31/01/2022
Sunday 30th January.
On a cold but sunny afternoon Aldeburgh Town Vets welcomed Foxhall United to Kings Field for a last 16 clash in the league cup. With Storm Malik closing in there was a stiff breeze but it didn’t get in the way of a good game of football.
Foxhall United kicked the match off shooting towards the old generator end and early exchanges suggested the two teams were going to be fairly evenly matched. The first half looked to be dominated by the defences but before long opportunities came Aldeburgh’s way. A good chance fell to Jack Carrol but he fired over and into the marshes. However, Carrol did open the scoring halfway through the first half after some impressive play. The ball was worked brilliantly from the back and after a succession of passes Aldeburgh had possession with David Coull deep inside the opposition’s box. Coull brilliantly turned his man, squared it to Carrol who turned down a first time shot and showed great composure to cut back inside and fired home left footed, 1-0 Aldeburgh.
It wasn’t long before it was 2-0, Carrol and Coull combining again which resulted in David Coull calmly lifting the ball over the Foxhall keeper and into the far corner. In the 40th minute Aldeburgh were awarded a controversial corner. The away team’s protests were ignored by the referee and it led to Aldeburgh’s third. Tom Heath took the corner from the right and it was pinged in towards the penalty spot, there it was met by Ollie George who jumped the highest and glanced a header perfectly into the top left hand corner. The despairing defender on the post could do nothing to keep it out. 3-0 to Aldeburgh felt flattering but it was their quality in the final third that was making all the difference. Foxhall United almost pulled a goal back just before halftime with a fine looping header that left a sorry Nick Sillett stranded in the Aldeburgh goal. Luckily for him and his defence the free header sailed over his head and wide of the back post.
HT 3-0.
The second half saw Aldeburgh start how they’d ended the first and they were quick to put the Foxhall defenders under pressure. However it was Foxhall that drew first blood as they desperately tried to keep their cup dreams alive. A sloppy Aldeburgh pass gave away possession and after several failed attempts to win the ball back a Foxhall midfielder managed to get a great shot away from 20 yards which superbly found the bottom corner. 3-1. Aldeburgh hit back almost immediately when Mal Garlick did well to get himself between the ball and a visiting defender, after a clumsy attempt to win the ball Mal hit the deck and a penalty was awarded. Ollie George stepped up and passed it home side footed from the spot, 4-1.
For much of the remaining second half Foxhall had the lion’s share of possession but failed to score. The back three of Winter, Threadkell and Atkins for Aldeburgh had a lot crosses to deal with and Sillett showed safe hands when called upon. It was a resilient display and despite a few ill-disciplined free-kicks being conceded Aldeburgh were hanging onto the three goal lead. The game was all but over when Foxhall United finally had a breakthrough, was it a cross, or was it a shot? We’ll never know but it evaded Nick Sillett and nestled in at the far corner.
There was just enough time for Aldeburgh to restart the game before the final whistle was blown.
Final score Aldeburgh Town Veterans 4, Foxhall United Veterans 2.
Aldeburgh squad: Nick Sillett, Stuart Atkins, Daniel Threadkell, Daniel Winter, Oliver George, Michael Rowe, Daniel Edridge, Malcolm Garlick, Thomas Heath, David Coull, Jack Carrol, Craig Shotter, Mark Rourke.
