Mixed Results on the Academy Front
This weekend was filled with mixed results for the lads in Red. The U-18’s started off the weekend with a rampant display, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Burnley. But, it was a defeat for the U-23s this evening, as they were on the wrong side of a 3-0 result against their Leeds counterparts.
U-18’s Beat Burnley
The U-18s started off bright with an emphatic run by Harvey Blair down the left flank to start the scoring in the 15th minute. The young Reds kept prodding for a second goal, only to get pegged back in first-half stoppage time by an Etoluku equalizer. But the kids would prove to be too much in the second half with a scrappy goal from Oakley Cannonier, followed up by another goal from Isaac Mabaya set up from a left-sided cross from scorer turned provider, Harvey Blair. The match ended on the goal front with a stoppage-time goal from Melkamu Frauendorf. The next match for our Reds currently 3rd in the table is a trip to the league leaders Manchester City on Saturday. Hopefully, this Valentine’s weekend will prove to be sweet for our Reds.
U-23’s Fall to Leeds by 3 Goals
On the flip side of the weekend, the U-23s fell to a 3-0 defeat to their Leeds counterparts. The Reds almost went behind at the first kickoff but held out until the 27th minute, when Leeds went ahead with a scrappy goal from Jack Jenkins off of a rebound from Pitaluga. The Reds held out with only a one-goal deficit. The second half started brighter for the Reds with some pressure from Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck. But it was Billy Koumetio who almost got on the scoring sheet with a fantastic run on goal and shot that ended only going wide of the mark. The game was flipped upside down in the 79th minute as Owen Beck took down Crysencio Summerville in the box, rewarding Leeds a penalty, and Beck his marching orders. The penalty was subsequently scored moments later by Sommerville. The match would be wound up a few minutes later when Leighton Clarkson conceded a penalty from a challenge on Summerville, which was slotted in moments later by Max Jimmy Dean in the 87th minute.
The tenth place Reds look to get back to winning ways against their Blackburn counterparts on the 20th of February, leaving them ample time to get back to winning ways!
