player was removed by the Heeley coaches for disrespectful behaviour.
After the restart, AFC turned up the gas and a frustrated Heeley offered a number of badly timed challenges, the resulting free kicks further fueling AFC; one particular challenge in the box, resulting in a Scott Havenhand penalty, saw AFC take the lead once again. Credit in the second half went to Harry Linaker for putting in extra on the wing, Alex Bartin, and Brandon Knight for proficient defense and Alex Willis for remaining professional during difficult play. U13’s were to finish in a more upbeat style however with two further AFC goals; a blinding header by Sam Brown, and a fourth for an on-fire Scott Havenhand, from a Marcus Wright cross, to seal their place in the last 16.
Altogether a worthy and resolute win by AFC Dronfield, amidst at times, difficult play and distractions.
***
Sunday November 1st
No Game
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Sunday October 25th
AFC Dronfield 3 - 3
Throstles JFC
Six Goals, A Hat trick and One Point ...
AFC Dronfield U13’s
met Throstles JFC for their home league game this Sunday, AFC fairly confident
having beaten the side at both meetings last season; the AFC boys regrouping
after last weeks cup defeat, with virtually a full squad, including the return
of keeper Josh Hawley, freeing Alex Bartin back into his vital defensive
role.
It took AFC a few minutes to get into their stride,
with both teams having to cope with the gusty conditions, often giving the
match ball a mind of it’s own. AFC however soon took control of the first
half with Messrs. Brown, Walker, Butcher, Linaker and the birthday boy, Liam
Goodall, providing strong coverage; their diligence paying off with Harry
Huddart’s composure in the box, giving AFC the lead at the 15 minute
mark. With the wind picking up, Throstles keeper struggled to get much
distance on goal kicks and taking advantage of the situation AFC pressed on,
Harry Huddart poaching a second off a deflected shot by Sam Brown to give them
a comfortable two goal lead going into the break.
A clearly frustrated Throstles management and boys
opened the second half, pressing AFC defences, Alex’s Willis and Bartin working
well to cover the ground; however keeper Josh was beaten by a well-placed
Throstles chip to open their score tally. Throstles pushed on, scoring a
two further goals, and it looked as if AFC boys may have peaked too soon,
however Huddart’s presence in the box a third time, secured a draw for AFC,
Harry pouncing on a loosely defended ball and an open goal, to give him his hat
trick 5 minutes from time.
Final result 3 - 3. The boys played good football and
one point is certainly better than none, however a little more gambling spirit
by the U13’s, some cross goal passes and a few more eager feet in the box, may
have resulted in three points today.
***
Sunday October 18th
Cup Match
Aston Juniors 6 - 0 AFC Dronfield
A Hard Lesson for U13's ...
A disappointing start, and indeed finish, to the league cup this week for AFC Dronfield U13’s
away to Aston Juniors. Although Aston’s figures on the score sheet so far
this season didn’t look that foreboding, the team were a physical force to be
reckoned with in the flesh.
Despite
no small effort on the part of the boys from the start, AFC were fairly
outgunned by a bigger Aston team, playing aggressive football on a familiar
pitch. The first half saw AFC boys forced to mainly defend asAston’s
imposing team had the gross of the attacking possession. Three or four
Aston shots fell wide of the mark before they claimed their first goal after 20
minutes play, AFC’s defender, Alex Bartin, taking on the role of keeper for the
second week, and Aston claimed another before the half time blow to leave the
visitors 2 - 0 down.
Under 13’s tried to regain composure in the second session,
and succeeded with a few chances, however Aston’s defence put paid to much of
AFC’s attacking play and the visitors were further thwarted by striker Scott
Havenhand being taken off sick.
Aston put away a further four goals in the second half, highlighting
defensive weaknesses. No doubt, both management and boys would prefer these to
be limited to a cup match, and would would not wish to see this repeated when
they return to league action. Final Score: Aston Juniors 6 - AFC Dronfield 0.
***
Sunday
October 11th
AFC Dronfield 3 - 1
Worksop Boys Club FC
Tesco Cup - 2nd Round
A Fine Team Effort ...
AFC U13’s met B Division Worksop Boys Club FC in the second round of the Tesco
Cup at home on Sunday, the wasp-shirted opposition looking formidable from a
distance, and no smaller close to. AFC’s starting team was a little
changed with Alex Bartin taking one step forward (or should that be backwards)
into the gloves of absent goal-keeper Josh Hawley.
Both teams started keenly, with some members of Worksop’s
burly side dwarfing their AFC opposites and the visitors made their presence
felt, despite stand-in Alex’ efforts, with an unreachable loft finding AFC’s
net after just 5 minutes. An undaunted U13’s restricted the visitors room
to manoeuvre and their work paid off; Arran Butcher snatching a goal to bring
the score back level in the 13th minute. Worksop looked for chances but
never really pressed the home side; AFC going into the break ahead after Scott
Havenhand slotted home a lesson in geometry from far left of the box.
In the second half AFC moved up a gear, giving a fine
display of flowing football with a profusion of one-two’s, U13’s sturdy
midfield making patterns through Worksop Boys and holding possession with
precision team work. AFC boys narrowly missed pushing the tally higher
with a number of chances, however the home crowd went home satisfied through
Sam Brown’s use his imagination with a beautifully judged dipping shot from the
half way line closing a fine team effort: 3 - 1 to AFC.
***
Sunday October
4th
AFC Dronfield 6 - 1 Junior Fox’s
As I was saying ....
AFC U13’s were at home to Junior Fox’s, a team who
had already scored 17 goals this season and after last weeks AFC home defeat,
were maybe expected to claim a few more against AFC. Thankfully
however, the U13’s are not big on statistics!
AFC management thought maybe they had
the touch of Midas, having told the strikers to shoot on sight, when AFC opened
the scoring after barely 40 seconds play; Liam Goodall delivering a well judged
ball to Harry Huddart, who dutifully obeyed instructions. An able Junior
Fox’s rallied, but never really found form, with AFC dominating from the start;
Arran Butcher and Alex Willis in particular, showing determined and gritty
form. Sam Brown notched his first league goal of the season, using his
height to head home a corner from Scott Havenhand in the 18th minute. Six
minutes later, Scott’s tenacity in the box brought a clumsy challenge from
Fox’s, resulting in a consummate penalty, bringing AFC’s lead to 3-0 going into
the break.
Despite a very vocal call to
arms by Fox’s at the interval and a rally of effort, they never really
recovered their composure, any shots falling wide of the mark and keeper Josh
Hawley remaining well within his comfort zone. Brandon Knight rewarded
management’s confidence, following home a sliding cross by Harry Huddart in the
12th minute and demonstrated a textbook lob of Fox’ keeper in the 26th to bring
AFC’s tally to five. In the closing minutes Fox’s grabbed one back,
a poor clearance playing pin-ball with the woodwork and finding AFC’s net
despite Josh Hawley’s best efforts at close quarters. Fox’s had however
all but conceded when Scott Havenhand chipped home a final goal to finish it
6-1 to AFC at full-time; a confident and effective AFC making every shot count,
banishing the ghosts of last week and making the spectators think it had just
been a bad dream.
***
Sunday September
27th
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