Olly Forest Brace Gives Mill Lane Sharks The Edge

Warriors FC and Mill Lane Sharks U11s met in the first game of the Alex Ryan Stephenson Cup on Sunday and treat the crowd to some fantastic football.

The early exchanges saw both teams eager to spray the ball around on the superb surface at Walkington Broadgates and it was the hosts, Mill Lane, who had the first chance on goal.

A neat pass from Will Baguley found Tommy Jeffery in the box only for the live-wire striker to be bundled over as he took his shot.

From the resulting spot kick, Warriors keeper, Harrison Medhurst dived high to his left to push Ethan Foster’s penalty over the bar. His superb save spurred the Warriors into life with Josh Buckley and Sam Garcia starting to look dangerous with their darting runs and neat interplay.

The stalemate was broken just before the half time whistle when Lane’s Archie Sutton threaded a neat ball through for Olly Forest to latch onto, for him to slot the ball into the bottom corner of the goal.

Both coaches made the changes at half time but the Warriors back line of Callum West, Jay Franklin, Finley Kiel and James Stephenson where making things difficult for Mill Lane with some stern defending and searching balls back into the Mill Lane half.

The Sharks were having to sit deeper to absorb the pressure however they caught their opponents on the break when Will Slator and Huw Tevenan combined to set Elliot Bean away, and when the strikers initial effort was blocked by Medhurst he was quick enough to tap in the rebound to extend his teams lead.

With the clock ticking down the Warriors started to throw everything forwards with Reece Hudson, Oscar Moreton, Ashton Shillings and Kenzie Copnell all testing Mill Lanes Keegan Edwards.

It was Mill Lane who had the final say though when Forest darted past some tiring defenders to score his second goal, and despite Buckley running his blood to water, the Mill Lane defence held firm.

For the Sharks, Elliot Thompson, Will Baguley and Seth Tamlyn had superb games in midfield, and for the Warriors Copnell and Buckley performed in front of an excellent back four.

Mill Lane are looking for players for their U10s and U11s (school years 4,5 & 6) for the forthcoming season. Please contact Matt Jeffery on 07908673111