U18 Report: Birmingham 2-1 Saints
Southampton Under-18s were defeated 2-1 by Birmingham City in the Under-18s Premier League on Saturday.
Two quickfire Birmingham goals from Cobi Maddox and Nikolai Degtiarev in the first half gave the home side a 2-0 lead.
Saints hit back on the stroke of half time through a Jack Quirk own goal, but were unable to find an equaliser in the second half.
Birmingham hit their stride early on and Quirk hit the crossbar with a deflected free kick before a penalty for handball gave Kian McCusker a chance to break the deadlock, but the striker put his spot-kick wide.
Saints started to settle into the contest though and began to enjoy some good spells of possession and pressure in the Birmingham half.
However, the hosts did break the deadlock shortly before the half hour mark when Maddox was on hand to turn home after Michael Campbell’s shot was saved.
One quickly became two for the hosts when Degtiarev was quickest to a loose ball in the Saints area, and swivelled to fire home a low shot into the corner of the net.
That was how the score stayed until just before the half time interval, when Saints managed to half the deficit' Korban McMullan was found in space on the break and sent a dangerous ball across goal and, with Saints bodies waiting, Birmingham’s Quirk diverted into his own net.
A good opportunity fell the way of Saints substitute Junior Kuzanga shortly into the second half when he met Thierry Rohart-Brown’s corner at the back post but could only head wide.
The second period proved to be a tight affair with a potential next goal proving crucial. Saints enjoyed some promising attacks and could have levelled things up, whilst Birmingham could have scored a third when Campbell’s shot that grazed the side netting.
As the contest entered its final 10 minutes, Saints could have equalised when Rohart-Brown’s clipped cross found McMullan, but the Saints midfielder hooked wide on the volley.
With neither team really able to control the final stages, it was Birmingham who took the three points on offer.
Saints are in action again on Saturday 24th January when they host Arsenal in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off at Staplewood Training Ground set for 12pm.
Birmingham: Terenowicz, Thompson-Jones (Pearsall 45'), Quirk (c), Brannigan (Campbell 84'), Ranson, Martin-Moore, Degtiarev, Ralph (Elmansuri 71'), Maddox, Campbell, McCusker.
Subs not used: Pearce, McKayle.
Goals: Maddox (25'), Degtiarev (30').
Yellow cards: Brannigan, Degtiarev, Maddox
Saints: Abbotson, Sainsbury, Vallance, Day (Sewell 61'), Goremusandu, Nutter (Rodda 45'), Newman (Kuzanga 52'), Rohart-Brown. Daniels, McMullan, Gathercole.
Subs not used: Clark, Umeh.
Goals: Quirk (OG, 45+3').
Yellow cards: Sainsbury, McMullan
