Under 21s draw at Portsmouth
United’s under 21 development side drew 0-0 with Portsmouth this afternoon in their latest friendly game.
The development side, in its first season, offers young players the chance to impress and today mixed young pros with three of the successful under 18s side.
Goalkeeper Max Crocombe returned after a shoulder injury and will be pleased to have kept a clean sheet, one of several positives according to coach Mickey Lewis:
“The scoreline is irrelevant really because this was a very good game. There was a lot of good football but it was also a very competitive match so there were plenty of tackles, headers and challenges and it is that physical side of the game that you want to see in these games so you can really see what the lads can do.
“I would say that we maybe shaded the chances, and Max and the defence will be happy with a clean sheet at the other end. We worked together as a team but just maybe lacked that killer instinct in front of goal.
“It was a good all round performance but Callum O’Dowda and Josh Shama deserve credit for playing well despite both being unwell earlier in the week. The stand-out performances for me came in the middle of the park though where I thought Josh Ruffels and Josh Ashby both gave very strong performances.
“Over all, it was an encouraging performance and we were very pleased.”
United
Crocombe, Bevans, F Grant, Lee, Lynn, Hawtin, Ashby, Ruffels, O’Dowda, Shama, Marsh