Development Squad Pre-Season Match Report - Chelsea 1 Aldershot 2

Chelsea 1 Aldershot 2

A Chelsea XI predominantly comprised of our development squad continued their preparations for the new season with a visit to Aldershot Town this evening (Wednesday).
Goals in each half handed the home side an advantage before Martell Taylor-Crossdale came off the bench to pull one back with a predatory close-range finish. It was ultimately not enough to change the result for the Blues but another pre-season workout and a positive performance against the senior non-league side made it a productive evening in Hampshire.
The first half was littered with battles and tough tackles that were to be expected away at the Shots. In midfield, Gallagher siblings Conor and Jake epitomised the hard-fought nature of the start, during which not looking back in anger could have been an appropriate tag line.
Michael Hector lined up for the Blues as our most experienced player on the field, the Jamaican international marshalling the three-man central defensive unit on his 25th birthday. However, it was his unfortunate intervention that opened the scoring for the hosts after 17 minutes as a low cross from the left was turned inside Jamal Blackman’s near post.
Izzy Brown (pictured top) had the best opportunities for the Blues before the break as his header from a corner flew over before a low strike was blocked well by Cheye Alexander.

The Gallagher brothers battle for sibling bragging rights in midfield.

Pre-season minutes were the main aim of the game for Joe Edwards’s side and four changes were made at the interval. However, the National League side continued to demonstrate why they were playoff contenders last term as they pushed for a second goal. Hector intervened crucially at the front post before Blackman was beaten again before the hour mark by a clever finish from Matt McClure.
The visitors continued to search for a route back into the game and 16-year-old substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi saw his effort blocked after a mazy run forward, while defender Ali Suljic nodded over from a left-sided corner.

Harvey St Clair in action in the second half.

While played at a competitive tempo throughout, the game burst into life with 15 minutes remaining as Taylor-Crossdale turned in Harvey St Clair’s cross to reduce the deficit. The striker was denied by the Shots keeper moments later as he looked to draw the scores level, while George McEachran fired a powerful strike narrowly wide.
The development squad continue their pre-season campaign away at Lewes this Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, earlier today our youth team were 5-0 winners against Southend United at Cobham with Charlie Brown and Taylor-Crossdale among the goals.

Chelsea Jamal Blackman; Joseph Colley (Ali Suljic 61), Michael Hector (c), Marc Guehi (Ethan Ampadu h/t); Cole Dasilva (Charlie Wakefield 71), Conor Gallagher (Ruben Sammut h/t), Luke McCormick (George McEachran h/t), Miro Muheim (Juan Castillo 61); Isaac Christie-Davies (Harvey St Clair h/t), Izzy Brown (Callum Hudson-Odoi 61); Trialist (Martell Taylor-Crossdale 61)
Unused subs Richard Nartey, James Russell