U18 Report: Saints 4-3 Aston Villa
Southampton Under-18s came out on top in a game full of goals to beat Aston Villa in the Under-18s Premier League.
The high-scoring encounter was 1-1 at half-time after strikes from Fabio Sainsbury and Jack McGrath, but then a rapid start to the second half saw the game reach 3-2 early in the second-half after quickfire goals from Jake Vallance and Jude Daniels cancelled out Daniel Adediran’s second for Villa.
Adediran levelled things up again for the visitors by making it a brace for himself just after the hour mark, but Max Little proved to be the match-winner for Saints with his decisive goal on 67 minutes.
The first shot on target of the game came when Lewis Bailey took aim from distance and forced a comfortable save for Villa goalkeeper Theo Houston.
Villa striker Rio Hammond then went close at the other end when he turned a cutback against the near post from close range.
Oscar Abbotson then made a smart stop to deny Oliver Bindley scoring, as Saints' shot-stopper got down to the Villa midfielder’s low side-footed effort to turn away from goal.
A similar chance for Saints striker Daniels made Houston work again as he palmed away a bouncing strike that looked to be sneaking inside the near post.
Andrew Surman’s hosts took the lead on 24 minutes when Sainsbury was first to an attempted clearance in the box and smashed home into the roof of the net via a deflection.
However, Villa responded well and drew level just four minutes later when McGrath fired home after cutting across the edge of the Saints penalty area.
Abbotson was required once more when he made an excellent save ahead of half-time, and George Kift could have put Saints ahead again when his low drive tested the goalkeeper but the teams went in level at 1-1.
Just four minutes into the second-half, Villa moved 2-1 ahead when Adediran stole possession close to the Saints goal and finished into an empty net.
Saints equalised quickly though in a rapid start to the second half, when a set-piece routine saw Korban McMullan whip a deep cross to the back post for Vallance to head home.
Jude Daniels celebrates against Aston Villa. (Photos: Craig Hobbs)
A rapid turnaround was complete just a minute later when a break through the centre of the pitch allowed Little to feed Daniels, and the striker fired into the roof of the net to make it 3-2.
However, the lively spell in the game wasn’t finished there as Adediran soon levelled the game up for Villa again when he rolled home his second of the afternoon.
Saints didn’t let that affect them though, and got back in front on 67 minutes when strong work from substitute Junior Kuzanga saw him cross the ball for Little to calmly stroke home inside the box.
With a potential next goal crucial in the game, Saints pushed to extend their lead and went close to a fifth when Daniels flashed a shot narrowly past the far post, and then headed wide in the next attack.
Saints perhaps knew it was going their way when Villa saw a free-kick excellently saved onto the bar by Abbotson before Tay’veon Smithen put the rebound over when faced with an open goal.
Saints are in action again on Saturday 2nd May when they travel away to face Ipswich Town in the Under-18 Premier League, with kick off at The Ecologic Stadium at Bloomfields set for 11am.
Saints: Abbotson, Sainsbury, Vallance, Martin, Anderson (Kuzanga 61'), Lovatt (Day 68'), Kift (Hawe 45'), McMullan (c), Daniels, Bailey (Sewell 61'), Little (Newman 77').
Goals: Sainsbury (24'), Vallance (57'), Daniels (58'), Little (67').
Yellow cards: Lovatt, Newman, Martin.
Aston Villa: Houston, Atkins, Pinnell, Mdame (Green 61'), Barnard, Boys (c), Kilwa (Blake 61'), Bindley, Hammond (Adedian 45'), Kellyman (Mithen 77'), McGrath.
Subs not used: Oakley.
Goals: McGrath (28'), Adediran (49', 63')
Yellow cards: Barnard.
