Town’s U18s first ever game in the newly-formed Professional Development League Two South ended in a comfortable 4-1 victory over Swansea City at Playford Road on Saturday morning. A hat-trick from Jack Marriott and a late strike from sub Tom Winter gave the Blues their first three points of the campaign.
Town fielded a young side, minus the likes of Norwegian keeper Michael Crowe, who wasn’t registered in time, and Byron Lawrence and Gunnar Thorsteinsson with a view to Monday’s U21 fixture at Swansea.
Russell Osman’s youngsters started well and Tom Winter’s header from Marriott’s cross flashed across goal, while at the other end youngster Jacob Marsden pushed away a good effort from Swans midfielder Josh Sheehan.
Omar Sowunmi somehow blocked Alex Samuel’s header to keep the scores level, before Winter toe-poked Mark Timlin’s centre into the sidenetting.
Amir Berkane came close to opening the scoring on 19 minutes when he turned his man and curled a left-foot shot just past the post from the edge of the box.
Marriott should’ve done better three minutes later when he was released by Winter, but the striker dragged his left foot shot wide of the far post.
However, Marriott made amends soon after. Berkane was fouled 25 yards out, and Timlin rolled the ball to the second-year scholar who drove a fierce shot into the top corner of the net.
Marriott doubled Town’s advantage on the half hour with a cool left-foot finish that will have impressed the watching Paul Jewell after he was released by Berkane.
As the half-time whistle approached Winter cut in from the right and curled a left-foot effort which struck the bar, and moments later struck a shot which fizzed just past a post.
Nine minutes after the restart, Marriott somehow managed to squander a chance to grab his hat-trick. Winter’s ball found marauding full-back Kyle Hammond, who lifted it over the keeper and presented Marriott with an open goal, but he rushed his effort and saw the ball go wide of the posts.
Town had a lucky escape midway through the second half when Owain Jones’s effort was cleared off the line by a combination of Matt Clarke and Marsden following a corner that wasn’t cleared.
Marsden then tipped Kyle Copp’s 25-yard drive round the post, before Galvin set up Marriott for his hat-trick, and this time the striker made no mistake and tucked the ball past the advancing Eddolls.
Town continued to look for more goals, and sub Joshua Emmanuel rolled the ball across to Winter, who saw his effort from six yards deflected just wide.
However, with three minutes of normal time remaining, Town blotted their clean sheet when Sowunmi was caught in possession and Jones rounded Marsden before rolling the ball into the empty net.
Two minutes into stoppage time Town’s three-goal advantage was restored when the lively Galvin met Marriott’s cut-back and rolled his effort goalwards, Winter getting a touch.
Young centre-back George Fowler again impressed and looks one for the future and Galvin impressed with his speed and agility when he was introduced during the second half.
Marriott took his goals well, and could have easily had a few more, but overall it was a good start to the season for Town’s youngsters.
The U21s squad travels to Wales tomorrow for their inaugural game in their section of the Professional Development League Two South on Monday which is also against Swansea, at their training ground at Stebonheath (KO 11am).
U18s: Marsden, Hammond, October, Acott (Willbye 66), Fowler, Sowunmi, Winter, Clarke, Marriott, Berkane (Emmanuel 74), Timlin (Galvin 66). Unused: Ramadan.
Report: James Ager