Sat 17 Oct 1PM
U18 Premier League
Southampton
8
–
Leicester CIty
2
Bellis [16′] [43′] [56′]
Olaigbe [23′] [77′]
Babic [25′]
Turner [45+1′]
Edwards [52′]
Fitzhugh [66′]
Russ [68′]
Maswanhise (76′)
Referee: Benjamin Duffill
|
Venue: Staplewood Campus
|
Attendance: 0
Southampton’s youngsters claimed a comprehensive 8-2 victory over Leicester City in the Under-18s Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Saints started the match in good form and controlled possession in the opening stages.
The early pressure from the hosts almost produced the first goal of the afternoon too when Jack Turner spun in the penalty area a hooked an effort narrowly wide of the near post.
However, it did not take long for Saints to take a comprehensive lead after their quick start to proceedings.
After a goalmouth scramble that saw Saints duo Matt Carson and Goran Babic denied by visiting goalkeeper Chituru Odunze in the previous attack, Sam Bellis produced a perfect finish across goal to open the scoring via the inside of the post on 16 minutes.
Another probing advance forward then saw Kazeem Olaigbe given space and time to place calmly into the bottom corner just seven minutes later.
A dominant period for Paul Hardyman’s side was fully rewarded when a firm strike from midfielder Goran Babic proved too hot for Odunze to handle and resulted in the ball nestling in the away net again for 3-0.
Sam Bailey was forced off through injury for Saints shortly before half-time as Leon Pambou took his place in the centre of defence, but that did not stop the hosts adding further to their lead before the break.
First, Babic turned provider by driving across the pitch and finding striker Bellis inside the box to finish well again for his second goal of the game.
Jack Turner then got in on the act by turning home from close range after a dangerous low cross from Ramello Mitchell had found its way to his position at the back post.
Despite being 5-0 to the good, Saints continued to push for more goals into the second-half and were rewarded further for their attacking mindset when half-time substitute Diamond Edwards made it six by rolling the ball into the far corner of the net
A seventh then duly arrived just four minutes later when Sam Bellis completed a well-taken hat-trick by wrong-footing goalkeeper Odunze with another confident finish.
There was still time for Leicester to add some respect to the scoreline from their point of view.
Ethan Fitzhugh claimed the Foxes first of the afternoon on 66 minutes when he followed up a loose ball from close-range and then substitute Will Russ fired past Saints shot-stopper Ollie Wright just two minutes later.
Saints soon got momentum moving back in their favour by adding an eighth goal through Kazeem Olaigbe and then had an ideal opportunity for a ninth shortly afterwards.
Matt Carson drove into the box and won a penalty when he was brought down, but Ramello Mitchell saw his spot-kick saved well by Odunze to keep the scoreline at 8-2 when the final whistle was blown.
Saints Under-18s are back in action later this month when they take on Fulham at Staplewood on the 31st October.
Southampton
| 1 |
Olly Wright (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 2 |
Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo
|
| 3 |
Matt Carson
|
| 4 |
Ryan Finnigan
|
| 5 |
Will Tizzard (C)
|
| 6 |
Sam Bailey
|
| 7 |
Ramello Mitchell
|
| 8 |
Goran Babic
|
| 9 |
Sam Bellis
|
| 10 |
Jack Turner
|
| 11 |
Kazeem Olaigbe
|
Substitutes
| 13 |
Gustav Lillenburg |
|---|---|
| 12 |
Leon Pambou |
| 14 |
Diamond Edwards |
| 15 |
Marco Rus |
| 16 |
Jayden Smith |
Leicester CIty
| 1 |
Chituru Odunze (GK) (C)
|
|---|---|
| 2 |
Jasper Kushitnza
|
| 3 |
Brad Grant
|
| 4 |
Dan Obi
|
| 5 |
Freddie Cooke
|
| 6 |
Zach Booth
|
| 7 |
Joe Wormleighton
|
| 8 |
Brandon Cover
|
| 9 |
Kian Pennant
|
| 10 |
Ethan Fitzhugh
|
| 11 |
Terell Pennant
|
Substitutes
| 13 |
Harry French |
|---|---|
| 12 |
Nathan Jamesh |
| 14 |
Tawanda Maswanhise |
| 15 |
Jack Butterfill |
| 16 |
Will Russ |
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