Ajax U11s

Saltash Youth 5

Marjons St Marks 2

SALTASH Youth welcomed Marjons St Marks to St Stephens School for their second Ajax encounter of the season, completing the double in the process.

Some bleary Saltash eyes and jaw breaking yawns testified to too many Halloween hours scavenging sweets and fighting witches, probably accounting for the most disjointed performance so far this season,

However, they did take an early lead with another trademark strike from O'Melia and a fine 'poachers' goal from managers' Man of the Match Jacob Ross, smartly following up an O'Melia strike that squirted from the keepers grasp.

Marjons were playing some fine football, but cool defending from Abby Shapland and confident keeping from Oliver Sidey held promise of a clean sheet at the break.

Unfortunately, a carelessly lost ball in midfield, allowed Marjon Man of the Match Cresswell to engineer just enough space to strike past Sidey.

With Jenson Bryan temporarily out of the game, Oscar Clark strode in the game, with immediate impact as he gained a corner, beautifully struck, that saw Ross head agonisingly wide.

Part two was much of the same, Marjons pre match game plan to foil O'Melia was foiled – by O'Melia scoring again and then probably the most pleasing goal of the game after fine work from Ben Goulty won a corner.

Injured in the process, an unfortunate keeper left the field and his replacement, seemingly unaffected by mum's anguish, faced up to what was a superb short corner routine between Man of the Match Matthew Davis and Bryan, which saw Davis curl a beauty into the far corner.

Marjons pushed on again, stretching Saltash, creating two excellent chances, both scrambled clear with a mixture of body on the line keeping, a stunning tackle from Bryan and two excellent blocks from Cameron Fedrick.

The reprieve was short lived though as two swinging tackles, more of a danger to spectators than the ball, gave Cresswell time, and half the field, to strike a short cross which somehow eluded the keeper – a soft goal but just reward.

Having carried an injury for a while, Luke Jones gave way to Finley James whose enthusiasm played a part in Davis grabbing his second of the day.

Marjons were denied a further opportunity by an offside flag