It’s very difficult to know where to start with this report, especially as the game featured seven goals, many a controversy and a fractious ending.
The Avenue Reserves faced old rivals Overthorpe at the Wyke Community Sports Village. Overthorpe occupied bottom spot and their only league win of the campaign was annulled from the records earlier this week as the previous bottom club, Pool resigned from the league. Avenue themselves also had a victory chalked off and lost three points in the process.
In bright sunny conditions, Overthorpe got the game underway and they went a goal up with virtually their first attack in the fifth minute. From a throw-in, the ball bounced inside the Avenue area, the defence failed to clear and before you could blink, the ball was fired past Luke Morris, who had no chance to stop it.
Just four minutes later, Avenue were almost level when McKenzie Murphy got away down the right and his excellent effort drew a super save from the Overthorpe ‘keeper. The resulting corner came to nothing, but Murphy got his name in the book for a petulant foul and a stern rebuke from his brother, Owen Murphy on the touchline.
Moments later, more sloppiness in dealing with another throw-in led to a short cross evading everyone except an unmarked Overthorpe player, who headed inside the post, Morris again powerless to prevent it going in.
The game was always punctuated with fouls, but after going two down, Avenue began creating chances and the Overthorpe custodian was called upon on several occasions.
Murphy was denied once again by a super save but from the resulting corner disaster struck again for Avenue. A long punt downfield reached an Overthorpe forward, who appeared to be offside, but he was allowed to race towards goal before tucking the ball into the net.
The situation mirrored that of a few of Avenue’s most recent games where they have given the opposition a two or three goal lead. It’s almost like saying, “right, there’s your starter, now watch us come back.” This side is blessed with fighting spirit, but at 3-0 it looked a tall order, even for them.
The 20 minutes before the break saw them create numerous chances to get back into the game but it was either the Overthorpe ‘keeper, a defensive block or wasteful finishing that prevented them opening their account
From the restart, Avenue set about the task of getting back into the game and in the first minute of the half, Josh Owen headed wide when he should have scored. However, a minute later, Owen provided the cross for Jodi Tiffany to score. Within seconds, it was almost two as an effort from Avenue was cleared off the line. It was all Avenue at that point, but a sudden breakaway by Overthorpe led to them restoring their three goal cushion.
A long ball across a sparse Avenue defence was met by an unmarked Overthorpe player who headed over Morris to make it 4-1.
Murphy made way for the returning Oskar Wota and Avenue tried to build again.
In the 56th minute, Reuben Armitage, who had replaced the missing Connor Douglas at right back, played the most delicious defence splitting pass to Wota who ran towards goal, chipping the goalkeeper. Unfortunately, it didn’t have the pace to enter the net, instead rolling agonisingly slowly before it was cleared off the line.
Avenue were playing their best football of the game now, spurred on by more substitutions. Armitage and Owen made way for Jayden Bedeau and Harry Varley respectively who both made an impact.
Max Walker was denied by another great save as Avenue fought to reduce the deficit further. Then occurred arguably the most exciting two minutes of the match, when in a rare attack, Overthorpe were denied twice by a wonderful double save by Morris, who punted the ball downfield. The ball came to the feet of Bedeau, who shot at goal, only to see his effort come back off the post.
Two minutes later, Avenue gained a corner and this time, Jayden Cuffe made no mistake in forcing the ball over the line to make it 4-2.
Overthorpe were trying to manage the game and more than one of them were booked for time wasting, but with eight minutes remaining, Avenue scored again. A wonderful move down the right saw Wota meet a long pass, and cross the ball into the area where Cuffe was waiting to ram it home.
Another name went into the book for time wasting and Overthorpe were hanging on as Avenue laid siege. A glorious opportunity to level presented itself in the 88th minute when Bedeau raced into the area to meet a cross from the right. Instead of using his left foot, he opted for the right and forced the ball just wide of the post with the ‘keeper stranded. Unfortunately time beat Avenue and they fell to a 3-4 defeat.
It was a tough one to take, in what was a very entertaining encounter. This Avenue side certainly has the ability to beat anyone they come up against and they are more than capable of recovering from deficits, but as we’ve seen in recent games, they cannot afford to gift teams a two or three goal start and expect to win.
Match report by Paul Waterhouse