Colliers Wood United U18s match report
Kingstonian's perfect record in the West Division ended at the Wibbandune Sports Ground as league leaders Colliers Wood United proved that they are top of the tree for good reason.
After nine victories out of nine, K's will have been confident of victory, but so would the hosts who had won eleven and drawn one of their thirteen games in the CCL West this campaign.
After a cagey start from both teams, K's had the first major chance when a fine floated free kick from Freddie Bailey found Lewis Gould, who header just wide in the 9th minute. However, Colliers Wood United converted their first big chance in the 15th minute when an excellent corner from the Woods' left went over everyone in the six yard area, barring the man running in at the back post who headed home. An excellent goal for Colliers Wood though K's could moan at themselves for not dealing with the corner.
It took Kingstonian a long time to get over the shock of losing the opening goal, but they began to enjoy more possession from the half hour mark onwards, though, in a sign of things to come, they found the Colliers Wood defence to be very difficult to break down. K's did manage a nice move in the 35th minute when Freddie Bailey, Deniz Ozer and Iker Nogiera Leon combined to carve out a chance but Iker's shot was well saved.
K's started the second half quickly and pressed for an early equaliser, nearly getting through when Freddie Bailey and Iker Noguera Leon teamed up again but this time Iker's shot went just wide. That was the start of an almost constant siege on the eighteen yard box of the hosts although Colliers Wood looked dangerous on the break throughout. Kingstonian did create a large number of half chances but Colliers Wood's defence was stout and well organised, with their goalkeeper making fine saves when the defence was breached, including one outstanding stop in the 69th minute from an Adelino Sampaio shot.
Try as they might, and they tried very hard indeed, Kingstonian could not break the door open, despite knocking at it frequently and strongly. What they encountered was a Colliers Wood United team that was willing to put their bodies on the line and defended like madmen, blocking practically everything that moved. K's did find different and unusual ways of not scoring but truth be told the boys in blue and black stripes did not deserve to concede, and after nearly ten minutes of added time, their victory was confirmed.
There are plenty of fixtures being added and changed between now and the end of the season as we try to squeeze both the Isthmian and CCL campaigns as soon as is feasible - next week the lads play away to South Park on Monday night in the Isthmian Youth League, and then visit Corinthian-Casuals on Thursday night at King George's Field in the Combined Counties League West Division, both games against teams in the upper echelons of their divisions, both games should be of a similar excellent quality as this match.
K's are still in three cup competitions - in the Surrey U18s Midweek Cup we are away to Westfield on 3rd April, whilst in the Grant McLellan Cup we are at home to Balham at Chertsey Town FC on 29th March. Both games are quarter-finals. We are also in the quarter-finals of the Combined Counties League Youth Cup and will visit the winners of this Thursday's game between Colliers Wood United (West) and Metropolitan Police.
