U18 Report: Saints hit six past Leicester

Saints controlled the first half and Will Merry’s strike saw them deservedly 1-0 up at half-time.

Strong attacking play in the second period saw an early header from Jem Hewlett and braces from the excellent Kamari Doyle and Samuel Amo-Ameyaw to really show Saints’ dominance.

With a strong side fielded and players with B team experience on show, Saints started quickly and had the first shot on target when Amo-Ameyaw drove across the edge of the box and forced a comfortable save from Leicester goalkeeper Dillon Addai.

Leicester responded in an open first 10 minutes. A set-piece delivery from the right found Freddie Cook’s run towards the front post, but the defender could only snap a quick effort wide.

Photo by Isabelle Field

A quick move through the middle of the final third then saw Saints find the net. Dom Ballard’s pass put fellow forward Amo-Ameyaw through on goal, and Will Merry turned home the rebound from the subsequent shot. However, the offside flag denied the visitors the opener.

It was Saints who were playing the best football in the first-half. Further chances were created as a result.

Doyle stung the palms of home ‘keeper Addai, and Saints did find the breakthrough they truly deserved in the next attack. With 27 minutes on the clock, Ballard’s mishit fell kindly to Merry, and he dispatched with a firm strike from close-range.

Mikey Harris’ side were then denied a second shortly before half time when Doyle’s header towards the bottom corner was turned around the post, and their good play continued into the early stages of the second period as three quick goals after the break saw them stretch their lead to 4-0.

Doyle’s deep cross from the left curled perfectly onto the head of Jem Hewlett at the back post and the Saints captain nodded into the net.

Just four minutes later, Doyle turned scorer as he added his side’s third of the game.

A strong spell of attacking play was complete with Amo-Ameyaw latched onto Cameron Bragg’s through ball and finished calmly when one-on-one with Leicester goalkeeper Addai.

Leicester did manage to respond quickly and get themselves a goal when Reece Evans turned home Alfie Fisken’s low cross just before the hour mark.

Having seen off the hosts’ best spell of the game with just one goal conceded, though, Saints clicked back into gear in attack to add two more goals.

Amo-Ameyaw was involved in both. First, his driving run towards the box ended with Doyle expertly finishing his through ball into the far corner.

Then he cleverly worked room for himself to stroke a low shot home from the edge of the area and round off a satisfying result.

The three points makes it back to back wins for Mikey Harris' side in all competitions as they pick up their first victory of the league season to move off the foot of the table.

Saints are in action again on Saturday 5th November when they travel to take on Everton in the Premier League Cup, with kick-off at 11am.