On Sunday 8th October Conquest U16 took another step towards defending their Middlesex U16 County Cup with an impressive win against Hendon Youth. They were playing in the second round of the competition at Hendon's impressive 3G facility that allowed the free flowing football Conquest love to play to really come to the fore.
This group are playing a full schedule of academy fixtures this season so there are gaps in between fixtures but you wouldn't know it with the way they have performed when called upon.
They started by taking the game by the scruff of the neck and attempting to asset their authority over the opposition dominating both the ball and the territory, pinning Hendon to their own half. Despite this Hendon remained resolute in defence and irrespective of the pressure they would not fold.
Midway through the first half Conquest were playing the ball out from the back and a wayward pass allowed a Hendon player in on goal, he needed no second invitation and managed to convert the goal well to give them a 1-0 lead against the run of play.
Sub: Jason Fernandes OFF Jide Olaogun ON
This only served to rear up the Conquest players as they now settled into a better groove and began to play with the same intense pressure but far more fluidity. Tshibikubula began to show his power in the middle of the pitch as he consistently managed to force his way through and pepper shots at goal. This was echoed on the left wing by Nozka who was in an imperious attacking mood as he danced his way past a number of defenders on multiple occasions.
Myers, the stand out player of the first half, carefully controlling and dictating play from the middle of the pitch despite his one year age gap. About 10 minutes before the end of the first half he swung in an excellent corner that was met with vicious intent on the full volley by Ogbonna who thundered home the ball in explosive fashion, an undoubted early contender for goal of the season.
Myers was not done in his orchestration of the result as just on the stroke of half time Conquest won an indirect free kick in the box which Myers laid to Nozka who powered it into the back of the net.
HT: Hendon 1-2 Conquest
Sub: Jayde Crotty OFF Eddy Coulibaly ON
The second half began in a similar fashion with having collected their thoughts at half time the Conquest boys now intent on making a statement and their quality felt. Nozka rounded a couple of defenders before finding Myers who finished wonderfully to bring the scoreline nearer what the pressure warranted.
Midway through the second half there were a number of substitutions as the rest of our players from the bench came onto the pitch.
Coulibaly caused immediate trouble down the right as he skipped past a couple of players and set Tivey who, with another impressive finish smashed the ball in off the bar.
FT: Hendon 1-4 Conquest
The scoreline was less emphatic than the first round of the cup but from a coaching perspective this was a far greater challenge and a much more dominant display. Against a defensively sound unit the Conquest side managed to demonstrate great passages of play to consistently break down their opposition. This side has the feel of one that can go on to achieve a lot with potential all over the pitch.
MoTM: Jared Myers, who was outstanding in dictating the game throughout.
Squad:
1. Matthew Attipoe*
2. Seth Botchey*
3. Jason Fernandes*
4. Troy Ferguson*
5. Cadell Fraser-Robinson (C)*
6. Charlie Tivey* (1 goal)
7. Blessing Tshibikubula*
8. Jared Myers* (2 assists, 1 goal)
9. Kacper Nozka* (1 assist, 1 goal)
10. Obinna Ogbonna* (1 goal)
11. Jayde Crotty*
12. Eddy Coulibaly (1 assist)
13. Bilal Saddique
14. Saran Sutharsan
15. Jide Olaogun
*Denotes a player that started the fixture
