EDS see off Chelsea as title edges nearer

Oscar Bobb opened the scoring for Brian Barry-Muprhy’s side in the first half after a very competitive opening to the game. 

A double-quick duo of goals in the second half from Kian Breckin and Carlos Borges comfortably saw us home, and means that just one win from our final three games will all but seal the title. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

The game started with all the quality you’d expect from a top-of-the-table encounter, with a flurry of chances created right from the first whistle. 

Chelsea’s Dion Rankine forced a fine save from Cieran Slicker with just two minutes on the clock, before his opposite number Gabriel Slonina punched away Micah Hamilton‘s curling effort from the edge of the area just seconds later. 

Slonina had to react quickly to meet Carlos Borges‘ shot from inside the area, before the City winger dragged another effort just wide to cap off an action-packed first five minutes.

The game settled down as both teams cancelled each other’s attacking threat out, but City did come close when Dire Mebude’s pass was tipped away from Bobb’s path by Slonina. 

Chelsea’s Omari Hutchinson struck the bottom of the upright with a fine curling effort from outside the area that had beaten Slicker in a warning sign for City. 

And Barry-Murphy’s side responded when Borges linked up with Tom Galvez before the winger cut it back across the area towards Bobb who side-footed the ball into the Chelsea net to give us the lead with half-an-hour played. 

Despite taking the lead, Chelsea’s heads didn’t drop and the visitors continued to look dangerous, but we held defensively strong to hold our one-goal advantage until half-time. 

Kane Taylor produced a fabulous through ball to find Mebude on the right-hand side, who fires it across the box but Gilchrist got back to smash the ball away. 

But City’s pressure eventually paid off, winning the ball high up the pitch before working across to the advanced Galvez. The left back picked out Breckin in the middle of the area who diverted the ball past Slonina to double our lead. 

And two soon became three when just minutes later, Borges was released through on goal after a weaving run from Bobb before firing a left-footed strike into the roof of net, putting us out of sight before the hour mark. 

In the closing stages, the visitors were given the chance to pull a goal back via the penalty spot, but Cieran Slicker saved Leo Castledine’s effort from 12-yards.

But the Chelsea attacker made amends from the resulting corner to reduce the deficit, when he ghosted into the back post and tapped home. 

Nonetheless, City comfortably saw out the rest of the game to seal the three points to move within touching distance of the Premier League 2 title. 

WHAT IT MEANS 

City need just one win for our final three games to be, all-but, crowned PL2 champions for a third successive season. 

We now hold a seven-point advantage over Chelsea who have only two more league games to play in 2022/23 - while also holding a nine-point lead over Crystal Palace who have four to play. 

But with our sizeable goal difference compared to the Eagles, 53 points should be enough to cement our position at the league’s summit.

HOW WE LINED UP

With Cieran Slicker in goal, Barry-Murphy selected a back-line of Lakyle Samuel, Tomas Galves and Kane Taylor with Shea Charles dropping to centre-back from his usual midfield role. 

Alex Robertson sat deep in the midfield with Kian Breckin given license to roam further forward. 

Adedire Mebude and Carlos Borges sat high and wide on the wings, with Micah Hamilton playing off striker Oscar Bobb in the number ten position. 

Manchester City Elite Development Squad 

Starting XI: Slicker, Samuel, Charles, Taylor, Galvez, Robertson (Susoho 74’), Mebude, Breckin, Bobb (Knight 78’), Hamilton (Dickson 59’), Borges. 

Substitutes: Agyemang, McNamara, Knight. 

Chelsea U21s

Starting XI: Slonina, Hughes, Gilchrist, Sturge, Williams, Webster (Tauriainen 73’), Hutchinson, Hall (Elliot 61’), Burstow (Mothersille 73’), Vale (Castledine 61’), Rankine. 

Substitutes: Wady. 

UP NEXT

Barry-Murphy’s side’s next assignment will see us travel to Blackburn Rovers next week. 

Kick-off in Lancashire is scheduled for 13:00 (UK) on Sunday 23 April.