by Richard Early
Date: Tuesday, 20 March 2018
Venue: Jenner Park Stadium, Barry
ENGLAND C defeated Wales C by three goals to two in an action-packed International Challenge Match in South Wales – Mark Jones and Toby Venables struck for the hosts and Fejiri Okenabirhie sealed a hat-trick.
Mark Jones named University of South Wales and Bala Town goalkeeper, Ashley Morris, in the starting line-up – the 32-year-old has been in impressive form this season.
Wales had the game’s first opportunity after seven minutes and Grant Smith produced a stunning double save. After a scuffle in the area, Aeron Edwards’ shot from around ten-yards was parried away by Smith towards Adam Roscrow – the goalkeeper tipped his effort out for a corner. Eliot Evans’ whipped the set-piece towards Cardiff Metropolitan University teammate, Roscrow, who headed agonisingly over the crossbar.
Three minutes later, England broke the deadlock through Okenabirhie. Dan Maguire strode towards the left of the area before directing a through-ball towards the Dagenham & Redbridge forward – he fired into the top right corner from around 20-yards.
Morris was forced to work hard in the space of two minutes to deny the visitors a second. The goalkeeper clutched Robert Ramshaw’s ambitious, curling effort from around 30-yards into his chest after 23 minutes. Then, Cymru’s No.1 acrobatically touched Mitchell Pinnock’s thunderous effort from the edge of the area over the crossbar.
The home side came close to an equaliser twice within four minutes. After 32 minutes, John Owen dispossessed an England defender and passed possession to Aeron Edwards who hammered a left-footed effort from range, just wide of the left post.
Four minutes later and in a similar position, Roscrow attempted a left-footed drive that was deflected just wide of the left upright – Wales demonstrating hunger to level the scoring.
As half-time approached, England had a double opportunity to extend their lead. Pinnock entered the area from the right wing before slotting a pass to James Hardy – his delicate chip struck the crossbar. Okenabirhie sprinted in on the rebound and headed just over Morris’ goal.
After the interval, the action-packed affair continued as both sides had chances to score within the opening three minutes. The hosts came close as Venables delivered a high cross from the right flank towards Owen, who stood just inside the area, level with the back-post. The winger hit a shot towards the near post and Smith did well to produce a strong save.
Down the other end, Morris denied Okenabirhie by closing him down before diving right powerful close-range effort by closing down and diving right to save.
Four minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty after Maguire went down just inside the box. Okenabirhie stepped up and aimed his right-footed effort into the bottom right corner, sealing a brace and giving his country a two-goal lead.
However, Wales brought the goal deficit back to one after 63 minutes through Mark Jones. The substitute had only been on the pitch for three minutes and found himself with possession, 15-yards from goal. Smith sprinted off his goal-line but the striker kept calm to control the ball, before clinically finishing into the bottom left corner to give his team hope.
England regained their original lead after 75 minutes as Okenabirhie secured a hattrick. The 22-year-old stormed forward from central midfield, before producing a lethal strike from around 25-yards that rustled the netting.
Wales were not giving up though and struck home with ten minutes to go. Venables shocked Smith with a thunderous effort from around 15-yards to smash the back of the net – the hosts looked inspired. Three minutes later, Toby Jones blasted an effort from the left flank towards the near post and the goalkeeper threw himself at the ball, pushing it away to safety to keep his side’s lead.
The hosts’ late attempts to seal an equaliser were not successful as England remained resilient and came away victors from the thoroughly entertaining affair.
Wales C: Morris, Edwards, Hugh, Pearson, Rawlinson, Gossett (Cotterill 79’), Evans (Arsan 88’), A. Edwards, Roscrow (M. Jones 60’) Venables, Owen (T. Jones 60’). Subs not used: Lewis, C. Williams, N. Edwards, G. Williams.
England C: Smith (Montgomery 81’), Ling, D. Jones, Horsfall (J. Jones 74’), Staunton, Ramshaw (Adams 62’), Croasdale, Pinnock, Maguire (Gilchrist 77’), Hardy, Okenabirhie (Barratt 81’). Subs not used: Adams.
Be the first to comment