By shepshedpie
Notts County Youth Team vs. Scunthorpe United Youth Team, Saturday 6th August 2016, Highfields
Notts County’s youth team played their first league game of the 2016-17 season at the University of Nottingham pitches at Highfields, Beeston, after a two-year spell at Arnold Town FC. The pitches are certainly an improvement on the ones at Arnold.
The Magpies' first opponents were Scunthorpe United, who finished second last season in the league, so it would surely be a tough test for the young Notts academy players in their opening game.
The kick-off was slightly delayed when the Scunthorpe coach, approaching the ground from the wrong direction, had to let the players off to walk the last part of their journey. He then compounded his problem by touring Nottingham to approach the ground from the right direction, only to scrape the side of the coach against a piece of the fenced entrance to the ground.
The game was competitive right from the start, with both teams determined to impose themselves on their opponents. Notts took the lead after only 16 minutes when skipper Dominic Brownhill got hold of a cross from Nathan Cobain just outside the area.
His shot was blocked, but Dom collected the rebound and fired in a hard shot high and just under the crossbar giving the visiting goalkeeper no chance.
The game continued to be an even affair and it was no surprise when a spell of Scunthorpe pressure resulted in an equaliser on 26 minutes.
Straight after the equaliser, Tamar Clayton-Naute went off on a tricky run beating two defenders only for his shot to crash onto the cross-bar before being cleared away.
Towards the end of the first half Notts had a spell of dominance where Tamar Clayton-Naute and Nathan Cobain both saw decent shots go just the wrong side of the posts.
Half time: Notts County 1-1 Scunthorpe
Notts began the second half well and on 53 minutes they regained the lead. Harry Gibbons went on a good run down the left wing, beat his full-back, then picked his head up and pulled the ball back perfectly for Tamar Clayton-Naute to side-foot home.
An even game ensued with both teams taking their turn to apply pressure but Notts, in a good all round team performance, held on to their lead to start the season with a win over a good Scunthorpe side.
Full time: Notts County 2-1 Scunthorpe United
Team:
1. Joe Searson-Smithard
2. James Anstey
3. George McCartney
4. Dominic Brownhill (c)
5. Ryan Ebanks
6. Jordon Richards
7. Tamar Clayton-Naute
8. Sam Osborne
9. Nathan Cobain
10. Harry Gibbons
11. Alex Howes
Subs:
12. Declan Dunn (on for Alex Howes on 70 mins)
13. Curtis Hall
14. Remaye Campbell (on for Nathan Cobain on 87m)
15. Edwin Towers
16. Louis Robinson (on for Harry Gibbons on 80 mins)
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