Yorkshire Amateur League Division 1 – Monday 9th April 2018
Full-time: Alwoodley FC Reserves FC 3 – 5 Idle FC
Goals: C. Halligan, A. Irving, J. Strudwick (x2), R. Mitchell
MOTM: J. Strudwick
With the first Monday Night Football of the season, Idle travelled to Leeds to face Alwoodley FC Reserves. No one really likes big away trips straight after work on a Monday night but needs must at the business end of the season.
The Idle lads had to skip the warm-up with the referee keen to get the game underway at 6.30pm on the dot so it was literally 5 minutes to change into kit and get out on the field for kick-off. However, this really didn’t phase the lads who started the game very much on the front foot.
Idle pressed Alwoodley well in the early stages winning the ball back high up the pitch, immediately causing the home defence problems. Ryan Mitchell was in fine form early on, breaking from the left-wing and giving the right back a torrid time. Jack Strudwick was finding space in midfield and picking passes over the top of the Alwoodley defence with ease.
Idle’s high press eventually yielded a reward with Conor Halligan heading home from a corner to make it 0-1. The lead was then doubled soon after following a quick counter-attack down the right-wing which saw Adam Medley break free and square the ball to J. Strudwick who slotted home from close range.
The half-time whistle sounded with Idle in the ascendancy after dominating proceedings for the first 45 minutes.
The second half started much the same with Idle dominating possession and looking to break quickly down the flanks. Aaron Irving added another goal to his tally for the season before J. Strudwick scored his second of the game, smashing a free-kick over the keepers’ head into the roof of the net. SHIT!!!
It was a bit good to be fair.
Mitchell then found himself unmarked at the back post following another flowing counter-attack to slot home from inside the area and it was all looking comfortable at 0-5.
However, the final 10 minutes of the match saw Alwoodley battle back into the game. Idle seemed to get a little lazy with the home side pushing men forward and managing to grab a couple of consolation goals.
A bullet header from the forward found the top corner which was swiftly followed by a penalty converted by the striker with ease.
Finally, a long-ball into the channel was latched onto by the striker who produced a fine finish across the Idle goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.
What should’ve been a comfortable win and a clean sheet ended up being a lot closer on the scoreboard than hoped for. However, Idle played some really good football for 75 minutes showing defensive solidarity and attacking zeal which produced some lovely goals.
The bottom line is that it was another win and another important 3 points ahead of the biggest game of the season on Saturday against league leaders, Ealandians FC Reserves which could decide the destination of the Division 1 trophy!
By Jamie Allen
The Playmaker 
Posted on April 11, 2018
0