On Sunday 13^th December 2009 Highbury under 10’s (A) played at home against Devizes Town Youth (A). A fixture that has been cancelled twice in successive weeks due to the bad weather – Would it prove to be third time lucky for the Highbury Boy’s?

The young Highbury players took the game to Devizes straight from the off and it wasn’t long before they had their first effort on goal after a great corner kick by Lyndon Parmley was met by Louis Cole, who’s header just clipped the back of the crossbar. Highbury kept on pressing the Devizes defence and chances went begging once again, as has happened throughout the season.  Devizes barely threatened the Highbury Goal and it was a Devizes attack that set up Highbury’s next chance. Adam Clark won the ball in defence and played a quick ball down the left to Thomas McFerran, who then produced a perfect ball into the box for Joe Hardy to run onto and shoot forcing a great save from the Devizes Goalie.

It was Adam Clark again stopping Devizes from having a shot on goal with another well timed tackle on the edge of the area, he won the ball and dribbled through the Devizes midfield into the opponents half but was unlucky not to get his pass away as he just over ran the ball.

Highbury continued to dominate the game and more chances went begging through efforts by Thomas McFerran, Joe Hardy and Lyndon Parmley – Some unlucky and some with a bit of composure in front of goal should have put the game beyond Devizes in the first half.

Thomas McFerran again found himself clear down the left and produced the pass of the game, cutting back the ball behind the Devizes defence to pick out Louis Cole who drilled his shot goal bound, only to find his great effort bounce back of the post.

Devizes grew in confidence as the game went on and did start to pressure the Highbury goal only to find Liam Gibbens in fine form whenever they managed to get a shot on target.  It was Liam’s huge kick down field that bounced over the Devizes defence and out for a goal kick, that played a part in Highbury eventually scoring the goal that they deserved after the Devizes keepers poor goal kick landed to Joe Hardy who finished neatly - 1-0 to the home team.  Luke Woods came close with an effort just before the halftime whistle went.

The second half started with Devizes attacking the home defence and found Harry Guerri-Fear standing his ground with some strong well timed tackles and Chay Andrews never giving the away strikers any time on the ball as his close marking forced them into making mistakes.

Lyndon Parmley was then unlucky not to score on two occasions as his long range efforts went just wide of the goal. 

Lyndon again produced a great corner kick into the box which was met by Luke Woods who volleyed in Highbury’s second goal of the game 2-0.

Luke then forced a great save out of the away keeper who put the ball out for a corner.  Again Lyndon produced a fantastic ball into the box which was met with a great header from Louis Cole only to find his effort hit the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Devizes were not ready give up and it was the away team who forced a fantastic one handed save out of Liam Gibbens.

The game was a joy to watch as both teams battled hard to score and it was Louis Coles brilliant strike from a distance that left the Devizes goalie stranded only to find his effort saved by the woodwork for the forth time in the game.

As time was running out Devizes continued to battle hard and they were rewarded for their efforts after the ball was half cleared by the home defence and fell to a Devizes player who unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner to make the score 2-1.

The final whistle went soon after and it was Highbury who progressed into the next round of the cup.

Overall it was a good performance by the home team but the score line should have been more convincing after chances went begging again. However the Highbury players played some fantastic football throughout the game and we have to congratulate them for that and for producing the amount of efforts on goal that they did – One day it will all fall into place I’m sure, writes Kev Clark.