The Development Team continues their good start to the season with a comprehensive victory over the visitors. The shoreline does not reflect the control the team had on the game and really a victory margin twice that achieved would have been more in line with the chances created.

The team line up had a similar line had a small number of changes from the previous week with Issac Baldwin promoted to the first team following his impressive performance with the Development Team the week before, the unavailability of players because of work commitments and holidays. This provided opportunities for Tom Haigh, George Oakley, Callum Charlton and trialist Joshua Odukomaya in the starting eleven and Callum Murgatroyd, Macaulay Peacock and Liam Holmes on the bench.

From the outset Brighouse dictated the pattern and tempo of the play putting Eccleshill under pressure in all areas of the park. When in possession the home team were a little guilty of rushing their passes and trying to play a more complicated ball than was needed. A number of great crossing opportunities were created but the quality of the delivery was disappointing. Will Tolley should have done better when outpacing the visitors defence only to pull his shot wide and Craig Billington and Haigh both had a number of speculative shots from distance that bothered the crows in the trees rather that the Eccleshill goalkeeper.

The first gaol came following an intelligent quick free kick to Matt Stor who cut back inside and crossed for Odukomaya to cushion a header into the path of Tolley who finished confidently. Brighouse dominated the rest of the half with Jack Cooper producing another assured performance at right back and the ever reliable central defensive partnership of Brad Waddington and Tim Wallace dealing with anything asked of them. Oakley produced a number of accurate and defence splitting balls to create good crossing opportunities and from one Haigh cut inside but somehow managed to blaze over from 4 yards.

The second half began with a similar pattern of play with Billington, Haigh and Oakley controlling the midfield area and the Brighouse forwards pressuring the visiting defence constantly. The Eccleshill goalkeeper however was in good form saving well on a number of occasions and sweeping well to cut out passes that without his awareness would have left the pacy front three of Brighouse with more goal scoring opportunities. Peacock replaced the tiring Odukomaya and Murgatroyd came on for the injured Haigh. Both settled well into the pattern and pace of the play and Peacock was unlucky not to score when a screaming 20 yard shot flashed passed the near post. The second goal came when the newly introduced Holmes cut out a clearance from the goalkeeper and played and intelligent cross into Charlton to finish from close range and seal the victory with 10 minutes to go.

Overall this was a very accomplished performance against a visiting team who never stopped trying to play football. The margin of victory could have been greater but two wins out of two games again represents a great start to the season. Next up for the Development Team is an away trip to Ossett Albion on the 30th August.

Charlie Tolley - BTFC Development Squad