PL2 Report: Saints 5-2 City

N’Lundulu’s first came after just six minutes, played through by Nathan Tella and making no mistake with a powerful finish across goal.

His second followed just four minutes later, finding himself in a similar position the forward opened up his body and fired home.

Dave Horseman’s side added a third nine minutes into the second half, with Jake Vokins connecting with a header to a locked-on Yan Valery cross.

The fourth came just past the hour mark; Tella with a moment of brilliance to set up Will Ferry with a back-heel who made no mistake.

Saints made it five 13 minutes after City’s consolation, N’Lundulu completiting his hat-trick on the end of a Vokins cross.

Saints fielded a side with plenty of youth level experience against a Man City side fresh off of winning the FA Youth Cup on Monday.

Kingsley Latham made his first appearance of the season between the sticks, with Vokins and Valery on either flank and Tella supporting N’Lundulu up top.

Saints started the game with real intent, giving City little to no time on the ball.

After six minutes they got their reward; N’Lundulu marking his return to the side with a clinical finish after being set through by Tella with an inch-perfect ball.

Saints nearly had a second just three minutes later with Tella looking to turn goalscorer from provider but forcing a good save from keeper Cieran Slicker.

Before the game had even met the 11th minuter it was 2-0 to the hosts, as N’Lundulu doubled his and Saints’ tally with a close-range finish.

Tella continued to torment the City midfield; exploiting the game in midfield and surging forward before forcing Slicker into another save low to his right.

As was to be expected the visitors saw more of the ball as the half wore on.

James McAtee whipped in a free kick after 33 minutes, which Alpha Dionkou met at the back post but couldn’t turn home under pressure.

The game evened out in terms of possession, as City searched for a lifeline ahead of the break.

Latham was called into action five minutes from the break to deny a long-range strike from Liam Delap.

The Saints keeper was at hand once more in first-half additional time, getting down low to stop a quick City counter as Delap slid in at the back post.

Saints started the second half just as they did the first, pressing City from the off and forcing the visitors back.
They got their reward in the 54th minute; Valery surging down the left flank and producing a perfect cross for the onrushing Vokins at the back post, who made no mistake with a bullet header.

The pressure did not stop there, Will Ferry looking to chip an out-of-position Slicker and only just missing the target from range.

Ferry then looked to turn to provider on the hour mark, chipping a ball into N’Lundulu who forced Slicker into another fine save.

Next came a moment of pure magic from the talented Tella, who surged forward with the ball from midfield and played through Ferry with a back-heel.

Ferry then skipped past his man and made no mistake with his right foot.

City responded almost instantly; Rogers finding space in the box and firing past Latham catching many at Staplewood by surprise.

The Citizens almost got a quick-fire second through Delap who rounded Latham, but for a vital, last ditch Vokins challenge to push it behind.

The visitors enjoyed their best spell of the game at 4-1 down, causing Saints some problems for the first time in the afternoon.

But the result was put beyond all doubt in the 77th minute, with N’Lundulu completing his hat-trick.

Kayne Ramsay did superbly well to turn away from danger in defence and find a searching through ball to Vokins who had space down the left wing.

After a direct run the full-back found an unmarked N’Lundulu at the far post, who made no mistake with his second touch from close range.

City managed to add a late consolation with a minute of normal time to go, Rogers with his second of the game from close range.

But there was little panic from the hosts, who for the most part had been totally dominant of their Youth Cup winning visitors on Saturday afternoon.

Watched on by first team manager Hasenhüttl and his staff, the players certainly lived up to the occasion.

Next up for Saints is the visit to MK Dons in the Papa Johns Trophy on Wednesday night.

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