Our Under 23s team continued their league campaign on home turf last Saturday, hosting third-place outfit Wargrave in a bid to continue their positive run of form following their cup victory against Penn & Tylers Green U23s side the week prior.

The management staff opted to implement two changes to last week’s XI, with Adam Cashin-Murray and McKoy Palmer entering in place of James Ashu and Bobby Hyland. McDylan Philippe-Ekitti and Harlen Lewis retained their places on the bench, with debutant Daniel Mace joining the two forwards.

Alex Collie, Finley Meikle, Taha Menshawi, Bless-Him Kimpiats, Mickael Vaisset, Louis Eade, Reiss Baker, Alfie Ward and Andrew Tafeni all featured once again in the lineup.

Kick-Off: City U23s 0-0 Wargrave

The visitors got us underway, and consecutive corners for City saw two near strikes whipped in by the home side, but Wargrave’s backline cleared the shots upfield. 

A follow-up chance by Eade saw a sublime run end with an effort flicked into the path of Tafeni out on the left, but a rebounded ball rolled out for a throw-in to the opposition.

A direct cross from Ward targeted Tafeni in the channels, but the loose ball was intercepted in the final moments, allowing Wargrave to charge and begin a counter attack. The opposition continued to pile on the pressure, earning a corner for their efforts. 

The set piece reached the head of City skipper Vaisset, who knocked the ball to Palmer at the edge of the area, with the midfielder darting downfield. Tafeni claimed before carrying out a one-two with Palmer, who sent in a low shot from distance, which skimmed the ground but rolled just wide of the post.

A break in play ensued shortly after as Wargrave’s number 7 went down following a late challenge on the touchline, however play resumed after he was deemed to not require any treatment. 

Wargrave remained a threat, with the visitors earning a set piece almost immediately. The ball recycled into the box and Menshawi and Meikle teamed up to clear, gaining a throw-in at the edge of their attacking half. A lovely link-up in play allowed the home side’s strike force to cut in from the right and press forward, but Wargrave’s shot-stopper sprinted off his line to claim.

As the match began to settle, a link-up between Kimpiats, Vaisset and Meikle prevented a flurry of Wargrave strikes as shots were peppered towards goal, with Collie comfortably gathering to end the attack.

Collie was called into action once again as Wargrave’s number 24 unleashed an effort, but the City ‘keeper clutched the strike at his near post. On the counter, an effort from Ward fell into the arms of Wargrave’s man between the sticks, with both sides fighting to break the deadlock.

Wargrave continued forward with a high tempo, weaving through the box and unleashing a strike but Collie palmed the ball out at the near post. Both sides worked well to battle for the opener, with the visiting side enjoying a spell of possession, but the ‘Grave unfortunately couldn’t get the shot off. 

As the half drew to a close, a brilliant build-up in play from Palmer, Ward and Baker unfortunately couldn’t amount to anything with their joint attempt blocked at the edge of the area. Heading into the interval, the scoreline remained goalless, and it was all to play for in the next 45.

Half Time: City U23s 0-0 Wargrave

Cashin-Murray kicked off the second half, and City began with a high intensity, applying pressure from the start. A great cross from Baker out on the far right took a slight deflection off of Wargrave’s number seven following a tackle at the right post, almost chipping his own ‘keeper. The shot-stopper got fingertips on the unpredictable ball, and his impressive save kept the scores level. 

Another close effort for the home side as Cashin-Murray paired with Palmer to deliver a soaring effort at the back post, but Wargrave held firm and the midfielders’ strike fell just short of the mark.

Baptiste turned to his bench for inspiration in an attempt to find the opener, with forward Harlen Lewis replacing Andrew Tafeni, and Daniel Mace entering for Taha Menshawi, both who had a quality afternoon.

Wargrave capitalised on a strong spell of possession following a scramble in the midfield, with Fred Kirby’s driven effort whipped in at Collie’s right hand post, narrowly evading the backline. However, in an almost immediate response, forward Reiss Baker made no mistake as a loose ball fell to him in the area, slotting it home past ‘keeper Abdulhadi to bring the scores level.

Wargrave battled to try and gain the advantage once again, with a curling effort from around twenty yards out dropping just over the top of the bar after Wargrave’s number 24 broke free of his marker.

With the final twenty fast approaching, a crucial clearance from Kimpiats ricocheted the ball towards Ward, who drove into the area with a Wargrave center half close behind. The forward took a touch ten yards out, with Baker and Lewis either side for support, but his effort just fell short, rolling to the feet of Abdulhadi.

A second round of substitutions for City, and goalscorer Reiss Baker exited the fray for McDylan Philippe-Ekitti. Only five minutes following the change, the boys in blue made it two as Alfie Ward earned his third goal in four games, calmly tapping his shot into the net at the near post.

Consecutive corners from the visitors saw dangerous balls float close to the near post, but City worked well to clear, with the latter effort beginning a counter attack, with Cashin-Murray claiming possession. The midfielder unleashed a direct ball to Ward, who darted a sublime cross through to Mace on the left, but the linesman raised his flag to end the effort.

The referee soon called time on an eventful and enjoyable afternoon out, with our young Cityzens earning their third victory in three, with back-to-back wins in the league.

Full Time: City U23s 2-1 Wargrave

What a win for Baptiste and Olaide’s team! A high intensity game from start to finish, with tenacity and competitive spirit, with positives which can be taken by both sides. We wish our visitors, Wargrave FC, all the best for the rest of the season! Thank you to everyone who came to support the teams on Saturday.

Our Under 23s squad continue their campaign this Saturday as they hit the road to face AFC Winkfield away at King George V Playing Fields.