U18s: Aston Villa 1-4 Chelsea

Aston Villa were left to rue missed chances in their defeat against Chelsea in the Under-18 Premier League on Tuesday afternoon.

The hosts spurned two gilt-edged opportunities before the Blues got into their stride and took the lead through Luke Badley-Morgan after 31 minutes.

Silko Thomas doubled their lead shortly before the break and when Zain Silcott’s shot took a big deflection off Taylor-Jay Hart and nestled in the net, the away side were three goals to the good.

Finley Munroe headed home for the Young Lions late on, but the final word went to Louis Flower, who scored with the last kick of the game. 

The home side began the day 11^th in the table, eight places and 15 points below their visitors, but they had the Blues on the back foot early on.

Just two minutes in, Kahrel Reddin split the defence wide open with a through ball and set Ruben Shakpoke racing away. The striker surged to the box before seeing his shot well saved by the feet of Teddy Curd.

The Villa duo’s pace was causing Chelsea problems every time they came forward, and after a stunning solo run that took Reddin past three defenders, Shakpoke missed the target from close-range with the goal at his mercy.

Oliwier Zych was relatively untroubled in the home side’s goal through the first 30 minutes, but he soon sprung into action to tip Leo Castledine’s shot around the post.

However, from the resulting corner the Polish stopper could do nothing to stop Badley-Morgan slamming home from five yards out.

The goal sparked a period of Chelsea dominance that resulted in a second goal before half-time, with Thomas firing a low shot into the far corner after Villa failed to clear their lines.

Sean Verity’s Villans started the second half with renewed vigour and had a strong penalty shout turned down when Teddy Rowe was felled in the box.

That proved to be a big moment in the match as Chelsea netted a fortuitous third after 57 minutes.

Zain Silcott’s drive was set to be easily dealt with by Zych before a heavy deflection off Hart took it into the opposite corner.

Reddin and substitutes Dewain Sewell and Charlie Lutz did their best to get the home side on the scoresheet, but they were met with firm resistance from the Blues’ backline.

Munroe eventually broke through after 87 minutes, stooping to meet Jayden Barber’s cross at the back post.

Chelsea quickly restored their three-goal lead, however, when Flower sent a shot past Zych and just inside the far post.