U18 Preview: Saints vs Chelsea

Saints vs Chelsea

U18 Premier League Cup

Staplewood Campus

Saturday 3rd September, 11am BST

Saints take on Chelsea for the second time in two weeks as they play their first game of the 2022/23 U18 Premier League Cup at Staplewood Campus.

With the cup split into a group stage with the top team from each of the seven groups plus best runner-up advancing to the knockout rounds, Saints will be hoping to start their campaign with a win.

Having won the Southern section of the U18 Premier League last season but not progressing past the group stage of the cup, Mikey Harris will be hoping to advance in this year’s competition as they look to top the group ahead of Derby County, Everton and this weekend’s opponents Chelsea.

A battling performance from Saints saw them secure a point last weekend against the same opposition, despite being reduced to ten men as Alex Iwumene was shown a second yellow not long into the second half.

A goal from Jem Hewlett two minutes into the action opened the scoring, with Brandon Charles doubling the lead in the 66th minute from a well-timed Rylee Wright cross.

With Saints already down to ten men however, the London outfit were able to make their chances count.

Louis Flower hit from close-range as a deflected corner dropped to his feet in the 78th minute, before Ato Ampah completed the turnaround with an individual drive and goal as the clock approached 90.