Yorkshire Amateur League Division 1 – Saturday 2nd December 2017
Full-time: Farsley Celtic Jrs. Res. 2 – 3 Idle FC
Goals: A. Irving (x2), J. Strudwick
MOTM: C. Dawson
Following on from the first postponement of the season last weekend against Old Batelians, Idle returned to action away to Farsley Celtic Juniors Reserves in the Yorkshire Amateur League Division 1. Whilst Farsley were having an indifferent season, it was important for Idle to get points on the board and keep the pressure on the teams at the top.
Idle started the game the better team enjoying a lot of the ball, passing out from the back, through midfield and up to the forward players. The pitch, which can only be described as utterly horrific was not ideal for either side and not conducive to Idle’s possession football. The fact that at least half of the Idle side was hanging from the night before didn’t exactly help when it came to passing in straight lines…
Despite Idle’s decent start to the game it was the home side that took the lead with a goal somewhat reminiscent of Arsenal against United. Luke Gray aka Shkodran Mustafi had the vision to find the Farsley strikers feet from a tight angle, who took full advantage of the opportunity, looping the ball over Marcus Strudwick in the Idle goal to make it 1-0.
With a few heads already showing signs of rolling off (Marcus & Luke…), it was important for Idle to keep calm and continue to pass the ball through the Farsley lines. A period of dominance followed for Idle with a succession of corner kicks and chances falling to Conor Halligan with the centre-back failing to convert.
Great work from Aaron Irving saw the striker cut inside on the edge of the Farsley box and unleash a powerful shot which crashed off the bar. Another unfortunate moment for Idle who were unlucky not to be on level terms. Irving then got his reward after a sublime through-ball from Strudwick found the diagonal run of the Idle forward. Irving was composed in-front of goal, finishing calmly with a shot under the goalkeeper to make it 1-1 going into half-time.
The second half began with two changes for Idle as Carl Brown replaced Danny Rosconie at right-back and Tom Simonett replaced Tom Holmes in centre midfield. However, Idle were on the back foot early doors as Farsley grew into the game.
A sustained 10 to 15 minutes of pressure saw the Idle defence putting their bodies on the line to keep the Farsley attack at bay, however, the home team managed to break through following a through-ball between Gray and Jamie Allen released the pacey right-winger who, bearing down on goal, slotted the ball under the on-rushing M. Strudwick to restore Farsley’s lead.
It was backs to the wall for Idle who would have to dig deep turn the game around. Following on from the early second-half pressure from Farsley, Idle once again took control of the game with J. Strudwick pulling the strings in midfield.
And it was young Strudwick who managed to grab the equaliser for Idle. Adam Medley the architect dribbling past his man on the wing and delivering a cross into the box which found J. Strudwick unmarked in the box to side-foot the ball back across the keeper and into the bottom corner to make it 2-2.
Idle were in the ascendency and it was Irving who gave the away side the lead. Man of the match, Carl Dawson (a questionable decision from the referee there if you ask me…) burst through the Farsley midfield with some fine footwork and bearing down on the defence, the midfielder chipped a lovely through-ball into the path of Irving whose composure didn’t let him down as he took a touch and fired the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-3 to Idle!
The game was firmly in Idle’s control and despite a few late corners from Farsley, the away side were ‘professional’. And by ‘professional’, some solid shit-housery holding the ball up in the corners. Oh and M. Strudwick… the man whose head rolled completely off in the second half with plenty of ‘fucks’, ‘fucking’ and ‘fuck offs’ shouted! Not to mention the poor lad on the side-line who bore the brunt of his abuse the ‘pretty boy c***’!
Here’s Oscar winning actor, Leonardo DiCaprio reenacting the Idle Goalkeeper’s anger…
Idle had a couple of clear chances to the extend the lead late in the game with Medley forcing several saves from the goalkeeper who kept Farsley within touching distance. However, the full-time whistle came and it remained 2-3 to Idle and another valuable 3 points to keep the pressure on the sides at the top of Division 1.
By Jamie Allen
The Playmaker 
Posted on December 7, 2017
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