Saints Academy Thread

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Sims and Olomola starts while Hesketh MIA. He was on the last first team photos though.

Being streamed in the usual places.
 
I saw the U-23 play Winchester City's Reserves in the Southampton Senior Cup lie last Thursday. The attendance was 353 which was approximately double the crowd you find at the Simply Health City Ground as the ground is now known. It was a fascinating experience as most of the spectators were fans of both teams..

What was amazing was that Winchester fielded the reserve team with only 3 players older than 19. The Saints line up was also diluted for another cup tie in the weekend but this did not deter both Franny Benali and Kelvin Davies being amongst the crowd. Davies proved to be a real gent, affording the Winchester fans a lot of time, signing autographs, etc. Although it was clear that the Saints players could pass the ball swifter and play at a pace that was enhanced in comparison with City, there was not a great deal of difference in the first 45 mins with the visitors being 1-0 up at half time. The substitution of the experienced Andy Jenkinson changed the outlook in the second half and fitness played a part in meaning City conceded two late goals and were fortunate not to have conceded more but for the efforts of man-of-the match goalkeeper Josh Tombs. City's highly rated I K HIll and Riccardo Andrady looked good although the back four were simply sensational.

As far as Saints were concerned, it was a second string line up with players like Latham, Will Wood, Ben Rowthorn, Alfie Jones , Ollie Cook, Callum Stattery and Mdalose who I had never heard of. The forward Olefela Olomola and Tyreke Johnson looked the pick of the bunch albeit not really looking that much superior to their opposing counterparts until the last quarter when they menaced Winchester who had started to hire. Olomola looked good but did not especially stand out.Yan Valery was the only familiar name to me. In the end, it was a bit like the Alamo with Winchester defending bravely and putting their bodies in the way of the constant shots on goal.

I would have to say that this was amongst the best evenings of football I have witnessed at Winchester. Although 3-0 was a little harsh, the general consensus was that Winchester did themselves credit and there was a feeling that the full team would have been a match for this young Saints team. In the first half, the Saints were well marshalled yet the ferocity of their shooting was suggestive that it would have certainly stung if the keeper got his fingers to the ball. I think the professionalism of the Saints team(and their set up) made a huge difference but on the basis of the performances on the night, I can't see any of these players forcing a place on the substitute bench at St Mary's. However, I don't think anyone was really too fussed by the result and just loved the fact that there was a little bit of stardust at Abbott's Barton that night.
 
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