Olly Dyson gives young Under-23 side the win
- Town Under-23s win at Curzon Ashton
- Striker Olly Dyson grabs the only goal
- Nine scholars play minutes for Frankie Bunn
Frankie Bunn’s Town U23 side came out on the winning side against Curzon Ashton in its first pre-season game of 2017/18.
Young scholar Olly Dyson’s 50th minute goal settled the game in Town’s favour; an excellent test given the youthful nature of Bunn’s line-up.
In total, nine players still eligible for the Under-18s took on the senior side from the Vanarama National North and held up to the physical challenge, with a particularly young defensive line-up keeping a well-deserved clean sheet.
The game took a slow start with Town comfortably moving the ball across the backline in possession, but Curzon were to have the first chance of the game on the 14th minute as a one-two from a short corner was crossed towards the back post to Oliver Thornley. His chance was saved excellently by Luke Coddington in the Town goal.
Town’s first chance of the game fell to Dyson on the 16th minute as he showed great strength in the box, holding off a Curzon defender before firing his shot across the face of goal. He was denied by a great save from Mason in the Curzon goal.
Jason Davidson – by far the most experienced player in the Town side – was next to go close as Luca Colville popped up on the right flank. Following some great wing play his cross fell to Davidson who put his shot inches over the crossbar.
Curzon fought to get back into the game and nearly took the lead as Jordan Wright flashed his cross across the face of goal, with the ball inches away from finding Scott Bakkor on the stretch. Thankfully for Town, he couldn’t quite reach the ball for an easy tap in.
Former Town Academy player Max Leonard nearly made the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time as his curled free-kick from 25 yards went just wide of the target.
The second half began and five minutes in the Town breakthrough came. Dom Tear found himself in space on the right flank and in turn found Olly Dyson with his cross; Dyson’s initial shot was saved but the ball rebounded back onto him and went in the goal to give Town the advantage.
Dyson could have then doubled the lead as he picked the ball up 30-yards from goal but after skipping between two players, he placed his shot high and wide of the target.
The final notable chance of the game fell to Davidson as he received the ball on the left and with some neat skill skipped between two defenders. Bearing down on goal, his prodded shot was weak and straight at the ‘keeper.
Town Under-23s vs Curzon Ashton (4-2-3-1):
Luke Coddington; Jason Davidson (c), Romoney Crichlow-Noble (Sam Gibson, 81’), Oran Thompson, Deshane Dalling (Ben Jackson, 88’); Isaac Marriott, Saul Milovanovic; Luca Colville (George Danaher, 78’), Dom Tear (Matty Daly, 71’) Denilson Carvalho; Olly Dyson
Unused subs:
Luke Mewitt, Cameron Taylor
