U18 Professional Development League 2
Team: Loades, Street, Adjetey-Brew, Sandiford, Cuthbert, Wiles, Coomes, Neill, Sanyaolu, Neziri, McAvoy
Subs: Fittall, Boddy, Wright, Gbemre-McLean, Kennedy
At an overcast TSG Elite Training Centre, and with intermittent spots of rain, it was the R’s who fashioned the first attempt at goal.
After receiving Jake Coomes’ cross from the right, James McAvoy blasted the ball over the crossbar.
But it was the visitors who took the lead on seven minutes. Callum Loades advanced to clear the ball, but the U’s player reached it first and proceeded to roll it into the empty net.
Then, following a swift breakaway, James Sasere’s shot dipped just over the crossbar.
Philip Sanyaolu had two goalscoring attempts following Rangers’ first corner.
At the other end, a ball into David Nkrumah resulted in the U’s No.8 firing over the bar.
Ritchy Biyekele almost curled his corner into the top corner, but Callum Loades superbly tipped the ball over.
After receiving a good ball, James McAvoy then cut in and his shot at goal was smothered by the U’s keeper.
Rangers’ equaliser arrived on 29 minutes after James McAvoy had set up Philip Sanyaolu. The R’s striker’s low drive found the bottom corner.
The home side took the lead two minutes later. Following good work by Philip Sanyaolu, Jake Coomes smashed the ball into the back of the net.
Charlie Street could well have denied Colchester another goal when he cut out a dangerous cross near the goal-line with unmarked Leo Makatta lurking. This was followed by two successive corners.
Further excellent defending came from Cory Adjetey-Brew when he did well to take control of the ball with a shoulder charge, before turning and belting it upfield.
Jake Coomes put over a great ball into the box where James McAvoy’s shot on the run was then blocked.
Just before Mr Barker’s half-time whistle, Philip Sanyaolu’s strike flew just past the far-post.
Rico Kennedy and Harvey Boddy were brought on for the start of the second-half.
Leo Makatta’s side-foot attempt from close range almost sneaked in, but Callum Loades was able to get down and grab the ball.
Rangers scored a third goal six minutes into the half from Harvey Boddy’s half-volley, following good work by Rico Kennedy.
Callum Loades made an excellent save, but ninety seconds later, it was Philip Sanyaolu who added a fourth goal.
This was immediately followed on 57 minutes by Nkhai Gbemre-McLean coming on for Shaquille Sandiford.
As the R’s looked to increase their lead, Philip Sanyaolu screwed the ball just past the far-post.
James McAvoy went on a run beating a number of opponents before laying the ball off to Philip Sanyaolu. The R’s striker’s shot was then blocked by the keeper.
After James McAvoy was taken off, Joshua Wright replaced him, and Rico Kennedy switched to the other wing.
A good run by Enis Neziri took him to the edge of the box, where he was taken out by Dwayne Campina. Mr Barker then booked him, and the resulting free kick went just wide of the target after coming off a defender.
On 75 minutes, James Sasere was (not surprisingly!) sent off after punching Cory Adjetey-Brew.
Rico Kennedy then set-up Philip Sanyaolu, and the R’s striker blasted the ball against the crossbar.
This was followed by Mr Barker being hit on the back for the fifth time of the match!
With the R’s well on top, Joshua Wright’s goal attempt whizzed just past the upright.
Into the closing stages, and Cory Adjetey-Brew’s effort from just outside the box, closely evaded the post.
Then it was Rico Kennedy who had a shot well saved and the follow up ended up just wide of the target.
Rico Kennedy got the goal he deserved when, after moving forward, he directed his shot into the far corner.
And with a couple of minutes remaining, Cory Adjetey-Brew’s shot from outside the box looked as if it might go in, but it hit Gabriel Cuthbert on the back!
It finished in a well-deserved 5-1 victory for the R’s.
Steve Russell