U18 Report: Saints 1-0 Arsenal
Southampton Under-18s produced a hard-fought 1-0 win over Arsenal in the Under-18 Premier League on Saturday.
After a first half where both sides went close to scoring on multiple occasions, Saints took control after half time and won the game thanks to Thierry Rohart-Brown’s eventual winner in the 51st minute.
Arsenal had the first opening of the game early on when a low ball across the Saints area saw Kyran Thompson denied by a block on the line, with Saints subsequently blocking two more efforts from close range in the same passage of play.
Saints responded by going close themselves when Fabio Sainsbury’s run and cross looked destined to be turned home by Jude Daniels, but the striker couldn’t quite force the ball home.
As the contest moved past its first 15 minutes, Arsenal then went close again when a neat move saw Emerson Nwaneri find space to shoot across goal, but the ball flew wide of the far post.
With both teams searching for the all important opener, Saints forced a good save from visiting goalkeeper Jack Talbot when the ball was laid back to Rohart-Brown on the edge of the area, but his left-footed strike was turned wide.
The first half action continued and, having gone close earlier in the half, Arsenal’s Thompson was unfortunate to see his effort from range cannon off the post and away from goal.
Andrew Surman’s side ended the first period with another good opportunity when Harry Gathercole found space in the Arsenal box to fire across goal but his effort flew the wrong side of the far post.
A strong start to the second half saw Saints finally break the deadlock; Daniels proved unlucky to see his initial shot crash off the crossbar from range, but Rohart-Brown was on hand to control and smash home the rebound from inside the Arsenal area.
Thierry Rohart-Brown was the match-winner at Staplewood. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)
From that moment, Saints continued to control the game for a long spell and looked most likely to add to their advantage, as Arsenal struggled to put attacks together.
Despite being dealt a blow when Korban McMullan was stretchered off on 75 minutes, Saints held on to claim the three points on offer and recorded their seventh league win of the season.
Saints' youngsters are in action again on Saturday 31st January when they travel away to West Ham United in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off at Little Heath Sports Centre set for 11am.
Saints: Moloney, Sainsbury (Rodda 64'), Vallance, Day (Sewell 45'), Goremusandu, Nutter, Duffy, Rohart-Brown, Daniels (Hawe 79'), McMullan (c) (Newman 75'), Gathercole.
Subs not used: Abbotson.
Goals: Rohart-Brown (51').
Arsenal: Talbot, Hamill (c), Mbala (Stachow 60'), Pedro, Onyekachukwu, Murisa, Thompson (Frohock 84'), Hashi (Sesay 68'), Nwaneri, Nduka, Marciniak.
Subs not used: Lupinski, Owusu-Gyasi.
Yellow cards: Onyekachukwu, Pedro.
