U18s: Bolton 0-1 Newcastle

David Lee’s side suffer narrow home defeat

Having beaten Portsmouth in the FA Youth Cup in midweek, Bolton Wanderers Under-18s were unable to record back-to-back wins after failing to take their chances in a narrow home defeat to Newcastle United.

The Whites started slowly and were made to pay as Newcastle took the lead through a scruffy goal midway through the first half, scrambling the ball over the line after Bolton failed to clear their lines 

Much-improved in the second half, the Trotters created a number of opportunities in their efforts to find an equaliser.

They had a great chance to level the scores in the dying embers of the match following a pinpoint cross being delivered into the area, begging to be converted from close-range, but were unable to make the breakthrough as the visitors held on for victory.

Speaking after the final whistle, Wanderers head coach David Lee said: “It was one of those days where we could have played all day and still not scored.

“We didn’t expose Newcastle to enough pressure in the first half, allowing them too much time and space on the ball. 

“We didn’t really create enough apart from a few half-chances and then fell behind to a really scruffy goal.”

Lee continued: “Fortunately we played a lot better after the break. There was a greater intensity to our play and more purpose to our attacking phases of play. 

“We did create a number of chances, which fell to varying players, but were let down by a combination of poor technique and lady luck.

“I was pleased to see the lads keep pressurising Newcastle but on the day it just wasn’t to be. Today was a great learning curve for them after such a good win in the FA Youth Cup.

“They now need to continue to produce the same level of performance on a regular basis.”

Bolton: Trialist, Spooner, Garratt, Phillips, Honeyball, Perry, Nolan, Kennedy (Palmer 60), Cvetko, Thomas, Abbotts (Abdu 80).

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