Young Bulls lose final game of season

The final game of the season saw the young bulls put in a teriffic performance but loose by two goals to nil. This was the final game for four of our outstanding second years, Gareth Thomas and Kieran Davis who have played more Alliance games than any other players in the recent history of the youth team.

The two players started their spells at the beginning of the final year at school. Both have been the mainstay of our defence since and easily the season’s most consistent performers as well as making many appearances for the Reserves. Also making a final appearance was skipper Adam Bendall whose influence in midfield will be sorely missed and finally Sam Harrison for whom the end of the season has come too soon with a string of outstanding performances blossoming into the talent many suspected he had.

We kicked off into a strong wind against a side containing many players over six feet tall. Indeed they were in buoyant mood having just won the Welsh Football Association Youth Cup beating local rivals Cardiff City Academy in the final. The same Academy side that lost narrowly to our Reserves last month. The wind dictated that the game was played largely in our half although occasionally Aiden Thomas threatened the home defence ably supported by Chris Evans. Liam Brewer made two outstanding saves in the first period but our defence was eventually breached in the 28th minute. We battled well to finish the half with only one goal conceded.

The second period saw us more on the offensive but unable to produce enough quality ball in the final third. The best chance of the half was a Gareth Thomas free-kick which just missed the far upright. The home side claimed the points in the 70th minute when substitute Mat Wright latched onto a through ball and slipped the ball passed the advancing Brewer. With time running out substitute Jimmy Moreton won the ball from the home keeper but no player was near enough to take advantage of the loose ball.

At the end of the game the coaching staff praised the youngsters for a brave and hard fought performance. Also pleasing was the performance of debutant schoolboys Ross Powell and Joe Loftus. With the season now over we are looking forward to next year with seven of the current side available for at least another term. This result means we finish second from bottom of the league by virtue of an inferior goal difference to Yeovil Town.