Walsall Youth 3
Wrexham Youth 2
Football League Youth Alliance (North West Conference)
Walsall Youth |
3 - 2
|
Wrexham Youth |
 |
Football League Youth Alliance (North West Conference) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
|
Josh Craddock (35) Rorey Curtis Mark Lowe |
Obi Anoruo Tom Matischok |
| Team Managers | |
| Mick Halsall | Steve Cooper |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
1. Joel Skeldon 2. Jake Woolleston 3. Hassan Bacchus 4. Dan Schwarz 5. Tom Schwarz 6. Andrew Bentley 7. Rorey Curtis 8. Sam Adkins 9. William Griggs 10. Josh Craddock 11. Mark Lowe |
Chris Maxwell .1 Jamie Price .2 Johnny Hunt .3 Lee Jones .4 Kai Edwards .5 George Stewart .7 Paul Williams .8 Tom Matischok .8 Mark Head .9 Jordan Kane .10 Luke Carding .11 |
| Bench | |
|
12. Cameron Jones 14. Edward Ryan 15. Alan Wilkes 16. Darryl Westlife 18. Richard Davies |
Obi Anoruo .12 Vinnie Whelan .13 Jack Jones .14 Matty Hurdman .15 Leon Clowes .16 |
| Substitutions | |
| None. |
Matty Hurdman for George Stewart (65) Obi Anoruo for Mark Head (70) Jack Jones for Paul Williams (80) |
| Cautions | |
| None. |
Tom Matischok |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
N. Day (Referee) |
Match Report
The under-18s returned to action after the Christmas and New Year break with a trip to Walsall looking to end a run of four games without a win. But despite a performance that included many positives it was the home side that ran out victors by the odd goal in five.
“It was a disappointing result but I was pleased with the positives that we took from the game,” explained Steve Cooper. “We let ourselves down with some basic defending but otherwise I’m not too disappointed because we played some decent stuff. We just let ourselves down in both boxes!”
Luke Carding had a couple of chances in the first half but the Saddlers’ keeper twice denied him, the second with a very good save to tip over a well-struck half-volley. But it was the home side that led at the interval when Josh Craddock capitalised on some missed tackles in midfield and some slack defending in the 35th minute to finish well to Chris Maxwell’s right
“The message in the dressing room during the break was to keep going as we did in the first half,” added Steve. “And we carried on in the same way in the second half, but despite playing some good football we weren’t creating enough chances.”
A quick counter attack saw Rory Curtis double Walsall’s lead but within 5-10 minutes substitute Obi Anoruo chested the ball down and Tom Matischok superbly volleyed the all into the top corner from 25 yards out.
It looked only a matter of time before an equaliser would arrive but when you’re chasing the game there’s always the chance you can be caught on the break and that’s what duly happened as Mark Lowe restored his side’s two-goal advantage. It was particularly unlucky on Maxwell who’d made two great saves in the build up to the goal.
It was a real kick in the teeth for the lads but to their credit they did pull a goal back with virtually the last kick of the game when a defensive mistake let Anoruo in and the striker, who reacted well when he came on, slotted the ball home. “It was disappointing not to win but I was more disappointed for the lads because they did play some good stuff,” said Steve.
