Yorkshire Amateur League Division 1 – Saturday 16th March 2019
Full-time: Thornesians FC 3 – 5 Idle FC
Goals: R. Mitchel (x 2), A. Medley, A. Irving, J. Royal
MOTM: T. Simonett
Idle returned to winning ways today against Thornesians in the face of the elements and an artificial pitch!
If the long journey to Wakefield wasn’t bad enough the driving rain, wind and artificial pitch all played their part in this game with Idle enduring the elements in the first half. The Idle defence did well in the face of the wind and rain and a team intent on playing hoof ball to the big men up front.
The Idle defence did well to deal with the persistent long ball and absorb the majority of the pressure from Thornesians in the first half. The artificial surface actually played into Idle’s hands as the Blues utilised the pace of the surface to counter attack quickly.
It was Idle who went in front with a goal through Ryan Mitchell who’s shot from the edge of the area squirmed under the keeper and into the bottom to put Idle 0-1 up. However, Thornesians kept up the pressure and managed to equalise from a corner kick which wasn’t cleared properly and despite Stephen Kelsey in the Idle goal getting a hand to first header he was powerless to stop the follow-up shot. 1-1.
Idle managed to restore their lead minutes later with a goal from Aaron Irving. However, Thornesians hit back again with another equaliser from a long-ball which was initially cleared by the Idle defence. The initial clearance found it’s way to the Thornesians right-winger who delivered an inch perfect cross to he centre-midfielder who’d ventured forward into the box and turned home his header.
Thornesians then went 3-2 up following a corner kick which was turned home at the near post with a glancing header that found it’s way into the far corner.
Idle were still very much in the game playing the better football and dominating the possession throughout the first half. Adam Medley then found himself unmarked just inside the area and fired home a first-time shot to make it 3-3. And that’s how it remained at the half-time whistle.
With the literal storm weathered, the second half saw Idle take full control of the game with Thornesians not really seeing much of the ball and creating very little when they did. The Idle defence began to dominate their opponents and Kelsey had very little to do in the second half.
Idle were making plenty of chances with Irving, Mitchell and Tom Simonett pulling the strings going forward. Irving then stepped up to put Idle deservedly in-front! 3-4.
Chances came and went for the Blues and with only one goal in it the lead was looking a bit precarious despite Idle’s domination. James Royal then channelled his inner 20 goal a season Sunday league striker from years gone by to grab Idle’s fifth goal! Royal bombed on from centre-half with a lung bursting run to join in the Idle attack. Adam Medley managed to deliver a low cross from the left-wing which found Royal with an open goal at his mercy. The sliding finish made it 3-5.
And that was the end of the goals fort the rest of the game. Idle saw out the victory and secured the 3 points which was much needed after the previous weeks draw to Leeds Medics IIIs.
By Jamie Allen
The Playmaker 
Posted on March 19, 2019
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