Under 16s pick up first JPL victory

An assured and accomplished performance gave City their first JPL win of the season with a 2-1 success at Herefordshire FA BDC.

City looked confident and composed on the ball for long periods and produced a display that deserved more goals as they created a hatful of chances which were missed or thwarted by a mix of good defending or goalkeeping.

The first opportunity of the game went the visitors way as Jesse Asomugha brought a great save from the home keeper after being neatly set up by Fabian Hook from the right.

However it was the hosts who should have been in front when their player rounded Josh Reed-Jones. With the ball rolling into the net, a team-mate in an offside position touched it over the line and the goal was ruled out.

The opening goal eventually came in Q2 when George Hymas started a flowing move involving Asomugha and Hook with the ball eventually finding its way to Will Cottell on the left side of the box, who stepped inside and curled home.

Their advantage was very nearly increased moments later when Alex Fenn played in Asomugha, who skipped past a challenge but fired across goal but narrowly wide - just eluding the advancing Hook.

City were made to rue that miss as Herefordshire equalised shortly afterwards when they capitalised on a clumsy foul to score direct from the resulting free-kick.

Credit to the visitors though as they weren't duly unfazed by the setback as Fenn sent another glorious through ball to Asomugha, who blazed over.

A marauding run by Guy Collett down the Herefordshire left in Q3 ended with him being fouled. From the free-kick, Fenn found his range once more as his cross was met by the head of Hook, who looped the ball back across the goal and in.

The home side pushed to level matters in the final period but fired a good chance over the bar and were then foiled by a combination of Reed-Jones and Fenn - the keeper getting a good hand to a shot down at his near post and his team-mate then clearing the ball off the line.

Those were to be Herefordshire's last chances as City finished the game the stronger with a host of opportunities of their own. Skipper Cian Sheehan was firstly denied when his shot was tipped over after being teed up by Asomugha, who was then foiled by the keeper as he broke clear and tried to slot through his legs.

With seconds remaining, Asomugha dribbled the ball into the corner but then cleverly manoeuvred clear of several defenders. He squared for Lewis Corbett who brought out another good save as City closed out to claim the three points.