Sylvans Reserves 0-4 Alderney Nomads
Report by James Falla
Alderney turned back the clock to give one of their most dominant performances for many a year in sweeping aside the challenge of a young but talented Sylvans team on the 3G at KGV.
From the off Alderney were on the front foot, pressing aggressively in a 4-4-2 formation, and rattling the home side, and it was no surprise that the Nomads took the lead inside six minutes. Sylvans’ efforts to play out from the back caused some self-inflicted difficulties and the Nomads were quick to seize on them, and the in-form Andy Lawrence was on hand to score from close range.
On 20 minutes the lead was doubled. Jermaine Parry showed good skill and determination to get to the byline on the left-hand side and his cut back was converted by Bailey Shepherd, coming in off the right wing. Deservedly 2-0 up.
Sylvans came back into the game for the rest of the half and caused a few problems. They had a ‘goal’ ruled out when the referee decided that the striker had kicked the ball out of James Taylor’s hands as he went to gather it. Nomads a little fortunate there?
But 2-0 at the break and all was looking good. The Sylvans keeper had made a fantastic save just before half time from Dante Walker after more good work from Parry and Lawrence.
On the hour it was 3-0. Sylvans failed to clear a dead ball properly and when it was recycled back into the box left-back Dean Carre, who bravely played on through a nasty-looking calf injury sustained in the first half, was at the back post to hook home.
Taylor was called into action on a couple of occasions, making good reaction saves from close range, but Sylvans were largely kept quiet by a back four who were superb on the day.
We continued to have the better chances and Walker got the goal he deserved for an impressive performance up top when debutant Josh Pritchard was set free on the left hand side, his effort was well-saved but Walker followed up to pounce for 4-0.
Man of the match was undoubtedly Jamie Blackham. From the centre of midfield he drove the side forward into the press which was so important in setting the tone of the game, and even into the dying minutes he was making runs beyond the strikers.
A performance which bodes well for a good run in the Mauger Cup competition which starts in the New Year.
Alderney: James Taylor; Sean Maloy, Andy Adamson (captain), John Adamson, Dean Carre; Bailey Shepherd (Sam White), Jamie Blackham, Jermaine Parry, Liam Connor (Josh Pritchard); Dante Walker, Andy Lawrence.
