U23 Report: Saints 2-0 Villa

Will Smallbone’s early spot kick was added to by a stunning Tom O’Connor free-kick in the second-half, with Radhi Jaïdi’s side now due to host Newcastle United next week for a place in Division One.

The hosts headed into the contest after signing off the regular season with a resounding 5-1 success against Sunderland on Monday, while Villa drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion knowing they were already guaranteed fifth place.

Drawing upon that momentum, Saints were ahead inside ten minutes from the penalty spot, when Aaron O’Driscoll’s raking pass over the top was taken away from goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo by Tyreke Johnson, who was then upended.

That presented the opportunity for Smallbone to net his second goal in as many games and he duly obliged with a coolly-taken low strike into the bottom corner.

In a first-half of few clear-cut opportunities, O’Connor was next to test Villa’s defensive resolve after Johnson was brought down on the edge of the area, but his left-footed free-kick went inches over.

The momentum was firmly with the hosts. O’Connor was involved again when he combined with Jake Vokins, before stinging the palms of Sinisalo with a powerful left-footed effort.

Just after the half-hour mark, Klarer was next to go close. Smallbone’s in swinging corner was inviting for the Austrian, but he couldn’t direct his header on target.

Villa struggled to establish themselves in an attacking sense, and the second-half began in a similar vein. The advancing Vokins sending an effort flashing across the face of goal after receiving a pass from O’Connor.

N’Lundulu’s powerful run from deep then caused problems, but his effort was blocked behind well by Isaiah Bazeley-Graham on the cover.

At the other end, Jack Rose was called into action for the first time shortly before the hour mark, punching away a free-kick from Indiana Vassilev that set Saints on an incisive counter-attack.

N’Lundulu held the ball up well before finding Smallbone and setting up a two-on-one situation, but after his driving run at Jake Walker and pass to the right, O’Connor couldn’t find the finish.

On 64, Smallbone’s influence on the game almost saw him double his personal tally when he stepped up to force Sinisalo into a smart save with a low free-kick.

But their dominance was soon to pay dividends and their grip on the tie tightened when O’Connor stepped up to curl an unstoppable left-footed free-kick from distance.

Villa made a double switch late on to try and find a way back into the contest. Easah Suliman’s effort after the breakdown of a corner went just wide, before Saints stood tall against increasingly direct play to book their place in the final.

Head to Head Stats

• Possession (%)
  43

  57
• Shots
  15

  7
• Shots on target
  7

  1
• Corners
  6

  4
• Passes Complete
  206

  290