Wolverhampton Wanderers U18s  0 - 1  Manchester City U18s

Benali(83)

 

Unfortunately there was a late un-published change in the kick off time to an hour earlier at twelve o'clock and so I missed the first half. On the flip side I did not miss any goals. That we had to wait till the eighty third minute to see academy captain Ahmad Benali hold of defenders and score a twenty yard screamer into the top corner of the goal.

 

This game saw the return of Jeremy Helan having not played since West Brom at the turn of the year and so City had more of a threat up front than in the previous few games. However the defence is not the best allowing the opposition far too much space on their right hand side.

 

Benali's goal came out of nothing with City winning a bouncing ball in midfield and Ahmad getting on the receiving end of that header and holding of the defenders before turning and firing an un-stoppable drive into the top corner of the goal.

 

The game saw City give an U18 debut to U16 goalkeeper Tom Halsall and he did himself proud as his handling and kicking was pretty good despite a badly sloping pitch that bobbled all over the place.

 

With the latest round of results if City beat Everton on Saturday and Wolves do not win their final game then City will clinch a remarkable third position in the league.

 

 

City: Halsall(GK), T Skogsrud(K Skogsrud 63), Grandison, Smith, Veseli, Elabdellaoui, Helan(Siaw 63), Benali(Capt.), Hippias(Morrissey 78), Bunn, Roman Olle.

 

Subs: No Unused.