Match Report

U18 Match Report - Chelsea (H) 11.12.06

City Suffer From The Blues

NORWICH CITY UNDER-18's 0 CHELSEA UNDER-18's 1

A goal three minutes before the interval was enough to give Chelsea full three points at Colney on Saturday.

Despite the slender victory the Canaries rarely troubled Chelsea and had it not been for some good saves, one in particular as good as you will see anywhere from Steve Arnold, the scoreline could have been much greater in favour of the visitors.

David Williams's side created the first opening when after just five minutes a cross from Tom Miller saw lone front man Kris Renton send a header over the crossbar.

Miroslav Stoch was causing Norwich plenty of problems down the right flank and it was from one of his crosses that central defender Alvin Quaye had to be alert to when he cleared the ball off the goal line.

Steve Arnold
Man of the Match Steve Arnold gathers cleanly

Gareth Matthews
Gareth Matthews challenges Scott Sinclair Stoch again looked dangerous when he sent in a shot-cum-cross that Arnold saved at the far post.

On a rare city attack Luke Daley almost got his head to a cross in the six-yard box before the action quickly returned to the Canaries penalty area when Stoch fired an effort over the crossbar.

Shortly after, Chelsea almost opened the scoring when Lee Sawyer met a Stoch corner and let fly with a curling 20 yard effort that Arnold was equal to as he produced a brilliant one-handed save.

With 42 minutes on the clock Chelsea finally broke the deadlock when City failed to clear a corner allowing Sam Hutsinchon to fire the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

Into the second half and it needed first a great tackle and then a block by Paul McLean to keep City in touch, Arnold then produced a quality save this time to deny Sawyer.

Williams introduced Jordan Yong for his first academy start after Seb Muddel suffered a facial injury.

As the game moved into the final 15 minutes City finally started to get their game together with Jamie Eames seeing an inswinging corner headed off the line, while just before full time the same player saw a free kick saved by Nick Hamann in the Blues goal.

City Line-Up: Arnold, Matthews, O'Toole, McLean, Quaye, Miller, Eames, Lathrope, Renton, Muddel (Yong 63), Daley.

Subs Not used: Bexfield, Smart, Davey.

Chelsea Line-Up: Hamann, Foori, Worley, Hutsinschon, Elmer, Bridcutt, Stoch, Sawyer, Cummings, Simmons, Sinclair.

Subs: Hurrel, Taylor, Nielson, Saarelma.

Top Canary: Steve Arnold
Damon Lathrope
Damon Lathrope tracks Chelsea captain Liam Bridcutt

Further Action From The Match

Seb Muddel
Seb Muddel is held back by an opponent Kris Renton
Kris Renton gets in front of his marker

Luke Daley
Luke Daley moves forward Paul McLean
Paul McLean with a last-ditch tackle against Miroslav Stoch

Alvin Quaye
Alvin Quaye tangles with Chelsea's Shaun Cummings Goalmouth action
Chelsea keeper Hamann saves spectacularly

Jordan Yong
Jordan Yong made his first appearance for the Under-18's Tom Miller
Tom Miller goes flying

Report courtesy of John Landamore and The Pinkun.
Photos from Paul Standley. Colin Watts
Colin Watts demonstrates his driving skills

A goal three minutes before the interval was enough to give Chelsea full three points at Colney on Saturday. Despite the slender victory the Canaries rarely troubled Chelsea and had it not been for some good saves, one in particular as good as you will see anywhere from Steve Arnold, the scoreline could have been much greater in favour of the visitors. David Williams's side created the first opening when after just five minutes a cross from Tom Miller saw lone front man Kris Renton send a header over the crossbar. Miroslav Stoch was causing Norwich plenty of problems down the right flank and it was from one of his crosses that central defender Alvin Quaye had to be alert to when he cleared the ball off the goal line.	Man of the Match Steve Arnold gathers cleanly
Gareth Matthews challenges Scott Sinclair	Stoch again looked dangerous when he sent in a shot-cum-cross that Arnold saved at the far post. On a rare city attack Luke Daley almost got his head to a cross in the six-yard box before the action quickly returned to the Canaries penalty area when Stoch fired an effort over the crossbar. Shortly after, Chelsea almost opened the scoring when Lee Sawyer met a Stoch corner and let fly with a curling 20 yard effort that Arnold was equal to as he produced a brilliant one-handed save. With 42 minutes on the clock Chelsea finally broke the deadlock when City failed to clear a corner allowing Sam Hutsinchon to fire the ball in off the underside of the crossbar. Into the second half and it needed first a great tackle and then a block by Paul McLean to keep City in touch, Arnold then produced a quality save this time to deny Sawyer.
Williams introduced Jordan Yong for his first academy start after Seb Muddel suffered a facial injury. As the game moved into the final 15 minutes City finally started to get their game together with Jamie Eames seeing an inswinging corner headed off the line, while just before full time the same player saw a free kick saved by Nick Hamann in the Blues goal. City Line-Up: Arnold, Matthews, O'Toole, McLean, Quaye, Miller, Eames, Lathrope, Renton, Muddel (Yong 63), Daley. Subs Not used: Bexfield, Smart, Davey. Chelsea Line-Up: Hamann, Foori, Worley, Hutsinschon, Elmer, Bridcutt, Stoch, Sawyer, Cummings, Simmons, Sinclair. Subs: Hurrel, Taylor, Nielson, Saarelma. Top Canary: Steve Arnold	Damon Lathrope tracks Chelsea captain Liam Bridcutt

Further Action From The Match
Seb Muddel is held back by an opponent	Kris Renton gets in front of his marker
Luke Daley moves forward	Paul McLean with a last-ditch tackle against Miroslav Stoch
Alvin Quaye tangles with Chelsea's Shaun Cummings	Chelsea keeper Hamann saves spectacularly
Jordan Yong made his first appearance for the Under-18's	Tom Miller goes flying
Report courtesy of John Landamore and The Pinkun. Photos from Paul Standley.	Colin Watts demonstrates his driving skills