[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Young Farmers continued their brilliant start to the new league season, as they vanquished Street U18 to secure maximum points at The Tannery Ground, writes Richard Lloyd.
Determined to build on their impressive performance against Odd Down U18 last week, the Young Farmers produced a stirring display in the opening 20 minutes of the contest, with Ponsillo leading the front line in devastating fashion.
In the fifth minute, following some patient build-up play, the Street midfielder received the ball on the touchline and attempted to travel inwards, but was robbed of the ball by McCarthy. Using his pace, the skilful McCarthy drove the ball to the edge of the Street penalty box and opted to strike, forcing a fine save from the Street goalkeeper and earning his team a corner.
In the ninth minute, following some exceptional play by Pollinger, electric Number 10, Thomas, sparked into life when he played an extraordinary reverse pass to find Ponsillo, who hammered the ball home to give his team the lead. 1-0 Manor Farm.
Having performed his defensive duties diligently, Andrews started to dictate play on the left-hand side of the pitch and was now injecting some quite staggering pace into attacking phases of play. In the 14th minute, Andrews’ hard work would pay dividends, as he flashed the ball past the Street fullback, before squaring to Cummings, who produced another excellent stop from the Street Number 1.
For the next 20 minutes, Ponsillo was truly spellbinding. To their credit, the Street players did everything they could to stop him during this phase, but were simply unable to withstand his level of play. In the 31st minute, Ponsillo increased his team’s lead, as he outmanoeuvred both Street centre backs to breach their back line, before lofting the ball over the goalkeeper. 2-0.
In the 42nd minute, the Street Number 10 picked up the loose ball from a Manor Farm clearance, and following some skilful play, infiltrated the Young Farmers’ penalty box. Courtier, majestic as ever, was more than equal to this though, and timed the tackle superbly, before initiating the counter attack with a magnificently weighted 35-yard diagonal ball to McCarthy’s feet. McCarthy opted to play in Cummings, who made no mistake, slotting the ball home to extend the lead further. 3-0. Cummings’ first-half performance combined clever play with perseverance and so he thoroughly deserved his goal.
The Young Farmers came out of the blocks quickly at the beginning of the second half too, as Turner turned on the style to play in Andrews and Selwood, before executing another brilliantly weighted through ball to Ponsillo, who secured his hat-trick in the 53rd minute, by drilling the ball past the outstretched Street goalkeeper. 4-0.
Street pushed further players forward in attempt to make inroads into the final third, but the imperious Stenner slammed the door shut, as he, along with Allen and Courtier had done all evening.
The introduction of Selwood and Mead proved effective, with both players combining impeccably. In the 61st minute, Mead, having beaten the Street defender for pace, unselfishly squared to Selwood, who placed the ball past the Street goalkeeper for his second goal in as many games. 5-0.
Selwood, who has been in red hot form, was in the mood for another and was granted the opportunity, when in the 72nd minute, following a one-two with Andrews, rifled the ball into the bottom corner. 6-0.
Street could not be accused of dropping their heads and continued to play with excellent team spirit until the end of the game.
In the 80th minute, following a deflected clearance from Manor Farm, the Street forward must have thought he’d scored when he volleyed the ball towards the top corner from just 8 yards out, but Allen made an astonishing save, which left the players on the pitch and spectators in attendance totally dumbstruck.
STAR MAN: Charlie Pollinger[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]