Wanderers U18s 1-1 Blackpool U18s

Report

Sean Hogan’s header was not enough for Wanderers to continue their winning start in the EFL Youth Alliance as Blackpool secured a late equaliser.

Julian Darby opted for five changes from the starting 11 that was defeated at Walsall in the Youth Alliance Cup with B Team comrades Gio Loureiro, Trevon Bryan and Jack Flint starting in their respective positions.

Wanderers started strongly with Leo Graham and Harrison Fleury linking up early on which presented Loureiro a chance inside the box but his shot was deflected wide of the Blackpool goal.

Graham and Fleury continued their fine partnership as Graham unleashed a cross which Yestin Shakespear flung himself at and was inches away from potentially opening Wanderers' account. The ball, however, did fall to B Team summer signing Bryan who forced a fabulous save out of Matteo Spinelli in the Blackpool goal.

The young Whites continued to knock on the door whilst enjoying large spells of possession but went into the break goalless .

U18s

The second-half followed the pattern of the first with Wanderers having chances whilst limiting Blackpool in the final third but there was still no breakthrough.

The first change of the match for the Whites came with Anthony Pinto replacing Bryan which was shortly followed with David Abimbola coming on for Shakespear who seconds before got on the end of Graham’s cross but couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

Eventually, Wanderers got their goal. Sam Inwood delivered a sublime free-kick where captain Hogan rose highest to thump home the opening goal of the match with only seven minutes left on the clock.

The lead didn't last long as Blackpool bounced back, with Josh Miles volley finding the back of the net in the 88th minute to allow the visitors to take a point back to the seaside as Wanderers dropped their first points of the campaign.

Wanderers starting line up: Flint (GK), Bryan, Inwood, Irwin, Hogan (C), Grayson, Westwood, Loureiro, Shakespear, Fleury, Graham. Subs: Pinto, Leigh, Lewis, Lawrence, Abimbola.

Report by Ben Livingstone

Read Time: 2 mins