Last Saturday saw our Under 23s side pick up their first point of the season after a tough fought match. Manager Sheldon Baptiste strengthened his side by welcoming four new additions, including Junaid Bell and Matei Corbu, who both featured in the Starting XI.
Bell got us underway, and Newbury almost immediately began an attack. Alex Collie returned between the sticks for the fixture, and he tipped the visitors’ first attempt wide for a corner. Back-to-back set pieces were cleared by Roy-Jones Mbou and Matei Corbu, and City tried to create a chance on the counter, but the shot unfortunately came to nothing.
City almost took the lead in the eighth minute after forward Andrew Tafeni evaded defenders to curl the ball into the box, but a Newbury defender headed it out. The next chance from City came from Kian Abery, who pinged the ball goalwards, but Newbury’s goalkeeper, Donny Burke, claimed the ball early.
Adam Cashin-Murray attempted to cross inside to Tafeni on the wing, but the flag went up as it reached the edge of the box. A follow-up chance from Newbury was also called offside, as was City’s next shot. Captain Matthew Williamson ran into the box after Cashin-Murray switched the ball, but the skipper was flagged offside.
City played positively throughout the first half, with Tafeni coming closest to taking the lead. Abery and Mbou also each took a chance on goal, but Newbury intercepted on both occasions.
Williamson almost got his name on the scoresheet in the 30th minute after Burke faltered attempting to save Tafeni’s close range shot, but his chance rebounded off of the visitors’ goalkeeper as he ran out to save.
City persevered, and Matei Corbu sent a through ball to Tafeni, who curled it into the eighteen yard box towards Denton and Cashin-Murray, but Newbury’s defence headed it out of play at the near post. Mere minutes later, Baptiste’s side strikes again, sending in yet another chance, but it flashes the face of goal and heads out for a goal kick to the opposition.
Newbury began to make changes to their side, and both Harry Monger and Ben Wickens entered the pitch for Leo Sidiobay and Riley Cannell respectively.
Mbou knocked the ball into the net after an attempt from Bell rebounded off of Burke, but the flag went up as it crossed over the line.
Cashin-Murray had our final chance of the first half, as he sent in an indirect free kick, but it was ultimately cleared. Despite a flurry of firings from City, it was all square at the break.
Half Time: City U23s 0-0 Newbury FC
The visitors got us underway again, and City had the first chance of the half. Tafeni sent a long ball into the box, but sadly it couldn’t reach another player in blue, and Burke claimed.
Our first change happened just after the 54th minute mark. City youngster Louis Eade, who regularly features for the Under 18s, made his Under 23s debut as he replaced Matthew Williamson.
Eade made almost an instant impact, crossing the ball into the box towards Mbou. He took a touch and sent in a strike, but it rolled just outside of the post. Moments later, the ball reached the box once again, but it was also hit just wide!
Mbou took a gamble and got the ball past the keeper as Burke ran out of goal, but it rolled out of play in the final seconds.
A double sub with just over twenty minutes left saw a double season debut! Taha Menshawi and Shawn Dabreo replaced Roy-Jones Mbou and Andrew Tafeni in a straight swap.
Dabreo got into the box only moments later, but it unfortunately came to nothing. Newbury charged upfield, but Corbu cleared the danger. A resulting corner was headed wide by the visitors’ Ben Wickens, and tensions began to run high between the sides.
A first yellow card – both of the game and for Baptiste’s side this season – was given to Eade, who gets his name in the book for a hard tackle in the midfield.
Bell takes a touch from a City corner, but Burke clutches it. Eade crossed to Dabreo, but Newbury intercepted it before it could reach him. City were looking strong, and Cashin-Murray added to the attack with back-to-back set pieces. All of these attacks were prevented and the scoreline remained goalless.
The ball entered the net for Newbury in the 82nd minute of play, but the flag was already up as it passed the byline. Entering the final stages, it was still all to play for, and the three points were still up for grabs.
As the game began to draw to a close, an array of yellow cards were handed out to both sides, for dissent and earlier fouls.
Only minutes later, Louis Eade was centimetres away from scoring, with Burke having to deflect three chances away to end the attack. The next build up in play saw Eade and Dabreo team up, and Newbury scrambled to get the ball out of the box. City sent in a final long-range shot in an attempt to pull ahead, but it flew directly over the bar.
The final five minutes saw two more attempts from City. Eade was denied by Burke after yet another near chance. After, a lovely build-up in play from Cashin-Murray and Bell narrowly dashed past the post.
Full Time: City U23s 0-0 Newbury FC
A threatening and compelling performance from City, with lots to be proud of. Sheldon Baptiste and Mimi Olaide’s team will be back underway in a week’s time, as they hit the road again to face Henley Town at the Invesco Perpetual Triangle Ground.
