Audenshaw
School

Audenshaw 4 – 1 Bolton

The Sixth Form football team reached the quarter finals of the Manchester Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Bolton Academy on Wednesday 23rd November. Following on from their unbeaten start, Audenshaw continued their fantastic form crushing an experienced and talented side, making them look more like complete amateurs. Their performance earned them a glamorous tie at home to St Ambrose College from Altrincham.

The game started at a frantic pace with Audenshaw on the attack; a managerial decision from Jake Coombs to put Bolton under pressure, and the deadlock was finally broken with an excellent strike from Nathan Selby. After making the defence look ragged, he weaved in and out and casually slotted the ball home from just inside the area. This set the stall for the rest of the match which would end up being a professional performance. The lads went 2-0 up after a cynical foul on the impressive Jake Slinger led to a free kick just outside the penalty area. Kyle Clayton, leading by example, stepped up and coolly converted into the bottom corner when the keeper should really have done better. The team should have extended their lead as half time approached but close misses from Joe Leggat and Ben Pollit could really have cost the team on another day. The game inevitably fizzled out towards the end of the first half to leave the score at 2-0 to Audenshaw.

After a number of changes from the unbeaten start to the campaign from first team coach Jake Coombs, the players emerged for the second half with the intention of extending their lead. After yet another cynical foul, Daniel Carabine ceased the opportunity with a sensational strike from 30 yards, finding the top right corner leaving the keeper rooted to the spot. Yet again, they seized the initiative and extended their lead further with a somewhat lucky goal from the disappointing Karl Higham which went through the replacement keepers’ hands. However, a lapse in concentration led to a glimmer of hope for the opposition after a mix up in the back line led to a mistake from the usually inform Max Charlottes. The final whistle went and into the next round the team goes with the hope of going all the way for the first time in several years; whilst also sitting 2nd in the league behind Curzon Ashton who they play last game of the season in a mouth watering clash. After much deliberation the man of the match was awarded to the ever reliable Daniel Gulla.