Reds out but not down
Chelsea 3 (Baker 30, Kiwomya 35, 42)
Reds 0
The young Reds fought hard after the break but a first-half blitz from Chelsea saw the current holders of the FA Youth Cup through to the sixth round. Barnsley did themselves proud as the Premier League side showed real class and intelligence on the ball, especially in the first period, but it wasn’t to be for Chris Howarth’s side.
The match started with a great tempo set by the Blues and they registered the first effort of the match on five minutes, which forced Chadderton into a smart save. Nathan Ake it was who stepped out of defence and into space to fire from 30 yards, but the Barnsley goalkeeper tipped the ball past the left-hand post.
Abbott replied for the Reds five minutes later, but he couldn’t keep his 25-yard strike down after taking a neat ball infield from Harrison Biggins.
With quarter of an hour gone, Erico Sousa showed some magic down the left as he jinked his way into the box before unleashing a vicious low shot at goal. Unfortunately his effort struck the post and the rebounded effort from Maris was blocked on the line.
Abbott sent a ball through for Maris that completely split the Chelsea defence open on 25 minutes. The forward took a good first touch as he went one-on-one to send a shot towards the ‘keeper’s far post, but Beeney made an excellent save.
With half-an-hour gone Chelsea took the lead through an expertly despatched free-kick from Baker. The Chelsea captain stepped up 20 yards out and curled into the bottom left-hand corner of Chadderton for 1-0.
Boga attempted a neat curling effort from just inside the box on 33 minutes but McCauley Shillito headed clear.
Chelsea’s second arrived through fortunate circumstances on 35 minutes as Kiwomya’s low attempt deflected off Shillito and deceived Reds ‘keeper Chadderton for 2-0.
Kiwomya didn’t need any good fortune for his second and Chelsea’s third as he thundered a glorious shot into the top corner.
Second half
Baker’s wicked free-kick on 49 minutes found the head of Ake six yards out but the central defender’s effort was well saved by Chadderton.
The Reds made the first change of the night with Greg Simmons replacing Harrison Biggins on 53 minutes.
Barnsley grew into the game and enjoyed some solid passages of play in the early stages of the second half but just couldn’t work that vital opening in the penalty area.
Omari Alexander-Salmon came on for Darren McKnight with 63 minutes played.
George Smith’s deep free-kick caused havoc in the Chelsea box and the ball seemed destined for the far corner but a deflection took the ball out for a corner on 64 minutes.
Both sides kept the ball on the deck and neither could have any complaints about the surface which was in virtually pristine condition – certainly a credit to Staines Town Football Club.
Barnsley weren’t giving up and quietened the home side in the second period. Chelsea made their first change with Starkey coming on for Boga. Moments later Loftus-Cheek went through on goal but was denied by Chadderton’s smart save.
Brad Abbott fired a shot wide in anger from all of 30 yards after great work from his team-mates to win the ball back. The Tykes had by no means given up and were attacking with real purpose down the right.
It should have been 4-0 on 81 minutes as Reece Mitchell pounced onto Christensen’s perfect right-wing delivery but fired over from barely six yards.
Alex Kiwomya should have had his hat-trick but blazed an open goal from seven yards after a great Chadderton save fell kindly into his path.
The young Reds kept plugging away but weren’t rewarded in front of goal for their determination.
Teams
Chelsea: Beeney, Christensen, Davey, Ake, Nditi, Baker, Kiwomya, Loftus-Cheek (Conroy), Mitchell, Boga (Starkey 70), Hunte (Kandi).
Subs: Starkey, Killip, Dabo, Kandi.
Chadderton, Alderson, Smith, Biggins (Simmons 53), Moore, Shillito, Maris, Abbott, Oates, McKnight (Alexander-Salmon 63), Sousa (Williams 83).
Subs: Mackey, Freeman.
