Our U18s suffered a 3-1 defeat at Millwall in the Professional Development League on Saturday afternoon.
A Barnsley-dominated start to the game wasn’t enough for the young Reds to claim victory against the Lions, who despite being behind managed to score two rapid fire goals, before adding to their total again in the second half. Nicky Eaden’s side came out of the game especially frustrated as the two teams looked to be equal on the pitch.
The match started in a fiery way. Chances for both teams resulted in good efforts from either side, with Millwall’s attack in the fifth minute requiring a top-class piece of goalkeeping from Rogan Ravenhill, who managed to deny the hosts the opener with a great sweeping run out of his box.
Barnsley’s first effort of the game came just three minutes later, as a quick free-kick found its way to Josh McKay. However, the wing-back’s outside of the boot shot from the edge of the box didn’t trouble Millwall’s keeper, flying high and wide of the top left corner.
The young Reds deservedly opened the scoring in the midway through the half after relentless pressure on the home team’s box. A quick one two with Josiah Dyer saw McKay marauding into the box. The full back’s whipped cross was met by Rafael Monteiro who made no mistake in slamming the ball home, giving our U18s the advantage.
Shortly after, we almost had a second as a Vimal Yoganathan curler from the edge of the box went inches wide of the post. The man between the home team’s sticks was left thanking his lucky stars as he was left helplessly watching the ball just whistle by the woodwork.
Unfortunately, the Lions levelled the game in the 10 minutes before the break. A long ball over the top looked to be swept up by Ravenhill, however, Arezki Hamouchene just nicked in ahead of him and tapped into an empty net.
Things went from bad to worse for the Reds as Millwall quickly scored their second. Another long ball found its way into the Barnsley box, leading to a shot which was saved by Ravenhill, but Frankie Baker was on hand to fire home the rebound.
HALF-TIME: Millwall 2-1 Barnsley
Soon after the restart, Millwall controversially scored their third. A ball down the left was met by the Lions’ attacker after hauling down McKay. Shouts for a free kick were met by deaf ears from the referee, who then pointed for a penalty to the hosts after Astin Brace’s challenge caught Hearn. The striker chose his corner and finished past Ravenhill, leaving the Reds with a mountain to climb for the rest of the second half.
Despite the goals, our U18s continued trying to salvage something from the game, keeping proceedings even and creating chances to drag themselves back into it. An excellent piece of goalkeeping from Millwall’s George Evans kept the two-goal lead intact for the home team, as their number one denied Josiah Dyer in the box, making a point blank save from the striker’s left footed effort.
Another miraculous bit of goalkeeping from Evans in the 73rd minute denied the Reds their path back into the game. A corner delivered from the right was headed goalward, but the man between the sticks was on hand to somehow claw it out of the top left of the goal.
The Reds nearly conceded a fourth just minutes before the final whistle, as a Millwall attack almost saw them pull even further ahead. Yet another long ball was latched onto by Romain Esse, who managed to strike an effort towards the bottom left of the Barnsley goal. Luckily, the ball cannoned off the post and out for a goal kick, saving our young U18s a final kick in the teeth.
FULL-TIME: Millwall 3-1 Barnsley
REDS XI: Ravenhill (GK), McKay, Lacey, Bland, Brace, Joof, Yoganathan, Makiessi, Dyer (C), Monteiro, Benjamin.
Subs: Trialist (GK), Farrell, Nzondo, Anaman, Chapman.