U18 Report: Saints beat Chelsea to go top

By SFC Media time Wed 13 Apr Chelsea vs Saints
Photo by Clive Howes | Luke Pearce
Wed 13 Apr 12PM
U18 Premier League
Chelsea
0
Southampton
3
goal
Pearce [16'] [72'] Ballard [19']
Badley-Morgan Gee Tobin
yellow card
Doyle Hewlett
Venue: Cobham Training Centre | Attendance: 0

Southampton Under-18s returned to the top of the Under-18s Premier League with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Chelsea on Wednesday afternoon.

A brace from Luke Pearce and a first-half penalty from Dom Ballard proved enough for Saints to take another huge three points and climb back to the summit of the table.

Eddie Beach was forced into the first save of the afternoon when he palmed away Malik Mothersille’s drive at the near post after tricky footwork on the left had worked space for the Chelsea winger.

Saints gradually gained some possession of the ball though. Shots from Ballard, Pearce and Kami Doyle produced the first saves of the contest from home goalkeeper Prince Adegoke, but Carl Martin’s side soon raced into a two goal lead.

First, Luke Pearce made the most of a superb pass over the home defence from Diamond Edwards to poke under the advancing Adegoke from close range and earn a 16th minute lead.

Just three minutes later, good pressure in the Chelsea half then saw midfielder Ryan Finnigan advance with the attack and win a penalty, which was calmly dispatched by Dom Ballard.

The partnership of Ballard and Pearce upfront caused some real problems for Chelsea in the early stages and the latter went close to stretching his side’s lead on two occasions – first with a deflected effort that spun just wide and then with a strike that flew narrowly past the far post.

Further chances were created by Saints towards the end of the first period, and Eddie Beach remained alert at the other end to deny Tudor Mendel-Idowu’s header from a corner from halving the lead.

Looking for an immediate response in the second-half, Chelsea wasted two presentable opportunities early on. Malik Mothersille hit the bar after meeting a ball across the six-yard line and then substitute Ato Ampah fired wide having raced onto a pass on the right.

Saints controlled a competitive spell of play from that point before deservedly claiming their third goal with 72 minutes on the clock.

COBHAM, ENGLAND - APRIL 13:    of Chelsea during the a training session on April 13th, 2022 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Clive Howes - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Saints celebrate at Cobham training ground. 

The tireless Pearce created and scored it himself – charging down a pass out of defence from Chelsea, controlling the bouncing ball well and then dispatching with a flick of his right boot once close to goal.

From that point on, Saints saw out the game confidently to confirm another win from a strong and composed performance.

The Under-18s are in action again on Saturday 23rd April when they travel to take on Leicester City away from home, with kick-off at 1pm.

Chelsea

1
Prince Adegoke (GK)
2
Harrison Murray-Campbell
3
Josh Tobin yellow card
4
Luke Badley-Morgan yellow card
5
Alex Kpakpe
replace Ato Ampah (46′)
6
Billy Gee yellow card
7
Edwin Andersson
8
Zain Silcott-Duberry
9
Louis Flower
replace Trialist (73′)
10
Tudor Mendel-Idowu
11
Malik Mothersille
replace Chinoso Chibueze (90′)
12
Ato Ampah
13
Sampi Tlemcani
14
Trialist
15
Kaiden Wilson
16
Chinoso Chibueze

Southampton

1
Eddie Beach (GK)
2
Sonnie Davis
3
Matt Carson
4
Lewis Payne
5
Jem Hewlett
6
Ryan Finnigan
replace Kaya Tshaka (45′)
7
Dom Ballard goal
replace Rylee Wright (31′)
8
Cameron Bragg
9
Luke Pearce goal goal
10
Diamond Edwards
replace Fedel Ross-Lang (73′)
11
Kamari Doyle
12
Fedel Ross-Lang
13
Josh Jeffries
14
Kaya Tshaka
15
Rylee Wright
16
Ryan Chavez-Munoz

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