Our U18 team kicked off its opening publicised friendly today in the sweltering heat at Stebonheath.
Our youngsters faced a Llanelli side full of new faces after a relegation to Cymru South and the loss of most of last season’s squad. Terry Boyle remains in charge of the Reds.
We featured some familiar players from last season’s squad, a sprinkling of U16s and 3 newcomers.
We set up as 4-3-3: Tom Wright; Dempsey Singer (s – Tom Searle 69m), Kaven Bloniarczyk (s – Archie Quick 69m), Jack May, Trialist 1, Bobo Evans (s – Alffi Hughes 69m), Alfie Jones (s – Sol Baker 69m), Bobby Lewis; Trialist 2 (s – Trialist 3 69m), Ioan Johnston (s – Ifan Harding 46m), Kai Rhodes (s – Elis Thomas 69m).
Unused subs: Jakub Nowak (goalkeeper)
A decent crowd, no teamsheet and it was difficult to work out who Llanelli fielded but it looked like a full strength adult team. Our former academy central defender Jack Cooper has joined the club from Cardiff Draconians in recent weeks.
It was an understandably sluggish start. Llanelli sent a shot over after a striker pinched the ball on 14 minutes but clear chances were few and far between as the sides grappled with the conditions.
Kai Rhodes cut in from the left on 23 minutes to float over a shot that missed the target. Rhodes and newcomer Trialist 2 looked lively.
We went a goal down when – not for the first time – we conceded possession cheaply at the back and Llanelli took full advantage to advance straight through our soft underbelly to go ahead on 33 minutes. Llanelli missed another chance to go further ahead before Trialist 2 showed what he is capable off with an inviting low cross that Ioan Johnston – playing centre forward – couldn’t connect with. Johnston got us level bang on the break with a clean strike after Llanelli’s left back completely lost the flight of a long ball and miscued to gift us possession in the area.
That was Johnston’s last act of the game, with U15 international Ifan Harding starting the second half up front.
We had another couple of close escapes with sloppy play at the back allowing Llaneli a free run on goal and there was a flighted cross that struck the bar as we continued to look rather shaky.
Right back Dempsey Singer had a snapshot saved on 63 minutes. Bobby Lewis was busy and constructive in midfield but we weren’t really creating a great deal.
We changed personnel and introduced another debutant in Trialist 3 who took up a position on the right hand side of the attack.
Elis Thomas had a late opportunity to clinch the game after a fine passing move involving Bobby Lewis, Williams and Harding, but that would have been harsh on Llanelli, who played their full part in a competitive affair.
We haven’t announced out new scholars yet, but I expect a number of today’s youngsters to feature amongst them. Bobby Lewis stood out in midfield, such a clever and constructive player, even in close quarters. With the right service, our forwards could give this season’s opposition defenders plenty of problems. Our defensive organisation needs attention but these games are designed precisely to identify that and it’s all fixable.
Far too early to judge today’s newcomers of course, but mixing things up with quality recruits from outside the immediate academy bubble is clearly a good thing.