Under-18s extend unbeaten run into 2019

Paris Maghoma was on target mid-way through the first half in another impressive win for our Under-18s over Swansea City at Hotspur Way on Saturday.

Our control of the game was much greater than the 1-0 scoreline suggests. After dominating the early possession in our own half, we began creating chances soon after Maghoma’s 23rd-minute opener but, for all J’Neil Bennett’s electric pace down the left flank, Dilan Markanday’s clever attacks at the drop of a shoulder and some fine forward passes from both Maghoma and Harvey White, we couldn’t hit the goals trail as we have done so often in the Under-18 Premier League this term.

The team from South Wales, although not managing a shot on target, were determined in their defending and still posed a threat on the counter with some of their own rapid forwards, but we kept them at arm’s length in relatively straightforward fashion to extend our unbeaten start to the season into the New Year.

Maghoma’s opener was our first meaningful effort at goal and it came after centre-forward Rodel Richards worked his way into the box from the left side before setting the ball up for the midfielder to side-foot past goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd. Having struggled to carve out opportunities against a packed Swansea defence early on, we then began to thrust forward more frequently with Bennett in particular a real outlet down the left wing with some excellent control and speedy runs into the box. Unfortunately, he was denied from the angle by Shepperd – who had also saved one-on-one from Richards just after the goal – in his best opportunity with 11 minutes to go until the interval.

We had the ball in the net two minutes after half-time as Bennett was again denied by Shepperd before Luis Binks lashed in the rebound, only to be thwarted by the off-side flag. Bennett switched flanks for a spell but Swansea were resisting any attacks from the sides and might have found a response when left-back Dennis Cirkin mis-controlled and the ball was worked to substitute Jayden Reid in with a sight of goal, but we quickly closed ranks. Maghoma and Elliot Thorpe put half-chances over the bar while Shepperd saved at his near post from Markanday, but a second goal eluded us.

Coach’s view

Under-18s Coach Matt Wells was pleased to see Maghoma hit the target, but bemoaned our final third play in certain parts of the contest.

“It was a good one for Paris – it’s something we’ve worked on in terms of making it into those areas and improving his goalscoring, so I’m pleased to see him do that but in general I didn’t like the way we attacked in the first half,” he explained. “We were very good on the ball until the final third. Swansea had difficulty in terms of recovering the ball from us but they frustrated us around the edge of their penalty area and I didn’t think we attacked in an intelligent manner during that period.

“We needed to try different movements and recognise where the spaces were and between 45 and 65 minutes we did that, but then we have to look at the quality of the finishing, which was very disappointing today, because truthfully we should have extended our lead at that stage. Despite our dominance, there was a bit too much crisis defending in the last 10 or 15 minutes where the defenders had to make some good last-ditch clearances and we looked a bit tired so I’m disappointed with how we finished the game but when you don’t hit the heights of the way we’ve been performing this season, it’s still nice to win.”