Cambridge United's under-18s progressed to the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup with last night's win at Dereham Town.
The goals were scored by Blaine Hudson, Luke Berry, Jack Eades and Joe Bennett. Hudson volleyed the opener following a corner three minutes before half-time, Berry made it 2-0 ten minutes after half-time, and Eades and substitute Bennett, who replaced Owen Kessack in the 70th minute, scored on 80 and 88 to complete the scoring.
But the scoreline does not tell the whole story, as United's Director of Youth Football Jez George explains.
"It was a difficult game - we started really well and totally dominated for the first 15-20 minutes, but we couldn't score. The first goal is always crucial in these games and as the half went on they started to get into it, and although we finally got the first goal just before half-time we certainly didn't have it all our own way in the first half.
"We started the second half well and scored with a well-worked near post corner and a flick-on about ten minutes into the half, and I think everyone in the ground though that was it. But in fairness to Dereham they changed from 4-5-1 to put two up front and they caused us some problems for 20 minutes.
"They passed the ball well and played some decent football, and at the moment we're a little bit short in a few positions. We pushed Jordan Johnson up front but he's not a natural striker and we had some fitness issues too; Luke Allen has been injured and he played his first 90 minutes at centre midfield because we don't really have any cover for that position in this age group.
"Owen Kessack and Jack Bailey have been out for a little while too, and we looked a bit stretched and we didn't have that many options in central midfield and up front to change things. The score had a bit of a gloss put on it with two late goals - Jack Eades finished well from a Jack Bailey cross and then Joe Bennett scored right at the end from another near post corner - but three of the four goals were from set plays and for a lot of the second half you could argue that Dereham were the better side so it was a good win but there's plenty of work to do in terms of the performance."
The next FA Youth Cup fixture is a 3rd (and last) Qualifying Round match away to Arlesey Town or Rothwell Town, who play this evening. The tie will take place in the week commencing 19th October.
Team: David Cain, Rogan McGeorge, James Brighton, Alex Bevan, Blaine Hudson (c), Luke Allen, Jack Eades, Luke Berry, Jack Bailey, Jordan Johnson, Owen Kessack (Joe Bennett 70').
Subs not used: Josh England, Sam Peverall, Jonathan Thorpe.
[FA Youth Cup fixtures] [CRC fixtures]
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