Match report: Idle FC 9 – 0 Springhead AFC Reserves. Idle hit 9 as they progress to the County Cup 5th Round!

West Riding County Challenge Trophy 4th Round – Saturday 5th January

Full-time: Idle FC 9-0 Springhead AFC Reserves

Goals: T. Simonett (x3), A. Maitland, J. Strudwick (x2), A. Medley, J. Dearing, L. Chandler

MOTM: J. Dearing

Idle are through to the County Cup quarter finals after an emphatic 9-0 victory over Springhead FC Reserves!

The lads really put on a show in the last 16 tie and out Springhead to the sword. The first 20 minutes were a close affair with Springhead showing some early promise matching Idle across the pitch, however, Idle soon managed to take control of the game.

The Blues were relatively untroubled at the back with Marcus Strudwick not having much to do in the first half. Luke Chandler, Conor Halligan and Luke Gray mopped up everything that came their way with relative ease, allowing the Idle attack to create chances.

The Idle pressure was beginning to build and the goals eventually started to flow with Ash Maitland opening the scoring. It was a composed finish from Maitland who latched onto a long ball from M. Strudwick in the Idle goal, bullied the defender out his way and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner.

The scoring continued with Tom Simonett and Adam Medley both bagging headers on the back of some well worked set pieces.

Jonny Dearing then got in on the act with a fine piece of individual work, dribbling through the middle of the Springhead defence and smashing the ball past the keeper from just inside the area.

Jack Strudwick also added to his goal tally for the season to effectively out the game beyond Springhead before half-time.

It was 5-0 by the time the half-time whistle arrived and Idle were in complete control. The message was simple during the interval, with the game effectively won, it’s time to work on that fitness following a heavy festive period and put in the extra yards were required. It also allowed opportunities for those players on the bench.

The second half of the game followed the same pattern as the first with Idle dominating whilst not really getting out of second gear. Simonett was giving the Springhead centre backs a torrid time with his hold up play, Dearing enjoyed the freedom of midfield to dictate play and the Idle defence had very little threats to their goal.

However, Gray, Chandler and Halligan defended well when they needed to, shutting out the one or two chances Springhead managed to create.

J. Strudwick bagged his second goal of the game from the penalty spot following some great work from substitute, George Collins who was hacked down in the box in what was probably the only poor foul of the day.

Simonett managed to complete his hatrick too alongside a rare goal from Chandler. In actual fact, Chandler’s goal was more of an own goal from the keeper who should’ve really cleared the ball with ease on the edge of his area. He somehow managed to execute a perfect fresh air kick, leaving an open goal for Paulo Wanchope to tap home.

The concentration levels were something to admire with Chandler having to fully commit to getting the ball onto his “favoured” right foot to finish into an open goal.

I can’t seem to recall where I’ve seen a similar situation happen before either…

Overall, it was a solid performance from the Idle lads and the perfect to shake of the festive hangover. Nine goals didn’t flatter the home side who were clinical infront of goal but certainly had a few more gears to go through. That also makes it two clean sheets in the past two games for the Idle defence too!

Now it’s onto the next round where Idle face a much sterner test in the shape of Wakefield side, Snydale Athletic FC.

By Jamie Allen