PAVING THE WAY FOR SUCCESS
Alfie’s spot on to sink Estonia and ensure a bright future for Lions
IN JUST three days Paul Fairclough produced a stylish England C side that played with precision and confidence to sweep past Estonia Under 23s.
Havant & Waterlooville striker Alfie Pavey slammed home a second half penalty to give the Non-League Three Lions their first win of the season with the scoreline flattering an Estonia side, who were second best throughout.
Months of scouting Non-League’s best young players under the age of 23 paid off as Fairclough and his staff moulded their 16-man squad into an attractive system.
Fairclough picked 12 new faces for the three-day camp which only came together last Monday ahead of Wednesday’s friendly yet the former Hertford Town, Stevenage and Barnet boss was able to quickly implement his ideas.
“We pick players who have technical ability and we want them to go and express themselves,” Fairclough told The NLP. “I’m extremely happy with the performance considering the short time we get with them.
“They were very quiet around the dinner table when they arrived because there was 12 new caps, but by last night they were chatting away with each other and really bonding.
“It was a good team performance, playing the game, in the main, how I want them to play and more importantly the way they want to play.
“There are certain restrictions at club level and I fully understand that, I’ve been there and know what it’s like having to play for three points. Here we can afford to give them a bit of poetic license where they can go and express themselves and I like to think they did that.
“At times it was lovely to watch, I have to say. On a better night we could have scored three of four. We created some great opportunities with some really good football, it just needed the final finish. It’s easy for us to say that though, isn’t it, putting the ball in the net is the hardest part. It was a pleasing evening.”
Non-League’s finest young talent enjoyed two days of training at Barnet’s pristine Hive before heading to Brisbane Road, home of Leyton Orient, for battle.
AFC Fylde’s James Hardy was the star of the show, operating in a flexible midfield, and his shot flew narrowly wide as England began to dominate the game in the early stages.
Pavey, a late replacement for Orient striker Josh Koroma, then fired off target before Estonia’s Kevin Kauber, in a rare foray forward, turned the ball home from an offside position.
A loose pass out of the Estonia defence gave Pavey the chance to
“IT
WAS GOOD THE TYPE OF FOOTBALL WE WERE PLAYING, IT REALLY” SUITS ME
have a blast from 25 yards shortly before half time but his effort rose over. Defensive duo Laurence Maguire and Marvin Ekpiteta, playing at his home ground, were rarely threatened by the visitors’ attack but dealt with any potential threats while captin Ryan Croasdale, also of AFC Flyde, conducted proceedings in midfield. After Hardly curled an effort wide and then forced keeper Richard Aland to tip one over the second half, it seemed only a matter of time until England would deadlock. They were given the chance to from 12 yards when Maguire was hauled down in Vladamir Avilov following a cross from the left. Pavey confidently slammed the penalty into the top right corner and should have then bagged a second goal 60 sec- onds after the restart when Hardy slipped him through, but he blazed over. Impressive Hardy,
inset below, earning his third cap, was denied again by Aland late on but he will hope this performance can lead to more minutes for Fylde, who are chasing promotion in the National League. “The only thing missing was a goal!” he smiled, still proudly decked out in his England kit having taken photos with his family. “It was good the type of football we were playing; it really suits me. “The gaffer tells me to drift into the pockets of space in midfield, that’s where he thinks I can best effect the game and the players found me well tonight. I thought it was a good game overall for the team and me personally, I’m happy.
“I haven’t started in the last four or five weeks which is pretty frustrating but it was good for me to get 90 minutes under my belt and show what I’m capable of.
“It’s been nice to get away and experience a different coaching style, different methods, different players. It’s always an honour to play for your country no matter what level.
“When the national anthem comes on it’s quality. My family were all here watching. Every time I come away with England I really enjoy it, it’s class.”
Had Rasmus Peetson’s header with a minute left found the net for Estonia it would have been the harshest of equalisers on the young Lions, who limited the visitors to just two shots thorughout and not one on target.
Substitute Jon Mellish nearly added a second to secure the victory but once Pavey had struck the result was never really in doubt for Fairclough’s latest impressive group of Non-League stars.