U18s: Southampton 6-3 Aston Villa

Aston Villa suffered a 6-3 defeat at Southampton in the Under-18 Premier League South on Saturday.

The hosts raced into an early two-goal lead on the south coast before Chisom Afoka reduced the arrears midway through the first half.

A flurry of goals just before break, which included a strike from fit-again Teddy Rowe, ensured the Young Lions found themselves 4-2 down at the break.

Matthew Carson’s own goal shortly after the restart put the visitors back in touch but Saints soon restored their two-goal cushion and then added a sixth goal to run out victors, with Villa goalkeeper Josh Lane superbly saving a late spot-kick.

Villa get back to league action with a home clash against midlands neighbours West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, November 20.

Tyler Dibling fired Southampton into a fifth-minute lead, which was doubled by Dominic Ballard from close range.

Afoka tapped home a rebound to make it 2-1 in the 24^th minute after Saints keeper Eddie Beach had parried Tommi O’Reilly’s low strike following some smart play from the Villa teenager.

Then came a crucial period of play as Ryan Finnigan registered from six yards for the home side in the 44^th minute, with Rowe replying almost immediately from kick-off with a fine well-taken strike.

Yet another set-piece was Villa’s downfall three minutes into injury time, however, as Luke Pearce slotted home to round off the first-half scoring.

Afoka smartly chested down Lane’s goal-kick to start a move which saw the Villans net first after the restart, O’Reilly receiving the ball out wide on the left before seeing his low cross put into his own net by Carson.

But the hosts made it 5-3 from another corner in the 54^th minute, Jem Hewlett heading against a post before the ball was recycled to Dibling and his strike found the net.

Finnigan then rounded off the scoring soon after the hour mark via a contentious goal which saw the assistant referee initially flag for offside before play continued.

There was still time, however, for Villa stopper Lane to produce a superb one-handed save to keep out substitute Tommy-Lee Higgs’ penalty before Luke Softley’s excellent block kept out the rebound.