ASHBY IVANHOE U18s 1-3 LOUGHBOROUGH DYNAMO U18s
LEICESTERSHIRE MIDWEEK FLOODLIT YOUTH CUP FIRST ROUND
WEDNESDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER 2011

Ashby Ivanhoe Under 18s fell at the first hurdle of the County Cup despite a good performance as visitors Loughborough Dynamo Under 18s came from behind to run out 3-1 winners.

The first half had very few chances with Ashby going close to scoring the first goal in the 17th minute when Tom Dolman went on a long run from halfway and after passing the ball into the area the resulting shot was deflected over the bar.

Loughborough had a chance of their own midway through the half when a long range effort forced the keeper into making a good diving save and at half time the match remained goalless despite Ashby playing the better football and deserved to be in front.

Ashby started the second half with the same attacking play from the first half and on 54 minutes they went close again when a ball down the right found Jack Ryder inside the area but his powerful low shot was narrowly wide of the near post.

The visitors had the next chance just a couple of minutes later when they went the closest of either side to taking the lead when a shot from inside the area struck the outside of the post.

Just before the hour mark Ashby got the goal their performance deserved and it was a great finish from striker Tom Nolan who got onto the end of a long ball forward from George Wildgoose and with just the keeper to beat he placed his shot across goal and the ball found the net just inside the far post.

After the goal Loughborough then started to edge themselves back into the match and they levelled the scores in the 66th minute when they broke forward from an Ashby attack and from the right a shot across goal found the far corner.

Seven minutes later and the visitors went in front when a mistake in the centre of the park resulted in a ball forward and from the inside the area the shot found the bottom corner for 2-1.

Ashby responded well to going behind and should have been level fourteen minutes from time when they had two good chances in quick succession with one forcing the keeper into a good save and the other saw a shot go over the bar.

With ten minutes remaining Loughborough extended their lead with a third goal. Firstly a free kick brought out a good save from the Ashby keeper but seconds later from the left wing a cross–shot sailed over the keeper and found the net to end the match in a 3-1 victory and Ashby were unlucky not to have won the match themselves after putting in a really good performance.