U18 Report: Saints 1-1 Leicester

Saints took an early lead through Aston Daley in the fourth minute and had chances to go further ahead after a dominant first half display.

However, Leicester grabbed an equaliser when Kaleb Dyke’s deflected strike flew in and they took a share of the spoils back to the Midlands.

It didn’t take long for Saints to settle into the game and they duly took the lead with just four minutes played.

Daley spread play out to Princewill Ehibhatiomhan on the left and, after a weaving run that took him into the penalty area, he produced a dinked cross that saw Jay Robinson denied with a close-range header.

However, Daley, who had started the move, was on hand to place home the rebound to open the scoring.

Aston Daley celebrates his goal with teammates. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)

The good start saw Saints in confident mood and Will Merry was next to have an attempt on goal, as he fired a left-footed effort over the bar from just outside the box.

Leicester looked for a swift response and Toby Onanaye almost found the far corner with a curled effort from 25 yards out, but the Trialist in goal for Saints got across his line well to turn the ball wide.

It was almost 2-0 to Saints on the 20-minute mark when a neat pass from Daley found Nick Oyekunle, who was denied despite being one-on-one with Leicester goalkeeper Stevie Bausor.

Ben Sheaf also had a chance when he slashed a first time effort over after a corner had fallen to him, but it had been a first half in which Saints had the best play and were well on top.

Into the second period, Calum McFarlane's side continued their control of the play and went within a whisker of doubling their lead on the hour mark.

Substitute Sufianu Sillah Dibaga was put through on goal by a measured ball over the top from Jayden Moore and unselfishly squashed across goal, but the ball was deflected behind off a Leicester body before Merry could turn home.

However, against the run of play, it was Leicester who found the second goal of the game when they equalised in the closing stages when Dyke saw his strike deflected in.

The visitors then almost nicked a surprise winner when substitute Kirsten Otchere drove towards the area and took aim, seeing his firm strike fly narrowly wide.

Saints are in action again on Saturday 6th April when they travel away to face Aston Villa in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick-off set for 12pm.

Saints: Trialist, Myers, Moore (c), Dobson-Ventura, Sheaf, Williams ( Martin 27), Merry, Daley, Oyekunle, Robinson (Fry 90), Ehibhatiomhan (Sillah Dibaga 64).

Subs not used: Upstell, Okonola-Matthews.

Goals: Daley 4.

Leicester City: Bausor, Dyke, Khela, Donnelly (Lawrence 70), Diallo, McAlinney, Evans, Onanaye, Umolu (Otchere), Page, Omobolaji (Monga 83).

Subs not used: Adedeji, French.

Goals: Dyke 81.

Yellow Cards: Evans, Otchere.