Highbury Under 10’s ‘A’ played an away match against Trowbridge Town which they won 1 – 0 but they will still be puzzled how they failed to register double figures in a match in which they created and missed more chances than would be believed.

Highbury started playing quick attractive football in the style that has become their trademark. The ball was shifted quickly and easily from back to front, creating space and exploiting the pace and movement of the midfield / wide players to create chance after chance. The first chance was created when Harry Guerri-Fear passed into Louis Cole who skipped pass two men and fed a through ball to Joe Hardy. Hardy ran clear on goal but dragged his shot well wide. Louis Cole then almost scored a great individual goal after a neat exchange of passes with Thomas McFerran and Joe hardy created him space, he fired a superb shot from distance that was tipped around the post by the home keeper. The corner was delivered perfectly by Lyndon Parmley and Joe Hardy headed wide whilst unmarked in front of goal.

Highbury continued to push and Luke Wood was sent clear down the right flank by Chay Andrews, Woods crossed for Parmley who hit a powerful first time shot that was well saved by the goalkeeper at the expense of a corner. Parmley took the corner himself and found Adam Clark, who was unmarked at the back post, who fired home from close range to open the scoring.

Highbury were creating, and missing chances at will, Woods forced another fine save from the home keeper after being sent clear down the flank by Clark, Woods cut in and fired a powerful shot over the bar. Highbury were nearly punished for their wastefulness when from nowhere a Trowbridge player lobbed a high ball forward that got caught in the wind and looked to be sailing over the stranded Liam Gibbons in goal, thankfully gibbons was quick in repositioning himself and his handling on the line was excellent as he cleanly caught the ball above his head.

The second half continued with Highbury threatening to add to their solitary score, they managed to retain possession well and continued to exploit a good size pitch with a decent playing surface that allowed them to either pass smoothly or dribble and commit defenders. Louis Cole was running with the ball and creating chances for others, one delightful run down the left wing saw him deliver a perfect cross for Joe Hardy who controlled, turned and shot in one movement but again his radar was of kilter and he shot wide. Another chance was created following a great run by Cole who set Parmerly free down the right, Parmerly delivered a perfect cross that Hardy controlled before firing over the bar, Highbury nearly managed a deserved second when Parmley delivered another superb cross which was met by Thomas McFerran at the back post only for him to fire agonisingly over the bar from close range.

Trowbridge created the occasional good opportunity but found Clark, Andrew’s and Guerri-Fear were concentrating well and defending solidly, when they did make progress Gibben’s either saved well or reacted quickly and cleared well.

As the game petered out Highbury had one more glorious opportunity to score when Cole set Luke Wood free, he ran towards goal, cut inside and hammered a shot that the keeper did well to parry, Joe Hardy reacted in a flash and smashed the ball into what appeared to be an empty net only for keeper to somehow spring to his feet and clutch the ball in his midrift.

This was an excellent performance of top quality football in which Highbury showed just how well they can play and what progress they have made this season, but their lack of composure in front of goal may cost them in other games.