Blues go down in Top of Table clash
Barclays Under 18 League
Saturday 1st March 2014
City: O'Brien, Smith-Brown, Oliver, Bryan, Tasende, Byrne, Celina (Ambrose), Ntcham, Ambrose, Boadu, Barker
Unused: Albinson (GK), Wassi, Holland, Vasi
Goals: Ntcham
City lost their place at the top of the table as Everton came from a goal behind to leap frog them into top spot of the Northern section of the Academy under 18 set up.
A frantic start to the game saw City have the ascendancy in the opening exchanges and they made a great start to the game scoring after just six minutes, Olivier Ntcham capitalised on a mistake on the edge of the box and made no mistake in firing past the Everton Keeper. (Although for some reason we thought it was Ambrose, shows we need to pay attention more thoroughly)
That lead however was to be short lived and Everton equalised three minutes later, a cross from the right was headed down and midfielder, Tom Davies knocked the ball into the back of the net.
City continued to press and almost regained their lead with a wonder strike soon after. A cross from left-back Jose Angelino Tasende appeared to be well cleared by the head of Langton, but City midfielder Jack Byrne unleashed a rasping 25-yard volley which required an athletic diving stop from Griffiths, in the Everton goal to keep the scores level.
It was all square at the break but within seconds of the restart City could have had a second, Ambrose played in Ntcham but the keeper saved the Frenchman’s attempt on goal, with his leg and Boadu could only send the rebound wide of the target
The game became increasingly even as the Everton defence remained strong in thwarting any City attacks and the home side began to grow in confidence and exerted long spells of pressure which finally came to fruition fifteen minutes from time, when they took the lead, substitute Birch curling a sublime left-footed effort into the far corner from 15-yards with his very first touch.
City's under 16 side faired little better, a goal from Danny Barbir levelled the scores in the first half, but a further trio of goals to the home side saw them run out 4-1 winners.
Posted in Academy Match Reports by Gavin Cooper/Andrew Waldon.