Midweek Youth Bubble-Burst

Thurrock 4 St Albans City Midweek Youth 1 (FA Youth Cup 1st Qualifying Round)

The young Saints' dreams of FA Youth Cup glory were deflated on Wednesday 21 September as they went out to Thurrock FC in the first qualifying round.

It was always going to be a tall order against an established academy team containing 3 players who currently train with the first team and 6 reserve team players, who only last season beat Leyton Orient before going out to Southampton 2-0 at St Mary's, but for the first 35 minutes it was the St Albans' youngsters who technically looked the more accomplished side. In this period St Albans held on to the ball well, harrying their older opponents and opened the scoring after winning a corner in the 20th minute. This was swung over by James Shaw to Joe Zazzera whose first tme shot was half-blocked into the path of Tremayne Charles and dispatched for his 4th goal in 3 games. It should have been 2-0 on the 35th minute when a second corner fell to Josh Davies in the 6 yard box but his hurried shot went past the post. As often happens from a potential 2-0 lead, Thurrock then ploughed upfield and their only shot in the first half gave them the equaliser to go in level at the break 1-1.

In the second half Thurrock immediately made two changes and proceeded to win the midfield battle. They took a 2-1 lead in the 50th minute as their striker found space in midfield and lashed an unstoppable shot in the top corner from 25 yards. Thurrock's tails were now up and despite some hard tackling and runs from the back, City showed found little opportunity in front of goal. A 2-1 scoreline would probably have been fair but Thurrock made it 3-1 with 3 minutes to go from a near post corner and added insult to injury with a 4th on the stroke of full-time from a free-kick.

Overall the team showed that all is not doom and gloom with a good first half performance, but in the second half they must learn how to close a match out and that will only come playing with and against more experienced players. The team next face Windsor FC at Clarence Park, on Wednesday 28 September, 7.45pm ko in the Allied Counties League.

Team: Freddie O'Connell; Joe Zazzera; Laurence Wroe, Josh Davies, Myles Scott; Harry Carr, James Shaw (Jamie Denyer 72), Matt Taylor; Elliot Bailey (Jamalle Parke-Jude 53), Tremayne Charles, Gio Lee-Baptiste (Marino Savva 50).

Subs not used; Will Conway, Cieran Yapp.

Goal: Tremayne Charles (20)

Booked: Myles Scott (69), Freddie O'Connell (70), Tremayne Charles (88).

HT: 1-1

FT: 4-1

Youth hit Hanwell for Six!

St Albans City's U18 Midweek Youth team started their Allied Counties adventure with an impressive 6-0 league victory away at Hanwell Town, watched by first team Manager David Howell.

After last week's 9-0 and 8-2 warm-up wins against Ardley Town and Oaklands College, the young Saints travelled to Hanwell in good spirts. From the kick-off they took the game to the home team and once the lads had got used to the rather long grass, increasing amounts of pressure were applied all around the park. This paid off quickly and in the 14th minute fullback Joe Zazzera put the ball over the top of Hanwell's high-line defence and Matt Taylor burst through from midfield to lift the ball over the advancing keeper for the opener. Tremayne Charles then went close with an overhead kick and Elliot Bailey shot over the bar from a pinpoint Marino Savva cross from the left, before the second goal was added in the 22nd minute. City won a free-kick 10 yards into Hanwell's half and Zazzera's low free-kick was flicked on and controlled by Bailey whose low shot beat the keeper from 15 yards. With City now having almost total control and Hanwell left chasing shadows, the third goal was added by centreback Laurence Wroe in the 31st minute. Arriving late and unmarked at a corner, he took the ball down coolly and slid it left-footed past the keeper. The first half scoring was completed by Elliot Bailey in the 42nd minute, finishing off an impressive passage of 'keep-ball' in midfield by racing in on goal and rounding the keeper.

So 4-0 at half time, and after weathering some early pressure at the restart - keeper Freddie O'Connell came out quickly to thwart the Hanwell striker, James Shaw in midfield sprayed a 40 yard ball to sub Gio Baptiste whose inch perfect cross into the box met was expertly finished by Charles on the 50th minute. Charles' completed the team's goalfest in the 53rd minute when he outjumped the defence to head home into the corner of the goal. With the job complete and rain making the pitch greasy the Saints main role was to keep a cleansheet. They did admirably with Myles Scott and Josh Davies in defence and Harry carr in midfield cutting out any throughballs, whilst at the other end Cieran Yapp and Jamale Parke-Jude were unlucky to see shots go just wide of the target.

Overall a very impressive start from an exciting team. The management team of Graham Golds and James Gray were pleased with the control of the match, especially in the first half, which saw the young Saints off to a flying start.

The Midweek youth's next match is at Clarence Park on Wednesday 14 September, 7.45pm ko, vs Uxbridge FC.

Team: Freddie O'Connell; Joe Zazzera, Laurence Wroe, Josh Davies, Myles Scott; Matt Taylor, James Shaw (Jamalle Parke-Jude 50), Harry Carr; Marino Hadji-Savva (Gio Lee-Baptiste 31), Tremayne Charles, Elliot Bailey, capt. (Cieran Yapp 70).

Sub Not Used: Will Conway (gk).

Goals: Taylor (14), Bailey (22, 42), Wroe (31), Charles (50,53).

Booked: Taylor (74), Wroe (76).

HT 0-4

FT 0-6.