With a number of the Under-18s squad away in Nyon for the Uefa Youth League semi-finals, Gareth Taylor had to field a very young side against Derby County.
A dominant performance throughout and a first-half strike from Henri Ogunby inspired a 1-0 victory over the Rams on a beautifully sunny day at the CFA.
What happened
Following last week’s disappointing defeat to United, City kicked into action immediately with a handful of chances in the opening minutes of the game – the first came after just six minutes of play when Reece Devine wriggled his way around the visitors and attempted a shot past Derby ‘keeper Matthew Yates.
However, Yates threw himself onto the ball and clung to it on the line to prevent Devine scoring the opener.
Just three minutes later and Henri Ogunby tried his luck as he bravely went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but as the striker attempted to slot it around Yates his effort was punched away.
Chances continued to come thick and fast as Keke Simmonds submitted a bullet-like shot towards the goal to test Yates – yet again – who succeeded in stopping the shot in its tracks.
The goal – which appeared to be brewing throughout the whole of the first half – finally came on the 38th minute when D’Margio Wright-Phillips linked up with Ogunby.
Wright-Phillips sent an expertly pinpointed cross to the forward for Ogunby to coolly slot home before half-time.
The Blues were close to making it two before the break through Devine, but his shot was ruled offside
City continued to control the game as the teams returned for the second half and Curtis Anderson was rarely called upon.
Our ‘keeper’s heart was sent racing just after the hour mark when Morgan Whittaker fired a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box past the blue wall. Anderson launched to his left to calmly palm away the threat.
City have just two remaining U18 Premier League fixtures of the 2017/18 season left which are to be played against West Brom and Liverpool...
How we lined up
Anderson took his place in goal with a back four of Ryan Corrigan, Yeboah Amankwah, Rowan McDonald and Alpha Diounkou.
Youngster Joe Hodge shielded the defence alongside Keke Simmonds and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, while D’Margio Wright-Phillips and Reece Devine operated on the wings.
Ogunby took his place up front.
