No way through for Academy against Borussia Monchengladbach

Romaine Mundle hit the crossbar and we had a host of other attempts at goal, but it just wasn’t to be for our Academy side against Borussia Monchengladbach at the Terborg Tournament in the Netherlands on Sunday morning.

Taking on the German outfit in our final game of the Under-19 competition, we mounted several attacks either side of half-time but were left frustrated in our pursuit of a breakthrough, with our opponents escaping with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal just before the break.

Our cause wasn’t helped after we picked up a couple of injuries during the group stage matches on Friday and Saturday, but we pressed on regardless and went close through Billy Heaps and Yago Santiago in the opening exchanges.

Monchengladbach took the lead on 22 minutes – towards the end of the first period in the 50-minute contest – although goalkeeper Aaron Maguire was unlucky not to have kept the ball out after getting a hand to it.

Still we pushed for a goal with Alfie Dorrington, Jaden Williams, Nile John and substitute George Abbott all having attempts, although our opponents reminded us of their own threats with a shot from distance that was well saved by Maguire as the game entered its latter stages.

With seconds left, we had one final chance to level the scores after winning a free-kick on the edge of the box, but Mundle’s shot crashed off the bar and our campaign ended in disappointing fashion.

The players will now head off on their summer break before reporting back for the start of pre-season training in a few weeks.