Under-18s put four past Birmingham

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Four second-half goals gave our Under-18s a 4-0 home win over Birmingham City on Saturday lunchtime.

Following a frustrating first period, Oliver Boast got us off the mark with a superb header three minutes after the restart and we pushed on to win comfortably from there, Under-16s midfielder Toju Wellspring opening his account at this level before Ronny Moncur’s first goal of the season and a late penalty from debutant Phoenix Offiah – one of four Under-16s players on the pitch by the end of the game – rounded off a good day’s work.

Back in the Under-18 Premier League after a couple of seasons away, the visitors struggled to test Dylan Thompson between the sticks too much, although the goalkeeper did make a superb save one-v-one from Kian McCusker just beyond the hour mark to preserve our first home clean sheet of the season at this level.

Captain Miracle Adewole twice tested Birmingham goalkeeper Szymon Terenowicz in the early going before the latter also denied Wellspring following a good dribble and shot. Louie Rea’s downward header with half-an-hour gone was easy for Thompson in the visitors’ only real opening of the first period, while Ezra Agyekum hit the side netting and Wellspring saw another shot turned away by Terenowicz as we continued to search for a breakthrough.

Having gone in goalless at the interval, we began the second period well and duly opened the scoring on 48 minutes, Boast sending a flying header from Armend Muslika’s excellent right-sided cross into the top corner of the net. Five minutes later, it was 2-0 as Leon Myrtaj’s corner was met by Wellspring, whose goalbound header went in via the fingertips of Terenowicz and the goalpost – just reward for the young central midfielder after an impressive start to the campaign with the Under-18s.

Rea squandered a good chance for the Blues when he arrived onto Nikolai Degtiarev’s cross at the back post but hooked his effort over the bar before McCusker robbed Under-16s defender Solomon Olajide and went through on goal, only to be denied by an excellent save from Thompson.

That was about as good as it got for the visitors, though, and we extended our lead mid-way through the second half with Oscar Sandiford playing the ball down the right for substitute Moncur, who took a touch before drilling inside the near post. Substitute Offiah then marked his Under-18s bow with an emphatic strike from the penalty spot two minutes from time, having himself been dragged down in the box by Salif Bamba.

‘A much-improved second half’

Interim Under-18s Coach Joe Staunton explained how the players took on board the instructions given to them at half-time to push on and win the game.

“It was a much-improved second half,” he reflected. “In the first period, we managed to have a lot of the ball without creating any clear-cut opportunities – most of our opportunities came from crosses – but the boys applied some of the things we spoke about at half-time and we were able to score four good goals in the second half.

“There were four Under-16s players involved today and they’re deserving of their opportunity. We will always push the players who are working hard in training and developing with their performances, and they were rightly given an opportunity today. Toju stepped up and scored a goal and Phoenix scored on his debut as well, so I’m really pleased for all four players who continue to make an impact, whether that’s with the Under-16s or the Under-18s.”