U18 Report: Saints 2-3 Norwich
Southampton Under-18s fell to a narrow defeat at home to Norwich in the Under-18 Premier League on Saturday.
Walter Nutter’s penalty and Wyatt Comley’s solo strike after Rio Mundle’s opener for Norwich put Saints 2-1 ahead at half-time.
However, Reuben Cooper scored shortly after the break to level things up before Mundle’s second goal of the game saw Norwich take the win.
The first chance of the game went to Norwich when Kahlil Steele forced a good save from Saints goalkeeper George Moloney, before Mundle put the rebound well over the crossbar.
Saints then had their first opportunity when a dangerous free kick delivery from Nutter could have gone anywhere, but flicked off a Norwich body and narrowly wide.
However, Mundle was to put Norwich ahead in the 14th minute when he stole possession in the Saints area and squeezed a shot home from a narrow angle.
Saints tried to respond quickly and a splitting pass from Tino Goremusandu put Leo Umeh through into a shooting position, but the winger’s effort was right at Norwich goalkeeper Henry Bullen.
Moloney had to deal with two awkward efforts from Norwich’s Cooper, before Saints managed to equalise on 36 minutes when they were awarded a penalty.
Strong, direct play from Umeh saw him take down in the Norwich box and Nutter dispatched the resulting spot-kick from 12 yards.
Walter Nutter converts his penalty. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)
On the stroke of half-time, Saints then turned the game around when a superb individual goal from Comley completed the turnaround - the number 10 weaved past multiple challenges before firing a shot back across goal and into the far corner of the net.
Both sides would have been looking for a fast start to the second half but it was Norwich who made an impression first when they equalised through Cooper.
The visitors then went close to taking the lead on two occasions when Mundle struck the post and Steele rifled over the bar, but it was the former who soon had his second goal of the contest when he tucked home smartly just before the hour to restore the visitors' lead.
Norwich’s brace scorer could have had a hat-trick when he went through on goal and forced a good one-on-one save from Moloney, whilst Saints struggled to respond again as their attacks come to nothing at the other end.
Late pressure from Andrew Surman’s side saw their opponents pinned back but they were unable to force an equaliser, meaning Norwich took all three points.
Saints are in action again on Saturday 14th February when they travel away to face West Bromwich Albion in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off at The Fitlife Foods Performance Centre set for 11am.
Saints: Moloney, Rodda, Vallance, Day, Goremusandu (Sewell 67') , Nutter, Duffy (Newman 75'), McMullan (c), Hawe (Daniels 67'), Comley (Little 45'), Umeh (Kuzanga 45').
Goals: Nutter (36' pen), Comley (45').
Yellow cards: McMullan.
Norwich: Bullen, Glossop, Oserhiemen, Gwanzura, Rowlan (c), Sinclair-Brown, Cooper (Tree 83'), Wilkes, Corke, Mundle, Steele (Collins 88').
Subs not used: Tkaczuk, Munikwa, Chukwu.
Goals: Mundle (14', 59'), Cooper (49').
Yellow cards: Gwanzura, Wilkes, Tree.
