Under-18s beaten at Palace

A slow start cost our Under-18s on Saturday as they suffered a 3-0 league defeat away at Crystal Palace.

Having conceded twice within the opening six minutes, our youngsters had it all to do in south London as the Eagles flew out of the blocks. By half-time, though, the home side were out of sight as they dispatched a 43^rd-minute penalty to make it 3-0. We continued to battle after the restart but, ultimately, we were unable to find a way back into the game.

On a bitterly cold day at Crystal Palace’s training ground in Beckenham, it was a disappointing opening 10 minutes for us. Within just two minutes of the first whistle we were behind, Jack Wells-Morrison lashing home Adler Nascimento’s cut-back from the edge of the box to give the Eagles the lead. And no more than four minutes later it was 2-0 as Ademola Ola-Adebomi managed to wriggle through the centre of our defence and poke the ball into the roof of the net.

The striker should have then had his second and Palace’s third 60 seconds later but was denied by the strong right hand of goalkeeper Luca Gunter. On nine minutes, it looked like the hosts did have their third as Victor Akinwale glanced in Wells-Morrison’s free-kick, however, the linesman immediately raised his flag, ruling the goal out for offside.

It was a rude awakening for our young side – Stuart Lewis’ starting line-up consisting of just one second-year scholar – but after the difficulties of those early moments, we showed the required character to regroup and began to assert ourselves on the game. From there, we started to enjoy much more of the ball, however, it was the hosts who remained the more dangerous side, once again coming close to registering with Nascimento blazing over the bar from close range on 37 minutes. On their next foray forward, though, they did find their third of the day. Awarded a penalty after Rio Kyerematen was deemed to have fouled Akinwale in the box, the striker dusted himself off before stepping up to convert the spot-kick.

Again though, while a comeback seemed unlikely, we remained spirited and continued to press for a way back into the game after the break. And that pressure began to tell as, on 52 minutes, we registered our first shot on target, Brandon Bryan-Waugh testing Owen Goodman from the edge of the box.

The introductions of Tom Bloxham and Renaldo Torraj just before the hour mark gave us renewed energy in the final third as we looked to disrupt Palace’s defensive lines. We were looking the more likely to score as we enjoyed control of the ball, but we were also susceptible to the counter-attack, something the Eagles almost exploited on 71 minutes as Gunter saved from David Ozoh before Alfie Dorrington put his body on the line to deny Akinwale.

Chances were few and far between for both sides as we moved into the final 10 minutes of the game. Nascimento went close for Palace on the 80-minute mark as he saw an effort from range deflected narrowly wide. Then, in the last minute, Torraj had our final opportunity to claim a consolation goal with a free-kick from 20 yards, but the substitute curled narrowly wide of the right-hand upright.

‘We have to take a lot of belief from our second-half display’

While bitterly disappointed with the way in which his side started the game, Under-18s Coach Stuart was pleased with the reaction and application we showed and hopes we can build on that in the coming weeks.

“Obviously it was a really disappointing start,” he said. “To concede two goals in the opening six minutes is a really disappointing aspect for us, but I felt we reacted really well to that. We had a really good spell and could have clawed a goal back. But, again, we then conceded at a really disappointing time. We were getting a real foothold in the game, so to concede just before half-time was a bit of a sucker punch.

“It was tough to take but our second-half performance was really pleasing. We had complete dominance and some good opportunities. It’s a great learning experience for the team today. We started with one second-year scholar so it was a young side - we have to take a lot of belief from our second-half display and build on that.”