Breaking News

Saturday 19 August 2017

U18 Premier League Match Report - Chelsea 1 Reading 0

Chelsea 1 Reading 0
Our youngsters made it two wins from two at the start of the new Under-18 Premier League season as Juan Castillo’s early strike proved the difference between the two teams at Cobham this morning (Saturday).
Jody Morris’s side dominated against their counterparts from Reading and looked set for a profitable morning in front of goal when Castillo’s curling effort flew into the top corner in the early exchanges. However, the young Blues were unable to add to their lead despite creating a host of opportunities, with visiting goalkeeper Gabe Rosario a regular source of frustration.
Nevertheless, the defending league champions were rarely troubled at the back as they recorded consecutive clean sheets and made it six points from six at the opening of the 2017/18 campaign.
Morris made one change from last weekend’s 2-0 win away at Aston Villa as Castillo replaced Tariq Uwakwe on the left of our midfield diamond. Captain Conor Gallagher operated deepest of the diamond, with George McEachran most advanced and schoolboy Tino Anjorin alongside Castillo.
The back five were unchanged after contributing to a clean sheet in the Midlands, with Marcel Lavinier, Marc Guehi, Jack Wakely and Jon Panzo lining up from right to left in front of goalkeeper Marcin Bulka. The appearance marked a busy 24 hours for our Polish stopper, who made some important saves the previous evening as our development squad beat Derby County 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Charlie Brown and Martell Taylor-Crossdale formed the partnership up front.
There was a coronation the last time the Royals visited Cobham as our youngsters were crowned the Under-18 Premier League champions in May and it didn’t take long for the celebrations to resume in the sporadic Surrey sunshine on their latest visit. Panzo advanced from left-back and delivered a cross that was only partially cleared to Castillo on the edge of the box. The Dutch midfielder made a sweet connection to his left-footed strike and the ball spun perfectly into the top corner of the net beyond the grasp of keeper Rosario.
The Blues threatened to deflate the game before it had even got going and Brown went close to making it 2-0 as he rounded the keeper but was unable to direct his effort on target from a narrowing angle. Rosario then pulled off an impressive save down low to his left to push McEachran’s powerful strike around the post.
Reading remained committed to playing out from the back but their struggle to play through midfield and into our half caused frequent problems for their defence. Taylor-Crossdale fired across goal but wide from the right of the box before Wakely was required to make a block to stop Thierry Nevers testing Bulka.
Taylor-Crossdale was inches away from opening his account for the season after half-hour but Rosario’s efforts kept the deficit to a single goal once again. The striker was played in down the left by McEachran’s pass but the keeper extended his left foot to flick the ball up and on to the inside of the far post before watching it bounce away to safety.
The visitors’ best opportunity of the half arrived courtesy of a mix-up in the box from the Blues. Joe Wilson crossed from the right and Bulka indicated his intention to claim the delivery with a loud shout. However, the stopper could not hold on to the ball and it fell invitingly for Kosta Sparta, whose low shot was fired straight at Bulka.
McEachran and Taylor-Crossdale continued to combine well and the latter was teed up again down the right, cutting inside on to his left foot and driving his rising strike narrowly over the crossbar. Morris’s men had controlled proceedings but still only had a single goal to show for their efforts at the interval.
They restarted brightly and Guehi was twice thwarted as he shot from close range by blocks from Reading defenders before Roberto Nditi cleared off the line following good work from Lavinier down the right.
Chelsea continued to initiate waves of attacks but the score somehow remained at 1-0 as the busy Rosario saved from Castillo’s bending free-kick and then from Brown, the striker’s curling effort pushed over the top.
Morris introduced Jon Russell into midfield and Tariq Lamptey, the latter’s arrival allowing the manager to switch to a 3-4-3 shape for the final 30 minutes. Reading’s lingering hopes lay in a late onslaught but the fightback never really arrived as Bulka commanded his 18-yard box whenever a high ball was delivered.
Russell was a whisker away from finding that elusive second goal in added time but his attempt spun just wide of the far post. It capped a frustrating day in front of goal for the Blues but Castillo’s top-corner strike was enough to secure the win.

Chelsea (4-diamond-2) Marcin Bulka; Marcel Lavinier (Tariq Lamptey 62), Marc Guehi, Jack Wakely, Jon Panzo; Conor Gallagher (c), Juan Castillo, Tino Anjorin (Jon Russell 55), George McEachran; Charlie Brown (Tushaun Walters 81), Martell Taylor-Crossdale
Unused subs
Jake Askew, Renedi Masampu
Scorer Castillo 7

Reading Gabe Rosario, Joe Wilson (Emmanuel Obamakinawa 88), Andre Burley (c), Roberto Nditi, Marcel Elva-Fountaine, Jack Buchanan (Oli Pendlebury 58), Kosta Sparta, Ethan Coleman, Shamar Moore, Jazz Wallace, Thierry Nevers (Charlie Lawrence 76)
Unused subs
Myles Roberts, Leon Okuboyejo
Referee Paul Harris

Highlights Video
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Designed By VungTauZ.Com