With the first team away to Guiseley in the Emirates FA Cup, the Avenue Reserves had the rare opportunity of playing at Horsfall where they faced Carlton Athletic in a West Yorkshire League Cup tie. The visitors currently play in the West Yorkshire Premier Division, so are a division above Avenue and understandably went into the game as favourites.
Avenue began the game attacking the Len Shackleton Bar end and created the first chance of the half. Breaking from their own penalty area in the third minute, Jayden Cuffe received the ball and played it into the path of Max Walker, who drew an excellent save from the Athletic goalkeeper.
The visitors were arguably the biggest set of players I think I’ve seen so far this season but they also showed a great deal of finesse as they looked very fluid when passing the ball around. That said, it was Avenue who were asking the questions, creating a number of opportunities that were wasted due to indecision. When it seemed better to shoot, an extra touch was taken, resulting in the Athletic defence being able to clear the danger, setting the tone for the first half.
The visitors had their first effort on goal on the 13th minute, which Luke Morris dealt with comfortably, but two minutes later he had to palm a long range shot over his bar. Athletic had begun to gain the upper hand and from the resulting corner, a ball into the area saw a brilliant step over from one of their forwards. It totally threw the Avenue defence and another Athletic player rifled a shot straight into the net.
To their credit Avenue fought back, but again, opportunities that presented themselves were wasted due to taking a touch too many or poor finishing. There was also the occasional sloppy pass, Michael Hall being particularly guilty of giving the ball away. Avenue were competing extremely well against class opposition but had nothing to show for their efforts, and that was partially down to not taking advantage of openings they created. Oskar Wota fluffed a great chance when one-on-one with the Athletic goalkeeper, after a flowing move down the wing.
Good sides can withstand pressure before striking back, and that is exactly what Athletic did in the final minute of the half. Breaking out from their own penalty area, they played a number of passes downfield and finding himself unmarked, the Athletic forward dragged the ball inside before firing home despite the flailing leg of an Avenue defender failing to prevent the ball going into the net.
Trailing by a goal, it’s probably the worst time to concede a second, so there was much to do after the interval. Avenue were now defending the end they were attacking in the first half, and it was they, who created the first chance of the half. In the 50th minute, the visitors were forced into a change due to an injury and still, Avenue were creating and wasting chances.
Just on the hour mark, Owen Murphy sent on Josh Owen for Cuffe. The substitution was inspired as Owen made an immediate impact. A ball into the Athletic penalty area was pinging around and once it fell to the newly introduced forward, he smashed it into the net to give Avenue hope.
All of a sudden, the nature of the game changed and just two minutes after reducing the deficit, Avenue came within a whisker of drawing level. A great ball out to Connor Douglas, on the left, saw the Avenue forward step to his right and hit a curling shot that looked to be heading into the net. However, the goalkeeper got a hand to the ball which then hit the post. The resulting corner came to nothing, but moments later, Wota had another glorious chance when put through on goal from a slide rule pass. Not for the first time, Wota uncharacteristically hesitated and another opportunity passed.
Inspired by Walker, Avenue drove forward and within a couple of minutes they came so close to achieving parity and again it was Wota in the thick of the action. Owen played him in and his shot flew past everyone before hitting the post yet again.
Athletic rarely threatened, but they did come close from a heavily disputed corner. The cross was met with a header that fizzed across the goal and out for a goal kick. At the other end Avenue saw another chance go begging when the Athletic goalkeeper made the latest of his excellent saves to deny Michael Douglas, who probably felt he should have done better.
The visitors then felt the wrath of the official, who was tiring of the delaying tactics, receiving the first of several yellow cards, for kicking the ball away to delay the restart. Walker was the next Avenue player to be denied by the Athletic goalkeeper and no matter how hard they tried, it was one of those days when fate was against Avenue.
In the closing moments, Morris made a rare save before punting the ball down the field which brought Avenue a free kick. That led to an Athletic caution for delaying proceedings. Unfortunately, the effort from M. Douglas deflected off the visitors defensive wall and into the hands of their custodian. The official blew up to end the game, much to the relief of the visitors who knew they had been in a game. They are an accomplished team who played some excellent football in the first half, but credit to this young Avenue side, who, instead of letting their heads drop, dug in and put up a performance they should be proud of. They gave higher league opposition a real test today, but I believe they will also be of the opinion that had those chances been taken it would have been a completely different outcome and a possible opportunity missed. That said, they now know they can mix it with better sides and it will stand them in good stead as the season progresses.
Match report by Paul Waterhouse