U18 Professional Development League 2
Team: Loades, Putman, Adjetey-Brew, Street, Balogun, Tarbotton, Kennedy, Neill, Hassan, Neziri, Coomes
Subs: Jones, Keita-Turay, Radojevic, Sanyaolu, Strachan
What a great day! Of course, everyone was relieved to see the first team record their first home win this season on Saturday.
But prior to that in the morning, the under-18 academy team also recorded their first home win of the season against Charlton Athletic.
Looking at the results this season so far, it doesn’t look good on paper, but a lot of supporters wouldn’t be aware that quite a few of our U18 players have stepped up to play for the Development Squad, giving opportunities for under-16 players to step up to under-18 level and play against boys who are in some cases two years older.
However, that morning we selected what was on paper our strongest X1 in preparation for the forthcoming FA Youth Cup tie vs Swindon Town at Loftus Road on Thursday.
For the first minute to the last we controlled the game at both ends of the pitch with an outstanding performance by the whole team.
In extremely wet and windy conditions, we played some decent football all considering which were hampering our passing game, in that some passes/shots were affected by the stormy conditions.
Time and time again, balls into the box would end up being held up by the vicious winds. But the boys kept to the task at hand, and on 33 minutes took a deserved lead through some great work on the left by winger Jake Coomes.
Found in space wide-left, he advanced into the box and threaded a shot through a defender’s legs, forcing the Charlton keeper into a good save, which saw the ball deflect off a defender into the net.
Slightly fortunate perhaps, but thoroughly deserved, it was our sixth effort on goal.
On 44 minutes we doubled the lead when Rico Kennedy cut in from wide-right and sent a curling left-footed cross to the far-post, where the keeper appeared to let it go, thinking it was going wide, but the ball crept in the bottom corner perhaps wind assisted? Half-time: 2-0.
We continued our dominance into the second-half and on the hour, midfielder Fraser Neill started a move with a ball out-wide and when it was returned to the edge of the box, he smashed it into the bottom right-hand corner.
Even though 3-0 up, Rangers didn’t take their foot off the gas and created many more chances in the last half-hour.
On 80 minutes, our keeper made his first save of the game, and he made his second on 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, we scored our fourth goal on 86 minutes when substitute Philip Sanyaoly wrestled with a defender for a high bouncing ball, and found space to bury his shot into the top-left corner.
It’s been a while for a home win admittedly, but it was great preparation for the game at Loftus Road on Thursday.
The boys will go into the game full of confidence on the back of a great performance against a decent Charlton side.
And having seen what Rayan Kolli achieved on Saturday, they have seen what the future could lead to.
So why not visit Loftus Road on Thursday and support our under-18 academy boys. Tickets are £5/£3, season ticket holders I believe.
Chris Hewitt
