United lose 4-3 in the South West Youth Alliance
United's under-18 side lost 4-3 to Newport on Tuesday afternoon at Abingdon.Coach Leon Blackmore-Such told us:
"We knew beforehand what Newport would be like, managing the game and slowing it down and that's exactly how they played the game. For us, our tempo was slow and we lacked the necessary quality at the back. This led to us losing the ball too often quite high up the pitch, making it hard work for us defensively.
"Jack Stevens made two top-class saves to keep the score 0-0 but Newport took the lead when their midfield runner came through to score. They then made it 2-0 from a set piece that we didn't defend properly before Jordan Graham pulled a goal back before half-time.
"In the second half we tried to be better in possession but we still gave the ball away cheaply and were punished when Newport scored their third. Malachi Napa pulled one back with a good goal but they made it 4-2 before Drew Ricketts got the final goal with a good header.
"We could still have snatched a draw with a couple of late chances but really we were punished for some poor quality at the back. However, it was pleasing to get three goals and we looked decent going forward."
United: Stevens, Diaz-Benitez, McCormack, Ricketts, Hawtin, Hastings (Hartley 55), Hayden, Humphries (L Graham 75), J Graham, Triallist (Napa 60), Deacon
This Saturday the youth team are at home to Yeovil (11am) at Northcourt Road, Abingdon OX14 1PL. Why not make it a double header and watch the under-18s before the first team play Yeovil in the afternoon?