The Youth team have travelled to Hull and Chesterfield in the past four days
Hull City U18’s ‘v’ Burton Albion U18’s
Final score 3 - 2
Bishop Burton College
Sat 15 Sept 14
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The Youth Team made the long journey to Bishop Burton College, Hull for their fourth North East Youth Alliance fixture against Premiership club Hull City.
The young Brewers started on the ‘front foot’ and dominated the early exchanges with Mark Shelton and Sam Austin both hitting the Hull City cross bar within the first 20mins. Hull started to gain a foothold into the game and early on you could see their main point of danger was the movement and pace of the two forward players, but still the young Brewers looked the more likely of the two teams.
In the 28th min Michael Pearson was played through the Hull City defence and calmly beat the goalkeeper to open the scoring. The goal gave Hull the kick start they required and within 2mins they were level, when some poor defending let in the Hull City centre forward who calmly equalised. 3mins later Hull took the lead when a brilliant strike from 25 yards beat the Burton keeper, the goal will be a contender for the Youth Alliance Goal of the month award and it wouldn’t surprise those watching if it wasn’t a contender for Goal of the season.
The score remained 2-1 at half time, with Burton having more possession but not really creating chances and working the Hull City goalkeeper.
The 2nd half started in much the same as the first with Burton dominating possession, but still not creating too many opportunities within the final third.
On 50mins and against the run of play, Hull extended their lead and once again it was from poor defending that allowed the Hull player time and space to score their 3rd goal. Within 3mins Burton had reduced the deficit when Brad Smith powered the loose ball home from a corner.
The game then became slightly ‘scrappy’, Burton were dominating but couldn’t find the equaliser. The young Brewers got in good positions time and time again but the final delivery or final shot on target didn’t test the keeper.
Overall a slightly disappointing result but the display in the middle third of the pitch was very promising, as a group we all know that we need to improve and develop our defensive and attacking display.
Chesterfield U18’s ‘v’ Burton Albion U18’s
Midland Youth Cup 1st Round
Final score 4-2
On Mon evening, two days after our long away trip to Hull City, the young Brewers made the short trip up the M1 play Chesterfield in the 1st round of the Midland Youth Cup.
Again the young Brewers, in front of the 1st team manager Gary Rowett, made the better start and dominated the first half. We created numerous chances and as early as the 9th min took the lead, when Shay Allen met a Chris Richards cross and powered the ball into the net.
As the half progressed and just on half time , the young Brewers keeper made two good stops to keep the score 1-0 to Burton Albion at half time.
The second half began with Chesterfield taking the more direct route to goal and the young Brewers playing the large percentage of the football on display. Eventually the Chesterfield style of play paid off when they scored a scrappy goal to level the scores in the 65th min, the direct style of football continued and in the 72nd min the hosts were awarded a rather dubious penalty, to the surprise of both teams staff and the watching crowd. The penalty was dispatched, but to their credit Burton equalised 4mins later through a terrific Marcus Dinanga effort, which made the score 2-2.
Chesterfield added two more goals, in the 80th and 85th mins, from free kicks dubiously awarded by the official. Both were dispatched into the top left and right hand corners of the goal, both were brilliant strikes and credit should be given to the Chesterfield player for his technique.
The fixture ended in a 4-2 loss, but both Neill Hornby and Mike Whitlow came off the pitch very proud of the players and their performance, both felt that we played football the right way and fully deserved more from the game. As they both left the pitch a Chesterfield supporter, commented on the young Brewers and said how impressed he was with the group and how refreshing it was to see football being played the right way.
Another huge positive from the evening was that Jack Hallahan and Cameron Shaw played in the fixture, both are 15yrs old and members of our U16 Academy group both, if they continue with their development, have bright futures ahead of them.
Our next Youth Alliance fixture is on Sat 27 Sept, when we host Doncaster Rovers at Welbeck DSFC, kick off at 11.00am.
Neill Hornby
Head of Coaching