Goals from Cormac Burke (pictured) and Jonathan Leddy saw the Blues’ U18s to a 2-0 victory in their annual pre-season fixture at Southwold Town on Friday evening. TWTD Message Boarder Mullet eschewed the delights of Roots Hall to watch the game.
The Town youngsters took to Southwold Common against a much older, bigger side on a chilling, windswept pitch, with spectacular views of marshland on one side and the dome of Sizewell's nuclear power station on the other. Sticking to a rigid 4-4-2 the youngsters made hard work of a game in which they should have cantered to victory.
Southwold had the first chance, working down the left to shoot from distance. However, Town were generally too quick and fleet-footed to really be troubled by opposition from much lower down the football pyramid.
The kids often struggled to stamp their physical presence on the game but when given any kind of room and time the ball was moved quickly and crisply from end to end and across the pitch effortlessly.
Jonathan Leddy, a new academy recruit from Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, sat deep all game and dictated play, spraying the ball at will. He was a calming influence in a very bitty and bad tempered first half.
Striker Caolan Lavery caused problems for an old defence content to kick him and unsettle him. While he showed the posture and intent of 'one to watch' there was little on offer in terms of end product from the lad. Looking every bit the athlete, he moved well and won ball after ball in the air, but his little flicks were found wanting with little link-up play.
After 10 minutes Lavery flicked the ball over the bar almost unchallenged. At the back, Norwegian centre-half Nicolay Schrøder looked big and strong but his touch failed him now and again and he invited unwanted pressure because of it, however Southwold had little in terms of quality to make the lad suffer.
Town continued to push Southwold down the right flank with Northern Ireland U19 international Cormac Burke providing much of the impetus. His good running and desire to get the ball was problematic for the yellow-clad Southwold team. However, Burke's endeavour was once again wasted by a decadent touch from Lavery who let the ball drift into no man's land.
On 30 a terrible goalkeeping mix-up allowed Lavery to push the ball wide on a diagonal run across the box, but from a tight angle the wunderkind could only muster a soft shot back into the keeper's arms. Another smart move down the right between three or four of Town's players saw Burke feed Lavery who nodded down for Leddy to fire wide on the volley.
Soon after, Southwold created their best chance of the game. Town's high line was nearly caught out by a long punt but the home side’s forward line had neither speed or quickness of thought to make the space and fire a shot off. Town's small yet vocal keeper Conor O’Donnell collected easily time and again with very little in the way of real chances coming his way.
The next attack from Town saw Lavery kicked in the back from an irate Southwold captain. The older man appeared to lose his head as an irate Town bench questioned him and the official whilst an unimpressed Lavery made his feelings known. It was the only moment of unpleasantness in what was ultimately a low-key exhibition match.
In the second half Town took the lead through Burke as your reporter emerged from the warmth of the pavilion. The Northern Irishman was clean through and what looked like a fortunate mis-hit beat an already committed (read stranded) keeper. Town were finally deservedly one-up after much labour before the interval.
On 50 the Blues went further in front when Leddy lobbed the keeper sweetly with his left foot, dropping a bomb up and over the Southwold keeper.
Southwold's aimless hoofs were met with more skilled but toothless attacks. Sub Carel Tiofack struggled to compete with the large defenders but he clearly had the speed and touch to beat them if he had found the space.
On the hour, a scramble forced Town to waste another chance and fire wide when they should have walked the ball home. All but the back four had a touch at some point but no one found one that was clinical enough to extend the lead.
In the 65th minute Burke cut in from the right, beating three floundering defenders easily but his shot was well blocked. It would have been a lovely goal had it gone in unhindered but alas it was not to be. Town then hit the post with what was presumably a cross. A fizzing attempt from the byline met the woodwork instead of its intended target.
Town pushed harder as they sensed the legs of their opponents giving out. Like latter day Magiltons Southwold's heart showed no sign of waning but they couldn't keep up with the youngsters buzzing and swarming around them.
Leddy looked to replicate his goal with another fine effort dipping over and out on 80 minutes. He then hit an ambitious effort from the right of the area about 35 yards. It was audacious and not likely to succeed as it cleared the bar.
The last 10 minutes drifted by with Southwold holding their ground to a wasteful Town side. Little happened as the ball got bogged down in the middle and hemmed into corners by more and more effective defending from the hosts
Ending 0-2 to the visitors perhaps disguised what a walkover this should have been. Whilst not a classic, it was good to get my first taste of football this summer.
There is clearly a buzz about some of the players on display and it will be interesting to see if Lavery kicks on this year. He and Burke looked the most likely.