U18 Report: Saints 1-3 Crystal Palace
Southampton Under-18s were defeated 3-1 by Crystal Palace in the Under-18 Premier League on Friday afternoon.
Saints took the lead through Korban McMullan’s deflected first-half effort, but Palace hit back to level in the second half through Charlie Walker-Smith.
David Angibeaud then put Palace ahead before earlier scorer Walker-Smith added his second to confirm victory for the visitors at Staplewood.
The first shot of the game came from Saints striker Luke Hawe when he was played into a shooting position by Max Little and sent a rising effort over the crossbar.
It proved to be a tight opening to the game though as both sides searched for control, with few clear chances.
The first Palace chance of the contest came on the half hour mark when David Angibeaud found space in the Saints box and forced a good block from goalkeeper Dylan Moody.
It was Saints who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes though when the ball was set to Korban McMullan to control and strike, with his effort flying in via a deflection and the crossbar to make it 1-0.
Good opportunities for Luke Hawe and Lewis Bailey could have seen Saints double their lead before half time but the home side’s advantage remained at just a single goal at the break.
Korban McMullan nets for Saints. (Photo: Craig Hobbs)
After the interval, Max Little could have put Saints further ahead when he raced onto a splitting pass through the Palace defence and forced a good save from goalkeeper Lucca Benetton.
However, a corner drew the visitors level when Jacob Fasida’s delivery was turned home at close range by Charlie Walker-Smith.
Dylan Moody then produced a superb save to prevent Kayden Michael Moses from scoring, but striker David Angibeaud took advantage of a rebound from the next attack to put Palace in front for the first time in the afternoon.
Palace were now growing in confidence and netted their third goal from another corner when Charlie Walker-Smith was again on hand to provide the finishing touch to Jacob Fasida’s cross.
A two-goal lead gave Palace a comfortable cushion in the latter stages and they secured their three points by seeing out the game.
Saints are in action again on Tuesday 14th April when they host Chelsea in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off at Staplewood set for 11am.
Saints: Moody, Sainsbury (Wells 86'), Day, Anderson (Vallance 62'), Sewell, Lovatt, Newman (Daniels 62'), McMullan (c), Hawe (Kuzanga 75'), Bailey (Lemon 62'), Little.
Goals: McMullan (32')
Crystal Palace: Benetton, Judd (Michael Moses 56'), Frazer-Williams, Walker-Smith, Somade (Bull 45'), Okoli, Anderson, Fasida (Owoade 87'), Casey (Martin 56'), Danaher, Angibeaud (Bernard 78').
Goals: Walker-Smith (55', 77'), Angibeaud (72')
