U18 Report: Chelsea 3-0 Saints

Chelsea took an early lead through Mathis Eboué, whilst Saints could have been level at half-time after chances for Wyatt Comley and Walter Nutter.

A late penalty save from Oscar Abbotson gave Saints some hope of an equaliser, but Chelsea doubled their lead in stoppage-time through Sol Gordon before Kobe Barbour added a third.

Saints started confidently in possession and had the first shot of the contest when Comley turned neatly on the edge of the Chelsea area but fired wide of the far post.

However, the hosts took the lead on nine minutes when a ball across goal found Eboué, and he scored with a header at the second attempt after seeing his initial effort cleared off the line.

It was almost 2-0 to the hosts shortly after when striker Chizaram Ezenwata sent a fierce strike goalwards from a narrow angle, but Saints goalkeeper Abbotson was equal to it and tipped over.

The response from Saints was good though, and former Chelsea player Nutter nearly found an equaliser when he latched onto a loose ball and saw his shot deflected narrowly wide.

Home number nine Ezenwata went close again before half-time when he smashed a shot against the post, but it stayed at 1-0 to Chelsea at the break.

With the Blues' advantage still at just one goal as the game moved past the hour mark, Saints could have equalised when substitute Lewis Bailey controlled and shot in the area but directed his effort straight at Chelsea’s Hudson Sands in goal.

Two chances then saw Chelsea close to extending their lead as the lively Ezenwata had a free-kick effort fly just wide before Waite forced Abbotson into a save.

It proved difficult for both sides to create chances in the second half though, with no real flow to the game.

Chelsea had an opportunity to wrap up their win late on when a penalty was awarded for a foul in the box on Jashayde Greenwood, but Saints goalkeeper Abbotson kept the deficit to just one goal with an excellent save to deny Ezenwata from 12 yards.

However, two late goals for the home side came in stoppage-time at the end of the game when Gordon squeezed a chance home and Barbour netted with the last attack of the game.

Saints are in action again on Saturday 28th February when they host Brighton and Hove Albion in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off at Staplewood set for 11am

Chelsea: Sands, Ebho (Hall 59'), Richards, Waite (c), Diakite, Isaac Silva, (Isago Silva 90+3'), Barbour, Nicoll-Jazuli, Ezenwata, Grimwade (Gordon 59'), Éboue (Greenwood 81').

Subs: Miernik

Goals: Éboue (9'), Gordon (90+2'), Barbour (90+8').

Yellow cards: Isaac Silva.

Saints: Abbotson, Rodda, Vallance, Day, Sewell, Nutter, Duffy (Goremusandu 45'), McMullan (c), Daniels (Newman 89'), Comley (68'), Umeh Bailey (45').

Subs: Kuzanga.

Yellow cards: Rodda.