A very competitive and ultimately very satisfying 3-1 victory today in the Landore sun against a skilful and determined Charlton side.
Coach Anthony Wright adapted to the unavailability of age grade international academy players with a youngish but still strong looking 4-4-2 line-up: Kit Margetson; Zac Jeanes, Arthur Parker (captain), Jack Fanning, Callum Deacon; Josh Pescatore, Jacob Cook, Thomas Woodward (s – Yori Griffith 78m), Ramon Rees-Siso; Sammy Henia-Kamau, Morgan Bates (s – Ollie Anderson 78m).
Unused subs – Sam Seager, Harlan Perry, Aidan Higgins.
There was a welcome return to action – after several months out injured – for midfielder Yori Griffith. Briton Ferry Llansawel academy product and Welsh Colleges centre forward Ollie Anderson was offered a try out.
Free scoring 2nd placed Charlton fielded a team with a number of familiar names, also including a couple of younger players who’d featured at Landore last week with the U18 squad.
We opened strongly with opportunist shots blocked from both Woodward and Henia-Kamau, Ramon Rees-Siso subsequently swept over a dipping shot from the left from Arthur Parker’s searching pass. Overall, thought, it was an evenly balanced contest, Mwamba and Fullan causing us some concerns with smart breaks.
Somewhat surprisingly, we got 2 quickfire goals to put us in control. Sammy Henia-Kamau – who looked much more aggressive in this game – struck a fine left foot shot from the edge of the box to put us 1 up on 25 minutes, Josh Pescatore supplying the first time cross. 2 minutes later, Morgan Bates was unnecessarily bundled over in the area, giving the referee an easy decision to award a penalty that Pescatore converted confidently.
The 2 sides continued to tussle for ascendancy. Morgan Bates, who provides such a presence up front, was involved in a persistent battle with centre half Hunter, and just missed getting on the end of another tempting Pescatore cross that was crying out for a finish.
Right on half-time, we conceded a soft penalty of our own with a careless challenge on Fullan. Captain Kedwell duly got Charlton a foothold back in the game and at an important moment.
Sometimes games switch on an odd moment or two. Charlton pressed hard for 20 minutes after half-time, Huke and Wales breaking quickly to put us on the backfoot: Huke’s shot deflected by Zac Jeanes looped over keeper Kit Margetson but – fortunately for us – the ball bounced off target. We looked hard pressed, although Jacob Cook and Ramon Rees-Siso in particular were putting up a stern rearguard action and keeping us in the game.
Brown put a cross right in front of our goal on the hour that Parker cleared. Charlton continued to hunt for an equaliser, went to 3 at the back, took off Wales and gradually seemed to run out of steam.
We’d been limited to a couple of half-chances, Jeanes’s strike from distance going straight to the keeper and Jacob Cook shooting wide from a delightful corner kick routine. We introduced Yori Griffith and Ollie Anderson and it was the former who set up Pescatore to get another astute delivery over, Sammy Henia-Kamau finishing with a right foot shot to recover the 2 goal lead.
Our regalvanised team finished the stronger: it’s always difficult for a newcomer to impact the game from the bench, although Anderson had a couple of opportunities to get on the scoresheet thwarted by excellent saves. Jack Fanning also had a header parried away as we ended the contest on top.
A very pleasing win for our young side and against a decent opposition.
Standouts were Jacob Cook, Ramon Rees-Siso and Arthur Parker, who were prominent at all times. Also encouraging to see Sammy Henia-Kamau so much more involved and delivering to great effect.