City youngsters continue incredible winning streak
FA U18 Premier League
25th January 2014
City: O’Brien, Maffeo, Tasende, Oseni, Smith Brown,Bryan, Ceina (Holland), Boadu,Amrose, Intima, Barker
Unused: Albinson (GK),Wassi, Nemane
Goals: Bryan, Celina
City playing their first home Barclay’s U18 premier league game of 2014 were on a run of nine consecutive league victories and eleven game winning streak in all competitions and so another victory would ensure double figures in the league. The lads achieved the required result despite the worst weather conditions I have had the misfortune to be stood on the sidelines and experienced first-hand as the high gusting perhaps gale force wind was joined by the rain and sleet just as the second half kicked off. Goals in each half from Bryan and Celina ensured the deserved three points.
With the big U21s mini-derby on Monday evening and a few injuries to the squad City were only able to field four substitutes so captain Ash Smith-Brown was playing centre half alongside Nathaniel Oseni and it was the versatile young England international that was the rock at the heart of the defence given the difficult conditions.
The first half saw City kicking into the wind but was not affecting them very much as they passed the ball well and had good movement off the ball. Indeed it was that passing that allowed a good move down the right hand side where Pablo Maffeo pulled the ball back into the area but Jorge Intima slightly lent back and spooned his effort just over the bar.
The game saw Sunderland try to push to gain a lead but some good blocks, tackles and saves from City denied that clear opening despite the referee not what you would describe as a homer and showing little consistency in his decision making.
City’s threat down the flanks paid off in the thirtieth minute when Brandon Barker made one of his trade mark runs down the left and his pace as always left the Sunderland defence floundering and he got to the by-line and pulled the ball back and there was Kean Bryan on the edge of the area to strike a ball that had sat up nicely and he smashed it into the top left corner of the goal.
That goal gave City more confidence and they continued to press forward and look to extend their lead but Sunderland had adjusted their shape slightly and were certainly working harder to prevent City getting behind the defence to hold the score to one until half time.
Near the end of the first half we were treated to some nice winter sun in our faces but behind us we could see the dark clouds of death approaching our direction and so we knew the second half would not only see the strong winds of the first half but the added spoiler of rain or worse.
Just one minute before the second half kicked off and the first spots fell on my phone; touchscreens and water do not mix when trying to tweet and so my phone was nestled away in my coat pocket.
What came was the worst weather I have experienced in my 20 odd years of watching football from the sidelines and clearly the referee was only seconds away from suspending play in the second half as the wind gusted up and the rain turned to near hail as it became heavy sleet and the poor lads were not really able to keep their eyes open into the direction of the wind and the ball flying all over the place.
However City had a heroic player in Bersant Celina who picked the ball on the half way line and drove at the Sunderland defence jinking one way and the next leaving them chasing his shadow before he got to the edge of the area and fired into the right hand side of the goal to double City’s lead; cue great and deserved celebrations.
The weather did ease as the half wore on but Sunderland offered now real threat and indeed it was City with Intima who had latched onto a through ball that nearly made it three when he burst through but shot straight at the goalkeeper.
City’s next challenge could well decide who finishes top of the north group as they travel away to Manchester United who do have a couple of games in hand on City but are nearly ten points back but a win for United could make things pretty close. The home game in November saw United claim a pretty much undeserved late equalizer and so if City can gain a few goal cushion that should not be replicated.