Plymouth No Match for City

PAFC Youth 1 - 4 MCFC Youth

A pretty much one sided game as City cruised their way into the semi-finals for the third time in six seasons with goals from Daniel Sturridge, Captain Ben Mee, prolific David Ball and with his first touch, substitute Alex Nimley-Tchuimeni before a late stoppage time goal from Plymouth's main threat Jarred Stevens.

A slippy pitch at Home Park did not hinder City's footballing side too much despite a few slips by players at times. City started brightly winning their first corner in the second minute; but it was Plymouth who had the first shot of the match in the eleventh minute from Stevens but goalkeeper Gregory Hartley dealt with the shot.

Two minutes later saw pacey winger Vladimir Weiss make a strong run and shot from thirty yards that Plymouth's goalkeeper Lloyd Saxton could only parry behind for a corner.

City won a free kick just after twenty minutes out on the right with left winger Donal McDermott sending in an inswinging cross into the far post that centre half Dedryck Boyata could only head straight at Saxton; very similar to Benjani's late header against Everton last night.

A minute later saw City take the lead when midfielder Scott Kay send a good forward pass through to Weiss who burst through to the by-line past a few defenders and tricked his way to send the ball back to Sturridge who took one touch wit his right foot to set the ball up and his body before rifling the ball into the back of the net with his lethal left foot.

City had a slight scare about five minutes later when Hartley dropped a high ball but Plymouth could not quite take advantage. Plymouth again with Stevens was menacing and three minutes later he had a good shot from just inside the box that Hartley did well to save and put behind for a corner.

Within a couple of minutes City were on the attack again; and it was Weiss again that turned provider as he sent a defence splitting pass for Ball to run onto but Saxton came out well to narrow Ball's angle and smother the ball.

City decided to break on the left this time just a couple of minutes later when midfielder Andrew Tutte lifted the ball over the defence for McDermott to run onto and drive forward and send a decent cross into the box that Ball got a good connection on but took a deflection and deflected wide for a corner.

Ten minutes before the break saw City double their advantage when McDermott after failing to clear the first man on most corners sent in a stronger deeper cross that Boyata did well to head back into the danger area that Captain Mee latched onto with a strong volley into the corner of the net.

One change at half time saw Mee change his number five shirt for the number seventeen shirt. City did not sit on their laurels in the second half as they continued to press forward at most chances. The first chance fell in the fifth minute when after a bad challenge on Tutte left the ball for Sturridge to free up to pass to McDermott who drove forward and then fed in Ball on the edge of the area but Ball could only shoot just wide of the far post.

Just before twenty minutes had struck Plymouth substitute Toby Davis found himself in space on the edge of the area but his grass cutter was quite tame and Hartley dealt with it easily.

Within thirty seconds of that City had got their third when a midfield challenge found the ball loop into the path of Ball who ran on into the box and did what he could not do fifteen minutes earlier and put the ball into the far corner of the net and secure the tie.

Plymouth had a decent chance on the twenty second with a Central free kick about twenty five yards out but Captain Shane White was only able to strike his effort straight at Hartley.

The game came a bit disjointed as both teams made some changes; but it was City who caused the defence problems with Sturridge receiving a good quick throw out by Hartley and he saw substitute Robbie Mak make a run and he found him with a great fifty yard searching pass but Mak's finish did not match the approach play as his powerful shot was straight at Saxton.

City then took Sturridge off to be replaced by Nimley-Tchuimeni who immediately was given a gift as the ball broke free for him to run on and beat the off-side trap to run into the area and coolly deceive Saxton as he rounded him and slotted the ball into the empty net.

As stoppage time drew the end of the match closer Plymouth's danger man Stevens was there to thump a fine twenty yard strike into the top corner of the net to give the Plymouth faithful something to cheer about as Cit await their North East or South London semi final opponents; with Charlton and Sunderland's match being played tomorrow evening at the Valley.

With Chelsea beating Port Vale this evening the other semi-finalists re now Aston Villa and Chelsea.

I am attempting to make it back from Plymouth in the morning for the reserve match at Accrington tomorrow afternoon.


PAFC: Saxton(GK), Hopkinson, Brett, Moseley(Gerring 73), Hodgkinson, White(Capt.), Mason(Davis 55), McCaul, Stevens, Barnes(Edwards 68), McCrory.

Subs: Misiewicz(GK), Grant.


City: Hartley(GK), Trippier, McGivern, Boyata, Mee(Capt.), Tutte, Weiss(Mak 76), Kay, Ball, Sturridge(Nimley-Tchuimeni 82), McDermott(Tsiaklis 68).

Subs: Clegg(GK), Ibrahim.


Att: 2417.