Berrow Junior Youth U14 vs Winscombe U14
1 - 6
19 January 2019 · Woodspring Junior League<br>Under 14 Saturday Div 2
Away league match played on 19 January 2019.
Kicked off at 10:30 AM
1-6
vs Berrow Junior Youth U14
Away league match
Despite having a few key players unavailable for selection, Winscombe successfully sidestepped the banana skin that Berrow, with some resolute performances and results this season, were perfectly capable of putting in the league leaders' path.
Winscombe again hit the ground running, creating a series of chances early on. Finn Williamson swivelled in the box and shot narrowly wide, before Jackson Cook's determined run finished with an effort that went agonisingly just past the post. Ted Palmer, playing the lone-man upfront in the absence of top scorer Dougie Gait, also went close.
But the deadlock was broken on 11 minutes when a high, looping free-kick from defensive stalwart Ben Neary found the far top corner. 1-0. Within a minute, the score had doubled when some neat interplay down the right flank between Riley Sinclair and Cook was rewarded by a sharp, first-time finish by Palmer. 2-0.
The chances kept coming and it was three goals inside four minutes when Isaac Hale's cross was diverted into his own net by one of the Berrow defenders. 3-0.
As Winscombe proved earlier this season, three-goal leads are no guarantee of all three points, so relief came when the fourth came shortly before half-time. Again, it was intuitive interplay between Sinclair and Cook that set up Dylan Coates, who fired home with a low, deflected shot. 4-0.
There was still time to create more goalscoring opportunities before the interval. Coates's deft chip went narrowly over the bar, before the lively Cook put a free-kick just over the top.
The tide kept crashing on the Berrow shore after the break. Williamson turned and shot into the side netting, while Palmer had a second goal disallowed for offside.
At the other end, Oli Lovell was called into action to make a spectacular double save that Gordon Banks would have been proud of (and that the referee commended him on after the final whistle).
Winscombe's fifth came from a familiar source, with another trademark Hale dribble supplying Palmer to net his second of the game. 5-0.
However, despite the lengthy unbeaten run that has been the pinnacle of veteran manager Keith Sinclair's long tenure as boss, that first clean sheet of the season still remains elusive. Awarded an indirect free kick in the Winscombe box, a low Berrow shot found the net at the near post. 1-5.
However, the league leaders restored their five-goal lead when Williamson met Cook's precise corner with a stooping header. 6-1.
This comfortable and assured display – with several players (including Williamson, Merrifield and a returning Max Hughes) putting in their best performances of the season – sets the team up for the final match of the league campaign. A victory over St George in a fortnight's time will secure the silverware for the boys in blue. Before then, it's the next roudn of the cup against Backwell – and a chance to dream of an unprecedented Double.