Wrexham U19 3
Buxton U19 0
National League U19 Alliance (Division H)

Match Report

A 15-minute hat-trick from Mikey Hayman ensured Wrexham maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the National League U19 Youth Alliance, the striker’s three first-half goals proving the difference against a stubborn Buxton side at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium.

With Harry Dean and Cai Evans both away on representative duty and Jacob Milner rested, Head of Youth Dan Nolan opted to bring in Callum Edwards on the right-wing whilst Owen Cushion returned to centre-midfield in place of Alfie Lussey.

Cushion’s continual prompting from the middle of the park provided Wrexham with early impetus and it was from his corner that Reece Oliver’s free header flew just over the bar. Max Hayes and Edwards then combined superbly down the right-flank, the latter beating two defenders before crossing for Harry Ashfield to fire over from close range.

Whilst Buxton managed to weather the early storm, the visitors created few chances of their own as Wrexham dominated possession. The Young Reds patience was finally rewarded after 22 minutes when Hayman outpaced his marker to convert Oliver’s fine pass with a low drive from 15 yards out.

Caleb Hughes almost added a second six minutes later, Bucks’ keeper Thomas Gyte saving well, but the visiting custodian was beaten again on 33 minutes when Hayman’s shot took a slight deflection, the ball looping up and over the despairing outstretched arm of Gyte. The Whiston-born centre-forward soon made it 3-0 with a rasping drive that flew into the top corner of the net.

Edwards and Hayman both hit the woodwork either side of the interval whilst Lussey, on as a substitute for the impressive Oliver, could have had a hat-trick himself but for the efforts of the overworked Gyte.

“It was a really dominant win,” reflected a delighted Dan Nolan after the match. “We moved the ball well for large periods, scored three good goals and could have had a few more. It was great for Mikey to get a hat-trick and overall, it was a really solid team performance.

“We had a couple of the second-year players back and I thought you could just see the level of detail in their passing and in their movement. It demonstrated the qualities they, and the team, have got.”