U18 Report: Chelsea 1-1 Saints

Both sides had early chances at the weekend; Chelsea’s Joe Haigh’s free kick falling to the feet of Harvey Vale who volleyed over on the edge of the box.

Saints responded just shy of the 20-minute-mark, the prolific Goran Babić taking a free kick of his own from the left side of the penalty box which went just over.

In the 26th minute Vale was involved again for the hosts, seemingly through on goal but for a vital Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo challenge for Saints.

Ollie Wright then produced a fine stop for the visitors, getting down low to his right-hand side to deny Jude Soonsup-Bell.

In the 39th minute, Chelsea took the lead; debutant full-back Alex Kpakpe converting at the back post following a deep cross from Silko Thomas on the right-flank.

Saints looked to respond before the break; Ryan Finnigan spreading the ball out to Marco Rus who forced Chelsea keeper Lucas Bergstrom into a scrambled save.

Following the break the hosts were the first to come close; Soonsup-Bell involved again curling an effort just wide of Wright’s right-sided post.

The Saints equaliser came in the 64th minute; Otseh-Taiwo playing Jayden Smith down the right wing whose cross was met by the unmarked Finnigan inside the box.

His first header rebounded off the post, but he converted the rebound with no mistake and gave the visitors a deserved leveller.

The rest of the game formed a fairly tight affair; Chelsea going closest five minutes from time as Haigh played through substitute Luke Pearce but his heavy touch allowed Wright to come and collect.